France
29.4.17
Dear May,
As we are having the best part of today off I think I had better do a little letter writing while I have the chance. Last Sunday Mark Collins & I went to a football match & met Mark Farrington there. He is as fat as can be & is looking quite happy on it. He is still attached to the Mtd Squadron but at present is in charge of some horses at an officers’ training school. D. Hume, C. Millar & M. Maher were also present so that we had quite a little crowd of W’siders. Our Coy. has recently had
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its photo taken. I have ordered one but don’t know when I will get it. I’ll let you know when I am sending it. I think there are only three that you will know, Mark, Chris & I. The weather now is fairly fine & although it is just over a week since we had a good fall of snow I think the spring has properly set in now. The first swallows of the season arrived two or 3 days ago & they are fairly plentiful now. The violets & daffodils are all out & on
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a nice sunny day things are much more pleasant than they have been for the past six months. A few days ago a big N.Z. mail came in but I didn’t land a single letter, perhaps they have gone astray for a few days. However a parcel from Jeannie, dated Feb 9th & containing cake, shortbread etc, arrived last night, so that will keep me going in the meantime. News is pretty scarce & anything I can tell you about the war will be stale news before this arrives. Must stop now & send a few lines to Jeannie.
Love to all
Len
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P.S. May 12th I have just unearthed enclosed letter which I thought I had posted long ago. Since then we have done a good bit of marching & fatigue work & I have been too tired to do any writing with the result that I had overlooked the letter. I don’t think there is anything fresh to report except that your pcl containing balaclava & two books arrived safely a week ago & letters dated Mar 3rd & 13th from mother & you arrived this week. You asked about Walter Joyce but at present I know no particulars but will make enquiries & let you know later. He was in
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the Rifle Bgde & we don’t often see them & it is very hard to trace anyone, especially when we don’t know what Coy. as they are not in separate provinces like we are but Otago Well. etc are all mixed up. To make matters worse the majority of the men have joined up since then & it is very hard to get anyone who knew him. The photos mentioned have not come yet but should be here soon. I have also been taken since in the ruins of our Y.M.C.A. hut. It was only open one night & was to be officially opened next day but old Fritz got in ahead of us & landed two shells in it & now it’s finish Y.M. Perhaps you’ll see the photo in the papers. Len.
