Penniedarling

This book was written by one of my distant relatives, I only heard about it earlier this month from another distant cousin, Jeff, who had recently heard from Peter Fitzsimons who had read Bert's book and was writing something similar. 

I found 'The Hell, the Humour and the Heartbreak'  available only  in America, there was one used copy for US$19:95 or copies ranging from US$144 to $444....  see below! 

The seller wouldn't send to Australia but that wasn't a problem, David has a cousin in California so I had it sent to Bill and he very kindly sent it on to me.


The book is written by Bert Bishop who signs up for WW1 along with his cousin Raymond Bishop when they were both just 18 years old.   I only heard about this second cousin in 2009 when our distant relative Jeff contacted Rosie's and asked if she would take a DNA test to see if Ray's body could be identified among the bodies that were found at Fromelles... apparently female DNA is easier to trace than male DNA.

The book starts off with a lot of humour about these two 18 year old country boys who are heading to France for adventure. 

When they get to Cairo they are warmly greeted by their Uncle Alex, my Maternal Great Grandfather. Alex is a Captain and takes Bert and Ray along to the finest Restaurant in town...  taking lowly Privates into such a Restaurant was a big no-no to British Officers... at one stage Bert heard one of the British Officers say. "Those beastly Orstralians, they are quate-quate impossible.  My dear chappie, they are hardly civilised, bai Jove."     Two Aussie Officers, at a different table winked at Bert after this comment was heard through the restaurant :-)

This is how the book starts off but it changes as Bert gets to the front lines...  Ray and his brother Harold are killed and Bert is wounded. 
It is indeed a valuable insight into France during WW1.

Labels: Books