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

9th December 1943

Dear Dorothy, I received your letter dated 11th Nov (?) about an hour ago and also two from Mum, and was very pleased to hear from you again. So they have put a photo of my ugly pan in the local newspaper. How did you and the Watson’s get on drinking my health with the bottle of wine, thanks a lot I hope had one for me. How did you like the shift from four o’clock until midnight. You seem to work something the same hours as Frances did in Park Hospital Thank Sister Ahern for me for her nice words and also for saving me or should say my photo from going an underground trip to Pleasure Bay. Tell her also I am looking forward to the day when I get home and then I am going to come and take a look round Cainsmore Hospital. In fact I think it would be an

idea to come in as a patient and get to know all the nurses. You must be enjoying yourself in there. But I am afraid if I was in there I would be hopping out the window and going to a dance. I see you still mention Alex Robinson in your letters, tell him I was asking for him and also that Ces Dixon is still as fit as ever. So Noel Johnstone has got married what a nice wife he has got, lucky chap. Surely Ray Sutherland hasn’t gone and got married, if so he has a damned neck and if I was to write what I think of him I am afraid the paper would burn. I have never seen him since I have been over here, but by hell the day I do I will tell him something. I think he must have kept well out of the road when I was in base camp. I believe he is still in a band at base. Is Maisie still getting everything alright, if not tell her to let me know and I will soon try and get on to his tail. But I expect everything is

still O.K. I had a letter from Aunty May about a week ago and quite a long one too. I have written to her and also sent her a cable. Do you ever see Scotty Donald now, if so tell him I was asking for him. How is Dr Crawford doing, give him my regards. So Sister Ahern’s brother has been invalided home from over here, I hope he has fully recovered from his operation. Well Dorothy I have just come back from having tea so will add a few more lines to this before giving over to hear the radio news. We had the ever familiar bully-beef stew, a couple of spuds and carrots, followed by rice with raisins there-in and a cup of tea. I also had a letter from Frances and Stuart, one from Ruby and one from Ilene, so am having quite a busy time answering them. Fortunately we have had a quiet day and I managed to get a letter written home before I started this one. I sent a snap home for Lenore taken in the desert sometime during

November. A mate of mine brought it in to me yesterday so I sent it on in the letter home. Unfortunately I have been unable to get my two films developed so cannot send you my snaps at present. Sometime ago I sent some negatives and often wonder whether they reached safely or went missing somewhere. Well Dorothy I am afraid I will have to close now as I have run out of news in the meantime. I wrote home this afternoon so you will be able to see that letter also as it will reach home the same day as you get this. Cheerio just now and lots of love and kisses.

Your loving brother xxx xxxxx Eric xxxxx