Letters from SA Digger Horace ‘Alf’ Cadd feature in new book by Don Longo
HE worried about his family, told them stories of the fighting and mud, and had a mystery sweetheart in London. Alf Cadd was the young South Australian Digger that didn’t survive the Western Front — but his fascinating letters home did.
HORACE “Alf” Cadd was born near Curramulka on the central Yorke Peninsula on April 19, 1894. He enlisted on December 2, 1914 and joined the 3rd Light Horse Regiment, becoming the first to enlist at Port Vincent. He was 21.
Cadd arrived at Gallipoli in August 1915, but persistent and severe illness meant long periods in hospitals in Greece and Egypt and he could not embark to the Western Front until November 1916.
He was transferred to the 43rd Battalion and took part in the Battle of Messines, where he was recommended for the Military Medal for his bravery around the River Douve on June 7, 1917.
He was killed five weeks later near Warneton, on July 31, 1917, when his unit fought throughout the day to take a windmill from the Germans. At the end of the day’s fighting, about 6pm, he was shot through the head by a sniper while carrying a wounded comrade to safety. His body was not found but was most likely given a field burial.
A sad codicil to his death was that his mother refused to accept his demise despite letters from eyewitnesses, and continued writing to the Red Cross for his location in the belief that he was a POW in Germany. It was not until January 1918 that she accepted his fate.
The following is an edited extract of a series of letters from Cadd to his family in the weeks leading up to his death:
July 23, 1917, Belgium
My Darling Mum and Dad.
Again I take the pleasure in writing you a few more lines to let you know I am quite well and happy and enjoying life. We are having some beautiful weather over here.
My dear Mum, I haven’t had a letter from you for some time but request one very shortly. I got plenty of letters from London and that helps to pass the time away until we do get Australian mail.
My dear Mum and Dad, I have not back news of any interest for you so I suppose I had better draw this short scribble to a close, hoping it will find you all in the very best of health as it leaves me.
Give my love to Flossie and Henry. Trusting to be home with you all soon. Goodbye my dearest Mum and Dad and may God bless and protect you all until I return to you.
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Kisses for dear little Jackie and Nellie.
July 25, 1917 , Belgium
My darling Mum and Dad. Again I take the pleasure in writing you a few lines.
It is raining very hard at present, but I’m glad to say we are under cover. Even so, it will be very muddy for a few days until it dries up again, which will only take a few days if it stops raining.
I have not got a letter from you yet. I believe there is some Australian mail about but ours has not come to light yet. I am going up to get the mail in a few minutes.
I get plenty from England, also parcels, so I don’t suppose I can grumble. All the same, we long for mail from you dearly, my darling Mum and Dad.
I will try to send you a photo of me when I come out of the trenches next time so you can see for yourself that I am not getting any thinner than ever. We are getting splendid food, plenty of it, and are well looked after, so one should look very well.
Of course, dear Mum and Dad, we get plenty of fighting. Of course that’s what we came for and will do it with pleasure.
I am sure all the boys feel that way. As long as they get treated as they are now, they will fight as long as you like. The Germans are feeling the push very hard. As far as I can see I think we will have peace by Christmas.
Of course, my darling Mum and Dad, I am not in the position to say for sure, but one can make a good guess at it.
I am enclosing a program of the sports we had after coming out of the trenches for a few days’ rest so you can see we enjoy ourself if we are not fighting.
Now, my darling Mum and Dad, I will close now as I have not much time to spend.
Goodbye and God bless you all with heaps of love and kisses from you everloving son, Alf.
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Give my love to my dear Sister & Brother.
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Ta ta my darling Mum & Dad and don’t worry I am feeling splendid.
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July 27, 1917 , Belgium
My darling Mum and Dad. Just a few lines in answer to your kind and loving letter that I received tonight. I was over glad with joy to think that you were all well and happy.
Your dear letter was the only one that I got from Australia, but never mind, dearest Mum, as long as I get a letter from you the others won’t worry me.
Well, my dear Mum, I would like to get home to you my darling but there is no chance whatever until the end of the war, unless I get wounded, and we often have to go back to the firing line again.
Well dear Mum, I am getting old, 23 last birthday. Soon be an old man won’t I! But I shall settle down when I get home if God spares me to my darling Mum.
I am going to tell you I have a young lady in England that I have been keeping company with for 12 months and she is a very nice girl. She is a very decent girl. A splendid cook and housekeeper and not afraid to work. She has been sending parcels to me every week for this last 12 months.
She is the daughter of the lady I spent my furlough with. They treat me like any of their own sons. It never cost me a penny to stay there.
She is 19 years of age and I think a lot of her and she does of me and now, my darling and Dad, I am going to ask you what you think in the matter. I don’t want to be like Flossie.
I am going to wait your reply and if you got anything against me getting married to an English girl don’t be afraid to say.
I would not do anything to displease you dear ones for the world, but I look at things this way, dearest Mum and Dad: If I wait till I get home I have no girl to go back to.
If one intends to settle down, it’s no use living alone. And another thing, if I was to get to England and get married it would get me a trip home. Of course I will leave it to you to decide and let me know as soon as you can.
And, my dearest Mum and Dad, if you got anything against it don’t be frightened to say so. Of course, dearest Mum and Dad, I will always keep you, as long you are alive you never need worry about that. As long as I get back in good health I will always see that you get plenty.
My darling Mum and Dad, I hope to be home with you again very soon. Now my darling Mum and Dad I don’t think I have much news to tell you this time so will draw this short scribble to a close. I will get away from France as soon as I can just for your sake dearest Mum, but as for myself I rather like fighting but I must think of my dear ones waiting for me.
Just think that little subject over and let me know.
Now my darling Mum and Dad, sister and brother, I will say goodbye with heaps of love and kisses. May God bless and protect you all till we meet again.
Ta ta my darling Mum and Dad. I remain your everloving son, Alf
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Kisses for dear little Jackie & Nellie
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August 6, 1917 , France
Dear Mrs Cadd,
It is concerning a very sorrowful event that I am writing you. Of course you have heard concerning the death of your son Horace, but I thought perhaps it would please you, somewhat, to know a little of the circumstances surrounding his death.
Our battalion, with another, was engaged in an operation to establish a position nearer to the enemy’s own line. Early in the engagement one of our officers was badly wounded and Horace was sent to take his place. In his capacity as the one in charge of the post he did splendid work.
The position which was dug in was a splendid one and it was due to this that the position was held. He sent back word of his work and its progress at all times and did the duties splendidly. It was towards night, and after putting up a great fight with the enemy, the party was forced to withdraw, and in so doing a stray bullet brought about the end of your son.
He did a noble and glorious work not only on that day but at all times.
The Company is greatly indebted to him for his bravery and cleverness in scouting work, which oftentimes gave us timely warning of enemy movements.
The whole Company join me in offering our heartfelt sympathy with you and yours in your time of great sorrow.
I am, yours very sincerely,
E.J. Colliver, Lieut. O.C., ‘B’ Coy.
This is an edited extract from the new book Pens and Bayonets: Letters From The Front By Soldiers Of Yorke Peninsula, South Australia, During The Great War, by Don Longo, published by Wakefield Press. Special Advertiser reader offer $32.95 from the News Shop, 31 Waymouth St, Adelaide, phone 8206 3317