Andrew Balneaves, WWI Letter - December 1st
Digital Image
Identifier: D28410009
Page 1
Dates
- 1918
Transcription
Bellignies, France
Dec 1st 1918
Dear Kate
It is about time I wrote you a line or two. We are on our way to Germany. Have just finished a three days march and have now three days to rest. It is pretty hard work this marching stunt but feel not bad on it now. I wash my feet every night and so far they have not given me any trouble. I think that half of the battalion were on sick parade with their feet sore the other day. In this village they have a marble factory or at least a pace where big squares of marble is cut up into slabs. The way it is cut is place a big block if marble into a frame (flame?) and then a swing-saw affair, say about a couple of dozen blades an inch apart works backwards and forwards down through the block so that it is cut up into two dozen sheets. The saw blades have no teeth just thin steel and it cuts it very clean.
The careful sergeant has been in taking our names and year we went into camp and port of disembarkation. Must be some new scheme about going home. I am landing at Wellington and will be down to see you very soon after then. We do not like this going to Germany stunt but have to get on with it. They tell us that we are going to the town of Cologne on the Rhine so it should be some place. I must have a good look to se what damage our planes have done to the place if any. Bill has gone back to the base at Etaples. He should stand a good chance of getting home .
Dec 1st 1918
Dear Kate
It is about time I wrote you a line or two. We are on our way to Germany. Have just finished a three days march and have now three days to rest. It is pretty hard work this marching stunt but feel not bad on it now. I wash my feet every night and so far they have not given me any trouble. I think that half of the battalion were on sick parade with their feet sore the other day. In this village they have a marble factory or at least a pace where big squares of marble is cut up into slabs. The way it is cut is place a big block if marble into a frame (flame?) and then a swing-saw affair, say about a couple of dozen blades an inch apart works backwards and forwards down through the block so that it is cut up into two dozen sheets. The saw blades have no teeth just thin steel and it cuts it very clean.
The careful sergeant has been in taking our names and year we went into camp and port of disembarkation. Must be some new scheme about going home. I am landing at Wellington and will be down to see you very soon after then. We do not like this going to Germany stunt but have to get on with it. They tell us that we are going to the town of Cologne on the Rhine so it should be some place. I must have a good look to se what damage our planes have done to the place if any. Bill has gone back to the base at Etaples. He should stand a good chance of getting home .
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Physical Description
Pencil on paper.
Dimensions
H 270mm x W 200mm
Full Letter
Bellignies, France
Dec 1st 1918
Dear Kate
It is about time I wrote you a line or two. We are on our way to Germany. Have just finished a three days march and have now three days to rest. It is pretty hard work this marching stunt but feel not bad on it now. I wash my feet every night and so far they have not given me any trouble. I think that half of the battalion were on sick parade with their feet sore the other day. In this village they have a marble factory or at least a pace where big squares of marble is cut up into slabs. The way it is cut is place a big block if marble into a frame (flame?) and then a swing-saw affair, say about a couple of dozen blades an inch apart works backwards and forwards down through the block so that it is cut up into two dozen sheets. The saw blades have no teeth just thin steel and it cuts it very clean.
The careful sergeant has been in taking our names and year we went into camp and port of disembarkation. Must be some new scheme about going home. I am landing at Wellington and will be down to see you very soon after then. We do not like this going to Germany stunt but have to get on with it. They tell us that we are going to the town of Cologne on the Rhine so it should be some place. I must have a good look to se what damage our planes have done to the place if any. Bill has gone back to the base at Etaples. He should stand a good chance of getting home.
Doie has had sore feetbut has hung out during the march and the cobbles the last day were the roughest we have struck so far.I think we have about 50 kilometres or a little over 30 miles to go yet before we get to Charleroi (Belgium) where we are supposed to entrain. There was a rumour that we were marching all the way but I doubt it, too far for the troops. The French are greatly excited with the troops. They seem to think that we are Americans. Well I guess I have very little to tell you. I expect to go on leave about Xmas and hope to put in the holidays over there about then. Had a letter from the Ferry (Broughty?) and Uncle Will had arrived with a rug from Mataura. Aunty seemed quite pleased with it. I suppose Corfe will be discharged soon if not already, he is lucky. Must close now with best love to you all. Young Un 16522 A E Balneaves
Send this on to Mataura
Dec 1st 1918
Dear Kate
It is about time I wrote you a line or two. We are on our way to Germany. Have just finished a three days march and have now three days to rest. It is pretty hard work this marching stunt but feel not bad on it now. I wash my feet every night and so far they have not given me any trouble. I think that half of the battalion were on sick parade with their feet sore the other day. In this village they have a marble factory or at least a pace where big squares of marble is cut up into slabs. The way it is cut is place a big block if marble into a frame (flame?) and then a swing-saw affair, say about a couple of dozen blades an inch apart works backwards and forwards down through the block so that it is cut up into two dozen sheets. The saw blades have no teeth just thin steel and it cuts it very clean.
The careful sergeant has been in taking our names and year we went into camp and port of disembarkation. Must be some new scheme about going home. I am landing at Wellington and will be down to see you very soon after then. We do not like this going to Germany stunt but have to get on with it. They tell us that we are going to the town of Cologne on the Rhine so it should be some place. I must have a good look to se what damage our planes have done to the place if any. Bill has gone back to the base at Etaples. He should stand a good chance of getting home.
Doie has had sore feetbut has hung out during the march and the cobbles the last day were the roughest we have struck so far.I think we have about 50 kilometres or a little over 30 miles to go yet before we get to Charleroi (Belgium) where we are supposed to entrain. There was a rumour that we were marching all the way but I doubt it, too far for the troops. The French are greatly excited with the troops. They seem to think that we are Americans. Well I guess I have very little to tell you. I expect to go on leave about Xmas and hope to put in the holidays over there about then. Had a letter from the Ferry (Broughty?) and Uncle Will had arrived with a rug from Mataura. Aunty seemed quite pleased with it. I suppose Corfe will be discharged soon if not already, he is lucky. Must close now with best love to you all. Young Un 16522 A E Balneaves
Send this on to Mataura
Repository Details
Part of the Invercargill City Council Archives Repository
Contact:
50 Dee Street
Private Bag 90111
Invercargill Southland 9810 New Zealand
archives@icc.govt.nz
50 Dee Street
Private Bag 90111
Invercargill Southland 9810 New Zealand
archives@icc.govt.nz
