9th May 1944

46421 Dvr E.A. Henderson 18th N.Z.Tk Tpt Coy N.Z.A.S.C. 2nd N.Z.E.F. M.E.F.

Dear Dorothy Two days ago I replied by airgraph to a letter I had just received from you dated 6th March, and since then have received an airgraph dated 13th April and a letter dated 19th Mar, so here goes for a few lines in reply to them. Tonight I got a letter from Mum and one from Stuart one each from Ruby and Ilene including this last one from you. I see you are still going to the dances I wish I could be doing the same with you. That pup of yours must be quite a good drop of dog, why did Dad sell Mack, he was a damned nice pup. I would love to see our wee Lenore trying to ride the bicycle. Mum

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said in her letter that Dad had made her a whip to chase the cows with. She must be a real wag now. No Dot, I haven’t seen Rupert for quite a while now, the last time was on the way back from hospital. So the Golden Hamburgs are still doing well there are some very good fowls about the country here but the people want such a hell of a price for eggs they charge 9D or 1/- for one egg. The other day an Italian kid tried to sell me a hen, he wanted 15/- for it so he was promptly told what to do with it. You must have had quite a scare when Joyce fell down the stairs, she was lucky in not hurting her back. I am still waiting on a letter from Jock, the twerp hasn’t written for some time now. Russell was a ball of muscle last time I saw him about

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a month ago, he asked me to send you all his love. I had a letter from Kath and Alex two days ago and have written an airgraph in reply and will write a letter later on. The same day I had a nice long letter from Cicely Wills, she is a very nice girl, and I am keeping up a line with the pen with her. I had two letters from Aunty May also that day, in fact all told I have had eighteen letters in the last three days so you can see what a lot of writing I have in front of me. Tonight I am hard at it, in the back of our truck. What a pity grapes are so expensive back home. These are acres and acres of grape vines just near here and if we are still here when they are ripe, they will suffer a large do over from your long brother. How did the party at Mona’s come off

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tell Lorrell I hope she can’t say she is twenty one and never been kissed. If I were home now I could attend to that myself, yes, no. Did you go up and spend a few days with Kath, if you did I know what a good time you would have. Well Dot I will give you a few lines about what I have been up to latterly. I have seen quite a lot of new country but cannot tell you as much about it as I would like to. Recently I had a look at Mount Vesuvius and Naples, or I should say I passed Vesuvius. I was going to do some shopping in Naples but everything was such a hell of a price, about six times dearer that it should have been, and I did not see what I wanted so decided to do the shopping later on. One day I had a swim in the Adriatic Sea, which was very enjoyable.

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I have been doing quite a bit of swimming in the river close to our camp and was in this afternoon, just now I am busy on this new job of mine, chasing mosquitos about our area, that is in between jobs with the truck. Well Dot, old dear, I have run out of news for the time being so will close now and post this. Cheerio until next letter and lots of love to you and all at home. Your loving brother Eric xxxx xxxx