Martin “Marty” Boyce

LETTERS FROM THE FRONT

My Dearest Mother, Jimmy here, I’m writing from the ship
Apart from getting seasick, this has been a lovely trip
I can’t say where we’re headed, the brass won’t let us know
But I’m itching to get in the fight; this ship is too darn slow

Dearest mother I am writing you from somewhere in the sand
I can’t tell you anymore than that, I know you understand
The days are long and hot, they send us marching every day
I’ll tell you more of where we are, as soon as I can say

Mother dear its Jim again, we’re moving to the front
I think it’s called Gallipoli; we can’t wait for the stunt
We’ll show the world old Aus is here, they’ll see us at our best
They will see that good old Aussie is much better than the rest

Dearest mother please don’t worry when the telegram arrives
I had a pretty rough trot, but they say I will survive
I came down with enteric; they are sending me to you
Get the brothers home well sit around and have a drink or two

Dearest Mother it is jimmy here, I’m writing from my tent
We ship out tomorrow morning I don’t know where three months went
Tell Frank and Tom and Eddie not to rush up to enlist
I don’t think they will I told them stuff, I think you get the gist

Mother dear its Jim again from somewhere near the front
We are waiting at the jump off tape, to go in for the stunt
We think we can give old jerry a sore and bloody nose
I’ll write again when we get out and tell you how it goes

Mother dear young Jim again, why did you let Frank come?
I told him not to sign up; gee you should have stopped him mum
I’m sitting in my dugout as the barrage thunders in
A man is going crazy from the terror and the din

Mrs Boyce it is my duty to inform you that your son
Private George Henry Boyce Service number 1121
Has been reported injured as they attacked the range
We will notify you if we find that there is any change

Dearest Mother I apologise, I didn’t get to write
I’ve been laid up in hospital; it gave me quite a fright
We got caught up in a barrage as we waited to attack
So now I have some souvenirs to bring home in my back

Geez mother Frank has told me Ed and Tom are on their way
Four sons at the front is way too much for you to pay
I hear that Frank has made a dash, and made old Aus look good
They say he’ll get a medal for the stunt down at the Wood

Mother dear we’ve got Fritz running he has lost his will to fight
He wont face us in the trenches we can see the end in sight
I can’t wait to get back to the farm to walk on Aussie soil
The last three years have aged me; it has really been a toil

Mrs Boyce it is my duty to inform you that your son
Private George Henry Boyce service number 1121
Has been identified at Doulens as one of many dead
He went quickly without suffering -a gunshot to the head

November the 11th marked the end of “The Great War”, “The War to End all Wars”
Of the four Boyce boys who served, only two were to return

George Henry Boyce (Jim): 22nd Battalion Killed in action April 1918 Buried Doulens France
Thomas Boyce 23rd Battalion: Killed in action Oct 1917 Buried Tynecot Cemetery Belgium
Francis Patrick Boyce (Frank) MM: 1st Aust Div Signals Awarded the Military Medal for his actions during the attack on Polygon Wood
Edward Boyce (Eddie): 5th Aust Div Signals

At the going down of the sun and in the morning we shall remember them…