Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

James sent a number of letters home from the front to family and friends that were published in the newspapers and are held on Trove:
A TWO .DAYS' SLEEP. Private James F. Cleary, writing from France on September 23 to his aister ]Miss Cleary, Echuca East, says:-"-'I s ceived your letter, and was glad to hear from you. Well, I am alright, and the leg is better. I had a peg leg for a few days. Strange to say, when I was wounded I never knew I was hit, but was blown on to the ground twice from concussion. I have had so much dust, smoke, and mud all around me that I am getting quite used to it. The first night under fire is the worst: after that it wears off. The bombardments play on your nerves. I wan in one once from 6 o'clock in the oven ing until 6 next evening. I tell you I wa.s dead beat. When I got my knock two of my mates also got, hit-one badly wounded in the foot. We bandaged him, and started- back from the firing line. When we got about half a mile I said to my mate, 'Charlie, I believe I am caught this time, too,' but he laughed, and said, 'Why, Fritz cannot get you now.' Sure. enough the leg refused to do its duty. We all went to the dressing station, a. Red Cross train, and arrived at the hospital some time in the middle of the night, tired out for sleep. I might say we looked 'tricks;' could not see us for mud and about a fortnight's growth -of 'whiskers.' All we wanted was sleep. I slept for two days, and then didn't feel satisfied. You say you are having plenty of rain in Australia- I reckon we could do with some of it in Egypt. My stay in Egypt was,-very short; only ten days in all I was in the trenches in the middle of June , with whizz bangs flying about, and here I've been up to date. I am well pleased with my ??. I had a good run. We are having showery weather at present. Remember me to alt old friends in Echuca."
Riverine Herald (Echuca, Vic. : Moama, NSW : 1869 - 1954; 1998 - 2002), Saturday 18 November 1916, page 2



A FORTUNATE SOLDIER
Writing from France on July 2 to his mother, Mrs. John Cleary, of Echuca East, Private James F. Cleary says — "Just a few lines to let you know that I am well again, and have joined my battalion. We are having warm weather here now, and the war is still going strong. As I write these lines there is a big bombardment going on. We are doing pretty well for food. There arc plenty of peas, beans and potatoes about and if you go hungry, well you are no soldier. Every thing looks nice and green here. It seems a pity that we should be killing one an-other this weather, but it has to be done. I am due for leave soon., I think I will have a look at Scotland. The Australians and the Jocks' are the best of chums over here. They are fine fellows. I have had some narrow squeaks lately. I have been blown into the air a few times, but came down again alright. It was only the day before I left the lines I lost one of my best mates. We were sitting together on the top of a dug-out when a shell came our way and blew my mate to pieces. All I got was a shower of dirt on top of me. If that's not luck I don t know what is. One of the cap-tains in my battalion shook hands with me and said he would like half my luck ; but he did not got it, as he was killed a couple of days after. Remember me to all friends in Echuca. "Echuca and Moama Advertiser and Farmers' Gazette (Vic. : 1914 - 1918), Saturday 29 September 1917, page 4