Hornchurch Conval. Camp
8/3/19
Dear Mary
I have just received again to day two more letters from you No’s 19. & 20 I got No. 18 about a week ago & No.17 about 3 weeks ago so they have been coming to hand pretty frequently of late; I also received a bundle of “Farmers” & a tin of “loaf sugar” during this last week; the Farmers & Heralds were all October’s issues they must have been an awful long time on the journey I am expecting another bundle soon as you say you sent away the ones with the Flu. victims mentioned in them. I didn’t think the authorities would have cabled you about my being in Hospital, but, I suppose they do these things as a safeguard to themselves so that the next-of-kin cannot say that they were never notified if anything serious should occur later on.
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I have still got the tail end of the cough on me but it is gradually getting less & less I should lose it all together when the weather gets brighter, we have had a lot of rain this last week although we get some pleasant days now & then, the buds are starting to burst on some of the trees and bushes. I see you are still having unseasonable weather in N.Z. I don’t think that I have missed very much by being out of it this whil. e I am glad to hear that you had such an enjoyable trip to Taieri Beach & etc. it would be a pleasant change for you I am sure & you seem to have struck one or two fine days at least, during your holiday; I am also pleased to think that you are likely to remain in Glenham after all for a year at any rate, I will send on that Photo to you which I spoke of in my last letter. Maggie Waldie is sitting right behind her Mother & Andre standing
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behind her again I will explain the others in the Photo when I get back, the younger one of the Ladies is Andrew’s wife & counsin & her sister also sitting in front of her. Please remember me to all of the Moneur’s if they are still in Glenham when you get this, I hope I will have a chance of seeing Alex some time when I get back again; if he is at Reefton there may not be much chance of that. It is rather a pity that you sent the Liquorice, tea, sugar, lollies, & etc now that I am in England & they may not reach me now if they take as long as most parcels do in coming but, If I am away when they arrive I will have them sent on to Uncle Willie & he can have the benefit of them. I heard last week that my application for a discharge in England had been approved of, I doubt if it were ever cabled to N.Z. I may be getting away on my 28 days leave with free railway warrant
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in two or three weeks time now before I get my discharge, I am trying to find out how my chances of getting to America will be about the end of April as I may be able to hang on here a wee while longer if it is going to suit better to do so. I see that the boats are beginning to get away a little better from this side now that will help to empty some of the camps in England, the “shipwrights strike” had interfered with the “sailings” for the months of Jan. & Feb. it is to hoped that there will be no further trouble for some time to come; I think that the coalminers’ threatened strike for March 22nd will pass by. Mr Lloyd George seems to be dealing with the matter in the right way. I think, so far as the Government is concerned in the matter. Well, I think I will stop now as I have run out of news, will probably write again before going on leave. Your affect. brother
J. Hall
