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Michelago Dugout
Anzac Cove
Gallipoli
31-5-15
My dear Father Mother, Anne, Jean, Tien, Clarrie, Phil, Frank, Did, Liz & Stan, Sid, & Dot, all the nephews & nieces, Mabel, Leoda, Francie, Viva, Viv & Linda, Elsie, R Tess & Sophie, Farmer Whyte & Percy, Auntie Lizzie, etc
This aught to be a real slap up letter, but I only now & then get a few minutes to write, so I cant promise much. But we are really having a most wonderful time. Ill tell you all about it when I return. But in case my return is -- shall we say postponed -- Ill try & let you know how we live. Every one has a dug out. We burrow into the side of the hill, in the direction whence comes the Shrapnel. The Australian army are therefore a cross between troglodites & ferrets. We bank up the sides of our dug outs with sand bags & tins & earth. Overhead cover is provided by timber & sandbags. We are the best fed army in the world, thank heaven. The Brigadier eats the same grub as his batman. We get meat & bacon & vegetables & jam & biscuits & cheese. But I just would love a lump of bread for a change. The biscuits could be used to defend the trenches if necessary -- either as missiles or overhead cover. So we try to soak them in our tea, Col Kyrie broke one of his teeth on one