Item 01: Oliver Hogue letters, November 1914-29 December 1915 - Page 167

[Page 167]

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You will have noticed by the little blue paper on the top of this sheet (the other side my dear) that I've started a brand new writing pad - I hope you appreciate the honour of having its virgin whiteness dedicated to your service.

Well...where was I?   Oh yes, we are having awfully jolly weather here lately nice & fine & breezy & cool at night. But everyone is talking about the prospect of winter. I'm not looking forward with any keen delight to the prospect of winter in the trenches. There are wild rumours which may chrystal-ise into action that we are soon to be relieved by the 2nd Australian Division. It is certainly true  for we've had over 15 weeks in the trenches & that is pretty near a record for the war. all that we hear goes to prove that the fighting here was hotter than Flanders - while our poor chaps are always in the firing line. In France & Flanders they have a couple of weeks in then complete rest away back comfortably billeted in villages & towns. (all this is of course not for publication).   All the senior officers here agree that physical stamina, dash, daring, marksmanship, nouse, commonsense, individuality, initiative, cheerfulness & in fact all the soldierly qualities, our chaps are miles ahead of the Kitcheners Army Tommies that are on Gallipoli. This is not a boast - just a fact. I'm positive that if we had had another 50,000