The Bivvy
Palestine
Xmas Day
My Dear People
Here I am again just after having had a real good tea under the conditions. Naturally you will like to know how the day has been spent & if there was anything of a dinner etc for the occasion. Well of all the Xmas Days to my knowledge this has been the worst I ever experienced, in as much as it has been raining like blazes for the best part of the twelve hours of daylight. In every other way everything was favourable to us having a nice quiet time being as we are in a camp some miles from the firing line & not having work of a strenuous or exciting nature. After having had a couple of days & nights of a blustery cold weather there was a little change last night sometime which took its
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form of a storm the wind dropped for a little to give place to rain & it did so with a vengeance continuing so for a considerable time then the wind camp up a hurricane & with that it was a case of pull the blankets well over the head & let her go even if the bivvy does blow off the lap, that is our misfortune. Boxing Day I called a halt here last night on account of the bivvy filling up with visitors one for my partner & Fred Weir for myself. However I will continue this morn by saying after a foul night there is promise of a much better day although at time there is a light shower. As before stated our day was spoiled from the start never-the-less we were able to have a little Xmas treat made up from the articles provided for the occasion. Our tea comprised pea-soup, rabbit, & a plum sent forward pudding not bad assortment considering we have to do our own cooking but should have done much better had the weather been favourable. During the last two or three days quite a lot of parcels & other things have come to light but no private ones have yet come along but we expect them any day now. At this hour about 10.30 a.m.
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I suppose you will all be sleeping off the effects of the usual outing on Boxing Day. I can imagine sun-burned faces along with the other joys of the outing. I hope anyway that everything was favourable for the season. As I said, Fred came over for the night last night, having been over to him for “Xmas Eve”, & gave me quite a surprise in the way of informing me that Lottie had received a Farewell Social in Thornbury prior to her departure on Active Service. You can well imagine my surprise coming as it did on top of the latest I had from herself. Fred had just received a mail, while I was still in the dark, but not a quarter of an hour after he had gone I got a couple from Rothie and a similar number from Cowes Bay, these being the last week of Oct & first week of Nov, I was assured of the fact that Lottie was under way & probably sailing about 10th Nov., but as they are the latest one I know only that she has been in camp, presumably Featherston, & there waiting to embark. By this time all going well she should be getting pretty close to old England even if she is out per Hospital Ship or Transport. I wonder what sort of a trip she will have & if she will prove a good sailor that
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in itself adds materially to the enjoyment of the trip. Your letters also state that another son has been born at Orepuki. I hope all are doing well in that part. Also received on Dec 24th your Xmas Greetings per cable, so they have not gone astray this year. So you see things have all been going smoothly thus far & all that is required to set us up again is a few bright sun-shiny days then all would be quite happy again even though we do have it wet it takes a lot to damp our spirits. From all accounts things are still doing round about the district what with Tom Halls selling & buying does he contemplate joing the happy band of married folk. By guessing I take it that there is a mother & father along with the new teacher in which case the old schoolhouse will be pretty full. In a letter from George he stated that H McNeill had been gassed & also that Andrew had been killed but of the latter did not appear certain. Have just had dinner & feel satisfied got a few more gift parcels this a.m. so you see we are in a good way of doing & not being over worked.
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Now as I have little news to write I think I had better bring this to a close. Things in the front line appear to have been quiet for the last few days at anyrate in our vicinity there has not been much that we could hear. It is very gratifying to watch a number of our air craft going away out over the enemy lines & returning shortly we know then that the enemy has been straffed & been made more or less uneasy for the time. I wonder if I will get this finished have started the third time so perhaps will be successful. Since leaving off, which I did to go over to the canteen, we have learned that the Australians have again turned down conscription. It is hard luck after the name they have made & the sacrifices also that such should happen how ever are they going to keep up the drafts. It means that if the war does not end very shortly the fighting force will have to be considerably
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reduced. We also learn that the enemy has gone back some distance which is good news but who knows that it will not mean some hard work for us in the near future. Now I will add that during the day weather conditions have taken a change for the better & it is sadly needed for there is some mud about. We all longed for the hard country but can still appreciate the sand for camping on for that purpose it cannot be equaled. Camped as we are where the two meet the contrast is so much more noticeable especially as all the heavy traffic is through the mire. Now I think I had better cease for the present. Hoping to have all the news of recent events soon & that everything continues in the flourishing state they appear to have been doing. Believe me to be in the best of health hoping this finds one & all the same. Kind regards to everyone.
Your Affect Brother
Charlie
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Hope you will be able to read this am not reading it over so please excuse E.O.
