46421 Dvr E A Henderson N.Z.A.S.C. Attd. 6th Fd Amb 2nd N.Z.E.F. Middle East Forces

2 October 1943

Dear Dorothy, Your letter written on July 14th arrived here yesterday afternoon and I was very pleased to hear from you once more. As I have already replied to a letter you wrote on 31st July you can see that our mail is a bit mixed up. I am pleased to hear that the letters I wrote while on the way back from Tunisia reached you safely. I had a letter from Frances and also one from Maisie yesterday and have written to them today, this being my third letter for the day. Frances seemed to be very pleased to have Stuart back home from camp. Maisie and Frances must have had a good time at Riverton with Lenore and Duncan. What a time you must have had while searching for Betty’s teeth that night you went to the pictures. There must have been quite

a bit of excitement in the town when the lads arrived home from over here. I wish to hell I had been one of them, however I am looking forward to the day when I put the jolly old feet on the railway station. I have seen both Billy & Jimmy Russell over here and they were both asking for you. I’ll bet Tenny was glad to be back home. What a big disappointment for Edna, Billy and Valda when Jack did not arrive home, especially after getting a telegram saying he was coming. I saw Jack two days ago and he said had no idea how such a mistake was made. It was a damned shame. Dad will look quite flash in the new pullover you are knitting for him. I see that you and him are still going to dances. Wait till I get back we will go to some dances then. Jock and I certainly had a lively time celebrating the decoration, we were both feeling sorry for ourselves for a day or two. Jock is back

in hospital again this time with a crushed foot which he got when he fell off a lorry. However he is lucky there are no bones broken. Russell wrote me a not a few days ago telling me about it. I have not seen Jock since about three weeks ago, as I am not in the base camp now. I had a cup of tea and a piece of cake with Cecil Dixon a few days ago and next time I see him I will tell him about Nurse Johnstone. He asked me to send you all his regards. Cecil is a sergeant now and is still the same hard case. If you happen to see Scotty Donald, tell him Vic Durrant and I were asking for him. I am sending you a photo of Vic and I had taken at our unit picnic which was held at the Delta barrage over a month ago. It is not very good one but not bad considering it was taken by a wog and was ready in five minutes. These last few days I have been doing a

spot of swimming in the sea and as I am not wearing a shirt during the day am getting quite brown. The water is great here, and was very rough yesterday afternoon. Well Dot there is nothing in the way of news for you at present. There is lots I would like to tell you but will have to leave it till later on. I see you have written (sister) in brackets beside your name. Should I address your letters Sister or Nurse Henderson now, let me know in your next letter. Will say cheerio just now old dear and give my regards to everyone. Lots of love and kisses. Your loving brother, xxxx Eric xxxx