Letter of Francis Mack

France. May 19th, 1918.

Dear Mother & Father,

No doubt you have been surprised to have had no news from me lately but we have been having a rough passage- been in front line for over a month now and still no relief to hand- can't get anything here, for example look at the paper- it has been 'souvenired' from the little shell riddled village we are holding- its on the nearest front to Fritz's first objective A------. We have suffered pretty heavily, over 40 in our company casualties but since taking over we have advanced over 1000 yds and are now in a fairly good position. Received all your last mail OK. Am glad to hear Keith passed his 25 test OK- hope he brings the other part off. Auntie May's letter arrived this mail too but I will have to wait till we come out to square up all letters I owe. Please tell all other relatives the cause of no mail- its hard to get a green envelope and the officers can't censor letters in the line so delay cannot be avoided. We are getting ideal weather- lovely long days, not dark till after 10pm and stand down at 4am. Naturally there is great aerial activity- have seen dozens of planes come down this trip in - some from terrible heights-its great but awful sight to see the manouverings in an air fight. Artillery also is pretty warm. Am enclosing a shoulder strap of the Fritz Battalion we pushed out when we advanced the line. We have plenty of sniping and shooting- good sport. One morning Fritz attacked on our left and after digging in the Fritz kept coming in "Kamerading" right up to midday. Have heard plenty of talk about Fritz coming over and giving himself up but tis the first time I have seen it. T'was funny, also pitiful. They started across No Mans Land hands right up then their own machine guns at them and then some of our "fools" started potting at them and they did the Chinese trot in with hands up- did look comical for we were in a position to enjoy it. The weather has been glorious Dinkum Australian. No doubt this letter is a ragtime but it is never the less a dinkum one straight from the busiest part of France. We are only about 300 yds from the canal and river --------. Well mother I think this is all this time-would very much sooner be getting ready for the theatre than getting ready for my job now. Its a fighting patrol. We met eight Fritzies last night. Well fondest love to all. Hope they are all well and in the best of health. I am in the best of health and spirits. I remain,

Your loving son, Frank.

P.S Mother please post enclosed letters for me as can't secure and envelopes

From: ANZAC Memories:  The Letters of Francis James Mack