Luff, John Stannon
No.1865a Pte John Stannon Luff 33rd Battalion AIF
‘Now my dear little darling lump of cuddle, I will say good night’
John Stannon Luff was born in 1887 in Fremantle Western Australia. He was educated at Beaconsfield Primary and after leaving school took up work with the Fremantle Municipality as a Gardener. In 1910 he became caretaker of Fremantle Oval and in 1911 married his sweetheart Ruby May McLaughlin. During the period 1911 to 1916 John & Ruby resided in lodgings at Fremantle Oval (Victoria Pavilion). Before John embarked overseas they had three children, Ron, May & Eric.
John Luff enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force on the 1st of March 1916 and began training at Blackboy Hill where he was allotted to the 2nd reinforcements to the 44th Battalion. His enlistment into the Army went against the wishes of his wife Ruby.
2/44 Blackboy Hill
25 May 1916
My Dear Ruby
Just these few lines hoping they will find you all in good health as it leaves me. Well lovey, I received your loving letter this afternoon and I was glad it was different to the last one. Well love, I think we must try and have no more rows. It makes you unhappy and me the same, because you know we have not got much longer together but I hope to God we won’t be parted long. Well love, I accept your letter with a good heart. Well love you said you would like to see me in my uniform. We might get it tomorrow.
I have passed my shooting up here in Blackboy and we are going down to Osborne next Monday. I will try and get down tomorrow night and if I can’t I will be down Sunday for sure. Well dear I think I have told you all the news this time, so I will now close.
I remain your ever loving husband Jack
For the children
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Well lovy I feel happy for you xxxx
Once more
Goodnight xxxxxxx
After extensive training it was decided that Luff and the rest of the 2nd Reinforcement group to the 44th Battalion were ready to embark for England. After some pre-embarkation leave the unit gathered at Fremantle wharf on the 7th of August 1916 where they said goodbye to their loved ones. The men then boarded their ship H.M.A.T “Miltiades” and set sail for the long sea journey to England.
15 days out
Somewhere at sea
My dear wife
Just a few lines hoping they will find you in good health as it leaves me.
Well dear I must say we had a good trip to date except the first night. It was very rough. I was seasick the first night only and ever since I have been splendid of course. There is a big swell on sometimes and then dishes are flying everywhere. Well as regards the tucker, it is very good on board ship. It is much better than at the camps. We get bread, butter, jam, porridge, pickles, soup, roast mutton, roast beef, peas, potatoes & milk of puddings. The tucker will always do me & we have all sorts of games by jove. We all enjoy ourselves except a few who have been bad all the way. All you can see everyday is the dark blue sea, water, water, water. Well dear I still have the same mates as I had in camp.
We all sleep in hammocks and all tucker together so we are as happy as larks. You know my Dear, I often sit and think of you my dear little darling & the dear little children. I often think when it will be when I am home with you again and the darling little ones. And when I come home we will go and live happy again in the dear old Oval and live the same as we did before. I often think of the happy times we have had. Well my dear you were the last little girl I kissed and I hope you will be the first one I kiss again. You got the last kiss, you know on the Fremantle wharf and you will get the next when I come sailing home and, don’t forget to keep true to me, which I know you will. And dear duck don’t forget that there are two Jack Luffs at the front. Old Tom’s son and myself J.S.Luff. I thought I would let you know in case there are any casualties, which I hope there will not be. When you write, write me a long letter and let me know all the news. Write and let me know how Lizzy Stofle is doing. Well dear there is not much news at sea. I will write you more news when I get to land.
Remember me to all at home & tell Mum I will drop her a line later on, so I will now close. We are just going to dinner.
I remain your ever loving
Husband Jack xxxxxxxxx
For children xxxxxxxx
You know we are not to write to much about the war.
P.S
28/09/16
Well Dear
This is a few lines since I wrote the last a couple of days ago. Well we arrived in Capetown and it is a lovely place, very pretty. I would like you to see the Table Mountain. It’s marvelous and the hills all around the harbour are bonzer. They are all green and it is dead funny to see the blacks coaling the boat. We arrived at four-o’clock but we are not allowed to land today. We might be allowed to land tomorrow and if we do it will only be for a march down. Don’t forget to write me a big long letter and send me the Sunday Times as the papers we get this part of the world do not have much news about Australia. Well there is no more news over this side at present. I will tell you more when I get to England. So good night.
From your ever loving husband Jack
For you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
For the little ones xxxxxxxxxxx
I am wearing my heart away for you my dear little darling. If god sees me, we will live happy again together. I have still got the little matchbox. I am changing the little present into the Pocket book. I often have a look at it and I think the world of it. The only part of you I have with me. I will save it and bring it back with me when I come home again.
So I will say goodnight. This is the third time I wished goodnight to you.
With lots of love
Forever your little lump
Of cuddle
After Landing in England at the end of September 1916, Luff and his fellow reinforcements were sent to the training base at Salisbury Plains. Here they undertook more training with other 3rd Division reinforcements groups. Salisbury Plains was the main training facility for Australian troops in England. Where the opportunity offered, leave was also taken.
03/10/1916
My address No.1865 Pte J.S Luff
2/44 11th Training Camp
On Active Service
My Dear Little Wife
Just a few lines to let you know I am quite well hoping you are all the same at home in Australia. Well dear we landed quite safe in England and it is a lovely place. We landed on the 25th of September on my birthday. Oh I received your letter last Wednesday 28th Sep. My word it cheered me up. Well, my dear little duck I can’t get you and the little ones off my mind. I am always thinking of you. I do wish I were home with you again. Yes we landed at 4pm in the afternoon and got straight off the ship onto the train and went to the Camp Salisbury Plains.
We traveled all night in the train and when we got out we marched to our camping ground, five miles, so you can guess we had a rough time of it. There are dozens of camps, with about five thousand in each. The first camp we went to is called Lark Hill camp. We had three days there and then we shifted to another camp now fourteen miles away. We marched with full kit up. They give you plenty of training here in England, but the living is up to date. On the 28th Oct the King reviewed 48 thousand of us, all Australians. By jove Rube it looked grand. When we marched we were about four miles long. I never saw such a crowd of troops in my life. The camp we’re now in is called Codford Wilts but you don’t want to write to camps.
Now a little on how we live. When we left Capetown the tucker was rotten, but since we arrived in England it is splendid. You could not wish for better. We get porridge, steak & onions, potatoes, beans, everything you can mention.. We have big dining rooms and great big long huts to sleep in. It could not be better and the taste of the food is lovely. Well my dear darling Wife never mind about the good things here, I would rather be home with you again. We get four days leave to go to London and we get it next Friday 6th Oct. They say the English people think the world of the Australians and you need not worry my little love, I will keep true to you. My old mind is on you. I suppose you received my letter I sent you from Capetown. I forgot to tell you what Port we landed in. It was Plymouth, a very pretty place. Well my darling little love I must say you people don’t know there is a war on in Australia but we do in England. It is terrible, the zeppelin raids are terrible they brought 4 down this last month. We don’t expect to go to France till March. The people think it will be nearly over by then. I hope it is. Well my dear I will now close as I am getting sleepy, so good night. Excuse bad spelling and scribble.
From your ever
Loving Husband
Jack
For the little ones
Ronnie May Eric Sid
xxx xxx xxx xxx
Remember me to them all
For your self xxxxxxxxxxxx
For your mother xxxxxxxxx
P.S – My word love I will have something to tell you when I come home.
I will tell you more news next letter when I get straightened up a bit.
2/44 Company D Batt 44 Regt 10-10-1916
1865 Private JS Luff
2nd Reinforce 2/44 Battalion 11th Brigade
To my Dear Wife
Just a few lines to let you know I am still alive and kicking hoping you are the same & the dear darling little children. I received your loving letter yesterday & the Sunday Times. My word a letter from you makes me happy. Well dear duck I told you in my last letter we were going to London. Well we went for four days but it was too short a time. I had a good time. My word lovey, I would have liked to have had you with me. To see the sights, it was bonzer. I will tell you a few places I have seen. First I stopped at the YMCA. It cost 1/- for a bed & 1/- a meal. Always do me but not like being home with you my little lovy. I do miss you. Well this is what I saw second. Westminster Abbey, St Pauls Cathedral, the Old Bailey. That is where they try all the murderers. It is a beautiful place, all oak and marble. I was in the cell where Crippon was when he was on trial and in the same chair he sat in and the same chair as the Judge sat in. Then next I went to Hyde Park, then to Leicester Square & Piccadilly & then to Petticoat Lane & around the slums just to have a look at what they were like. They live like a lot of pigs. Well Dear I never went around by myself. We had an old Gentleman to take us around. He was a real good old man, plenty of money.
The next day we went on the River Thames, over London Bridge, Waterloo Bridge, the Tower Bridge, underground railways in underground tubes. All over the place in motor buses. I saw where the bombs dropped. You ought to have seen the mess they make. You have got no idea what it’s like.
We are back in camp again now training hard for the Front with the bayonet, all bayonet work. The people of England think the world of the Australians. They can’t do enough for us, especially the people in London, five women to every man. They nearly come up and kiss the Australians, but my dear love I never had anything to do with them. I thought of you and the dear little ones thousands of miles from me. I often shed a tear thinking of you my dear darling little girl. Keep true and I will. My word it is life and death for me. Things are hot where the Australians are going. The people of England say that we are the best fighters in the world. I said we were going to the front next March, but it is altered now. I think it will be next month, November, so if we do we will have Christmas in the trenches. I will miss my Christmas dinner but lovey it don’t matter my dear duck I will make up for it when I come home. My word one of your dear mother’s puddings would go good at any time. Don’t you worry, I will come home some day and then you can be proud of me. I feel as healthy as I could be. How is the old man keeping? I hope he is good to you my dear and the darling little Children. It is now ten o’clock in the night and we are going on a long march. About eight thousand of us so I won’t be lonely. We have a good time among ourselves. Oh dear, have you come crook yet I have been thinking about it. I look at the matchbox and what’s in it every night & your dear photograph. I will write you a better letter when we get settled down and I will write to you every mail. Now well my dear little darling lump of Cuddle, I will say good night.
From Yours
Ever loving
Husband. Jack
For you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
For Ronnie xxxxxxx
For May xxxxxxx
For Eric xxxxxxx
For Sid xxxxxxx
For your mother xxxxxxx
1865 22-Oct 16
Private J.S.Luff
2/44 Battalion
11th Brigade
My Dear Wife
Just a few lines hoping they will find you in good health as it leaves me. Well my dear darling little wife I received your loving letter yesterday 21st Oct, the third letter you have written, so if I get them like this all the time I will receive one every mail. My word love I am pleased when I receive your letters. I don’t bother about anything else and I have received the Sunday Times, two of them. Well dear Duck the weather is getting pretty cold now. It trims you up a bit. There is no place like old Australia especially the Oval. I would like to be back in the dear old Oval again and by jove dear we will be back there and you and I and the darling little ones, we will live happily for ever, if I don’t get blown out. I don’t think I will get blown out. I am going to look out for number one and keep low. We are not killed with drill and we get well looked after. I said in my last letter we might be going to the front before Christmas, but we hear now that we will not go to France till next March. So we will have Christmas in England and if there are any parcels, to send them to the same address, 2/44 battalion 11 Brigade and that will find me any time. Always glad to except anything that is good.
Well dear you said in your last letter I received yesterday that you were sending me 10/- shillings for a birthday present. It will come in very handy. My word dear you do think of me and your letters are loving. Lovy when we got to Capetown we were not allowed off ship, only for a march and I and about sixty more broke away and had a good look around the town. I only had two drinks, we had no time to drink as we wanted to have a good look around. Well love I was fined 6 days pay and they are stopping it out of our shilling a day so that is thirty five days (1 shilling a day) out of my kick so the 10/- will come in very handy. No more breaking away for me. I have been good and true to you my dear little girl so don’t you worry, I will look after myself. I hope you will, I know you will my lovy, I do miss you. I can’t get you off my mind. You say you pray for me, well lovy and I pray for you and the darling little children. I think it is a very good thing to learn the little ones, learn them and when I come home they will be able to tell me all about it. It will be very nice for me to think what they know. Well dear I was very sorry to hear of the death of poor Mr Hales as he and I had a few drinks together in Claremont on the morning we left for England. Well one never knows when they are going to be killed, poor chap.
We are sixty miles from London, a place called Codford, a little village, very nice little place. There are dozens of villages around here where we are about a mile distance. We are out in the country and the fields are beautiful, only forty thousand Australians on the Salisbury Plains.
Well lovy I will now close so good night. Remember me to your Dear Mother, poor old Frin & poor old Jim. Oh your Father, tell him not to join as it is up to mud.
From your ever loving husband
Jack xxxxxxxx
For the little ones xxxxxxxx
Don’t forget my darling little love to write every mail as long as I get a line from you Dear I will be right. I would like to give you these on your lips xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
P.S
Well my dear these few lines are a day later than the first few pages. Nothing has altered today. Thirty of us have been transferred into the 44th Battalion tomorrow 23rd Oct and we don’t know when we are going into the firing line, so we are ready to move off at any time with the Battalion. So dear Rube you must keep up spirit, if I don’t get killed I may get wounded and then I will be home with you all the sooner.
Don’t worry love I will keep low. I am sick of camp life so I thought it was best to volunteer for the front. Well this is all the news this time so good night dear.
From your loving
Husband Jack xxxxx
15-11-1916
No.1865 Pt JS Luff
3rd Division 9 Brigade
33rd Battalion D Company
To my Dear Wife
Just these few lines hoping they will find you in good health as it leaves me the same. Well dear, I received your last letter last Friday, the fourth one I have had from you, so they are up to time and what do you think my dear little girl I have been transferred into a new Battalion. It is the 33rd Battalion with the New South Wales boys, so I will be going to the front with them next Monday 20th November. I was sorry I could not go with my own Battalion, the 44th, but we have to go where we are put, but they are a splendid lot of blokes, but strangers. Well dear I suppose my mail from you will get a little mixed a bit, being in a new Battalion, but it don’t matter love I won’t get down hearted, but you will get mine all right. Don’t forget to keep on writing, as I suppose I will get your letters sometime. Don’t you worry Dear about me love I will battle on and keep true to me and if I come home I will tell you all about it. O’h lovey my colours are Black and Green now and when I come back they will be very unusual because there are only a few West Australians in this Battalion, so you can wear the Black and Green now and the people will wonder what they are. Never mind dear I am a soldier every bit of me and proud of it too and I know you are too love.
Well dear we all went out for a route march day before yesterday. The old division is the 3rd. There are 12 Battalions in a division so there were fifteen thousand of us infantry besides the big guns & cannons and all the transports. The march was fourteen miles long and it took seven hours to pass one spot so you can guess what a sight it was. They started at six in the morning and the last got away about 1 or 2 in the afternoon. That’s how long a division is and they are all going into the field together. Well lovey the lights have just gone out so I will finish this letter tomorrow.
Now for another start. Well my Dear little Girlie I must tell you I am writing this half of this letter in the Hospital. I never felt too good this morning and I went to see the Doctor. He said I was getting the mumps and I have got a very bad cold but I don’t think I have got any mumps. I feel a little better tonight and the hospital I am in is called Parkhouse Hospital England and it is a bonzer place. It will always do me, my word they do look after us. They say I will be in here for a month at the least so I miss going with Battalion s & the Division. It will do me, as it is so cold it has been snowing this last couple of days. Talk about fun, snowball fights, some of the boys would make a cat laugh, but I am not in it. I can see all the fun through the window. I am sitting up in bed looking through the window. I have got a nice warm bed and they are so good to me, they gave us tobacco and a pipe this morning. What the Red Cross gives them to give us.
Well my Dear little love don’t you worry, I will get alright. A good rest will do me good and I won’t have to go to the front till about Christmas. I suppose you know lovy I am not a bit frightened of going to fight for you and the darling little ones that I left behind, so cheer up. And you better still keep the old address as I don’t know where I will be when I come out of the Hospital and I suppose my letters will get a bit mislaid, but you will get mine safe. So if I don’t get yours regular I won’t be downhearted, but don’t forget to keep on writing, as I will get them some time. Well my dear little love I will now close as I am getting tired so I will say good night
from your ever loving Husband
Jackxxxxxxxxx
For the little onesxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I do hope you my dear and the darling little ones are all right, god bless you all. I pray for you all at home. My god I will be happy when it comes my turn to come home to you, from Jack xxx
14-12-16
My Dear Wife
Just these few lines hoping they will find you in good health as it leaves me now. Well lovy, I said I was in the Hospital last letter but I am out again now and well again. I missed the Division, they went to France three weeks ago and I am going next Tuesday to join the 33rd Battalion and my dear I received the Christmas Box you sent me and my word I was glad to receive it. The pudding I am going to keep till Christmas day. I suppose I will be in the trenches and I f I am alright I will eat it in there and the tobacco, it came in handy as I can’t get any tobacco to suit me in England. I also received the letter you wrote, the one dated 23rd October and Dear Rube the weather is terribly cold over here. It has been snowing again this last couple of days and the frost is murder. My Dear if you were over here you would die with the cold but I stand it well. I don’t feel it like a lot of the poor buggers. Some of them are half dead but don’t you worry my darling, I am alright. Don’t fret my Dear. It made me feel bad when I read your letter and saw you were sick and went to the Doctor. I do wish I was with you, I would put you all right. I am very sorry to hear about poor old Tommy Richards and Harry the baker but they are better off the way they uster live. And the Oval, it is a pity the way they are letting it go but it don’t matter Rube, when I come home you and I will fix it up again. I often think of the dear old Oval and my Dear duck you said Allen and Billy were forced to go but they were not as conscripts, not in Australia. I pity them and tell George Brice, Reg and also your Father not to take it on as it is terrible and I advise no one in Australia to take it on as there are enough of us poor buggers here & if they do they will be sorry. You said you would be upset if you thought I did not get enough to eat, but you must not think that because we get well fed and plenty of it and the best of tucker.. They have got to feed us well, as we would not live here in the cold. I have put on one stone and three pounds since I arrived here so I am not doing too bad. My word dear I do worry about you and the darling little children. I ought not to worry, I know you will be all right. Watch your self dear and don’t let anybody soft soap you over and if they do I will deal with them when I come home. I will give them a pretty hot time of it. Well dear I will write you a small letter the night we leave fro France to let you know I have left and it will be the last you will receive from me in England except if I return wounded. I will write to you as soon as I cross the channel and every mail just the same if I can. You ought to receive my letters alright but I don’t know about yours, but it don’t matter love, it can’t be helped and lovy I want you and the Children to get your photos taken again and send me one. A post card will do. I have still got one photo we had taken together and I often look at it, also that tiny little thing you gave me in the matchbox. I have got it in my Pocket book now, I think the world of it. I keep it over my heart, the only little bit of you I have with me, but it don’t matter I will have the lot of you when I come home and lovey I am with a bonzer lot of chaps. They are New South Wales. Don’t forget the colours, Black and Green. So I think I have told you all the news this time so I will say Ta-Ta.
From your true and ever loving Husband Jack
For the little ones xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
For you xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
P.S. I have only had four days leave since I have landed here. The camp I am in is five miles square, no women allowed in. They watch us like a cat watching a mouse so you need not worry about me. I will keep true to you.
14-12-16
My Darling Wife
Just one or two lines telling about the new songs. The latest are “Theres a long, long trail” and My Home in Tennessee. They are the ones I like the best and I play them on the mouth organ & also I play the old tunes I know. The lads say I am the best they have heard on it, I keep the hut we live in alive and my dear I have not got you a present yet, as I only have had leave once and things are very dear here. But I won’t forget you, I will find you something. They tell me I will be able to get things cheaper and better in France.
I am saving a few bob out of my shilling a day for a present for you and the little ones so don’t worry I will send you some thing. From your True & ever loving Husband
Jackxxxxxxxxxx
I do long for you ducky.
John Luff was now sent to the front in France to join the 33rd Battalion in the front line around Armentieres.
18 January 1917
33rd Batt
9 Brigade
3 Division
To my Dear Wife
Just these few lines hoping they will find you all in the best of health as it leaves me. Somewhere in France. The weather over this side is pretty wintry, plenty of snow now and I suppose it is jolly hot over your way. Oh well my Dear Girl don’t you worry. Cheer up, we will have a good time when I come home. We will make up for all lost time. I’ll make the best of it here and don’t you jolly well worry, I am only doing my bit. I suppose the darling little ones often ask where I am. The dear little ones, I do pray for them, they are always on my mind. Also you and don’t forget you tell little Ronald I am over here after Fritz (any anybody after Fritz thinks it’s a good game I don’t think). My word Dear Australia stands out on it’s own. Well Rube, I met Tom Luff, my cousin over here at Christmas time and he and I spent Christmas together and you can guess we had a jolly good time. He got wounded but is all right again. I am sending you some postcards & you can guess what the Western Front is like by the picture that’s on them. Well I will now close, more news next mail so Ta-Ta From your true & Everlasting husband Jack xxxxxxxxxx
Little ones xxxxxxxx
After joining the 33rd Battalion, John Luff was assigned to D Company.
On Active Service
20 Feb 1917
33rd Battalion
9 Brigade D Company
My Dear Wife
Just these few lines hoping they will find you in good health as it leaves me fair. Well my dear I must tell you I have been wounded but you must not worry as it is not too bad. I got it through the ear and stopped it in my nut but it is not serious and I am in Hospital in France and I can tell you I am glad to get a spell from the trenches. It is like hell on earth when there is a scrap on. My word lovey it is lovely just to hear a woman talk after being away from them, it cheers one up.
The piece that hit me went through my steel hat so my good old hat saved me. It was a piece off a shell that struck me so I thank God for my hat. I have been up against fritz’s trenches twenty yards from him. We could hear him talking. My word Rube the nurses treat us well. They are so kind to us. I have got a good chance going over to Blighty, they call England Blighty, for a spell. The weather over here is still cold and my word it is murder. The snow and ice in the trenches and the blacksmith’s shop flying about, it is pretty lively and dear I have only received two letters from you since October. The last one was dated 5th November, but you know my love I do look for a letter from you and I know you write one every week but I won’t worry ducky, I suppose I will get them some day. And I have only received two Sunday Times and that was when I was in England. My word dear I will have plenty to tell you when I come home again and god only knows when that will be. I hope it is pretty soon. Well I think I have told you all the news this time.
PS I suppose that they put in the paper that I was wounded and my old photograph in the Sunday Times. If they have, cut it out and send it to me and don’t you worry about me dear I will battle along.
I do hope the darling little lovy little Ronnie, May and dear little Eric are well and remember me to them all at home.
Well my dear I will say ta-ta for the present.
From your true and ever loving husband Jack xxxxxx
For the little ones xxxxxxx
For you when I come home xxxxxxxxxxx.
6 March 1917
33 Battalion
9 Brigade
3 Division France
To My Dear Wife
Just these few lines hoping they will find you all in good health, as I am getting along well again. Well my dear I told you in my last letter I was wounded, well I was but I am all right again & I am going up the line in a day or so. With the best of luck I hope next one I get will send me home to you. I don’t mind it as long as I can see you once again because the game is no fun you know. I can speak a little French now. France is up to mud, give me dear old Australia.. And what do you think, I met Tom Luff again. He is still in the cookhouse but he is going up the line in a day or so also, poor old Tom. We are happy together when we met and we are sorry to part. He goes one way up the line and I go another so after we parted I met Jacky Brown. You know whatty Brown where I went crabbing, his son, he has been in hospital in England for eight months, and I just missed Joe Steady. He went up the line last week so I can tell you I was sorry, as I would like to have seen poor old Joe. It is hard to find anybody in this camp as it is so big.
Well dear little ducky I do miss you, I get right downhearted especially when I am right up in the front line standing there in the cold for hours. It makes me think of you my love and the darling little Children. I lay in my dugout thinking of you for hours. Well I am uster the shot and shell now but I would like to be away from it. I have not received any mail for weeks but I think they are waiting for me up the line and my dear little wife, I think I have told you all the news this time so I will now close. Remember me to poor old mum and your Father, Mr. Gray and all the girls so Ta-Ta. God Bless you my darling little Girl and my dear little Ronnie May & Eric.
From your true and ever loving husband Jack
xxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxx
I pray to God he will spare me to come home and see you once again.
Good Bye for the present xxxxxxxxxx
Somewhere in France
Excuse terrible and bad spelling
I am true to you. I hope you are
to me so Ta-Ta my big lump
of cudle. From Jack xxxxxx
30-3-1917
To my Dear Ruby
Just these few lines to let you know I am still alive and kicking hoping you are all the same. . Well my Dear Girl I am back in the trenches again and I am just the thing so you must not worry. I got over my little bit of a knock alright and my Dear I got letters to burn. I received twelve the other day in the trenches. When I received them I was just going into my dugout so I was kept busy for a couple of hours. My word Dear they cheered me up and your photograph, I received that also and I think it grand. I have still got the old photo of you and the dear little children. Also the ring and the little keepsake in my pocket book, you know what I mean.
I often look at those little things so don’t you worry lovy I am all right. A bit hard you know but I can stand it as long as God only spares me to come home to you & the darling little Children. Won’t we have some fun. And Dear that little sketch you put in one of those letters. I had to laugh, you’re a hard case. I could not help smiling. It puts me in mind of old times. You said in your letter that you were at the races with Hetty. Mind lovey don’t let any of the sports talk you over. You know there are a lot of coldsports among them. I know I need not worry, I can trust you. You enjoy yourself. I am only joking. You said in one of your letters that I went a little behind your back with the London Girls in Mothers & Grays letters, but don’t you worry I had a bit of fun but nothing further. Don’t you worry I will keep true to you. France is not much of a cop up this way where I am. My thoughts are on you and the dear little ones. Wait till the day Jack comes marching home and then we will smile. I don’t think it will be long. I think it will soon finish and then the happy day will come. Well my Dear little lump of cuddle.
I think I have told you all the news.
P.S. Dear remember me to them all at home, you know Mr Spencer and all my mates in the council that you know. So I will say Ta-Ta there is not much news here. You know we can’t speak too much but I will tell you all when I come home.
From your true and ever loving husband Jack.
For Ronnie xxxxxxxx
For May xxxxxxxx
For the little man of the house xxxxxxxx Eric
Siddy xxxxx
Remember me to your Mother and the girls.
I often picture you love
24-4-1917
To My Dear Ruby Somewhere in France
Just these few lines hoping they will find you all well as it leaves me the same. Well I received your photographs quite safe and I think you look lovely. It makes me feel like squeezing them. I though I tell you that I received them all right as my last letter might not reach you. Well lovey, I see by the Sunday Times where lizzie run second in one race & she won the next one. It mentions that a Luff had rode her so I tip it was my dear little brother Frank. I will bet that he has got some swank with himself now. I do wish I have the luck to see him in the saddle, and another thing, don’t forget to send me the cuttings out of the Sunday Times of my Photograph of myself as I don’t get many papers, but I would be sure to get it that way. I mentioned in my last letter that I got seven or eight letters when I was in the trenches in my dugout, but I have none since fifteen or sixteen days ago. I might get some mail this coming week. I hope I do. My word it does cheer me up to get a dear letter from you my dear little Girlie. I do love you dear more and more every day and also the dear darling little children.
I do hope God will spare me for the sake of you and the dear darling Ronnie, May and Eric the dear little soles. I often picture you and them and that little part of you I have got in the matchbox and the ring. I often look at the name on it. Well dear we’re out of the trenches now for a spell but we expect to go in shortly again. You can bet there is going to be something doing. You need not worry my Dear little Duck I am not the only one. I have got plenty of mates and a jolly good lot of chaps too. And dear Ruby don’t forget to (address my letter 33rd Battalion 9th Brigade D Company AIF on Active Service and don’t forget I am not in the 44th Battalion 11th Brigade) and address my letters that way and I think I will get my mail alright. It is a NSW Battalion and a fine lot of chaps. We have been camped in farm houses behind the firing lines in barns. There are plenty of French people but they are up to mud, they can’t speak English, only French and we can’t under stand them. The weather has been very wet and cold and plenty of snow but it is beginning to get fine now. We are playing a football match today. You know we have a bit of fun sometimes but very seldom. The game is right up to mud. I will be glad to get home when the time comes and then we will have some fun after the war finishes.
My word dear I have seen some pretty sights and I have seen some darn awful ones too. I will tell you all about it when I come home. Dear old home and the dear ones that’s in it. We don’t get too much to eat as we spend our five pence on bread & eggs and we buy them off the French farmers. Well lovy I think I have told you all the news this time but I still keep waiting I will receive your letter one of these days.
So I will say Ta-Ta for the present from your True & Ever loving Husband Jack xxxxx
Remember me to them all at home.
For the little ones xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Dear tell my Dear Mother I will write to her next Mail as I have had not much time. You know dear I only think of you all the time. Remember me to them all.
France 25-5-17
My Dear Wife
Just these few lines hoping they will find you all in good health as it leaves me still alive and kicking. I am going strong again. Well lovy I received your dear letter today 25th May and I am sorry to hear you don’t keep well. It makes my heart ache to think you get giddy feelings. You cheer up and look on the best side of things. Don’t worry Dear I will come back some day to you but I suppose you can’t help it lovy. I do get downhearted when I think of you and my dear little Children it nearly breaks my heart especially when I am in danger and that is pretty often lately. But never mind my dear little girl I will cheer up and I hope you do the same and dear little Ronnie & Eric.
I do hope they will get well soon. It makes me nearly cry when I think of them. I am always thinking of you and the dear little ones, but never mind dear I have got just as good a chance as my poor fellow mates. My word dear I do feel sorry for some of the poor boys when there is a strafe on. They do get frightened, especially the new men. They can’t make it out, they hang on to us old boys, but they get used to it when they are in the line for a while. Well lovey you said you hope I got good mates when I joined the 33rd but I am pleased to tell you that forty one of us were put into the 33rd. Mr Lillywhite and all my other mates. There has been two killed, young Grant from the South West & Mr Marriot from the same place. They were killed just before Christmas. They were in the 2/44 with us in Claremont and there has been eleven of us wounded out of the 2/44th that joined the new battalion. Mr Judd never left England to come to France with us as he was very bad with rheumatics and I don’t think he will ever come to France. I think he will be sent back to Australia. He is a lucky man that he never come with us as the game is up to mud. Well my dear little Girlie the weather here is getting nice and warm and it looks beautiful except around where the shells are knocking about. They stir things up a little.
Well my dear it doesn’t look like as if it is going to finish yet unless it is squashed as quick as it started and I pray to God it will as I am damn well sick of it. It is a jolly hard life and no one knows only us poor chaps that are here. My word some of the chaps are lucky they don’t be in the line long before they get a bit of a wound and are sent to blighty. That’s the reinforcements I mean, but never mind lovy, I like my chance. I think I will come through all right and I don’t want to you to worry as long as I come back to you all right. You keep true and brave and I will be satisfied. I received your two photos all right and I think they are lovely and I want you to get the children’s taken and send me one. I have still got the photo that I left with and that little match box. I often have a look at and wish I was as close to it as where it came from. Well my dear little wife I think I have told you all the news this time. I can’t tell you where I am and what’s doing but when I come home I will have plenty to tell you and I hope it will not be long. I have got all your letters bar two and I expect to get the next mail. Well I will now close so good night from your
true and everloving husband
Jack xxxxxxxxxxxxx
For Ronnie xxxxxx Eric xxxxxx
May xxxxx
Remember me to them all at home and I often think of poor old trin, your dear Mother. I often think of the good old feeds I uster get. I wished I was there now to have a good square feed. Never mind, I will make up for it when I come home so I will say Ta-Ta for the present my dear darling lump of cuddle.
I will squeeze you when I come home.
Keep brave and true. From your true &
Everloving husband Jack xxxxxxxxxx
For your Mother xxxxxxxxx
excuse bad wrighting & spelling
P.S – Just a little verse from Jack
No One knows how much I miss you
No one knows how my heart greeves
How my lips have yearned to kiss you
And in whom my soul believes
No one knows how much I love you
More and more as each day goes
Though my heart may break in sorrow
No one cares for no one knows
I am yours for ever Jack xxxx
Unfortunately during the Messines battle of early June 1917, John Luff was killed in action. One of his battalion mates, Frank Morris from Harvey WA wrote to Ruby with the details of his death.
The Base
France
July 20th 1917
Dear Mrs Luff
I am sure you would like to hear particulars of how your good husband met his death. Although I was not near at the time I heard from one of his comrades.
It was at the Messines battle. Johnny as we always called him was bandaging up a wounded soldier in an exposed position & although his cobbers begged of him to come away to a more sheltered spot he persisted in stopping to finish his work of mercy when another shell fell close by and killed the two of them together. I am sorry to lose such a good friend. I am sorry for you to dear Mrs Luff & the children.
Johnny often used to talk to one about you & the children and show me your photograph so that I seem to know you quite well he was so proud of you all.
I thought it only fair to write and tell the circumstances under which he died so that the children should understand that their Daddy was a brave & good man. “He gave his life for his friend”. I ask you to accept my sincere sympathy.
I am
yours very sincerely
Pte Frank Norris 1870
33rd Batt.
(Of Harvey WA)
John Stannon Luff was buried among many of his battalion mates at Toronto Avenue Cemetery Warneton, the only all Australian Cemetery in Belgium.
5 other members of the Luff family served in the war and all returned home. Andrew & Frank Luff served in the 44th Battalion, John in the 36th Heavy Artillery Group, Thomas in the 3rd Machine Gun Battalion & Thomas George in the 11th Battalion & 3rd Brigade HQ.
After John’s death in Belgium, Ruby, Ronnie, May and Eric had a house built for them in Beaconsfield with donations from the Ugly Men’s Society, the Council and other benefactors.