4.7.17
Dear May,
Since writing last I have seen Chil Hurley, Charlie Reid, Tom Hickey & Geo Clark & Templeton of Rdale. They are all together but not in our Batt. Edwin Hargest joined our Coy a few days ago & is looking well but slightly thinner than he was in N.Z. Chil Hurley & T. Hickey have both put on a lot of beef. They all tell me I am looking thinner than when I left but I am just about my normal N.Z. weight & I think I have put on
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a few lbs since I weighed myself in England. Chris Millar has been back with the Coy for some time, his wounds consisted of a few scratches from flying shell splinters. He says they bled a lot but there is no mark left & he is looking well. A few days ago our Coy had its photo taken but I missed it as I was off parade that day. Seven of us were detailed for guard but they only wanted six & I got off for being cleanest (having just retd from leave). The rule is that the cleanest man is excused all parades while the guard is on so as there was a big inspection on I was glad to get out of it
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but if I had known the Coy was to be took I might have gone. You might see the photos in the papers. I have just seen by the paper that the “Mongolia” has been sunk with Australian mails aboard & I feel pretty well positive that all the things I posted in England would go with that mail. I sent quite a number of small pcls but they would all go with the same mail I suppose as a mail was expected to go the day after I landed, & my lot would catch the next one. It will be stiff luck if every thing has gone down.
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Last letter I had from England they had just heard from Ernie Blackwood and expect to have a visit from him this week. He is getting 4 days leave from camp before leaving for France. I expect he will be joining up in about 3 weeks time. Things here now are pretty quiet. Have been back with the Coy for a fortnight & have been toiling around the Messines Ridge but they are giving us a pretty easy time now. Have had no N.Z. mail for some time now. I think one must have gone down. Am also still waiting to receive my photos from London. If they are any good I hope you get yours alright.
Love to All
Len
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14.7.1917
P.S. I don’t know whether I should make this a P.S. or a fresh letter as it is 10 days since I wrote the first part. Since then we have had things pretty easy for a few days but are back to our old job again. I don’t think there is anything fresh to report. I got a letter from you a week ago but I don’t think there were any questions to answer. I also got one from Mrs Bagrie
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& must write to her soon. She didn’t mention getting Albert’s camera that I posted but it would hardly have time to get through. I hope they received it alright. As far as I know all the district boys are well. I saw Mark Farrington & Ted Biggar this week but I believe Mark has since gone on leave to England. You might give my kindest regards to all in the tearooms, sorry
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I am not there to deliver them personally. The “tall fair pretty girl” is probably Gladys Russell. I can’t quite place the Miss Thompson in McGruers to whom you mentioned, but you needn’t tell her so. She was not there when I left but I suppose I know her.
