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Western Mail, Thursday, 9 January 1930, p. 2
Winter in France
The dawn of another year recalls memories of A.I.F. days. Diggers of the 4th Division will remember New Year's' Day, 1918, spent in the Moislans area near Peronne, the march from the hut area to Peronne being over an icy road more slippery than glass. Early in the morning of January 1 a lucky aircraft shot found a vital spot in an enemy 'plane flying high. It fell until about 1,000ft. from the ground, whe, it was ascertained afterwards, the pilot regained consciousness and flattened the machine out to make a safe landing. The souvenir hunters' dreams were destroyed before they reached the 'plane, for the German blew the machine up With a bomb. In those days S.R.D. mixed with Ideal milk emerged from the tin something like an ice cream, which the digger was required to bite at rather than drink. Some consolation is derived these steaming, hot days by recollections of winters in France at their worst.