Cocks letter diary, 1916-1919 / Verner Cocks - Page 563

[Page 563]

No. 63.

France,
 €‹13-4-18

Dear Mother,

I will now start and write the story of our wanderings from day to day for the last month.   We were out resting and were just getting settled down to a decent holiday we thought when suddenly orders to shift came through - the same thing that happened last time - we had only been out a week.   So one morning we got up at 5 a.m. packed waggons and were ready to move in a few hours.   However we didn't move till 8 p.m. that night and after saying goodbye to the bosker French people we were staying with who were very sorry to lose us we departed amid cheers and did a solid march to the railway station, but after waiting round for a few hours and getting cold we were informed that there was no accomodation on the train so we hunted round for barns and cellars and spent the night there.

We were fortunate in receiving many parcels lately and had a good stack of grub aboard and that the primus provided a bosker supper.   Next morning we boarded a train and travelled in cattle trucks till 2 o'clock in the afternoon of a glorious day.   Left the train and did another solid march of about ten miles to a village.   There were numerous rumours for this rush back to the war but little did we know the real reason.   Next day we left this village marched out of the town and sat down in a field to await motor lorries - hopped into these and went for a long dusty ride eventually landing at another village after a short march.   At this place I received two "cartwheels" and these replenished our grub bag and proved invaluable on the long journey we had yet to do.

Left this place and after a 4 mile march entrained at night in cattle trucks.   At the last village we were formed into squads and told what was in store for us.   A gloomy picture was painted for us and we knew the worst. However those of us who had been through the last October stunts knew that nothing could be as bad as those and we didn't get the wind up.   However we were up against it and were on no account to be taken prisoners.

Put night in on the train and were very glad when morning came bringing us to a big town.   Here all was excitement - people clearing out and much military movement.   We were marched to a field to await the lorries but after waiting all day we were again disappointed and had to hump the bluey and march ten kilos to a village arriving there in the dark.   Here we were told to make ourselves comfortable for the night in any billets we could find along the street so a number of us deposited ourselves in a big barn amongst the hay.   The poor French lady got the wind up lest we burn the place down and began to cry but soldiers must sleep so we slept there and she got over it by the morning.   Again the primus and grub bag saved us and after having a good feed set off again on the march at 2 p.m.   It was here we received the "good oil" as to Fritz' advance from the retreating Tommies and got an idea as to what we were marching into.   Arrived at another village that afternoon and pitched camp in an orchard.   The poor people here had the wind up terribly and those who had not gone were packed up in carts and all kinds of conveyances down to prams ready to go.   A few shells lobbing now and again added to their perflexities, but the sight of Aussies marching through the village visibly reassured them.   To the French people the Aussies with the French soldiers are the finest in the world - we have a great name over here and the slouch hat gets welcomed and well treated anywhere and we don't half kid ourselves.   In fact one old chap as soon as he saw the Aussies unpacked his cart and stayed.

Good Friday 29th March Myra's birthday.
 €‹Left at 2 p.m. pack up and marched on again for a few miles to the next village - more startling rumours - unfounded.   Had a bosker tea from the bag and were enjoying a smoke previous to turning in when we were rudely interrupted and told to dump everything and be ready to do a forced march in five minutes.   We were ready - dumped everything except primus and tucker bag and as usual left  a few hours afterwards.   Marched all night passing through deserted towns and villages close up to the line.   It was very exciting - marching with advance guard and near guard expecting to be taken prisoners any time.   However nothing happened and we arrived at a village at 4 a.m. to stay.   Again the primus came into evidence and we enjoyed the best cup of cocoa I have tasted for a long time in an open barn.   Next day was full of false alarms and we listened to terrible tales told by the Tommies who were all wandering back from the line not far away.   "Jerry is coming over in thousands" they would say "and no one to stop him, he will be in the village tonight".