Pte Ern Mason (Lilydale), 21st Battalion: Is wounded in action, bullet wound to right leg, and is evacuated to hospital in England.
Pte Arthur Shore (Lilydale), 57th Battalion: Is wounded in action, shrapnel wound to the abdomen, and is evacuated to the 14th Field Ambulance. Later that day he dies of his wounds. He is 19 years old and is buried at the Aubigny British Cemetery in Picardie, France.
Trp Bert Hutchinson (Lilydale), 4th Light Horse Regiment: In camp in Palestine. In a letter to his future wife, Jessie Mackenzie of Yalca, Vic – ‘It does not appear as if the end of the war is near so I do not expect to be home for Christmas unless I get wounded and I am not anxious to stop one. The sooner this war ends the better. ‘Business’ is going on quietly and we have enough work to keep us fit. In fact, there is always plenty to do.
We were on a stunt a few days ago and Jacko was delighted to see us and gave us a warm reception. One of my mates paid the supreme sacrifice. He was on a listening post and Jacko paid us a visit. He reached our line and the Jacko’s got a warm reception and retired. The machine guns were very busy and three of our chaps were hit in as many minutes. Hughie Gillies was killed and the other two were wounded but fortunately only slightly wounded.
There are a few places of interest around here and I will mention them. Jericho has been built three times and each time on a different site. The first Jericho which was destroyed by the Israelites was behind the Hill of Temptation and on the Brook Fayin. There is an old church near this brook which was built about the time of the Crusaders. The second city of Jericho was built on the brook only nearer the Jordan. I visited the ruins of this city but it is not worth the walk as only a few foundations of the houses are visible. The present Jericho was built by a Pasha and he brought natives of Egypt to this town. The inhabitants are all Egyptians at the present time. There is a good water supply and the town looks well from the distance but not when you get into the town. This town is 1100 feet below sea level and is very hot and dusty at the present time.
The Hill of Temptations is a high point overlooking the Jordan Valley where Christ is supposed to have been tempted. This site was not known as the Hill of Temptation until the time of the Crusaders. It would not be a great temptation for me at the present time as the Jordan Valley is very bare and the surrounding country is not very fertile. On the side of this Hill there is a large Greek Monastery. It is a fine building and there was a few monks left at the monastery. I think the Turks must have put spies in place of the monks as they have been arrested for signalling to the Turks. Right on the top of the Hill there is the foundation of a large church called the Church of John the Baptist.
The Jordan River is about 200 miles long but direct from the source of the river to the Dead Sea is only 100 miles. It falls over 600 feet in forty miles and where it enters the Dead Sea it is 1300 feet below sea level. This river is about a chain across and flows very rapidly. I have not had a swim in the river but I have quenched my thirst at this stream.
Numerous streams flow into the river from the hills near the Jordan Valley. I have not been fishing in any of these streams but I may go bombing one of these nights. It should not be such a slow method of catching fish. I do not expect to get an opportunity of visiting Jerusalem (inside the walls) but you never know your luck. The Dead Sea is 46 miles at its greatest length and 9 miles at its greatest width. It is fairly deep in places. This sea has about four times as much salt as the Mediterranean. Although there is no life in this sea it is quite safe to go in for a swim but unless you have a bath in fresh water after a swim in the Dead Sea you may suffer from a rash. I have not had an opportunity to swim in this sea.
I think this is about all the places of interest just around this part but we may visit other places in the near future. I shall be quite satisfied to return home without visiting Damascus or any of the other large towns but my wishes will not be considered’.
THE BATTLE OF VILLE SUR ANCRE, FRANCE