letters from Bert
pre war
16 July 1913, Narrandera
21 July 1914, Narrandera
1914
14 August, Narrandera
August
16 September
25 October, SS Euripides
24 November, SS Euripides
3 December, SS Euripides
13 December, Egypt
18 December, Egypt
27 December, Egypt
1915
1 January, Egypt
8 January, Egypt
14 January, Egypt
23 January, Egypt
1 February, Egypt
7 February, Egypt
11 February, Egypt
18 February, Egypt
28 February, Egypt
11 March, Egypt
20 March, Egypt
28 March, Egypt
4 April, SS Derfflinger
20 April
Jerilderie Herald article
3 May, Hospital Ship
9 May
24 May, Birmingham Hospital
29 May, Rugby Hospital
24 June, Weymouth
June, Weymouth
15 July, Weymouth
7 August, Alexandria
17 August, Gaba Tepe
Four days at Anzac
Jerilderie Herald article
2 September, Anzac
3 October, London Hospital
11 October, London Hospital
October, London Hospital
November, London Hospital
16 November, Hounslow
28 November, London Hospital
4 December, London Hospital
25 December, London Hospital
1916
19 January, Harfield Hospital
10 February, Hounslow
10 March, Abbey Wood
15 March, Abbey Wood
22 March, At Sea
18 April, Egypt
19 April, Egypt
30 April, Egypt
7 May, Egypt
17 May, Eygpt
25 June, Andover
6 August, Weymouth
20 August, Weymouth
27 August, Weymouth
1 September, Perham Downs
17 September, Perham Downs
27 September, Perham Downs
18 October, Perham Downs
30 October, Perham Downs
1 November, Perham Downs
15 November, Hounslow
28 November, England
21 December, Durrington
30 December, Durrington
1917
23 January, Durrington
30 January, Durrington
11 February, Durrington
17 February, Durrington
11 March, Durrington
Bert's Diary March
21 March, France
26 March, France
28 March, France
Bert's Diary April
6 April, France
20 April, France
28 April, France
1 May, France
2 May, France
Memorial
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
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 May 1916
[Although marked 17 April, it is more likely 17 May as Bert refers to previous events during the month]
3rd Bn. CARE 1st N.S.W. Training Bn.
17th April 16
Dear Homefolks
Things are just bumping along in much the same way as before. As per usual all mail is conspicuous by its absence. Had one letter from Jd last week. It had been to England. Haven’t had anything from Percy or Vivie yet nor any news of them. Far as I know Vernie is still in the same place & OK. Altho comparatively close, letters to & from him seldom occupy less time than 8 to 10 days.
They are advertising for qualified telegraphists for something or other, so I’m having a shot at it. I’m absolutely full up to the neck of being away from my Bn. Of course it doesn’t follow that I’ll get the job. I don’t know what it will be like if I do get it – may be out of the frying pan etc. Hoping for the best tho.
Have been doing a bit of flag wagging lately just to keep my eye in. Might have to take it on if I rejoin, so the practice will not come amiss. There is a fair mob of us here & all are pretty fair.
Have been in Queer Sheel#### with a capital Q for pay lately. About a month ago my pay book became full up & I had to hand it in & the powers that be have not yet supplied me with a new pay book. And I’m informed that until I get a pay book I cannot draw anything _ _ _. Such is life.
Things are pretty fair with us all here & most of the lads are quite eager to be into it. Personally I’ve reached that stage, when it’s immaterial what they do with us, or how soon or how long we are before we are into it. Well there is no news much so I’ll close with best love, your loving son Bert.
over: Have been informed by a chap who was there at the time, that Percy’s bad luck was a put up job by several who for some reason or other had a down on him. I’ve got the name of one of the beggers. Percy doesn’t know yet. He thinks it was just bad luck.