XR 5118.1
France
23.12.17
My dearest mother,
Long overdue. You will know I am safe and sound I
suppose, and should have cabled but it cost about 10 francs a time. Under the
circumstances I thought one cable to Marjorie would be sufficient. It was on the
10th of Oct. or thereabouts that I wrote to you telling you of our little scrap and
since I cabled and wrote saying that I was out again safe and sound and off on
leave. The particulars of that leave I have written to some members of the
family and no doubt, that is mother if you can read my writing: our doings are
known to you.
It is very unfortunate that a man can’t get a scratch or a wound without the
world knowing it. I did get a wound on the 4th of Oct. just a bit of shell or so
into my left arm, though the confounded thing was sore and black. I did not go
to a dressing station until we had been relieved for a few days. I then sneaked
off to a British station and hoped to dodge publicity, but no. The Times had it
off and raised hopes of some and caused others anxiety but since there has been
no ill effects. Saw another stint out today. Am as fit as a fiddle but I wish I was
younger mother, about 21 years – this then would have been the life for me, yet
I don’t know!! I think I would have followed old Bill and his flying that seems
to draw most of the wild spirits – not for me now though, I am past that!! It is
very much more dangerous than this silly old game, but there is a wildness and
a freedom up there, your own master to act and to do, to try your skills against
elements of nature and the contrivances of man. Yes! They are a fine lot those
airmen, so novel and so new, such possibilities and such disappointments, luck
to be successful and unlucky to come to grief. These boys are nearly all sports
though and take things as they come.
By last New Zealand mail I got two nice long letters from you mother and a
few days later a beautiful parcel containing just what I wanted. The cold here
gets one a bit, and the thing I most wanted was a balaclava and already I have
found it most useful. The spare one I will give to one of my boys. These are the
very best I have yet seen. The mittens are good and will keep the old fingers
warm these cold days, and it is a bit cold too. We have had snow, that’s not half
bad, but the sleet and freezing at the same time stings a bit and makes it a bit
hard on them. But we seem a fairly bright lot and make the very best of things
nice or nasty.
I have seen Eddie Aickin several times. He is in the 4th Brigade and I am
trying to get him in the 1st with me. I don’t know that it is the best but I would
like to have him near me. We could then have a yarn and I am sure I could do
something for him. Our C.O. is not popular but he has been very decent to me in
many ways and has persisted that I should be one of his company commanders
when men, if junior to me have had to accept a second in command job. I have
I suppose stood by him when others have failed and he keeps me solidly within
charge of a company. It is good of him to do so in one way, and certainly shows
that I must be of some consequence as a soldier and especially as a fighting man
and that counts out here when men daily take, well: slight risks to put it mildly.
Rodney must be having a pretty rocky time with so much on hand and I am
very glad to know that he has steered his ship through so well in spite of
obstacles. It is very disappointing to know that the seasons have been against
him. I do hope that luck will stick to him right through. I was especially sorry to
read in a London newspaper of Mr King’s death. It will be a desperate blow to
Mrs King, poor little woman. What on earth will she do. If you are writing to
her mother, do tell her how sorry I am for her. I will write directly I get a
chance. I was expecting him to come to the Infantry but it was evidently not
fixed up and he eventually found himself on the old gee gee. Later I expect we
will get more uninvited (?) news. The new Brigade have has some hard fighting
lately. It is what we came for and we must and will fight on until the Bosche
and his allies come down a peg. The outlook is not too cheerful but our men are
ready and steeled to the biggest odds. We expect hard fighting and so far as we
can judge, the Hun will get the shock of his life before very long. I wish all
troops were as good as the stuff that comes from NZ but I’m afraid it isn’t.
“Cambrai” for instance is bad and the first of its kind. I hope that sort of thing is
not repeated.
Well mother dear all my love to all at home. I must run off now. My day
out does not last me for very long and I can only take a shot at writing as the
opportunity offers. I owe Ada a letter and will write one to her as soon as I can.
Quite a wad of letters last mail.
Kia Ora and goodbye
Your loving son
Gordon