PATRIOTIC FUNDS ON ACTIVE SERVICE

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

4TH July 1944

Dear Dorothy, Well old dear, here goes for the letter I promised you, in an airgraph I wrote to you on 28th of last month. Last night I returned from three day trip and as I have a free day am catching up on a bit of writing. I have just finished writing a letter to Mum and an airgraph to Maisie. I suppose Margaret Timpany’s Grannie has left hospital by now remember me to Margaret and family next time you see her. Yes Dot I think you will be seeing Jock soon and by now you should have seen Albert Kerse as he left some time ago. I am still waiting to hear from Barney, Russell and Ces Dixon each of them owe me a note. Mum said in her letter that Dad was thinking of buying a small car, it will be alright if he does. His motor-scooter

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has given him good service. I had a note from Dad enclosed in one of Mum’s letters, he said he was going to a send-off, he still likes to kick up the old heels. How is Hugh doing, I had an airgraph from him recently and have written to him. I have been getting a bit of mail from Cecily Wills lately and am going to write to her when I finish this. She gives me all the news from Beggs and writes a good letter. I am sending you two post cards of Naples with this letter and will have to cut a bit off the top of them, as I haven’t a deep enough envelope. I sent four with Mum’s letter. Recently, I had a look through the ruins of Pompeii, had a guide and spent an hour an half looking round. It is hard to realise that the city was built two thousand years ago and has been buried for many years.

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I was in the amphitheatres where the Christians were fed to the lions and also had a look in the jolly old lion’s den. In the same arena the gladiators had the bull fights. However I have told all about it in the letter to Mum, which you will see the same time as this. I have had a good time among the fruits these last few days, and had a stock of oranges, lemons, apricots, plums and tomatoes on the bus. The other morning we cooked bacon and had a fried egg and fried tomatoes with it, and had a spot of bully beef and cucumber for dinner. We were in a part of the country where fruit is plentiful just now. Since I have been in this unit I have been over quite a lot of Italy, but at present cannot tell you all I would like to about

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the places I have been to. I have also seen a bit of Rome and someday hope to have a spot of leave there. It is a beautiful city with clean wide streets and modern buildings. Well old dear, I am afraid I have run out of news for the time being so will sign off now and get on with a letter to Aunty May and also one to Cecily Wills. In fact I want to try and get a few others written before going out again first thing tomorrow morning. Cheerio and lots of love. Remember me to everyone. Your loving brother Eric