Featherston
3/8/16
Dear Folk,
Once again I find I have time to write a few lines. A lucky beggar I am too the weather here at present is just rotten it has been raining consistantly all day and heavy the place is just a sea of water. I am on dining room so am missing a treat have hardly been out it at all. Tuesday night we had a heavy fall of snow on the hills all round us and yesterday was bitterly cold easily the coldest we have experienced this winter so that snow last night was not unexpected. It commenced about eight and when we turned in at ten it was still falling however when we got up this a.m. it had turned to rain and there had not been enough to lay on the ground when it was in such a wet condition. It has been miserably cold all day so I have my work cut out to do writing with any comfort. The sixteenth had all swags packed & on trucks yesterday ready to follow them into Trentham. They were to leave today but conditions were very much against them so they took up the huts that were empty here. They had to sleep on the earth last night with two blankets & oil sheet & as the tents were leaking they were all wet this a.m. It is reported they go by train on Monday.
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The storeman has been reading from the paper that the heaviest storms experienced for some years have been taking place round about us so that it is little wonder we are having it we it must be the tail end that is here. On Saturday morning we are to be relieved of the horses and none of us are sorry since the weather has be so bad but when we get back to the paddock it will be “A horse a horse my Kingdom for a horse!” We spent an hour or so on foot yesterday & by the time it was up all were pleased. They have been spoiled altogether we had quite the roughest spin of any other winter I think out of the eight weeks we have had them that if we have been out without wearing over coats three weeks it is as much as we have done. Whether we will get a weeks drill as well as our shooting before leave or not I cannot say but as to when that comes off we are still in the dark. Observe an empty pen. Noon Friday. Of course I had to ring off when the well ran dry & I went as far as the canteen after tea last night. There I met Jack Clark and talked to him until it was too late to do anymore writing so here I am giving it a go in the hut. The seventeenth infantry got orders about an hour and a half ago
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that they were to go on final leave this afternoon. It is a quick shift I can tell you and is on account of the wet weather & to a certain extent sickness in the ranks. I received your box of cakes a few minutes ago but as it is just after dinner they have not yet been sampled but will get a ding-dong go tonight for supper. Also I have a large photo of the troop, the which, we had taken last Sunday but I will keep it on until I come along as I can carry it in my bag. I also had my photo taken on post-cards and have some of them to go along too quite a number of the fellows here exchange photo’s so a few will dwindle away that way the rest will be home soon. Today is another wet day or I could not be writing this now but as I can find nothing more to write about at present so will close. Hoping all are as well as I am.
Your Brother
Charlie
Enclosing two notes to get them out of the way.
Ch.
