These are a collection of letters I retrieved from newspapers of the time, that relate to My Grandfather Wallie's experiences in WW1, I am fortunate that the family owned a Newspaper, other wise like many other memory's, could have been lost in time.
There does seam to be some gaps in time, but Wallie could have been too busy to sit or write, or them Huns had something to do with it?
I was never told of story's from the war, matter of fact I did not even know he went, people did not speak of such things and it was so long ago.
Never mind I know now and want to share it with you, as I am sure wallie would like to as well, newspaper men know once published it never quite disappears.
I have also in my possession his War medals and a few tags and chains, which come my way quite miraculously, and soon will add the Image's along with this post as soon as I get around to it.
I will be adding more as 2014 is a very special year in the memory of our Anzac's.
There are many memory's Published in the Molong Papers and copy's in other papers, things relating to the war and individual accounts and opinions, that are always interesting to read, I hope to get a good lot of these if not all published online at least, for the coming event.
As usual do enjoy.
17 January 1916
Leader
(Orange, NSW: 1912 - 1922)
Wallace
Leathem, son of Mrs Leathem, proprietress of our esteemed contemporary, the
Molong "Express" was presented with a wristlet watch by his cousin, Miss
Belle Leathem on behalf of his father and uncles, at Mr Jack Leathem's residence, Molong, on Wednesday night, prior
to his entering Liverpool camp early next week.
8 April 1916
Signaller W.
Leathem was "played off" at the station on
Friday of
last week. He expected to embark on active service this week. Pte. J. Patterson
was "played off" on Monday.
1 July 1916
Soldiers'
Stories.
Signaller
W. H. Leathem, writing from Egypt on May 23, says that he has been
transferred to the Cyclists Corps.
"Since
I joined that," he adds, "I have been living a high life on bully
beef and bread and marmalade ; no drill and lots of sleep. We have had no drill
at all so far, except a bit of 'flag-wagging' each day."
I like this
life alright, except for the heat, which is almost unbearable at times.The Signaller had a taste of the arduous life of a soldier, however referring
to his journey from the boat to the camp he says:—
“We arrived
here at about 1 am, we had to march about two miles with full equipment (which
weighs about 90lbs) and two big kit bags up, we camped out in the sand for the
night.
We have been issued with a summer uniform of khaki drill and a cork
-helmet, which is the general uniform over here, I'll bet you wouldn't know me
in my present rig-out.
29 July 1916
SOLDIERS' STORIES.
Molongites
in England.
Signaler W.
Leathem, writing to his father on June 9 from England, says:—
Our unit
arrived here last night (about 2000 Australians came into this camp) from
Egypt.
We left the
Tele-elKebir Camp on 21st May, and embarked on H.M.S. Briton for England, the
trip over was fairly good. The only trouble was the food, which was absolutely
rotten.
We were on
the bread and marmalade and bully beef diet principally, although we had
porridge for breakfast; but it was almost un-eatable.
We are, I
think, the first batch of Australians to enter this camp (Salisbury Plains).
The most extraordinary thing here is the length of a day.
Last night
it was nearly 9 p.m. before the sun went down, and it was not dark until almost
mid night.
Fact! I'm
stoney broke like the rest of our Unit.; none of us have received any pay since
May 2nd. That's a fair stretch to do on 30s, eh?
17 August
1916
SOLDIERS STORY'S
Signaler W. LEATHEM, writing home from England says that he expected to
be classed as a first class signaler in a fortnight's time, as the result of
an examination. Rain had been falling heavily, and the camp was in consequence
a place of mud and slush.
He had not
received any letters from home, but had received two letters from friends in
Australia. Referring to a week-end leave which he spent with a British tommy
friend in Worcester, Signaller Leathem says:—
"I had a great time, Not many of
the people there had seen an Australian before, so you can guess I was a bit of
a novelty. I pitched some great tales about Australia, which caused them to
open their eyes in wonder."
16 September
1916
Molong
Express and Western District Advertiser
Signaller Wal
Leathem, writing from camp in England on July
21, says:—
This is a
much better camp than the last in regard to position, as we are only about five
minutes run in the train from Swindon, a town with a population of over 50,000.
We generally manage to get in once or twice a week, and that helps to break the
monotony.
We have all
been granted leave to go to London. I had my four days leave last week, and had
a great holiday.
My mate and
myself viewed nearly all the principal historical buildings, such as Westminster
Abbey, The Tower, Parliament House, etc. The underground electric railways, which
take the place of electric trams, are a wonderful improvement on the old
system.
At all the
principal stations moving stairways are found, and the only thing one has to do
is to step on to the stairway and be carried down to your platform, and then step
into your train—no waiting, as trains are running every three minutes.
Besides
these, motor buses are running in every street in charge of women conductors.
Women do a
big amount of the work on the underground rail ways as well. During the time I was
there French Day was celebrated, and there were sports, etc., held at Hyde
Park.
The city is
swarming with soldiers—Tommies, Australians, New Zealanders, Canadians, and
some Belgians and French, I noticed some Japanese Red Cross nurses one day.
This camp is
mainly composed of cyclists. Most of them are British, except for about 250
Canadians and the same number of our boys.
We are all side by side in the
tents, and all get on pretty well together; although the Tommies have a slight
dislike for the Canada boys, who put on some "dog" at times.
I think it
will be a few months before we get to the front, as we have a hell of a lot of
training to go through, a batch is going in a month's time, and I may get away
with them, but am not sure.
At this camp
the boys are put through the training under "dinkum" trench warfare
conditions. They do bombing every day, and go into the trenches with steel
helmets on, as the bombs used are pretty powerful.
At present a
lot of Tommies are bombing from a trench about 200 yards away, and the pieces
of shell are flying round a treat. I have just picked a little piece up at my
feet.
Our company
have to go out on night operations to night. We get this twice a week, and it's
rotten out on a march at night here. Sometimes we don't get back till about 2
a.m., and then have to turn out at 6 a.m. in the morning. We signallers do practically
nothing at all now, but in the ranks they get the drill poured in properly.
Have
received no letters or papers since I left Australia; so we have something to complain
of about the postal facilities, eh?—that beats the Molong post office.
27 September 1916
SOLDIERS'
STORIES.
Life at the
Front and In Camps.
Signaller W.
H. Leathem, 1st Battalion, 1st Brigade, A.I.F., writes from Perham
Downs, Hants, England, under date of Sept. 27, to his father; Mr. W. Leathem,
of the " Express" Office :—
" I am
still O.K. Things are going on much the same here —not extra much doing.
The weather
is beginning to get fairly cold, and the winter will not be long coming in now.
There has been some talk of the Australians being shifted to France next month
to complete their training there as it is thought the winter here will be too
severe for the Colonials.
Last winter
hundreds of Canadians died in this camp through the cold, so it is not too
bright an outlook if we have to see the winter through here.
We may
possibly be billeted in different towns in England as soon as winter comes
on, but nothing is definitely known yet as to the arrangements.
We were
reviewed by the King today at Bulford Camp, about six miles from here.
Practically all the Australian troops in England were present.
There must have
been between 40,000 and 50,000 altogether, and it was a great sight to see the
troops marching along the road, as far as one could see the road was lined with
them.
All the men from the convalescent camp went across in motor transports
and all the different kinds of units were present—Light Horse, Artillery, Engineers,
A.M.C., A.S.C., Infantry, etc.
The King
rode round and through all the troops inspecting each unit, the massed bands (about
40 altogether) played while the review was going on.
After we had been inspected an aviator gave an
exhibition in fancy flying, looping the loop, etc.
We had to march home through
rain and mud carrying full equipment and pack, and it rained all the time.
I twisted my
ankle just after we started and got a lift back on one of the transports. I heard
that Don White (who was in Cumnock P.O. at one time) is in France, I wrote to
him a few days ago; so far I haven't had a reply.
I am still
in the signal school here. Am at present instructing the learners. I'm fed up
of signalling; it's getting too monotonous now, hut I have to be satisfied as I
can't get out of it yet."
4 Nov 1916
"They are very short of men out here," writes Signaller W. Leathem on Sept. 15th from Salisbury Plains camp.
"They could not keep up the reinforcements to the 1st and 2nd Brigades, and had to transfer the whole of the 3rd Brigade to rein force the 1st and 2nd the other day.
About 600 or more came to this Brigade (the 1st) a couple of days ago.
The coldfoots want touching up a bit over there. I would not be surprised to see conscription brought in if things don't alter."
23 April 1917
Leader, Orange, NSW.
Signaller W. H. Leathem, in a postcard dated 14th February,
from somewhere in France, states that he is well, and that he saw Jack Betts a
couple of weeks ago.
The latter, he states, is O.K., and wished to be
remembered to all the Molong folk.
13 April
1918
Molong
Express and Western District Advertiser
Signaller W.
H. Leathem, in a letter to his cousin, Miss Marion Phillips, of Dilga, written
from France on Xmas Eve, says:
Here I am again
and it's Xmas although lots of things have happened since last Xmas it does not
seem quite twelve months ago.
Our brigade
is in the line again and I am writing this in a comfortable little dug
out-comfortable because we have a fire, and I am smoking a nice cigar. We are
most decidedly comfortable at times.
Have not
received any Xmas parcels so far; I expect the mail is so heavy that they
cannot deal with it all.
I received a
parcel from Dilga while we were out resting a few
weeks ago, needless to say the contents were soon devoured and enjoyed by
yours truly and his pals.
Everything is
quiet to-night, hardly any guns going at all, so I guess the Huns, as well as our boys recognize that; this is
hardly a time to make things willing.
I've been wondering to-night what I would
be doing; if I was back in dear old “Aussie” again.
Anyhow, we intend having a
real good time to-morrow and make it seem as much like Xmas 'as we possibly can
under the circumstances.
We have arranged with the cooks to have a decent dinner
and I am sure we will all have a gay old time.
Outside it
is snowing a treat so tomorrow we will have, as per usual, the snow-clad
landscape, such as they have in Blighty, but the surroundings of course, will
not be so bright.
Have just
heard that the whole of our Xmas mail has been sunk-very cheerful news at this stage-enough to give a fellow the blues.
It's no use grumbling about it, it's
the war.
Will have to
close now, hope you have a Merry Xmas at Dilga, I suppose all the people from
home will be out to spend Xmas at Dilga, so I guess you will have a good time. I
can assure you that my thoughts will be with you all to-morrow.
Writing again on February 8th
Signaller
Leathem says:
Had a great
time while on my leave in Blighty; had 14 days altogether, and spent the
greater part of it in Edinburgh, Scotland.
I struck bad weather, as it was
snowing most of the time I was there,there was well over a foot of snow for a
couple of days; it was piled up in the streets, and for a day or two most of
the tram traffic was suspended.
Gangs of
workmen and hundreds of soldiers were put on to clear the snow away before it
began to thaw.
I spent the
last three days in London and had a decent time, seeing pretty well everything
that was worth seeing, and used to complete the day's program by going to one
of the theaters at night.
When I
arrived back in France again I was sent to the hospital with a slight attack of
bronchitis, and was discharged after a week and went down to the Base, where I
am at present.
Expect to
get back to my company again inside a week.
While in
Scotland I met Mr. Carter, who used to be teaching in the Molong public school.
He wished to be remembered to all his old Molong friends. Have had no mail for some
months.
29 June 1918
Molong Express and Western District
Advertiser
The
Situation in France.
Signaller
Wallace Leathem, son of Mr. W. Leathem, writing from France on April 16, says:
I came out
of hospital a few days ago, and am at present at the base expecting to go up
the line any day now.
Am feeling
as fit as a fiddle. Things are pretty hot all along the line at present; I
think it’s right at its top.
On my
arrival here (at the base) I received my long looked-for mail, which has been
delayed for some weeks. In all I got about 40 letters-so am well posted up with
all the doings in Aussy.
The
Australian divisions have done particularly good work in the present series of
attacks. Most of the Australians have been cleaned up in all the bases here, as
well as in England, and sent up the line to reinforce our divisions, I don't
think there are very many of them left in Blighty now.
I don't know
what will happen if the present number of casualties occur up the line. We will
be down to zero in no time, as there seem to be very few reinforcements leaving
Australia.
At the time
of writing, and if Hun keeps up his present tactics much longer, the whole
thing will be decided either one way or the other. He has given the British a
nasty set-back, and things are not looking very bright at all.
I think the position is much worse than the
heads try to make out, but of course they have to look on the bright side of
affairs and take up an optimistic attitude at this stage. The French have saved
the situation, though, I think.
Saturday 29 June 1918
Molong Express and Western District
Advertiser
Corporal A.
G. Robinson, of Arncliffe, nephew of Mrs. M. Leathem, proprietress of the
"Express" has been killed in action in France.
Note: also
uncle of Signaller Wallace Leathem.
27 July 1918
Molong Express and Western District
Advertiser
SOLDIERS'
STORIES.
"Aussies"'
Good Work-Fighting and Marrying.
Signaller W.
Leathem, writing from France on May 10, says:-
I'm at
present at the Base having a bit of a spell, I came here from a hospital about
a fortnight ago, and as I'm feeling tit again I expect to go back up the line
in a day or two, to carry on with the good work.
Our boys have been getting a
pretty rough time since this offensive started; but have always come out on
top.
Four of the
Australian Divisions have been specially mentioned for good work. From what I
can hear, nearly all the girls in "Aussy" are getting married lately.
In every
letter I get from Australia I read that so and so has been married, and somebody
else is engaged.
Why, if they
keep the present' pace up, all the poor old war veterans will be left at the post
when they get back.
12 July
1919
The Sydney Morning
Herald
BY THE
AENEAS.
The
following members of the A.I.F are returning to Australia by the steamer
Aeneas, and will
arrive overland from Melbourne tomorrow. W.H
Leathem..
18 July 1919
Molong Argus, NSW.
After over
three years of fighting on the other side of the world, Signaller Wallie
Leathem, son of Mr W. Leathem, arrived home again, safe and sound, on Tuesday morning.
Wallie was one of the big batch of
returned soldiers who came over from Melbourne to Sydney last Sunday by special
train.
21 July 1919
Leader Orange, NSW.
Sapper W. Leathem
returned to Molong on Tuesday, after an absence of over three years or active
service.
24 July 1919
Western
Champion Parkes, NSW
Sapper W.
Leathem returned to Molong on Tuesday, after an absence of over three years on
active service.
Though he
had been in several tight corners he was fortunate enough to escape wounding, and,
beyond a Brief illness, he was not incapacitated from duty.
31 July 1919.
Western Champion Parkes, NSW.
MOLONG.
Sapper W. Leathem, on Monday night, and was presented with, a gold ring (inset with his regimental colours) and a pair of military brushes.
LINK TO:-WW1 News of the WAR from the Molong Express.
http://leathemhistory.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/ww1-great-war-news-of-war-from-molong.html
31 July 1919.
Western Champion Parkes, NSW.
MOLONG.
Sapper W. Leathem, on Monday night, and was presented with, a gold ring (inset with his regimental colours) and a pair of military brushes.
LINK TO:-WW1 News of the WAR from the Molong Express.
http://leathemhistory.blogspot.com.au/2013/10/ww1-great-war-news-of-war-from-molong.html
LINK TO:- WW1 "Soldiers Storys" Letters Home Molong Express.
LINK TO:-WW1 Paddy Bugden letters home and family.
LINK TO:- WW1 Paddy Bugen Gundurumba to Bugden shire:-http://leathemhistory.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/bugden-shire-bugdens-part-2.html
LINK TO:- WW1 An Eco from the front, "Two Plucky Parsons:-http://leathemhistory.blogspot.com.au/2013/11/ww1-echo-from-front-poetry-and-two.html
LINK TO:- WW1 Poem, " Mothers Boy".
LINK TO:- William and Emily Leathem Parents of Wally Leathem
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