Mother

Live within 100 yards of the Turk

November 28, 1915

28th November, 1915.

My dear Mother,

Got your letter 14th inst. This is the longest time without a letter lately, but it was reported some mail had come to grief by the barge carrying it from a sinking ship. Getting cld here now. We had our first snow last night. Everything was white this morning. It’s been falling steadily all day. It’s very slushy on the paths. The ground gets hard on the surface at dusk. It’s very pretty when everything is white but it’s pretty cold, especially for a mid Riverina ite. I got a nice warm sheepskin vest. It’s much longer than the ordinary vest. It came among socks, writing material, a wrapper that I think has been knitted by Mrs Wormall. There were some other nice warm goods too. They came just as the cold weather commenced, so I am a lucky boy.

When we came it was very hot and within a little over three months it’s got to freezing – a big change.

Mrs Winton’s son from Wagga is in the same signalling Section as I am. He is a nice young man and pretty smart, too – and Williams from the Commercial Bank in Lockhart is only a few hundred yards away from me, and in communication.

I haven’t been writing to the little ones lately. There are no Post Cards here and it wouldn’t be very interesting sending them “I am well” letters. They are not forgotten, though.

I have Amy’s photo with me and one of you and when I look at them I feel a few more wouldn’t be too much to carry. From the papers (Australian) we get at times I get very pleasing news about the season. I can picture the harvest commencing. It will be a treat to see the stacks of bags about. The papers are a bit old when we get them, but none the less interesting and sometimes we see English papers that are only about a fortnight old. They are the best for war news. We get our own news posted up at most Signal H.Q.

We live within about 100 yards of the Turk and our boys keep them well in hand. We keep a good watch on them. The enemy has a lot of respect for us and keeps well within his trench. Occasionally one of their scouts comes out at night and our men bring what is left of him into our lines.

I go on duty at the signal office 8-12 a.m. and p.m..

Love to all, Stid.

“You’re Walter Hull’s son”

September 1, 1915

Sig.39, 18th Batt. 5th Brigade,

A.I.E.F

Gallipoli. Sept.

My dear Mother, I have had three letters from you since I got here and some from the kiddies. Give them my love. I am doing well.

I met G Low Yesterday he wanted to be remembered to Dad. And I saw W Davis Friday he wished to be remembered to Dad too. He is doing well and was pleased to see me.

I met St Vincent who put up the fence for Dad at the back. He is an old soldier.

H.Williams was stationed close to me yesterday and came and spent the night in my dugout for company. It’s almost like a glimpse of home to meet boys from the same place and have a chat.

I was on the signal phone and had a call from Lieut. Chanter. Jack C. came and recognised me. He said “You’re Walter Hull’s son.” He’s a good stamp of a man and his South African experience probably comes in handy. I have two letters from Little Aunt & three from you. Tell the Little ones I’ll write to them some of these days. Love from Stid to all.

I will write to you from Gallipoli

August 13, 1915

August 13, 1915.

My dear Mother,

I am still having a good trip. There is a lot to see that is new and interesting.

We are about to move in the morning or Sunday for Turkey.

We have just heard that our men have won a big battle and we are to be put in to keep the Turk on the run as much as possible. Most of us are pretty excited.

We hear a good many stories about the front from wounded men here. There are a good many of them and they don’t care much for the Turk.

The last mail is about to close. This has been sprung on us. A bit of it may only be rumour anyway. I will write to you from Gallipoli.

Love to all

Stid

Flying fishes all the way

July 3, 1915

on active service no stamps required

At Sea

My Dear Mother

I am having a good trip and am feeling fit. Have seen a lot of things that were new to me and haven’t found the sea trips monotonous. There is usually plenty to see that is new. We pass a lot of ships daily now. At first we saw few. The last glimpses of Aust seems a long way back and we had a big gap with water only & some flying fishes all the way. Crossing the line many were crushed by Father Nepture to his staff in his own waters including himself. The boys got a lot of fun out of it.

Shaving with a Gigantic Razor using Bill Slackers Post for soap. We have passed some fine rocks that arouse a lot of enthusiasm when we get into Sight. Rare old places in history when Some one Says land in sight the deck soon gets packed with men eager for a glimpse of it.

XXX X XXX XXX XXX XXX Love to All

Stid

(date estimated)

We are to use periscopes for reading signals

June 21, 1915

June 21

My dear Mother,

I am to Sail on Friday or Saturday. We go to the Boat on Friday but probably don’t Sail until next day we will be a big crowd on the water. We are going on a big boat and are looking forward to the trip which ought to be splendid. I had a trip to Wentworth Falls on Saturday came back Sunday night with Aunt G & Fell. He is doing well. Bertha was there too. I saw Gavin? the other night. He is Sailing with us & Moorehouse came into camp with me. He is looking well. We are going to Egypt. Some of the 5th Brigade are there now. There are others in camp that came from there. We are to have three months there before going on. And probably will lend a hand at the Turks after that. We are to use periscopes for reading signals from the trenches and can use them to send out too. They are only little ones about 2 feet long. I and a lot of others were marched through the city to a theatre party given by one of the big shows on Friday last & had a good time.

Has the grass helped the stock trouble yet? I’m glad if it has. Your letters haven’t mentioned losing stock the last time or two.

G. Hay, a young man in Wentworth Falls is in camp as Captain he sent word round to me to look him up and made an appointment for half an hour. He is a chum of Aunts and nice fellow. We used to write to each other occasionally. He is in the Army Medical Corps. I will send you a picture of the boat we are going on. It is not much of a one but they won’t let people photograph it. So it’s only a postcard. I haven’t it in my pocket now. I have about a dozen knitted socks. And am quite proud of them. They are good too & will be useful in Egypt. People who make them seem to like seeing who they give them to and a lady who gave me one pair is going to send me more while I am away. It’s good of her isn’t it?

Love to All

your loving son Stid

Salvation Army envelope

We have been signalling from trenches with the helio

June 8, 1915

Sig 18th Battalion

June 8

My Dear Mother

I expect we us & Co will Sail on or about the 20th and we think now that we are going to India to do some frontier work (for a start at any rate) Fell came up to camp some days ago. He is a Lieutenant in some force or other and carried a star the same as the Officers here. The men about camp were Saluting him. He must have felt pretty big.

I spent Saturday afternoon or Sunday at Wentworth Falls with the Aunts. The mountains are really great as usual and we had a good bright day and could see the country around Liverpool and was a bit inclined to ask the O.C. when I came back to find a Signalling Station up for practice. Some of us are going on a three day jaunt to a hill that is visible from here to signal back. Per Helio this work is getting more interesting the more I get on at it. The Officer listed some of us Yesterday and I was pleased because the speed was 3 words a minute faster than is necessary to be classed as 1st class.

We are to sail on the Ceramic on 18000 ton boat. She is cooling in the Harbour now.

Per Your new teacher via Aunt ?? sending you a photo you probably have it by now.

We have been getting a good bit of practice on a buzzer that makes the same sound as the wireless expecting to get wireless work later on the flag? is a quick method of Signallers but on account of leaving will not be used in getting ready.

We have been signalling from trenches with the helio too by putting one instrument up on the bank and reflecting the sunlight on to it with another so the operator is under cover.

They give us a good lot of this so to get us quick because of the time spent in sighting. The top one leaves us exposed. On account of getting night work with one of the camps we get the weekend off. I hear the ranks don’t get leave now for fear of them deserting.

It’s rotten having to off poor stock each day. But guess it won’t be too long now although the grass grows slowly in winter. That old grass in the reserve ought to help the new to come along quickly.

We are going to Egypt

June 1, 1915

Dear Mother,

We are going to Egypt- some of the 5th brigade are there now. There are letters in the camp that came from there. We have three months there before going on. Probably will lend a hand at the Turks after that.

I have about a dozen knitted socks and am quite proud of them – will be useful in Egypt.

The lady who gave me one pair is going to send more while I’m away. It’s good of her, isn’t it?

Your loving son, Stid.

Date Estimated

I have about a dozen knitted socks

June 1, 1915

Dear Mother,

We are going to Egypt – some of the 5th brigade are there now. There are letters in the camp that came from there. We have three months there before going on. Probably will lend a hand at the Turks after that.

I have about a dozen knitted socks and am quite proud of them – will be useful in Egypt.

The lady who gave me one pair is going to send more while I’m away. It’s good of her, isn’t it?

Your loving son, Stid.

Date Estimated

Very quickly when the end comes

May 30, 1915

Signaller No 30

18 Battalion

5th Brigade

A.I.F

30 May

Dear Mother

I’m doing well. Should have written before we have been getting a lot of night practice with lamps and it throws me about a bit. Should have written long one lately. Our Officer is anxious that we should be in good practice because he will be in charge of the Signalling at Sea. He practices a lot himself and likes to see us at it too and our work will commence as soon as we get on the boat. I’ve heard military does the Signalling at Sea for obvious reasons but doesn’t navigate or Sail the boat. The Ceramic boat we are going on is in Sydney and we expect to sail on Saturday next to only Suppose we may go any time now. Little Aunt came to see me in Camp and had a look round. She says I am getting very fat and is afraid I’ll get like ? Salmon but got a long way to go for that but am getting heavier.

I am sorry you are having such rotten luck with your Plowman and stock. One thing certain as soon as the grain grows the stock trouble will be over. I am sorry you are loosing so much and it has been an awful drought.

I’m jolly glad there has been a break in it. As it is many people will have a trouble to carry on. That little green shadow that was about when I was up ought soon to be grass long enough for stock feed. I will ? in a month to get to the Mediterranean and the Turk.

May have peace by then and now that Italy is in the war. I wouldn’t be surprised if when Turkey wants peace the war will commence to ease off and then Austria will want to stop and the whole show will end up quickly. There is a lot of speculation among the boys as to whether we will get into trouble or not.

It would be a good thing for everybody if the mess? could be ended. I think it will collapse as it commenced very quickly when the end comes.

Love to all from Stid

My Dear Mother- 30 May

I heard we might go to India

May 13, 1915

Dear Mother,

I won’t sail for about 2 or 3 weeks I think. Some of the battalions have gone – got away today. I heard we might go to India to take the place of the troops going from there.

Love from Stid.