France
19.10.16
Dear Mother
Your letter & May’s (Nos 14 & 15) have just arrived. The pcls have not come yet but are usually a few days behind the letters. There a good many questions in your letter but I have already answered most of them. W. Hume was for a month or two working at the picture shows, firing a boiler I think, at our base before we went down to the push. It was run by the authorities for our benefit. After that Billie joined the pipe band & has
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been in it ever since. Frank Marshall is with the Mtd Squadron but I have seen nothing of him for months. Geo Moffitt & Holmes H. are in the pioneers. I have just learned that they are quite near here & I will try & see them tomorrow. Duncan Moffitt is reported missing since the push. His mate Bob Russell is alright. Chris Millar, Mark Collins & Bill Millar are all in our platoon & quite well. Have seen Dick Wade several times lately. He is in the
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Medical Corps & says he is feeling alright now. I have never seen Herbert Craig. Bert says he is in the Ammunitions Column so I suppose he is driving one of the big motor lorries but I don’t know where to look for him. Jack Jackson (saddler) & Syd Pearce are still going strong. I don’t think there are any others here that you are especially interested in. I have never seen Minnie Looney. I know where they are stationed & passed it in the train, our train even lay in the station
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all night but of course we couldn’t get away as we didn’t know what minute it might pull out. At present they are giving leave to a percentage of the Coy to visit England for 10 days. The way it stands at present my turn will come about Jan but the arrangements are changed so often that we can’t reckon on the trip until we are away. I think I have enough cash owing me to do me for 10 days. At present we are spending
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a fair amount on tucker as the weather is getting cold and our bread and butter or jam is often cut out at the first meal. If I find I am going to be short I will cable for a few quid, I believe it takes about 4 days to get it. 21st Saw Geo Moffitt & Holmes H. yesterday. They are both well & George had just got a letter from a Nurse saying that Duncan was in Hospital. He has been there a fortnight with a wound in the chest.
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That is all I know at present but it is a relief to know where he is. Last letter you asked if there was anything I wanted but there is nothing I really need. In fact we can get almost anything we want here. There are little villages every mile or two where we can buy ironmongery, stationery, lollies, groceries etc & the prices are fairly reasonable. The things that are most need just now are sox, balaclavas, mufflers or scarves, mittens etc, especially sox – good thick ones, it is
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almost impossible to buy them & the issued ones very shoddy. At present I am lucky enough to have 4 prs of hand knitted ones which have been sent to me so that when your balaclava arrives I will only need a scarf to complete my outfit. The issued shirts & underclothing are not bad & are fairly plentiful. We have also had big leather waistcoats issued, that fit over the top of our tunics & are “tres bon” for the cold weather.
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May seems to have been having a run of bad luck with her watch. I can see a bit of work ahead of me when I come back. You would be surprised to see the number of watches I get to repair here. I overhauled 3 today but my average is about one a day. The only tools I have are a screw-driver, tweezers & brush. Even down at the [censored] big offensive business was very brisk & while lying in reserve near one of the famous woods down there I spent a good many hours at the trade. One chap even brought
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an old ticker to me while we were waiting in the front trench ready to make our last advance. The hairspring was all bent & he reckoned it was shell-shocked but I’d sooner believe he had been tickling it up with his bayonet. Anyhow I had time to straighten it up a bit before we hopped the parapet & I believe it is still going. Would like to tell you all about our experiences down below but the censor says I mustn’t. We are now in a very quiet part of the line & hope to stay here for the winter.
Love to All
Len
OVER
[Written on back of Page 9]
P.S G. Moffitt says Frank Marshall is looking very well he saw him a few days ago. About that small a/c of old Trusslers you needn’t bother about it. He hasn’t much to spare. It was only 4/6 & was always giving him trouble. He has had it repd so often that he forgets when he paid last. L.
