H.M.N.Z.T. No9
14/11/14
Dear Everybody
Here we are twenty four hours after crossing the line, the sea is just like glass & it is a perfect morning with just the faintest breeze to keep the air moving. In the whole the weather is not so hot as we expected to have it, due I think to the number of refreshing showers & the nice breezes we have had. We have had some lovely tropical showers, just simply poured down, & one night we had a great show of lightening, the like of which we have never seen in NZ. Owing to fresh orders in regard to censorship I cannot send my daily account of our doings, so I am just writing you this to let you know that we are still above water, & that I have never felt better for many a long day. I have a long letter written but it contains a few sentences giving you an idea of what has been happening on the voyages that if you got it, it would disclose our whereabouts, & the strength of our escort, just such information that the censor would not allow to pass. We are not quite sure whether we are going to be home for christmas or not, but would very much like to be. The health of the troops is very good considering the conditions under which we are travelling, & the horses are
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standing up to it tip-top. There are a few minor ailments of course, but up to the present we have had only four deaths altogether, a record for the whole fleet. I want you to send me the Southland papers now & again, I really think the “Otago Witness” would be the best, not forgetting an account of the doings of Spanish Princess & Buller. I am just back from having a good dinner, most of it being done up in ice & making it very tasty this hot weather. Nearly everyth we drink just now is done up with ice. I would like you to tell me if there are any more men coming from Thornbury or if there is anybody you know at all. We have had very little news of the reinforcements that are supposed to be coming on. I am beginning to wonder if this will reach you by christmas, it should if they do not delay it too long. This censorship business is a drn’d nuisance, it leaves you with no scope to write about at all. Well this another Sunday morn & it is no more like Sunday than any other day in the week. Up at 5.30 & just the usual duties to perform, except that we have church parade at 10. AM. I presume that I will be permitted to say that we are just about to enter a port, it is now 6.45 & we expect to be anchored a 8. How long we are going to stop I do not know, but seeing that no one is to be allowed ashore, the sooner we get away again the better, & the better chance we will have of being home for christmas. It was such a lovely
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night last night when we turned in, on the deck of course, never thinking of rain, but before we had been in bed an hour it started to rain great guns. Fortunately I woke up with the first few spots & we managed to get in without getting wet. It is quite a common occurance for us to have to tumble in in the middle of the night. well as I have to get spruced up by 8 o’clock & this has to be posted by eight I will have to draw in my horns. Remember me to all arround & you can tell Mr Diack that is it owing to censorship that he will not hear from me this time. In case you do not hear from me again before christmas I wish you all a very merry one & a very happy New Year. Do not forget to send me a piece of christmas cake. The cake we brought from Well. is not all done yet, hanging on to it well arn’t we, & it is quite all right. Well au rêvoir for the present.
Your
Loving Brother
E.S.McI.
We are expecting to get a mail at this port for a mail boat passed us about a week ago.
