France
16-5-18
Dear Mother,
I told you last letter I think that Dick Wade had arrived in Camp here, well he is leaving tomorrow for England & expects to go back to N.Z. so I am just scribbling a line or two to send with him to let you know that I am doing pretty well. They give X-Hospital men a good hearing here & I am not likely to be sent up the line until I am quite right. I was up before the Board yesterday & he told me to carry on with the lightest form of physical training for another fortnight. I still get slight attacks of the fever – just like influenza coming on, it only last 2 or 3 days & then I am right for a week or more. I have had a long spell now but it is their shortsighted system that is to blame. Dick is another example of it, Heavens knows he was hardy enough but they have worked the life out of him. If we had been given an occasional spell we would both have been going strong yet. Even if they can’t increase leave they could easily clean out the base jobs now & then & give the old hands in the line a chance of a soft job for a month or two. There are heaps of men in England & here who have been away from N.Z. for one or two years & have never been within about 40 miles of the line. While I was with the
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the Coy I thought every body out here was doing his bit but after my experiences in Con. Camps & Bases I had to change my opinions. And while on the subject a little advice on the question of donations to patriotic funds might not be amiss. My advice is in favour of the Y.M.C.A. “Trench Comforts” Fund. People seem to fail entirely to see that it is the man in the trenches who needs their sympathy & help. The man in Hospital is to be congratulated on his luck. Perhaps you can’t realise it, but that is the case. I don’t mean to say that the Hosp’s should be neglected but so far they have received far more than their share. I always knew that, but now that I’ve been through it I can speak from experience. In Hosp. we had a pkt of cigarettes a day & often two but our chaps in Hosp used to write to the Hosp. Comfort’s Fund in London & get buckshee boxes of better brands. Up the line they get 1 1/2 to 2 pkts a week & have to be satisfied with that or else buy more when they get a chance. It is the same with everything else. A man in Hosp can get almost anything he wants but the poor beggars who are slogging away up the line are neglected. At present the Y.M. Trench Comforts Fund is confined to supplying free tea, cocoa & biscuits & a few cigarettes to the men working in or near the lines.
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Especially when there is a stunt on they do great work. The huts are usually just behind the subsidiary line so that nobody but the right men can get the benefit of them. Of course they have big huts a mile or two further back where they carry on in the usual way making a small charge for things supplied. I never got anything in Hosp. that I enjoyed so well as some of the buckshee cocoa & biscuits I have had at the Y.M. dugouts, & if you ever know anyone in doubt as to what to do with their money you can pass my advice on to them. I will enclose a photo that will give you an idea what these places are like. The only trouble with them is that they are far too scarce. Perhaps by the time you get this Walt’s name will be drawn in the Ballot. If so tell him to get into the Engineers if possible there is no special knowledge needed & it is the best job by miles. If he can’t get that or the A.S.C. tell him to join any of the “Special” Coys. They get longer in N.Z. & longer in England. The Machine Gun, (Vickers) is a pretty good job but tell him to have nothing to do with the Lewis gun & to keep out of the Infantry. At one
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time I thought I might be sent back to N.Z. in time to work a point & save him the trouble but I am afraid such is not to be the case. All I can do is advise him & I hope I never see him over here. Well I don’t think there is much more to tell you. I hope you are quite at ease about my little complaints. I can’t help smiling when I think how well I look, & this is the safest place anyone could wish to be in so you see there is not much to worry about. I was going to cable you a while ago to let you know that I was not on the casualty list but they refuse to take cables here owing to the great delay in getting them through. They say it is quicker to write. I don’t know whether Dick will post this or take it out with him. If he does get N.Z. he will call on you & let you know that I am doing tres bon. In any case I hope this finds you all in the best of health. Sorry I can’t go with Dick myself instead of sending a letter but my turn will come later. Cheerio for the meantime.
With Love to All from
Len.
