Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Robert and Jane H. KERR, Brewster Street, Essendon, Victoria

The following is an extract from a letter dated 16th June, written in the  trenches by Private R. Kerr, to his mother, Mrs R Kerr, Brewster St, Essendon:·-—
"Just a few lines frm the firing line to let, you know I am still alive, and in the best of health. We arrived here safely, only having 5 shells fired at us. I was a bit shy at first, but after the first day I went about as if nothing were going on. The Turks always fire a big gun at us just about dinner time, so we have christened it "Dinner Time Kate." You should see us ‘duck’ like a lot of rabbits into their borrows when we hear the shells coming. Our troops have been in the firing for the last fortnight. We do 48 hours on and 48 hours off. During that time I have not had my clothes off, and have had only one wash. While I am writing this bullets are hitting the bank above me. We are 150 yards away from the enemy-—in some places they are only 50 yards away.  The Turks have been very quiet for the last few days. I think they have had enough, as we  have been giving  them a rough time. Life in the trenches is not too bad, it is safer here than in the rest trenches and we are well looked after." The above letter was written on two pages torn from his notebook, then folded about two inches square in another leaf and  stitched round with linen thread, reaching his mother in safety.

It augars well for the care the Postal authorities take of "0ur Boys' ” correspondence, the letter being so small, and easily missed.