France
11-8-18
Dear Mother,
Have just received two letters from you written on May 15th & 30th. You seemed to expect me back but you will have had later letters to say that I am alright again. I wouldn’t mind getting back but I don’t want to go home feeling like I did a few months ago. I’d rather have my usual health & take my chances here a bit longer. Mark’s case was very similar to my own & we are both together here & both keeping pretty well. I think I told you before we had
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left the base & have been up the line for some weeks but so far are just in reserve & are not attatched to our Coy’s yet. Of course I have been on leave the last fortnight so I should feel better now. You ask if I had had sick leave to Blighty but they don’t give that from France. We have to get to a Blighty Hosp. first & I couldn’t manage that. It was rather fortunate that my leave just came due when I needed it & when I was well enough to enjoy it. I have read with considerable interest your views on the various war weddings. I didn’t know about the girl Gee’s case; but know a good
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many others. I know a few soldiers have changed their minds but by the row they make about it in N.Z. one would think that there was nothing of that sort going on there. I even hear that the Mayor of Chch refused to give a welcome to a batch of soldiers wives who recently went out. I don’t know much about them but I do remember how the people cheered us from one end of Chch to the other & made all sorts of nice promises about what they’d do for us in return. Of course that was
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when we were leaving for the war, now that the battle-scarred remnants are straggling back unfit for further service they don’t get even bare civility. That’s how the public keep their promises. I hope I am never dependant on them for anything & I am mighty glad I am unfettered & can do as I like and enjoy a little independence. Well I think that it is enough on that subject just now. Was surprised to hear of the burgalary at Uncle Frank’s & to hear that Kiddums has had all her jewellery pinched. What a pity Norman didn’t get the fork into him. You asked about the photos & p.c’s you sent to Elsie & Dorrie.
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Well if all my letters got through you must be tired of hearing about them as I have told you several times that everything you mentioned has arrived safely & while I was over there I had the pleasure of looking at them. It was just like old times again looking at those old Dome & Mataura views. I had just such a time while on leave & as we had a camera with us we shall be able to send you a few samples of the local
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beauty spots. Dorrie has a camera too but has done nothing worth while yet. I took six for her & took them to be dev’d but the boy who put them in for her had let the light at them & they fogged all over. I loaded it again before I left but hadn’t time to try it again. I think you can expect better results from Elsie’s. Am glad to hear that Walt hasn’t gone into camp yet but I suppose he won’t be long. Tell him to be sure & give me his No & address if he happens to get
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to England. At present they get 6 days leave before they leave England & he should go to Porthill for at least part of it. He would enjoy himself better there than at Chch. The station is Longport but he will probably have to leave the the train at Stoke-on-Trent but they would meet him there. Of course there will be plenty of time to arrange that when he lands in England. I don’t think there is any more news. My N.Z. mail is coming pretty regularly now & I am glad to hear you are still getting my
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letters alright. I got word about Aunt Tot’s death months ago & mentioned it in some of my letters so if you haven’t had them they must have gone down. Today I received a card from Base P.O. saying that a parcel from Chch has been lost at sea through enemy action. I suppose it was something from Averil so will send her the card as a souvenir. Thanks for the cutting re fire. It must have been some blaze.
Love to All
Len
OVER
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I don’t think I told you that Connie & her boy intend going out to N.Z. after the war. He has been out in France but his health broke down & he is back in England on Home service. He seems a very decent chap but at present he looks far from well. I think he used to work for a firm of stock agents & auctioneers. I have given them instructions to call on you if they get there before I do so you can expect to see them as soon as peace is declared.
P.S. Have just received letter 52 from May with her photos enclosed. L.
