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From: "Daryl Crabtree" <>
Subject: [AUS-VIC-NorWest] WEST WIMMERA MAIL
Date: Fri, 7 Dec 2001 22:47:25 +1000


February 8, 1918
Letters From The Front

Private Ernie Francis formally of the "Mail" staff, writes from Belgium
under date December 3, 1917, to a friend in Natimuk, as follows-----

The cold is just intense. We had snow yesterday morning and a wind that
would bite through you blew all day and night. The wind has frozen the
ground and where one had mud yesterday, only earth like stone exists today.
I am writing this by candle light in an iron humpy, though the day is
bright. The moisture from my breath is settled in drops from the ceiling
about a foot above my head. My feet I am trying to thaw out in blankets
and my fingers are often at the candle flame. Two others are trying to
scribble home and are uttering imprecations on the cold. One has given up
the game but if he waits till warmer times that letter will never be
finished, and just to think that over there in our sunny Southland you have
heat to spare. Things will be much nicer ( I don't think) when we go out at
2 30 PM, handling iron and barbed wire right into the hours of sleety
darkness. And they talk of war. We can return to a warm drink of tea at
any rate. But there are men who are sitting this weather out up in the
front line and supports, with the watchful eye of German airmen ready to
spot any incautious movement which will give their position away. I do
not think that people really understand just what their friends are
undergoing for them. When they are not in the hell that one calls a battle
it is a question of wait patiently in much rain and bitter wind.
I got a great surprise when I learnt of the death of Ted Schunke. I saw
him a few days before he went in for the final time. He looked well and was
quite happy. He had suffered more than his share for the sake of Australia.
We never had any faith in the relief of the original men. But if they had
done their part in Australia he would now have been safe and well. But
what else can you expect from men who do not even back us up by carrying out
their work in Australia, They can never have any idea of what men are
undergoing to save their worthless skins. So far it has been left to men
to say whether they value their lives more than the liberty of Australia,
but I doubt if they are worthy of consideration.-------Ernie Francis

NEWS FLASH NEWS FLASH NEWS FLASH
WEST WIMMERA MAIL NOW HAS A WEB SITE
Thanks to Daryl Povey and Ballarat Genealogy
Click on link below and book mark in favourites for later visits

www.ballaratgenealogy.org.au/goroke/index.html

Daryl Crabtree
Gladstone
C.Qld
Australia


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