Pictorial record of Ned Dwyer's time post Armistice with the AIF Page 1

France 12-11-18 Dear Kate, Peace at last and the Armistice signed.  Hope all still well at home.  It will be months yet before we all get home but we have weathered the battle, that is something.  Now we remember the mates that are gone and will not come home with us.  In the last scrap that we had two men killed in my platoon were with us from the start.  They were what we call stiff to go through all the time and get knocked in the last scrap.  I was in this town when the news came through last night, and there was some fun.  The great topic now is when will we get home.  That will be the great day for us all.  It is getting very cold here now, the winter is almost on us.  Did I tell you I had a letter from America?  I would like to run across the one that is in France.  I am quite well and fit.  I have had another card from Will and he is quite all right again. Love to all, Sonny. 

Warlus, France 19-11-18 Dear Mother, Am glad to hear that all is well at home.  Warlus is the village that we are billeted in, a bit slow but not too bad.  It is cold and there is plenty of ice about.  I got quite a bundle of letters from home this mail and birthday wishes from you and Kate.  About those two candles from Villers Bretonneux – we were at a village a month or so ago, and at mess one night we were talking of things when Madam who owns the house told us that she was a refugee of Villers B.  She was very interested in all we could tell her of it or what was left of it.  And when I told her of the two candles from the grand altar she wanted one.  She was about 70 so I gave her one and have the other with me.  I thought I told you that I did not send them or the Iron Cross.  I am sending to England for my camera as we will be able to use them here now.  My eyes are all right.  The last four or five months fighting proved them as good as ever and my aim as steady.  Thank God.  Hope all well at home. Love, Sonny. 

Ned is on the extreme left of the picture

Exeter 2-1-19 Dear Mother, A photo that I took at Mrs Oswell’s last week. There are two daughters, two nieces, etc. and the ‘lead swingers’, two Tommies and myself.  Don’t I look war worn and sad?  The chief trouble is that there is only one pocket in the coat and that was full.  As you will notice the pocket is on the inside.  Hope all well at home.  I’m jake.  Nearly as heavy as when we left the Hindy Line.  I lost a bit when I got the flu.  Love to all.         Love, Sonny.

15-1-19  Exeter Dear Kate, Am tip top and having the time of my life.  Hope that Mother and all of you are keeping well.  I am the only Aussie in this ward.  I am waiting for our people to send for me.  I am quite well but there is no Aussie camp handy so they keep me here till our authorities send for me, and what a time I am having.  Most of the rules here don’t bind Aussies.  The only trouble is I can’t get my uniform but must go about in blues.  The people here are fine.  My locker is the despair of the nurses.  I sometimes take another chap from here and we go out for a walk.  He is a tommy, but a decent chap and if we are out after time they cannot blame him as he is with a Sergeant and of course the Sergeant is blamed and as it is in..(on the paper) (balance of letter lost)

The Union Terrace Gardens, Aberdeen

Aberdeen 20-1-19 Dear Mother, Tip top and going strong.  It is a bit cold here but I am having a bon time.  I will be leaving here for south either tomorrow or the next day.  I want to spend a week in Exeter and then Home Sweet Home.  I am not to go back to France.  Next trip on the water is for Aussie.  Hope all well at home. Love, Sonny.

Girdleseas Lighthouse, Aberdeen

Aberdeen 21-1-19 Dear Kate, Am fit as can be and enjoying myself better than I did when on leave from France.  There is no thought of having to go back to the line this time. Am leaving here for Exeter tomorrow so you may get my next letter from there.  I will try and get a good group of the nurses, particularly my nurse.  I did take a group of the sister herself and I, but the neg got cracked so I hope to get another.  I told you in the last letter that parcels are fairly rolling in now.  The weather here now is a bit ‘soft’and cold.  I tried to get some more of those cards printed but the negative has been lost or broken and I have no time to get another taken here, perhaps Exeter. Love to Mother and all the rest. Sonny.

Exeter 24-1-19 Dear Mother, Am having a fine time and only hope that all are well at home.  I am on hospital leave and staying here for a few days.  You will have had my cards from Scotland.  Am going out to stay with the Snowballs for the last few days.  I go there tomorrow.  I have been travelling too much to get any prints from the snaps that I have taken so far.  Will make up for that when I get back to camp, I hope.  The little watch needs cleaning, and no wonder after the time it has had.  But the souvenir watch that I got at Peronne keeps good time.  Had a good time yesterday.  Took my nurse down to Exmouth for the day.  It was cold but fine, and a nice beach. Love to all, Sonny. 

undated Sgts Mess No. 8 Camp, No. 1 Command Depot, Sutton Veny. Dear Mother, Am tip top and trying to squeeze another leave as I am not on a boat roll yet, but expect one soon.  The strikes are holding the ships up just now.  I will go to Exeter again if I get the chance.  It is only about eighty miles from here.  There is no chance of going to Ireland, I am afraid, owing to strikes, so Devonshire will have to do and it is not bad.  The weather here is cold and it has been freezing for the last four days.  We have to keep water inside to wash with as the taps are all frozen.  How is everyone at home?  Hope that they are well.  I have not had a mail for about a month, so ought to get a batch soon.   Love,  Sonny.

undated No. 8 Camp Sutton Veny Dear Kate, Glad to hear all well.  I am tip top.  Glad to know that you met Fred Garvis.  He was a good man in the line and my runner for quite a while.  He could tell you of an experience we had together about a week before Messines, perhaps he did.  I am glad that he got posted all right.  He should have left here long before he did.  What a time you must have had when the Armistice was signed.  I am going to try and get my photograph taken today, good weather permitting.  I will certainly take a run up to Marburg when I get back and take a shot at something that will not shoot back.  I am afraid that I will not get to Ireland though I may get a leave.  It will only be for four days and I will go to Exeter.  Then it will be the boat, when she sails.  Don’t stop writing till you hear from me.  Remember me to all and to Jack Farrell, too. Love, Sonny.

This is the last letter from overseas that survives.

17 of Ireland Dear Mother, Fit as can be and hope that you are well at home.  I am afraid that we will be longer in getting home than we first thought.  So keep writing.  There are no shells and bombs to fear now and we live in comfort.  I spent last weekend at Bath, a very interesting town.  The Romans started to build it about the time of Christ.  Most of the finest buildings are of Roman origin, a bit weather worn, but solid.  The Roman baths are still in fair repair.  I will send you some snaps of it the next time I write.  The R.C. Cathedral is a beauty, especially inside.  How is Clara, Fred and the youngsters getting on?  Hope all well and that none of you have had the ‘flu.  Remember me to all and keep fit.  There is no need to worry now.  This is a holiday, though a bit too long on this side of the water. Love to Kate, Love, Sonny.

Email  

Sponsor:  Redlands RSL  8 Passage St  Cleveland,  Qld.   since  8 May 2005