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What Was It Like?
What was it like to live in WW1? World War 1 was one of the biggest war of time. this was a time when everyone was affected, solders, women, men, and even children. It was required for everyone to give all of there resources. This was a term known as total war a time were everyone did what they could for there nation.
War sounds tarrifing, all the mud, dirt, and disease, all the cruel deathes. Heavy artilery and new weapons such as poison gas.combat with guns and knifes. its all very grusum but i will be showing one mans story from when they whent to war to when it ended.
read what is in purple
England
27th January, 1917
Dear Mother and Father, Just back from leave in London. I had a real roaring time. The time (4 days) was rather short. I managed to see most of the old ancient and historical sights. I was somehow disappointed in London after reading so much about it - really expected to see something more impressive than it is. Mind you, we see London now at its worst for everything is in darkness at 5pm in the afternoon so the days were terribly short. I went to see the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Whitehall, The War Office, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, Bond Street and other places too numerous to mention. These sights are grand - there are no two ways about that but the rest, the business houses and eating places are only commonplace. The big difference between Sydney and London is the trams. London has no trams through the streets - they all run underground and are all privately owned. There are two classes of trams - the Tube and the Electric Line. The Tube is a way - it Billy O down- say 5 or 600 feet down while the Electric is only about 50 feet. They are very cheap and extra fast. On the streets run O'Buses (Motor) after the style of the trams. There are thousands - you can see them everywhere and these were very attractive to see. You wonder why. Well, firstly you can see London better from an omnibus than anything else and secondly but none the least important is that the conductor is a Girl. That's a thing which struck us as peculiar, girls doing all sorts of jobs, walk down the street and you see a window cleaner. I had seen photos of them in papers but had I not seen them I would not have believed it. But never the less they were there dressed in men's clothes of oilskin. Go a bit further and you see a girl page, girl done up in livery to put it plainly, girls are doing everything. We had theatre parties every evening for there is nothing else to do, it is so dark. Another thing, go in for dinner and after having soup and joints they won't serve you with sweets and when you get your bill they charge for each thing separately. Oh! the difference from Australia. Take a tip from me stay in New South. Sydney is not too bad at all. I was stopping at a friend's peoples place at Kensington, West London and they treated us right royally. London is the thing for the CASH. 4 days - $4/10/- not bad going eh? Well that is all our leave so I made the best of it. Well I can't remember much more now to tell so must close. Tell Mr Cook I went round to see his brother but they couldn't find him and I couldn't wait too long as time is precious while on leave. They have shifted from Horsferry Road and are in a Hall not far from the HeadQuarters, was sorry I missed him. I hope everything at home is OK and that you all are in the best of health. Remember me to relatives and friends. I haven't received many letters from relatives so you can give them my news as it is hard to settle down to write in such cold weather. I'll answer all letters I receive so if anyone wants to hear from me direct, it's up to them to write now and again. I am not too bad. I have had, and in fact I still have a very bad cold and terribly sore feet from walking over the hard frozen ground.. Otherwise I am splendid. Well mother must close. Am sending you some views of London and the places I have visited together with some English papers. Well goodbye mother and father, sisters and brothers. Fondest love to you all. I remain yours, am luckily your loving son,
Frank.
Candahar Barracks
Tidworth England.
8th April,1917
Dear Mother and Father, This is the last epistle from Tidworth for next Saturday we rejoin our units again. That means (1) no batman, cleaning boots, getting up early etc etc. It will hurt. Well mother the weather is getting much nicer now though it snows pretty constant still. Things are going from bad to worse in England. Talk about restrictions in Australia, they don't know what it is there. Here:- No soldier allowed in any public eating house or place of amusement after 10pm, only see eatables between the hours of 7am till 8am, 10am till 10.45am, 4.30 pm till 9pm. That's pretty rough isn't it. Can get practically no sugar. All cakes you buy are minus it. But with all this we manage to see only the humorous side of things. We have just received bad news of the reinforcement. They are said to have been nearly all gassed. No official news yet but hope it is not so. Everybody here seems to think the end is in view now. All returned men seem to be confident and they never wish to be back again as you will hear the papers state. Well, how is dear old home getting along? This is Easter Sunday. I can hardly realize it for we worked Good Friday as usual and do likewise tomorrow Monday.
France.
May 19th, 1918.
Dear Mother & Father, No doubt you have been surprised to have had no news from me lately but we have been having a rough passage- been in front line for over a month now and still no relief to hand- can't get anything here, for example look at the paper- it has been 'souvenired' from the little shell riddled village we are holding- tis on the nearest front to Fritz's first objective A------. We have suffered pretty heavily, over 40 in our company casualties but since taking over we have advanced over 1000 yds and are now in a fairly good position. Received all your last mail OK. Am glad to hear Keith passed his 25 test OK- hope he brings the other part off. Auntie May's letter arrived this mail too but I will have to wait till we come out to square up all letters I owe. Please tell all other relatives the cause of no mail- tis hard to get a green envelope and the officers can't censor letters in the line so delay cannot be avoided. We are getting ideal weather- lovely long days, not dark till after 10pm and stand down at 4am. Naturally there is great aerial activity- have seen dozens of planes come down this trip in - some from terrible heights-tis great but awful sight to see the manouverings in an air fight. Artillery also is pretty warm. Am enclosing a shoulder strap of the Fritz Battalion we pushed out when we advanced the line. We have plenty of sniping and shooting- good sport. One morning Fritz attacked on our left and after digging in the Fritz kept coming in "Kamerading" right up to midday. Have heard plenty of talk about Fritz coming over and giving himself up but tis the first time I have seen it. T'was funny, also pitiful. They started across No Mans Land hands right up then their own machine guns at them and then some of our "fools" started potting at them and they did the Chinese trot in with hands up- did look comical for we were in a position to enjoy it. The weather has been glorious Dinkum Australian. No doubt this letter is a ragtime but it is never the less a dinkum one straight from the busiest part of France. We are only about 300 yds from the canal and river --------. Well mother I think this is all this time-would very much sooner be getting ready for the theatre than getting ready for my job now. Tis a fighting patrol. We met eight Fritzies last night. Well fondest love to all. Hope they are all well and in the best of health. I am in the best of health and spirits. I remain, Your loving son,
Frank.
France
27 - 5 - 1918. Dear Mother, Still in the line Mother- this is the longest trip that any battalion has ever done in the line - 5 weeks today since we came in. The weather is 'Tres Bon' that is all that has stuck to us. I can't write a letter here for there is such a job to get letters censored etc let alone snaring an envelope. I write this mere note to let you know I am still OK and going strong. Of course shall write all letters in arears as soon as I get out. Since coming in have been going the pace a trifle-- two raids & a hop over & this morning Fritz attacked A Coy but he was driven back without any loss. Young Stark is still in Blighty and by all accounts having a good time. Hope all at home are well. Please tell all relatives the cause of delay in my letters. Hope Keith is successful. Fondest Love
Froggie Land
21 Sand Bag Rd
Boggie Hill
12 - 7 - 1918
Dear Mother, Yrs. of May the 5th arrived OK- received quite a budget this time.. Yes the business has been pretty rough since April but have dodged the A330 shell and bullet so far. Am at present out for a breather tho the Battalion is in the Business. A decided improvement in the enlistment lately and what inducements? They have had a fair spin watching Charlie Chaplain at the pictures. Tell Keith not to go silly like one did two years ago -Compree. Take plenty of practice in the mud and rain before you dream of this job. About the parcels father, socks are always acceptable and in winter cheap woollen gloves ( not mittens) Head apparel, well see. owing to so much gas we must have our heads clear for gas helmet. Oh a long muffler would be Tres Beans. I am going strong in the best of health and spirits. Am expecting Blighty leave inside 2 months now so that may relieve the monotony somewhat. The weather is holding good and that counts a good deal here.Well I have exhausted the most of the permissible news so will close. Remember me to all Relatives and Friends. I Remain Your Loving Son
Frank.
27th January, 1917
Dear Mother and Father, Just back from leave in London. I had a real roaring time. The time (4 days) was rather short. I managed to see most of the old ancient and historical sights. I was somehow disappointed in London after reading so much about it - really expected to see something more impressive than it is. Mind you, we see London now at its worst for everything is in darkness at 5pm in the afternoon so the days were terribly short. I went to see the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, Whitehall, The War Office, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, Piccadilly Circus, Bond Street and other places too numerous to mention. These sights are grand - there are no two ways about that but the rest, the business houses and eating places are only commonplace. The big difference between Sydney and London is the trams. London has no trams through the streets - they all run underground and are all privately owned. There are two classes of trams - the Tube and the Electric Line. The Tube is a way - it Billy O down- say 5 or 600 feet down while the Electric is only about 50 feet. They are very cheap and extra fast. On the streets run O'Buses (Motor) after the style of the trams. There are thousands - you can see them everywhere and these were very attractive to see. You wonder why. Well, firstly you can see London better from an omnibus than anything else and secondly but none the least important is that the conductor is a Girl. That's a thing which struck us as peculiar, girls doing all sorts of jobs, walk down the street and you see a window cleaner. I had seen photos of them in papers but had I not seen them I would not have believed it. But never the less they were there dressed in men's clothes of oilskin. Go a bit further and you see a girl page, girl done up in livery to put it plainly, girls are doing everything. We had theatre parties every evening for there is nothing else to do, it is so dark. Another thing, go in for dinner and after having soup and joints they won't serve you with sweets and when you get your bill they charge for each thing separately. Oh! the difference from Australia. Take a tip from me stay in New South. Sydney is not too bad at all. I was stopping at a friend's peoples place at Kensington, West London and they treated us right royally. London is the thing for the CASH. 4 days - $4/10/- not bad going eh? Well that is all our leave so I made the best of it. Well I can't remember much more now to tell so must close. Tell Mr Cook I went round to see his brother but they couldn't find him and I couldn't wait too long as time is precious while on leave. They have shifted from Horsferry Road and are in a Hall not far from the HeadQuarters, was sorry I missed him. I hope everything at home is OK and that you all are in the best of health. Remember me to relatives and friends. I haven't received many letters from relatives so you can give them my news as it is hard to settle down to write in such cold weather. I'll answer all letters I receive so if anyone wants to hear from me direct, it's up to them to write now and again. I am not too bad. I have had, and in fact I still have a very bad cold and terribly sore feet from walking over the hard frozen ground.. Otherwise I am splendid. Well mother must close. Am sending you some views of London and the places I have visited together with some English papers. Well goodbye mother and father, sisters and brothers. Fondest love to you all. I remain yours, am luckily your loving son,
Frank.
Candahar Barracks
Tidworth England.
8th April,1917
Dear Mother and Father, This is the last epistle from Tidworth for next Saturday we rejoin our units again. That means (1) no batman, cleaning boots, getting up early etc etc. It will hurt. Well mother the weather is getting much nicer now though it snows pretty constant still. Things are going from bad to worse in England. Talk about restrictions in Australia, they don't know what it is there. Here:- No soldier allowed in any public eating house or place of amusement after 10pm, only see eatables between the hours of 7am till 8am, 10am till 10.45am, 4.30 pm till 9pm. That's pretty rough isn't it. Can get practically no sugar. All cakes you buy are minus it. But with all this we manage to see only the humorous side of things. We have just received bad news of the reinforcement. They are said to have been nearly all gassed. No official news yet but hope it is not so. Everybody here seems to think the end is in view now. All returned men seem to be confident and they never wish to be back again as you will hear the papers state. Well, how is dear old home getting along? This is Easter Sunday. I can hardly realize it for we worked Good Friday as usual and do likewise tomorrow Monday.
France.
May 19th, 1918.
Dear Mother & Father, No doubt you have been surprised to have had no news from me lately but we have been having a rough passage- been in front line for over a month now and still no relief to hand- can't get anything here, for example look at the paper- it has been 'souvenired' from the little shell riddled village we are holding- tis on the nearest front to Fritz's first objective A------. We have suffered pretty heavily, over 40 in our company casualties but since taking over we have advanced over 1000 yds and are now in a fairly good position. Received all your last mail OK. Am glad to hear Keith passed his 25 test OK- hope he brings the other part off. Auntie May's letter arrived this mail too but I will have to wait till we come out to square up all letters I owe. Please tell all other relatives the cause of no mail- tis hard to get a green envelope and the officers can't censor letters in the line so delay cannot be avoided. We are getting ideal weather- lovely long days, not dark till after 10pm and stand down at 4am. Naturally there is great aerial activity- have seen dozens of planes come down this trip in - some from terrible heights-tis great but awful sight to see the manouverings in an air fight. Artillery also is pretty warm. Am enclosing a shoulder strap of the Fritz Battalion we pushed out when we advanced the line. We have plenty of sniping and shooting- good sport. One morning Fritz attacked on our left and after digging in the Fritz kept coming in "Kamerading" right up to midday. Have heard plenty of talk about Fritz coming over and giving himself up but tis the first time I have seen it. T'was funny, also pitiful. They started across No Mans Land hands right up then their own machine guns at them and then some of our "fools" started potting at them and they did the Chinese trot in with hands up- did look comical for we were in a position to enjoy it. The weather has been glorious Dinkum Australian. No doubt this letter is a ragtime but it is never the less a dinkum one straight from the busiest part of France. We are only about 300 yds from the canal and river --------. Well mother I think this is all this time-would very much sooner be getting ready for the theatre than getting ready for my job now. Tis a fighting patrol. We met eight Fritzies last night. Well fondest love to all. Hope they are all well and in the best of health. I am in the best of health and spirits. I remain, Your loving son,
Frank.
France
27 - 5 - 1918. Dear Mother, Still in the line Mother- this is the longest trip that any battalion has ever done in the line - 5 weeks today since we came in. The weather is 'Tres Bon' that is all that has stuck to us. I can't write a letter here for there is such a job to get letters censored etc let alone snaring an envelope. I write this mere note to let you know I am still OK and going strong. Of course shall write all letters in arears as soon as I get out. Since coming in have been going the pace a trifle-- two raids & a hop over & this morning Fritz attacked A Coy but he was driven back without any loss. Young Stark is still in Blighty and by all accounts having a good time. Hope all at home are well. Please tell all relatives the cause of delay in my letters. Hope Keith is successful. Fondest Love
Froggie Land
21 Sand Bag Rd
Boggie Hill
12 - 7 - 1918
Dear Mother, Yrs. of May the 5th arrived OK- received quite a budget this time.. Yes the business has been pretty rough since April but have dodged the A330 shell and bullet so far. Am at present out for a breather tho the Battalion is in the Business. A decided improvement in the enlistment lately and what inducements? They have had a fair spin watching Charlie Chaplain at the pictures. Tell Keith not to go silly like one did two years ago -Compree. Take plenty of practice in the mud and rain before you dream of this job. About the parcels father, socks are always acceptable and in winter cheap woollen gloves ( not mittens) Head apparel, well see. owing to so much gas we must have our heads clear for gas helmet. Oh a long muffler would be Tres Beans. I am going strong in the best of health and spirits. Am expecting Blighty leave inside 2 months now so that may relieve the monotony somewhat. The weather is holding good and that counts a good deal here.Well I have exhausted the most of the permissible news so will close. Remember me to all Relatives and Friends. I Remain Your Loving Son
Frank.
Dear Mrs Mack
I am writing to tell you of the death of your son Cpl F J Mack. He was
brought in here (61CCS) quite early on Monday morning, wounded in the abdomen.
Everything possible was done for him and during the day he seemed to maintain
his strength, but towards evening he grew weaker/ died about 8.30pm. I was with
him two or three times during the day and again shortly before he died.
It may be of comfort to know that I buried him this morning in a quiet little
graveyard far from the noise of battle. His grave is well cared for and will be
marked with a cross.
May God comfort you in your trouble and grant to him eternal rest.
I remain Yours very Truly
Revd. G.R.Boycott Chaplain (CofE) 61st C.C.S
Revd. G.R.Boycott Chaplain (CofE) 61st C.C.S
Boys 15 years and older would lie about there age to serve there country. In the united kingdom alone over 250,000 boys lied about there age and around 30,000 of them lost there lives. Calculated by(historian Richard Van Emden author of Boy Solders of The Great War.)
information from- www.BBC.com, www.PBS.com, women of wwII, WWI primary sources