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Petersburg Times (SA: 1887 - 1919) Friday 30 March 1917
Letters from the Front
From Private G. R. Miller.—January 29. No. 1 Command Depot, Perham Downs, Salisbury Plains. Dear Lucy—I have just received a bunch of letters—first since about last October. Two were from you, dated October, giving account of railway picnic and Jamestown show. I am pleased that you do still get about and enjoy yourself a bit, although it must be awfully dull in the Burg by now. I got two from B.H., and one from Queensland; also several others. There must be a lot of other letters chasing me up, as I have had none at all since going sick on November 20. Of course, I have given up hope of getting any Christ- mas parcels, as they do not send them to us in hospitals, as they are not needed there, but are opened by the other lads left behind in the battalion. I have written several times lately. Hope you get them all right; also some postcard photos of yours truly. Herb should write oftener, as his letters always interest me. I got his October one all right. Well, old kid. It's a very rough life in France, I am sure you don't get any idea what we go through; but since I took crook I have had the best time of my life. Just about two months it lasted, but a chap deserves a spell after doing a bit. I was only really bad for about a week. During that time I was pretty low, but good treatment, etc., soon pulled me around. I told you before all about my spell in hospital—just one month in England, about one week in France, one more week in a bonzar convalescent camp near London, and then went out on 14 days' furlough with a pocketful of money. Say, but didn't I cut a dash, I intended going to Scotland, but never left London. There is plenty to see and do there. I enjoyed it no end. I went all over the Tower of London. Free guides take soldiers all over London, showing sights, explaining things, and telling us old history—quite a lot of the same as we learnt at school. All the Crown jewels are kept at the Tower, worth many millions, and are on view. There are jewels of all descriptions, some dating back many hundreds of years, biggest diamond in the world is in a crown there. The crowns worn by the present King and Queen are also there. Hundreds of other things make a fellow's mouth water to look at them. There's a museum also, for all sorts of old relics, dating back thousands of years. Such things as armour worn at the Battle of Waterloo, bows, arrows, etc. Everything as far as the walls and buildings are concerned remain the same as hundreds of years ago; they are remark- ably well preserved. We were shown what is called the torture chamber, where hundreds of people were tortured to death years ago; also the exact rooms where the two young princes were killed and buried; the same square where Lady Jane Grey and several others were beheaded. There is a block and an axe on view that had been used on these occasions. Some of the prison walls are still showing sketches, writing, verses, etc., that were engraved ages ago. It was very interesting to go over, the guide explaining all as we went. We went on a short tour of London to see some of the principal places, London Bridge, and many other historic places. The most impressive, I think, is St. Paul's Cathedral. It is a most wonderful building, very ancient. What interested me a lot were the tombs below the floor, where most of our greatest men are buried, such as Lord Nelson, Duke of Wellington, Wolseley, Lord Roberts, and many others. There's a fine tomb placed for Florence Nightingale, who founded the Red Cross. There are hundreds of other places of interest, such as the meat market, where many thousands of carcases from Australia and oversea are given out; also the wheat exchange. You can't get any idea of the size of things over here or the bustling that goes on. I don't know what it could have been like before the war. The tube railways had me beat for a while; they are electric cars, often hundreds of feet underground; in fact, they are run right below the Thames. There are thou- sands of miles of railway like that. Cars run every minute, and no waiting; but I soon got the drift of things underground. It's the only place in London that's warm or safe from Zep. bombs. I was on the Strand in London when that big explosion took place the other day; it shook things up a bit. I suppose you have had an- account of it in the papers by now. Well, as I said before, I had a real good time while there, but it couldn't last for ever. I am in camp again now, as you see; and it has about broken my heart. It's worse than enlisting again after the easy two months I have had. There's not much to do here, as they are only trying us to see who is fit to go back. We only do a couple of hours' walk in the morning and an hour's exercise in the afternoon; but the cold is something terrible. All water is frozen hard; even taps and fire buckets inside our huts are solid ice. Can't get water to wash; even if we could I would remain neutral. I shave once a day. I use the brush all over my face and neck, and then splash my hands; it's better than nixie. It's hard to keep warm in bed—only four rough blankets; so we sleep with most of our clothes on. There's a coal stove in each hut, but it's seldom you can get near it; so we all have to keep walking up and down to keep warm. I have been here nearly a week; believe we stay four weeks; don't know what the next move will be; hope to get more leave to Lon- don before leaving for France. May have to go back soon now; will let you know when I do. I have met a lot of old Burg boys in London and here. One of the Baldwins is here. Dorby Platten has a permanent job here as escort; goes all over England and Scotland on the job. It was about last October that I saw Noel; that was at Ypres. I wrote at the time. You can depend on him get- ting back; I wish I had his job. I will have a good talk to him next time. It's a long while since I saw Puss, but he has also a cushy billet. You never said anything about me getting that stripe for L. C., but it's no good to this kid. I could have been a sergeant by now if I had only pushed my barrow. Address letters Private, not L.C. Address them as usual to my battalion, France. They will get me some day. Well, I will have to close up now, I am in the Y.M.C.A. writing this—a very large building. There's a sing song on— hymns, etc. Sunday night, you see; otherwise it's ragtime. The Y.M.C.A. do a great deal of good work for us; they have their huts everywhere. Hope you will pass this letter on to B. H. Hoping you are all as well, as I am at present, Love from George.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article109503755

Petersburg Times (SA: 1887 - 1919) Friday 18 August 1916
Letters from the front.
At Sea. Dear Lucy— I will write a few more lines now I have a chance; might not be able to do so very often again. We have been at sea a fortnight. Still got a week or more from now. I am about full up of it; give me the land to live on after this. We have had the best of weather so far. So days there's not so much, as a ripple on the water—just like a big plate of glass. Don't see many ships; go several days and see nothing. There is always plenty of "grub," but it doesn't suit me; it's mostly soft tack. I am fat enough, but don't feel as well as I was at Mitcham or before I enlisted—not enough exercise and hard work. We get but little drill aboard the boat. We are pretty crowded; can't do a run very well to stretch out a bit. I miss the old bike; would like to go on a bit of a sprint now. I don't know how I will get on when in trenches, not able to move about at all. I think I told you all about our trip up to Fremantle. We arrived at Colombo late at night again; had a good look around next day. It was worth seeing; very few white people there, but niggers are as thick as rabbits—10 to 20 in every humpy; thousands of them; a very dirty looking lot, every bit as bad as our blacks, although they are supposed to be civilised. There are some very fine buildings there, and the roads in the main streets are very good; even in the native quarters they are kept in good order. No horses; all carting is done by cattle; small queer breed. They pack on some tremendous loads. All people get about in rickshaws. Guess you have heard of them. Beats me how the nigs. do it. They can trot along for miles on a level road, but I couldn't kid one to sprint at all. None wear more than a loin cloth. Sixpence a half-hour is charged. They are about the biggest rooks I ever met. Take you down every time if you are soft. If you are soft enough to give one youngster a penny, you will have a swarm around you quick, and no end of trouble to get rid of them. The trams are much the same as Adelaide but smaller. The trains equal ours. Things are fairly cheap; a lot of the lads bought fancy silk work to send home, but I never got any—too busy looking about. I will try and get some in Egypt to send you. It was mighty sultry ashore. I was wet through with perspiration, but it's a different heat to Australia—more close and sort of steamy, not a scorching sun like ours. I got back with C. Waldie to the boat about 10 at night with 12 cocoanuts for future use. Some bought bananas. Quite a change to get fruit. The boat sailed next day, but a lot of us went for a swim in the morning. No wharf in harbour, so were anchored out some distance. They say there were sharks, but none got me. I expected to get off at Bombay, but arrived in middle of night again and left about midday next day. No one allowed ashore at all. It would have been grand to have a look around there—one of the oldest cities in the world. All we saw was the niggers that coal the boat. They are a different class to the Ceylon native—a bit more clean in some ways, but still dirty enough. Women and all hop into the work of coaling. Dinkum, they don't get dusty carrying coal baskets on their heads. ] don't think there is anything to see at our next port of call. This letter will be mailed back from there. We don't know for sure where we are going; haven't heard much about the war since leaving; it will always be the same. You will know more than the men that are scrapping. Guess we will get a lot more training before we do anything. I will be glad when it's all over. The boat won't be fast enough to bring me back, but I hope to see a lot before returning. Well, just a little more to finish this letter. It's now three weeks since sailing, still several days to go, still have fine weather. I always sleep on deck; everyone has a hammock, but most just lay down on a blanket and over- coat, but don't get much sleep as there is always someone running about—With love from your brother George
At Sea, May 13, 1916.
Dear Lucy—With the spare time I now have on hand, I can write a few more lines, but there is very little news I can write about. I will not be able to post this for some time, so may add a little every day until I make a letter of it. I expect it will be some time before you get it, or that I get any more from you; it takes the mails a good while to follow us up. I never had a bad time in Egypt. I saw but very little of it, as none left our first camp. I never got any old curios of the country; they would only be a nuisance carrying around. It's very popular among the lads to collect all the different regimental discs, buttons, stars, rising suns, Australian etc., and fasten on their belts; some have over 100 different things, including Turks, Tommies, Canadians, and New Zealanders. Some even get all the coins and rivet on. I think I told you I had my photo taken over here. I arranged for two to be sent home; I expect Herb will want one. You can do what you think best with the other. I have not got any papers from home yet. I would like the old "Referee" and "Quiz" after Herb has done with it. Tell him to wrap it up in an old "War Cry," "Sunday Times," or some other religious paper, otherwise it's not likely I will get it. Sporting papers are scarce, and anyone will glorm on to them, but if they think religious news only are in it they won't take them. I would like to know the result of the Easter sports. I had a good mind to join the Cycling Corps when C. Waldie did, but none knew for sure what the work was. I think he is now somewhere on the Canal. F. Pawelski, the lad on the photo with me, doesn't belong to my lot. He is still in Egypt. There are several Burg boys on board here—two McNamaras, White, Kelsey, Tripney, Green, Forth. I met a lot of others while in camp. Puss left long before I got there. Only 100 of our lot are on here. We were broken up in Egypt. I suppose you got the photo of our lot taken at Mitcham. I addressed it to you c/o Mrs. Hames. Her lad got transferred out of our lot some time ago. Well, we are in a cooler climate now; passed some high mountains with snow on top. Keeping a good lookout for German tinfish, but I reckon we will get through all right. I don't lose any sleep over that. It's a treat to get in a soft bed again; third-class cabin, top bunk, four in a cabin. Grub is pretty good; fine boat; doesn't roll or dip a bit; no one sick. Just before I left Egypt I met H. Snider; he was going to the hospital; don't know what was wrong with him. Sticker Potter and two of the Baldwins arrived lately. C. Baldwin was sent back on account of those fingers he lost. Wednesday arrived safe and sound, but still aboard and in port. Will be moving off shortly. Don't know where to or anything. We had a good trip right across; been real lucky as far as weather goes. I don't know what a rough sea is yet. This is a very pretty place as far as I can see. Nothing like it in South Australia; it's got to be seen to realize what it’s like; beautiful buildings right up the sides of high hills. We have seen but very little of the people yet; we can't leave the boat and wander about like as if in Australia. Passports and passes are wanted wherever you go here, or you may get shot. There is no more I can write now. Give my address to everyone that is likely to write. So hands across the seas until we meet again.
Well, we are now in a bonza little camp of our own; not much of a size, a mixed lot in it—Australians, Tommies, New Zealanders etc. The weather is lovely, nice and sunny. Our camp reminds me of Mount Gambier — tall pine trees all around, a few flowers, and green patches of grass. Right behind are very high white cliffs. They build houses and monuments right up on high peaks, where a crow would hardly dare to nest. Our march through the city was worth coming over for alone. We had a good long march with full packs on, which weigh, about 80lb. The whole march was full of interest; the sights are worth going a long way to see. I don't think we saw the most fashionable streets and places, but what we did see were up to date. The streets are not so wide or well laid out as in Adelaide, but the buildings are larger. The trams are not the latest either. Of course, the principal streets were crowded. We were given a good reception. The effects of war are noticeable here; very few men about except old men, boys, and wounded. Women do a lot of the men's work now. They are a fine-looking people with a fine complexion. We look like niggers besides some of them with our sunburnt faces. Talk about style and fashions; our best-dressed in town are only plain ragtime compared to the ladies over here. Some fine roads here; a lot of the bikes here are fitted with only single tubes. See a good many getting around with their little 60-in. gears on; even the youngsters ride them. They can pedal a bit too, would like to have a few weeks' training and try myself with some of the heads while over here, but I think I would want a lot of riding to get into nick again. We are quite close to the sea here, but can't get down for a swim yet; it's just a bit cold for swimming, but I would like one all the same. My last was at Colombo some time ago now. With love from George. Address —4164, Pte. G. R. Miller, 27th Battalion, A.I.F. British Expeditionary Forces, France.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article109502796