In this letter Clifford can finally talk of his role in the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

My dear Mother and Family,

Your loving letter of April 25th received yesterday but guess it got mixed up and did not receive before I got your letter of May 10th.

I can’t understand why you have not got my letters telling you about Freddie and Jimmie as I wrote you repeatedly. However I will write you once more. They were both on listening post duty at the time they were wounded. They were changing shifts at the time. Jim and Alex McLaggart working together and Freddie and Eddie O’Neill working the other shift and changing every two hours. I was talking to Jimmie when I came off duty about 1 a.m. but both were taken out before stand-to came.

Jim was hit the hardest of all but sure played the man as he made them take Freddie out first. I think all would have lived but I believe that poison from the shrapnel caused all their deaths. Jim was not wounded in the lungs. His worst wounds were in the left leg below the knee. Freddie when he left the trench was in fine spirits. Bill Hanley told me as he was talking to him before he was taken out and the officers told me that both had good blighties but that Jim would likely lose his leg below the knee.

I saw Jimmie at the cemetery and, Mother, he did look natural with his bonnie smile. They tell me he passed away quite contentedly. His only worry was for Fred and you. I don’t know just the exact time it happened but he passed away shortly after dinner the same day.

Yes Mother, all the boys and officers are buried in blankets. They do not make any distinction whatever. Lieut. Bowering and Jimmie are buried in the same cemetery and Fred and Lieut. Linkros, his platoon commander, are buried in the same cemetery. Both places are beautiful.

Jim T. and I visited both graves yesterday and they are kept in lovely condition. One thing I am thankful for and that is when they had to go that it was not in a drive for they have got a decent burial at least. I got the sweaters and socks. Kept the socks for myself but gave the sweaters away. Don’t send any more sweaters or socks as I have lots of socks and the sweaters get too lousy to wear.

Now for what I was doing. I was attached to the Australian Electric Company and then reattached to the Royal Engineers running engines for lights in the tunnel. Then I was back in the shops for a while fixing engines. But 1st Army called us all back so our good job finished. I am at present at transport lines and I will not be going out the line only when it is absolutely necessary but will take the best care of myself for your sake, Mother.

If I am spared to come back to you, I will be a different boy than I was before. I believe I have answered all your questions and I hope this letter will bring you peace.

Your loving son,

Cliff