France. Trenches
3/4/17
Dear Everybody.
You see where we are, & except for snow, rain, cold, & a few shells we might as well be in billets. Our Coy is in support this time & we have rather good quarters, the best I have ever seen in the lines. I can assure you we were rather in need of them last night, it snowed & blew a treat. We thought we had done with that sort of stuff some time ago, but it seems to turn up quite frequently still. However it cleared off at mid-day & the afternoon has been glorious, not even cold. Spring is fast approaching & we are looking forward to the warm weather, & to seeing the hills & trees with their leaves etc. At times it looks very desolate, & again at others very picturesque. This morn. for instance, the countryside was a perfect picture, & one would hardly realize there was a war on, not a shot of any description was fired for hours. This evening they seem to have wakened up again, & the artillery has been pretty active on both sides. Old Fritz is not nearly so active here as he was when we first came in, I don’t know whether you can put it down to more
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actively on our part or not, but we always indeavour to give back as much, & little more than what he gives us, & I believe it has had some good effect. Of late his aeroplanes have become much more active, whether it portends anything or not, I am not yet prepared to say. The advance on the Somme at time of writing, seems to have steadied up considerably, but has not altogether ceased. We seem to be applying the same steady consistent pressure, that was imposed on him prior to his first retirement. I should think he must be rather annoyed over our attitude for it is likely that he hoped we would dash in & give him an opportunity, but I am afraid the Higher Command have been trained in too hard a school to be caught in such a trap. Instead the advance was made with due regard being paid to his delivering a counter attack. So far that has not come off, & I don’t think it will now. I had a letter from Charl a few days ago, therein he acknowledged receipt of mine.
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So you see the East is now in touch with the West. He seemed to be in particularly good form & said they were all looking forward to some operations they were likely to carry out against Jacko in the cours of a day or two, after date of his writing. Since receipt of is letter we have received word of the fight that they had with the Turks at Gaza, where they captured 900 enemy, including the Div Commander & his staff, evidently a very brilliant little dust up. Home letters arrived a couple of days ago dated 22nd & 28th Jan, respectively. There in you wrote of sultry weather, leaving all windows & doors open for air etc, I wish you could transfer some of it. I am pleased to hear that Roll is getting back to school again, it would have been a pity for him to have finished up so soon. Well Eileen you did not pull off your exam this year, never mind keep the head high & say better luck next time. If I remember right you still have another year to in which to reach the goal. I think I can see Norman trotting along to Ingill if he keeps pegging away.
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Eric seems to have had rather a good time but I think it is nearly time he turned his mind in the direction in which any self respecting man of his age & standing ought to do. Heaven only knows we can do with them out here, before this affair is through. When the offensive begins, as it certain to begin before very long, we will require fellows like him to fill the inevitable gaps that must occur should we have to hop the bags. I have had frequent letters from Kate, in her last she was at Hoopers just previous to going back to Walton after having had 10 days or so at Sandwich. She seems to have enjoyed her holiday pretty well & not looking forward too much to going back to graft. Oh! I nearly forgot to congratulate the stables on the winning of the up country Cup, should have been rather a good days sport. I have not seen any of the Thornbury or Riverton boys for ages. Did I tell you that I have Norman Forsyth in the Coy, he is a 2′ Lt. & doing very well. Au Rêvoir
Affect Brother E.S. McI
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Since writing the last four pages, which is only an hour ago, our mail-man came in with the mail, & perhaps you can imagine my joy to find no less than 3 N.Z. ones for me. They are dated 5th & 12 Feb & are the only ones of those dates in the Batt. Everybody else is getting theirs dated 28th Jan etc. so you see it is much quicker getting them via Hoopers. I am pleased indeed to be able to amend my statement re your exam Eileen, & right hear offer my heartiest congratulations & trust that the same good fortune is your again next year. I am pleased too to hear of the course Roll is taking this year, quite the best he could take I should think. It will stand him in good stead whatever vocation he takes up in after life. I see by the letters the fine weather you were all boasting about has come to rather a dramatic end, still it’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good. Very pleased to hear that the two spoons turned up safely, they are a rough guide as to our whereabouts. I am beginning to think that perhaps you have enough of them now
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I must try something else. I regret sincerely the news of Buller going to Dunedin. I had seen the weights acceptances in the witness & had decided in my own mind that he would about land it. However I suppose it is fate or some such thing that decides these things, & there is little use in one wishing against them. I had a cheery letter from Diack tonight also, so please convey my kindest regards to him & let him know that I will write him first opportunity. We have been very busy of late & are likely to be more so shortly, so do not be surprised or anxious if you do not hear from me so regularly. Henry McNeill will not be coming to our Bde. I can not explain here, but my chances of seeing him are very remote. Poor old Peters he is having a rough spin without a doubt. I can not get over old Marshalls attitude towards him. It is good to hear that Lottie may get away yet, I would like her to get away, & if she could get away soon she would be in good time to do her bit & help matters along, in the evnt of what we are expecting in the future, coming off. I have not had a line from her for some time now, but perhaps there is one from her floating around somewhere. Now the hour grows late & I must be off or else there might be an inquiry in the morning at “Stand To” for one McI.
Affect Brother
E.S. McI
