The Baker Boys Episode 5

January 15^th 1917

My dear Mother,

I received your very welcome letter the other day, dated November 9^th, also one from Nell, Bubs and Girlie and was very pleased to hear you are all well.  We are out for a spell now.

I met Willie Cox the other night, I also so Mick Monaghan for a few minutes as their battalion was marching past.  I missed Roady, he was there somewhere.  Les is in hospital with trench feet.

I think I told you in the last letter, met Bert Hendy, he has been in England all the time.

I am getting another set of teeth in a day or two.

Fancy old Fred Mac not passing.  The home service mob will have a good time, they may as well be dinkum.  I hope Les gets his commission; he has worked his nut a bit better than his brother.

Girlie asked me, was that Brady taken with Marshall and I quite forget all the photos now?  Those photos you sent me I lost the lot in my wallet.  I had some good souvenirs in it too.

Well mother, I hope to be soon getting my ten days leave to England.  Well, I can’t think of any news Mother to tell you so I will now close with best love to all at home.

From your loving son,
Ross.

January 21^st 1917

My dear Mother,

I just received two letters from you dated November 18^th and 24^th, also one from Nell and Bubs and was very pleased to hear you were all well.  I think I told you Les is doing pretty well.  I think, as you say, he is using his brains.  Good luck to him anyway. 

I got one of the Christmas parcels, I wish I had got that waistcoat but I suppose it is fair in war, a man is lucky to be alive and well these times.

I only met Arthur Penglase one night.  I have not seen him since.  I told you in last letter I saw Mick Monaghan for a few minutes.  I got that old letter of Ernie Taylors.

Well Mother, we had a good snow storm the other day, we had snow all over the place, we went hunting hares, the whole mob of us got out, surrounded an old hare, keep at him till he is blown out.  We caught two one day and two the next.

We are still spelling but will soon be in again.  Everything has been frozen lately, then mud is as hard as iron.

Well Mother, Keelty and I are both well, his number is 4155. 

Well, news is very scarce so I will now close, with best love to all at home.

From your loving son,
Ross.

France
February 26th 1917

My dear Mother,

I received some letters from you all some time ago but have not had a chance to write before. We are both well and still going strong. I had a letter from Les the other day. I hope he gets in with me. Well, I will soon have another Birthday in France. I hope the next one will be home.

I met old Barry Cooper the other day, you remember the old shearer’s cook. Austin knows him. I got a letter from Ted Bonnett last night he is well he has been in hospital with trench feet my feet are better now.

I have a long top pair of rubber boots they are good keep your feet dry. I gave 45 francs for them, about 32 shillings. There is no news to tell you Mother so I will have to close now with the best of love to all at home from Your loving son Ross

France
Tuesday March 6th 1917

My dear Jack,

I received your very nice letter some time ago and was very pleased to hear from you also that you had a good run. I got a letter from Les last night; he is in England.

Well John my Birthday today, forgot all about it till I started to write this letter. We had a heavy snow storm yesterday. My feet are all right now I have a bonza pair of long rubber boots they keep my feet warm and dry. I suppose you will soon be making for the sheds again; you will soon be taking on shearing I suppose.

Well John, I have no news to tell you so I will now close with best love to all at home.

From Your loving brother Ross

France
Friday March 9th 1917

My dear Mother,

I received two letters from you the other day dated January 1st and January 4th and was very pleased to hear you were all well.

All the mud is frozen hard again we have had a few sleet and snow storms lately and it has made it very cold. I am glad you received the Anzac book. No, Mother I was unlucky with my leave, my turn was just about up when they cut it out till next winter.  Thank God we have the winter just about over. I do not want to go through another over here.

I have had several letters from Les lately, he is in the infantry. They say the Artillery has the best time of course, we are not in the trenches like the infantry. We do no hopping over as they call it, to finish with bayonet but when our guns are advancing we have to keep up the ammunition and we get it pretty hot I can tell you.

But Mother, don’t you worry about me. If we don’t settle old Fritzy this spring, well we will never win. If I could tell you as much as I know you would be surprised. We would be very unlucky if we get wounded because old Fritz has his guns so far back because he has so many captured.

It is pay day for us today, we will be checked up again. Yes, poor Bradley got killed in his dugout a shell came right in it he was asleep at the time too, he was behind the line too.

I will be down for a game of tennis on Sunday if they are playing. I wish you meant it.

No that was another Lawson. Charlie is still with us. We have just topped off a tin of Apricots. I have been going to send a parcel but where we have been this long time you can get nothing.

Well Mother there is no news I can tell you so have a couple of extra puddings and chooks for next Christmas dinner for Les and myseIf. 

So, with the very best of love to all at home from your loving son Ross

France
Wednesday March 14th 1917

My dear Mother,

I received your ever welcome letter last night dated Jan 15th also one from Girlie and one from Les from England and was pleased to hear you were all well. I also received the two Chronicles. I hope to get the parcels in a day or two. Not very much did you say Mother in the parcels? Socks and cigarettes are a God send over here.

It has been raining all day I wish I could send you some, we are up to our knees in mud. We have the winter just about beat now though Old Fritzy has gone back some lately he will get it this spring.

I saw poor old Bradley’s photo did you notice one A. Ethridge?  He was on our section. I was up with him when he was killed. I told you about it before I think.

Well, I am getting an old soldier now 2 birthdays in the army. We all hope not to see another winter over here it is no fun. I am writing to Les today. We are still carrying on a hope to see this mess over this spring.

I have no news to tell you Mother so I will now close.

With Best love to all at home from your loving son Ross

France
March 26th 1917

My dear Mother,

Just a few lines to let you know I am still well and hoping you are all well also. We are having some fair weather now, it is still very cold but much warmer than it has been. We have advanced a lot here lately. I wish the pace could be kept up we would be in Berlin very shortly.

I have not received those parcels yet but expect them any day now. Well Mother excuse this short note as things are pretty busy and no news, so with best love to all at home from Your loving son Ross

In the Field
April 18th 1917

My dear Mother,

I received two letters also those two parcels from you the other day and was very pleased to hear you were all well. The smokes were very highly appreciated not only by me but my mates also.  We never had a smoke of any sort, no hope of buying any at the time.

We have been kept busy lately, it has been very windy and wet. I had a night with Tommy Edwards, Roady and Mick they are all well.  We had a great talk of old times.

Jim Callard had a very close shave here the other day. I suppose you will hear all about it. I have not heard from Les for a while. I heard something about the yarn old Ma Blore put about the long tongued old hag. I had a letter from Lizzie the other day.

Well Mother I am keeping in bonza health and hope this bun fight will soon be over. I can’t tell you any news so I will have to close with best love to all at home from Your loving son Ross

In the Field
April 25th 1917,

My dear Mother,

I have received several letters from you lately last one dated 20th Feb also four parcels, two last night with the cap comforter etc. I can’t thank you enough. Mother it was a God send.

We are having some lovely weather lately. There is a taube over us now our anti air-craft guns are on to him.  He is after some of our observation Balloons. But he has come a Gutzer.

Summer is coming on fast we have had to hand in all our warm clothing it is like being in a new world again. I can’t remember what that was that was torn out in that letter.

I think I told you before I met Tommy Edwards. Roady and Mick had a good night’s yarn. Old Bill Turner is about here somewhere I have not met him yet. Yes Keelty got Lill’s parcels alright.

As soon as we go out of action back and out for a spell and get somewhere near a town the team the three of us are going to get our photos taken we are the only original team left in this section.

We have to go into another stunt and then we pull out I think.

Well Mother tell Girlie and Nell, Bubs I will write to them one of these day we are kept pretty busy lately it is a pretty warm corner but the Hun keeps falling back.

I see the wedding cake alright but tell Girlie I put it under my pillow and just turned into bed when the sergeant came in and said Baker get your team ready you have to go to so and so Battery so we had to get out and take ammunition to our guns and did not get home till 4 o’clock this morning. So, I will try my luck tonight.

We are rather flash soldiers now, no mind about we can keep ourselves a bit respectable you would not have known me here in the winter covered in mud and our faces and hands almost black. I don’t want another winter here.

The Australians are a tough lot. Old Fritzes heads says the Australians are the bravest soldiers in the field. Not skiting you know that it’s the dinkum oil. I’m not saying I am one of them and don’t look for V.C. only looking for Australia.  Often dream about my little grey home in the west and wake up to hear old Fritz sending over some of his little pea rifles shells, big enough though to Blow old Milpa up.

There has been some great fights in the air lately.  Old Fritzy came just over us the other night and set two of our Balloons on fire. The men jumped out in their parachutes.  It was a pretty sight, we got him though. The pilot was shot behind the ear and the other snoozer was shot dead.  Of course, these things are common.

I am chancing this letter to get through. I could write all night but if I put anything about our whereabouts or what’s doing a fellow will go up for it.

Well Mother remember me kindly to all the folk & tell them they will see me back in old Milpa about Xmas. I have a pretty safe job compared with the infantry so don’t worry. There is no hopping over the parapet, no fear of getting run through with the bayonet, but old Fritz won’t fight if our boys get that close to him up goes his arms, mercy comrade.

Well dear Mother I will close now with best love to all at home from Your loving son Ross

In the Field
Saturday June 9th 1917

My dear Mother,

Just a few lines to let you know I will be going on my leave to England in about 3 weeks’

time. I am sending you a photo of Charlie Lawson, he got it taken while he was on leave. There is some hot fighting going on here lately, old Fritz is getting a doing.

Well Mother excuse this short note as I have to go up to the guns tonight so I will have to close with the best of love to all at home from Your loving son Ross

In the Field
Tuesday June 26th 1917

My dear Mother, I received two letters from you lately, April letters, also one from Austin, Girlie and Nell and was very pleased to hear you were all well. I had a letter from Iduna also. Lizzie said you were looking real well. I hope you have been having good health.

We are having some lovely weather here now. I have not got my leave yet, but will soon get it. So, Borley has a team of camels!  I think I would soon have the old motor.

I have not seen Bert Hendy for a long time but he is still well. I got a letter some time ago from Cousin Mary Smith from Campsie. I am answering it tomorrow. I have not seen Ted Bonnett yet. I have not heard from Les lately. I think he must be here somewhere.

I am glad to hear Jack is getting on so well he is a little Brick. I sent you Charlie’s photo a little while ago. I hope you get it alright.

A lot of my old mates have had a great time in England, a chap will see nearly all the countries in the world before he gets back if he keeps on going. By joves, Nell must be growing tall, a chap won’t know them.

How is Dad keeping? I suppose big fellow flour bag now. I wish I was with him now with Solly again would do no giving a week’s notice at this job. I suppose the winter is coming on by this.

Well Mother I can’t tell you anything of what’s going on so will have to ring off so with the very best of love to all at home from Your loving son Ross

AIF & War Chest Club 97 Horseferry Road London S.W.1.
July 26th 1917

Dear Mother,

Just a few lines to let you know I am on furlough in London, about time my turn came too! We came over last Thursday. I am having a lovely time. I am getting my photo taken today.

Keelty has not got his leave yet. Ought to be over any day now though. I got the money alright. I am with two 46th Battalion chaps, two real good mates, we are having the time of our lives. I got my pass made out to Edinburgh but I can see enough in London for the next few days.

We were here when the air raid was on the other morning the girls were very frightened, you see them making for the tubes underground we were asked several times were we frightened we had to laugh. I think they must have thought we were London soldiers.

Well, I will be able to tell a lot about London when we get back. Well Mother I can’t tell much news I will write a longer letter from France about London. My old left eye is getting very bad the same thing is on the right one now I will have to see a doctor about it.

Well au revoir Mother till next time with best love to all at home from Your loving son Ross

In the Field Friday
Aug 17th 1917

My dear Mother,

Just a few lines to let you know I am quite well and hoping you are in the best of health. I have not had a letter for a long time now. I came back from my Blighty leave on the 31st of last month and didn’t I have a time. I got the money alright. I hope it did not put you to any inconvenience. I should have had it in my book but every pay day I used to draw a full pay it all went in tucker it saved our lives in the winter I can tell you. I am only going to draw a certain amount a pay now there is always canteens near us somewhere only draw enough to keep me going in cigarettes. I met Austin McLean in London. I think I told you before.

Les is about here somewhere. I have not seen him since. I often laugh over that piece of poetry you sent about the mules it is quite true too, only they are not jibs they are great workers but a mouth like steel and kick.

Old Fritz is rocking a few in now the old sod, I hope he don’t knock this piece of pencil it’s all I have. There has been something doing here lately I can tell you. I am closing this letter in one. I am writing to Lizzie, I only had the two envelopes both addressed and a chap came scrambling in here like a big dope and put his great muddy foot on me envelopes and paper. I would have knocked him. ‘

Well Mother I can’t think of any news so I will have to close with best love to all at home from Your loving son Ross.

I will write to the girls later. How is Dad and Aunty keeping. By joves, Jack must be a little brick eh.

In the Field
Sept 4th 1917

My dear Mother,

I received several letters from you lately also the two parcels which were very acceptable. I saw Les about a fortnight ago he is well. I went out to find him the other night but he had shifted, he is in a raiding party now. I am going to try and get leave and see him again.

My address is one 111 Howitzer Battery Australian Field Artillery. I got transferred some time ago. Keelty and Charlie are in the D.A.C. I saw them the other night. Keelty had just come back from Boulogne, he will be going on leave to England any day.

Yes Mother, I got the money alright. I think I told you that I met Austin McLean in London.

We had a very wet week last week, but it is lovely this one, bright moonlight nights,  good nights for old Fritz to drop bombs and he is making good use of it too.

I think a lot of my letters must have gone astray I suppose you will get them all in a heap.

Well Mother I am keeping well hoping you are all in the best of health. Well Mother I have no news to tell you so will have to close with best love to all, Your loving son, Ross

In the Field,
Sunday, Sept 16, 1917

My dear Mother,

Just a few lines to let you know I am quite well and hoping you are all in the best of health, also I have received several letters from you all lately. I was with Les for a couple of nights the other day, he is well I would like to get him with me.  I have tried to claim him but I can’t but he was advised to put in a transfer so he might be with me shortly.

I will give you my new address again in case my letters went astray. 111^th  Howitzer Battery Australian Field Artillery. We are having some lovely weather lately; Keelty is on leave in England. Les was showing me some photos of the girls, by joves they are all women now. I suppose Jack is a big fellow now. I had a letter from Reg Lally the other day he gave me Ben’s address. Ben was wounded on April 21st and was in hospital for 2 months or more. He is in the Light Horse in Egypt. Reg is here somewhere. I will dig him up first chance.

Well Mother there is no news so I will close now with best love to all at home from Your loving son Ross

PS Excuse burn on paper my cig dropped on it. I am just going to make some custard. We got some cake out of a canteen!  Cake and custard, what a feed!  Some cooks.

In the Field
Monday October 1st 1917

My dear Mother,

Just a few lines to let you know I am quite well and happy. I have received several letters from you lately but this is the first chance I have had to write for some time. We have had it pretty rough but doing good work giving Fritz hell. I suppose you have seen all about it in the papers some of his strongest points too. I have had some close shaves I can tell you. 

We have been going day and night but don’t mind it as long as we are giving him lots. I saw Les up till about 8 o’clock the night he went in for the hop. It hurt me to see him march off poor kid. He did not know what he had to go through like I did. I cheered him up though, told him it was not as bad as they reckoned. The Artillery does it nearly all.

I seen him again when he came out. He reckoned it was lovely they just walked over smoking cigs behind our barrage.  They took all their objective easy but after things quietened down got to them with his Artillery but casualties were very slight.

Les had some narrow goes.  I think he will be able to get with me but the Artillery is no bun either, we get a hot time especially when these musters are on. I think this old war will soon be finished now, old Fritz is getting a real good doing.

Tell Girlie and Nell and Bubs and Flo I will write as soon as I get a quiet time. I saw Bert Hendy yesterday for a while. Keelty is back from leave. I have not seen him since he came back.

I will give you my new address again because a lot of my letters I know you don’t get; 111th Howitzer Battery, Australian Field Artillery.

Well Mother I hope you are all well at home. Les is looking real well, a fine well-built fellow he looks. We are having a lovely run a fine weather. Well Mother I have no news to tell you so remember me kindly to all the old friends. 

So with best of love to all at home from your loving son Ross.

Ross was killed in action during the Battle of Passchendaele on 19 Oct 1917.The Battle of Passchendaele was fought near Ypres, Belgium, between July 31 and Nov 6 1917, The British, Australian and New Zealand forces attempted to capture the high ground from the Germans but were hampered by heavy rain that turned the battlefield into a quagmire. It resulted in immense casualties, ultimately achieving little strategic gain. Allied casualties for the 100-day battle were 250,000 killed, wounded or missing.

He was buried where he was killed and a standard cross with his name marked the spot. His remains were later interred in the Potijze Chateau Grounds Cemetery.