France
23/1/17
Dear Everybody.
Back again with the Battn. Arrived a couple of days ago. In many ways am very sorry for I had to part with many good friends. The old school was quite a fine change from the trenches. My report has not come along yet so do not know how well I got on. Am sending off a little token of the place by this mail, hope it arrives all right. Time is still precious with me, & I fully realise it is getting on for three weeks since I wrote you last. However I trust you will understand how I am situated, & not treat me likewise. Have just had a letter from Charl from Ismailia, & he does seem to be in great form. From the contents I should think he would have been in that last flutter out there. At the time he wrote he said they had that night received orders to proceed further afield. Put two & two together & I think he
[Page 2]
would just about land it. Should he have landed it I am convinced he would have had some very interesting fighting. That affair seems to have been very well managed & according to accounts very successful. I only hope our next flutter comes off as well as that did. We will not be going into the line again for some days & I can tell you we are not a bit sorry either, for the cold is about the limit over here just now. The ground has been white for the last fortnight. It snowed continuously for a week, not heavy, but very fine sleety snow, the best I have ever seen. When it was finished we had some 5 or 6 inches on the ground. That has now frozen & to cap all there is a nasty cold piercing breeze coming from the south, & tonight we are having another bonnie frost. N.Z. is cold enough at times but it can’t beat this place yet. I am able to send along what is to me, & I trust to you
[Page 3]
also a bit of good news. When I arrived back the Col greeted me with the word that I had been granted my Temp Capt. & better still, that it dated right back to the 31st October, not bad is it. When getting off the train the other morn at a certain station in France, who should I run into but Charl Hamilton. He was looking as fit as a fiddle despite the fact that he was just back from a months spell in Hospital with Mumps. He is in the second Battn, Otago so will be able to look him up some day. Well, I am sorry I can’t write more tonight, not that I couldn’t but I still have to get Coy. orders out & a few jobs to do so you see I must be off. I might be able to drop a few more lines in a couple of days or so, but I am sending this off in case I don’t get an opportunity later. Au Revoir just now.
Your,
Affect Brother, E.S. McI
[Written on back of Page 3]
I had a letter from Kate a few days ago & she is expecting me over there on leave about the end of Jan. but I am afraid it won’t be coming off. Don’t be surprised if big things are doing by the time this reaches you.
E.S.
