letters from Bert

letters from Viv

December 1915
24 February 1916, Sandville
9 June 1916, France
3 July 1916, France
26 July 1916, France
11 August 1916, France
23 August 1916, France
23 September 1916, France
29 Sep & 1 Oct 1916, Flanders
8 May 1917, France
14 May 1917, France
15 May 1919, France
22 May 1919, France
3 June 1919, France
24 June 1919, Ireland
30 August 1919, At Sea
Xmas cards
Note 1918
Letters to Viv

letters from Percy

July 1915, Re-enactment video
1915, Suez Canal
May 1916, France
11 June 1916, France
Percy's drawings
19 September 1916, France
16 December 1917, Cambridge
3 March 1918, Cambridge
Christmas cards
Percy's MC
Percy's diary

letters from Vern

14 August 1914, Narrandera
28 November 1914, Red Sea
29 November 1914, Red Sea
16 December 1914, Egypt
9 May 1915, Gallipoli
15 May 1915, Gallipoli
25 February 1916, Egypt
11 April 1917, Wandsworth

Epilogue

other items

Postcards from Homefolks
Daily Telegraph 1917
Two mothers
Postcards from Ireland
Various postcards

credit

These pages were prepared for the Smythe Family.

17 September 1916

No 7 Camp
Perham Downs
17/9/16

Dear Homefolks
Many many happy returns of the day Mum & may we all be at home with you for your next birthday. There is a pretty fair chance of it.

I received quite a big batch of letters yesterday, but most of them were written when Gallipoli was an unknown tragedy. They were mostly 18 months old _ _ _. Still they were very welcome. It took me two hours to read them. The more up to date ones were dated 4/6/16, 10/6/16, 29/7/16.

I’ve finished with the Sig School & am back again with the Training Bn. When I got back there was an 18th reinforcement in charge & I had to drop a stripe, but they put me in charge 4 days later so now I’m again a Sgt. I do not know how long I’ll be here but I think it will be for some time. I certainly won’t break my neck to get over till the winter is over. It is just coming on now. I could get over I think if I had made myself a nuisance but the winter I know would settle me, so I won’t volunteer to go over till the Spring. I’ve got a heartbreaking job here to train the Bn Siglrs. They are the dopiest lot I’ve struck. Held a reading test yesterday & only 3 passed anywhere near the standard rate.

I received a lovely photo from Mrs Fox. It is a splendid one. My word it recalls the old times, & makes one long to be back in dear old Australia again. Also got a nice letter from Enid.

Percy has sent me over a few souvenirs from Pozieres to look after. One is the copper driving band of an 8 inch shell (to be made into 2 serviette rings) a clip of g. cartridges & a g. flare. If I’m kept here I’ll do as a sort of receiving stn for things from the front _ _ _.

Address c/o Mrs M. in case of eventualities, cos nothing is certain in this game.

The loss of her son has broken Mrs Morgan up terribly. She is feeling it very badly.

Vivie Percy & Vernie were OK up till quite recently. Percy’s lot moved to Belgium.

Well I’ll close now with best love & wishes to you all, your loving son & brother Bert.

letters from Bert

pre war

1914

1915