Letters from William Rawson Leach to his family, 1917

File of letters relating to the First World War service of 34298 Gunner William Rawson Leach, 8th Australian Field Artillery Brigade. The letters are written between 25 January and 30 December 1917 and detail; training in Melbourne spending his time seing friends; the terribleness of war and rate of casualties; arriving in England and the train ride to Salisbury; the state of the camps; marching over to Bulford for a review with the Duke of Connaught; exploring Salisbury town; visiting London; his arrival in France; an envelope containing dried flowers; referring to his introduction to the firing line as a warm reception with a baptism of fire; issues with his military pay; the state of the dugouts; voting on the conscription referendum; his thoughts on Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes; being on the front line; his Christmas with all the boys together; his comments on finding out about the rejection of the referendum saying he is disgusted and equates it to putting up the white flag; his desire to be home to harvest the strawberries.

This file contains:

Letter from William Rawson Leach his father, Maribyrnong, Victoria, 25 January 1917
Letter from D. McDonald to William Rawson Leach, Bega, 4 February 1917
Letter from William Rawson Leach his mother, Maribyrnong, Victoria, 5 February 1917
Letter from William Rawson Leach his mother and father, No. 3 Battery Camp 20, Lark Hill, Salisbury Plains, England, 29 July 1917
Letter from William Rawson Leach his mother and father, Salisbury Plains, England, 19 August 1917
Letter from William Rawson Leach his mother and father, Salisbury Plains, England, 29 August 1917
Letter from William Rawson Leach his mother and father, France, 12 September 1917
Envelope containing pressed flowers, from William Rawson Leach to Mrs. S. Leach, 14 September 1917
Letter from William Rawson Leach his mother and father, France, 19 September 1917
Letter from William Rawson Leach his mother, at sea, 21 September 1917
Letter from William Rawson Leach his mother, 17 October 1917
Letter from William Rawson Leach his mother, France, 12 November 1917
Letter from William Rawson Leach his mother and father, France, 20 November 1917
Letter from William Rawson Leach his mother and father, France, 1 December 1917
Letter from William Rawson Leach his sister Ruth, France, 2 December 1917
Letter from William Rawson Leach his mother, France, 15 December 1917
Y.M.C.A. Christmas greeting card with envelope from William Rawson Leach to his mother, 25 December 1917
Letter from William Rawson Leach his mother, France, 30 December 1917
Letter from William Rawson Leach, [undated]