Belgium

Amay 13th Dec 1918

Dear Jane

Your welcome letter of Sept 10th to hand two days ago. We are still on our way to Germany. I think today is our tenth days march and the fifteenth day since we started. We have had some pretty wet days and by the end of the march everyone is very easily put out. Stll after a cup of tea one soon gets back to normal again and laughs at the little bites on the way. We were supposed to entrain at Chareloi (~20 km west of Namur) but did not do so. They took a bit of our gear from us so that lightened the pack a little. Harry left us at Chareloi to go on leave. He is to cross on the 16th so I expect he is on the way now. Doie and I have been going strongand should see it out all right. I have just been giving the youngsters a blast so they have quietened down a bit. We are billeted in a picture theatre and have the band with us so the boys are sweeping up to have a dance. We have a garson (garcon) playing a big bass instrument and he is making some noise. As we were starting this morning we saw two women fighting over a piece of wood. They were jabbering away twenty to the dozen and the diggers chucked off at them. The people all the way along the route are “Vive la Anglaise” and clapping their hands. Today we came through the town of Huy (5 km SW of Amay) and (they) took great interest in the troops. Here comes a piano into the show so we are to have some dance. I can see this letter writing coming to a stop pretty soon. Two days ago we were at a place called Temploux nine

kilometres from Namur and as we were billeted in a barn we soon got busy and got aboard a motor lorry and got into town. “Some town” We had a look around the showand then had a feed a plate of soup and a plate of beef? (horse) and “pom-de-ter”, it was not bad for three francs so about an hour later we went back to this hash-house and had another go. We had to catch the train at 5.40 pm so we did not see much of the place. Next day there was nothing to do so Doie and I decided to go in again. We managed to get a lorry and just before we got there we spotted a canteen so and landed five francs of cigarettes. I had just finished all I had so we were lucky to get in at the canteen. A few minutes after we got our smokes I went up and asked for a box of 50 packets but they were sold right out so our mates did not get any. Some of our cobbers have been doing it pretty hard without smokes but we are all well stocked again. Well the dance came off all right and after going for an hour or so the Colonel sent word that it had to stop at 7.45 pm. It is hard times when the men cannot enjoy themselves a bit. I think it is a case of sour grapes. I will be going on leave in a few days now and am going round to see everybody. It will be all travelling with a few days at each place. We are to embark at a northern port in France whenwe start for home so no more leave to Blighty. I must close now as it is time to go to bed and feel tired after the march and little hop.

Best love, Young Un 16522 A. E. Balneaves