Charlie McIntyre – Letter 22

17th Reinforcements
3/10/1916

Dear Lottie

This I daresay will be the last letter from N.Z. for some time if all goes well seeing that we are now making all preparations for our departure.  You will be surprised no doubt to learn that I had a trip to Auckland after all but only for five days that was all the leave I could get having left it so late.  I left on Thursday morning arrived in Auck. Friday morn at seven took the boat for Waiheke at one arrived there at six stayed the night & left again at half-past nine arriving in town again about two PM.  To return here I left at nine PM Sunday & got into camp at five Monday night.  So you see I had two days to see round Auckland & I did see a good deal to considering that it rained Sunday.  Mrs Hamilton went up with us so she looked after Jim while the

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other two accompanied me into the city.  A funny thing that I should come all this way and all the distance that they should have to go that I would be home before them.  My word it is a long journey & from Fielding to Marton, about an hours run on the express, is the only part that can beat the south but there it is glorious.  Beautiful rising country with its slope towards the sun & a green the like of which I have never seen before.  It was unfortunate that it was wet coming down in the morning as I saw practically nought of the mountains from the spiral.  All I saw was the out line of Ruap for about two minutes when the mist broke.  However I enjoyed the trip fine & achieved my purpose you cannot believe that I travelled nearly from one end of N.Z. railways within a month for

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a little over three pounds that is the advantage of being in the Government Eh.  Although I believe there are concessions for us travelling on the railway I did not get any I did not make any enquiries about it so I was the loser.  What an awful trip you had going down I can sympathise with you can I not but it was not so bad you striking someone you knew after missing the first express.  The other nurses must have had quite a reception prepared for you Eh!  By this time you will have settled down to work again it will be a little different you being the boss I suppose I can hear the other nurses saying. “There comes the boss”.  I was very funny the night before I left to go north I went round to the canteen & who should I meet there but the noble Jack Ewan

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himself he had arrived that same day about four o’clock & it was then only six & there he was in full dress.  It is an unusual thing for them to be turned out as quickly as that but see he is a somebody.  There seems to be very little more that I can write about at present.  I am on guard along with three others.  Kirkpatrick is in charge of us so as we have four hours to ourselves out of every six I am doing a bit writing for the last time from here.  Kirk has just been telling me that his sister is in the Hospital here for a few weeks prior to her going to the front.  He is saying also that she is going on the Marama when she returns.  It seems very funny don’t you think that he & I should be going together (not in love) & his sister going on the same boat as mine.  Now it is only half an hour till I have to pad

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the hoof again so will have of necessity to stop.  Everything is going on the same as usual & we are all quite ourselves again seeing as how we sail so soon.  We four on guard were the only ones not vaccinated today but will be done tomorrow at 1-30. so that there will be some soreness at a our departure.  Hoping this finds you well as it leaves me so.  Give my love to the nurse who was so kind as to send hers along & accept heaps of same yourself.

Ever Your Brother
Charlie.

T/r. C.C. McIntyre
17th Otago Mounted Reinfs
G.P.O.
Wellington.

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