Pictorial record of Ned Dwyer's time in France with the AIF Page 3

France 12-10-17 Dear Kate, I am about right again.  I am leaving for our base tomorrow.  Fritz failed to crack the skull and the wound is nearly healed already.  How did Mother take it when she heard that I was hit?  I still have the photos that you sent, Bill’s, Mother’s and the other cards.  They were in my pockets and I got them all out before they took my uniform which I understand was destroyed as it could not be cleaned.  I am now wearing a Tommy uniform until I get to our base when I will be fitted out again.  How is Fred and Clara getting on, and the niece and nephew? Remember me to Gracie Roe and all the others.  There is no need to tell you that it is wet and muddy over here.  The papers will do that. Love, Sonny.

France 14-10-17 Dear Kate, Hope that all is well at home.  I am tip top and out of hospital.  I am at the Base, as I told Mother.  I hope that she did not get to know too suddenly that I was hit as she would only worry uselessly, as the hit was really a very light one.  This has been the only thing that worried me.  How is Fred, Clara and the two youngsters keeping?  All well, I hope.  This will be the third Xmas that I have spent away from home since the war began and I hope that it will be the last.  It will be good to get back to ‘Aussie’ again.  Will was all right when I last saw him.  I have written to him to look after my mail until I get back.  I did not get the brooch for you.  I have had no time or opportunity yet.  Will send it at the first chance.  Remember me to Grace Roe and all the others.  Love,  Sonny.

Flags of Great Britain, Russia, France & Australia behind the "Rising Sun".

France 14-10-17 Dear Mother, I am doing A1 and feeling very fit.  My head is a bit sore where it was hit but that will wear away.  It was a great scrap.  After we took the first line, our fellows went forward smoking cigars that we found in the pill boxes, etc. and when we got to the second objective Fritz started to surrender by Platoons.  It was funny to see him in droves with his hands up.  I was not hit until after we had got our position and dug in.  I am now at the Base.  Those Fritzes who tried to run rarely got far.  Our fellows proved their shooting powers.  As we moved through a ruined town we were photographed by a moving picture machine, so you may see the 42 on the screen out there some day.  I hope that everyone at home is keeping well and that you are not worrying over this knock. Love, Sonny. 

France 24-10-17 Dear Kate, I am all right again and back with the boys.  We are resting again.  The weather here is not bad but it is getting cold now.  The snow will soon be here now.  Glad to hear that all is going well at home.  I will write a longer letter next time. Trusting that all is well. Love, Sonny.

France 24-10-17 Dear Mother, All well here.  I am back with the boys and we are out for a spell again at the same place as we were last time.  The people here seemed real sorry to see us go when we went up.  And some of them were actually crying about it when we marched away and they fairly jumped when we came back.  Both old and young did not hesitate to embrace and hug the fellows and then asked after those who did not come back.  I got back here after the Battalion and when I got back I did get a reception from both the boys and the people we stayed with.  It was good to come back.  I got your letter 18-8-17 and am glad that things are going well at home.  I am going to send you a few trinkets by this mail too, so look out for them.  It was Bill Allan that used to be at the Birmingham that I mean.  I met Jack Dacey a couple of days before we hopped over last time but have not been able to see him since.  I am tip top again. Love, Sonny. 

France  30-10-17 Dear Kate, Trust all well at home.  I am righto again.  You said I did not tell you all when I told you about getting my coat ripped by a piece of shell. That was all that happened to me but I lost some good men there, worse luck.  Fritz had to blow us out by shelling us for about 30 hours.  Some of us were wounded, some killed, but he could not drive us out.  We won.  Just to the right of where we dug in and a little in front was one of those life size crucifixes that the French and Belgians have all over the place.  It stood through it all until a shell burst and broke both arms and riddled the Image.  It was still there standing though badly broken about when we were relieved.  In the last battle where I got wounded there was nothing like the bombardment that he gave us then, thank heaven.  But the mud was worse.  The last colours uniform (nice and new) was completely ruined on the 4th, so I have a new lot again.  I got the chewing gum all right and enjoyed it.  Remember me to all.  Love to Mother and yourself, Sonny.

France 1-11-17 Dear Mother, Wishing you all the best of Xmases and a Happy New Years. Sonny.

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