France
1-5-17
Dear Everybody.
At last I think we can safely say we have left the European winter behind. The last 10 days have been magnificent & to all appearances I think it is going to continue. We have today just completed a 15 mile march on our way back from a certain place which you will probably remember, when I say it is the place where I went to a school for a month, & where I spent Xmas & New Year. We went down there several days ago & now we are on the return journey & have just finished the first of the 3 days march it will take to land us in our homes
[Page 2]
Our several days at the place mentioned were strenuous but glorious, & we return to our jobs fitter & more confident men. I don’t think I ever saw men improve or change so quickly. We had had such long strenuous hours in the trenches that the men were getting worn out, but with this training, freedom from shell & rifle fire, coupled with the splendid spring weather we have enjoyed, they have recovered & are now fit & ready for anything. Without a doubt they are just splendid & when the time comes I am confident they will make a name for themselves, & uphold to the last the reputation the Div. has already gained
[Page 3]
The results of our last months work convinces me, that our men are stickers. The digging has been hard & the hours long, the marches ditto, but the old Batt upholds its reputation of never having had a single man fall out. It is a reputation to be proud of, & one not held by any other Batt. in the Div. We had our photos taken while back this time, that is company by company, the Batt officers, & Coy. officers. I have seen the prints & they are excellent indeed. In due course they will land in N.Z. & I leave you to pass your own opinions. It was a source of keen regret to all those who went into the
[Page 4]
Somme that they had not had their photos taken before going in, so we thought we would not miss a golden opportunity & had it done one morning after church parade. To prove how popular was the idea, there were no fewer that 184 applications for photos from this Coy alone, that is excluding what officers asked for. We have Burridge for our Padre now & he is just tip top. His sermons are the last thing in sermons for soldiers & he never fails to grip them. I have had several letters from all parts of N.Z. since I last wrote. Writing these days is a bit of a problem, & if my letters are
[Page 5]
coming to hand at long intervals I trust you will understand. I have not of late been able to get to bed before 11.P.M. & often later, up again at 6. or 6.30. The days are invariably a rush from revellie onwards, so you will see our time does not hang heavy on our hands. The worries & trials of a Coy. Commander are many I can assure you, but given such health as most of us enjoy, broad shoulders etc, we manage to pull through without any serious effect. As I write we can hear very plainly the rumbling of the guns away South in the direction of Arras. According to news to hand, we are of course convinced as to its exact whereabouts.
[Page 6]
The battle raging at the present on the British & French fronts is the fiercest yet reported. There is no doubt in our minds as to the way it will go, but the toll of human life must be enormous. We have heard this bombardment for several days now, & in todays paper we gathered that it is the commencement of the 3rd phase of the Arras Battle, & should this phase go as well as the two preceeding it, I am afraid friend Bosche will be feeling it pretty hard. We have, at the time of writing, not the slightest idea when our own particular job commences, but when it does start, it will be furious for a time at least.
[Page 7]
Latest letters to hand are dated 4th Feb. & 11th Feb. Among the number are those from Rothie, Balamona, Lottie & Jack. The tones of all of them lead one to think that all is going on at home as well as one could desire it. Your letters Jack arrive at varying intervals, & if particularly late they are correspondingly voluminous. Pray do not alter it I would not have it other wise for worlds. Your experiment of writing to both of us at once was quite a success so far as I was concerned. In looking through the letters to hand I see you had just received mine informing you
[Page 8]
of my return from the school. I think you would be a little surprised if you could see us tonight. So you know I think, Maj. Hargest has been appointed 2nd in command of the Batt, & just now in temporary absence of Col. Charters is in command of same. Well, now-a-days all commands must have a 2nd & for a few dizzy days at least I am occoupying that post. We have had a good old laugh over it I can assure you, looking back as we do to the days when in our minds, the Col. & his 2nd in Command were little tin gods, & only to be approached at the last extremity, & then only with a flourish of the right hand & a Sir as big as a bucket.
[Page 9]
I have had no news from Charl since the Gaza fight so I do not know how he got on. So far as I can make out from news to hand, our forces out there are more or less up against it just now. To my mind there is a goodish battle in front of them before the town of Gaza falls into our hands. The Turks seem to have realized the seriousness of the case & have sent down considerable reinforcements, & to all intents & purposes are going to make a fight of it. Better for him of course if he got out of it, however the die is cast & he must now wait for the turn upcost him what it may.
[Page 10]
I have just had a letter from Kate, & she seems to be in pretty good fettle. From the Hoopers I always hear regularly & I am sorry to say their last letter is a very sad one indeed. They tell me that Arlywin Leslie the Aust officer who was in hospital with me in London, & through whom I met the Hoopers, was killed somewhere South of Arras the other day, while leading his men into action. Isn’t it awful to think that there seems to be no end of those peoples troubles. Poor old Leslie he was such a fine fellow too. He is of course a nephew of Mrs Hooper &
[Page 11]
very proud of him they were. It is a sad blow to all of them & could hardly have some at a worse time. They were just beginning to recover from their own stunning blows, when another is launched. When writing me they wanted to think there was a possibility of him being taken prisoner, but knowing the man as I do, & the Aust generally, unless he was pretty badly hit, I do not think there is much chance of that. I frequently see young Malcom Campbell, he is in the 14th Coy of this Batt. He is
[Page 12]
looking very fit & just the same old chip. I suppose George Wilson will be in England by this, if so it will not be long before he is in France. I have not seen any of the other Thornbury boys for ages. Well now time is wearing on & we have a good march in front of us again tomorrow so I think I had better turn in.
Please remember to any who may inquire. I may send a few Field Cards in the future if this pressure keeps up. So if the arrive dont take it for granted we are in the thick of it, but just that time will not permit of letters etc.
[Written at top of Page 1]
I don’t think I can write more just now. Shortbread. Its has not come. to hand get Jeanie I am afraid that lot has gone West.
Affect Brother
E.S. McI.
Coffee & Biscuits. sent via Kate arrived safely.
E.S. McI
