[Address]
Miss M. McIntyre
Rothiemurchus
Thornbury
Southland
[Page 1]
Levil[illegible]
21/8/1914
Dear Everybody.
Here we are Lottie & I sitting in one of the sitting rooms here, she is reading the paper while I am writing this. I suppose you will be thinking that I have forgotten home already, never fear, the game is not so big that I could do so easily. The fact of the matter is that I have been holding off to see if I could not get something definite as to when we were to leave here, however up to the present there is nothing definite, rumour has it that we are going on Tues. 25. That may be so, & it is quite on the cards that we will, but you know. It is certain that we sail from Port Chalm when we do go, the ships are the Hawke’s Bay & Ruapehu. We cannot decide how to spell them but think that it is right. Now I suppose you would like to know who our Officers are, well they are Colonel Beauchop in command of Reg. Capt Paddon, 2 in command with Capt. Glendenning as Adj. Then we have Major McKenzie as squadron commander, & Lieutenant McCurdy senior subaltern. If Charlie sees Mr Diack I would like him to tell him the officers because I wrote him, & since then they have changed a little. Now I have to inform you that four of us who sat for exams at Ingill have got through, that is definite. Further than that we have been appointed to the position of 2nd Lieutenants, that is not bad news is it. We have been hearing a good deal about these commission for some days, but it was definitely decided today. Now about old Pat he has not arrived here yet
[Page 2]
& I do not know whether he has been rejected or not, they are coming on from Ingill in batches & unless Charl made arrangements to send him home, he may arrive here yet. The saddle arrived allright but no bridle, so when sddlery was being issued I made it my bis. to have a new one so if it does not come to light I am still on the right side. Well, there is a good bit I would like to say but time & space will not permit, I must write to Jack tonight also, in fact Lottie is writing one page now. I got a telegram from Waiheke this morning so I must write there as soon as possible, also to Kate. We are so busy that we have not much time to do anything. I went up to Roslyn & met Lottie there on Tues. night, & met her & Hutton on Wed night, had
[Page 3]
tea at the Plaza & then home. Well I must put the screw on now, & I will endeavour to keep you well posted up in our movements in the future. Give my love to all at Cornation House & tell them that I will write them if I possibly can. I expect you will receive this in time to send a reply before we leave here.
Your loving
Brother Ernie.
Seeing that I have got this commission I could do with the suite case fine, however if I need one I will get one here.
E.S.
