Letterhead: NZ YMCA, Somewhere in France...

Feb 8th, 1916

Dear Jane

It is some time now since I wrote you and I have received you letter and Father’s a few days ago. I think Doie got none and I got six so that was a good mail. Bill is going off pop because his have not arrived yet but I suppose they have gone to some other Robertson and it is very annoying. Doie has been sent away to the transport officer so we will miss him for a few weeks perhaps. He had a rough time for a few days with a rash or chaffing in the cruch but is a lot better now.

I suppose you get all the news from Annie and it is hardly worth my while writing for all there is to write about. We had a visit from George Louttit the other day and he has had a great experience and how he got through it is a miracle. I would not like to have the same to do as he had. But if it comes our way well I expect we will be there all right. I have sorted out a good corner behind a parapet and the sun is nice and warm but it will not last very long now as it is getting on in the day.

The weather here is very cold frosty and a bitter wind blowing from the Northeast and it takes one all his time to keep warm. The sun is getting a little heat in her now and I notice the days are lengthening so in a few weeks we will be getting into good warm weather I hope. Yesterday Bill was that interested in watching a Fritz plane dodging our skills that he nearly missed his lunch. It is a good sport when the guns get going on a Fritz plane and one gets a sore neck watching them at times.

I expect you all have heard of May Mitchell’s death long before this reaches you. We had word from both Aunt Jane and Elizabeth and were very much surprised. She must have been a jolly sort by the letter Doie had from her when we were in England. Aunt Jane has been very good to us and sends us a parcel now and again and between you all we do very well. We all landed our Xmas parcel in good order and the cake was that rich that it gave Doie indigestion but I gave it a good thrashing.

Of course we all thank you very much for it, also for the chocolate. And I think chocolate is the handiest thing to send and always greatly appreciated by us. If you could see all our faces if a parcel arrives. Well I know you have no idea what a parcel means to the soldier, it is looked for with great expectation. The first thing is “I wonder if there is any chocolate in it?” and when a cake of it is opened out it simply disappears like snow off a dyke. Of course we buy chocolate here and it is very good stuff too but we like the stuff from NZ best.

Well it is getting on the cold side now and I think it is time I had a travel around to warm my feet. We are all pretty well except for the usual cold and you bet we all have a drip at the nose this weather. I hear old Fritz sending over some of his whizz bangs so I expect that in his usual daily allowance. With best love, Young Un