A SOLDIER’S LETTER.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 January 1917, Page 2

A SOLDIER’S LETTER.

Corporal Henry Williams, son of Mr H. Williams of Pork Street, wtiting from Hornchurch Convalescent Hospital, England, says:— “No p&rcils have arrived. Yon would oblige by not sending any in future, for, unless a person is at the exaot spot to which parcels are addressed, he does not get them , they are nearly always purloined—.never readdressed.

“ After being woundad on Sept 16th I was taken to the 20th General Hospital at a small town near E;apleß. After a week’s time, the wound in the leg healed sufficiently to al!ow me to waik. I was then transferred to the Walton-on-Thames Hospital where 1 remained till sent to the convalescent comp here. A 3 scon as the wound in the band healed sufficiently, massunga treatment was applied, and, after this, T was given grip exercises in the gymnasium. This wound was more i severe than at first supposed, the X " rays showing that a bone had been fractured, and that a piece of metal was still in the band. Tha metal has not been extracted, but there is practically full movement in all the joints. At the end of this week, I shall probably be passed as fit, and-may then be allowed a fortnight’s leave. After the first week, the wounds did not at all hurt, and since then, the spell has been thoroughly enjoyable. The food at Walton was splendid, but hsro it is. of. a much plainer description, paddings as well as batter being unkaown. Margarine takes the place of butter.

We ftie allowed leave from 4 till 9 p.m. from Monday till Friday and from noon till 9 p.m. oa Saturdays and Saudaya. London, which is only 14 nailed away, is consequently easy of access and is frequently visited. The streets of London are very irregular in shajNL l , but one dees not need a map to direct one’s way as there is little danger of getting lost. The fortnight’s leave due to me will ba spent in seeing the sights of this wonderful city.

The weather here is extremely cold, A With seven blankets we find a difficulty in keeping warm. It must be awfal in the trenches without any.

“ Iu one sense we were fortunate inFrance. We were paid in francs, and,, though a franc ia of the valus of 10d,, only the exchange value of B|d wae entered against us. Many eatableswere cheap; eg. grapes are very.oheap indeed when the price is compared to that of the same fruit in New Zealand. We had to buy many things on account of the most inadequate food'supply. Practically, ail soldiers have to buy bread, which is made of who! 3 meal. We were given by the cornmissariat etew made probably ofb'ally bsef, a very little bread, very much less butter, and still leas jam. Biscuits of oatmeal can be bought, bnt plain white hard biscuits ara almost unobtainable. The former I. tried to eat, but oa account of the nausea they * produced, I had to refrain. For, at least, one meal, ws had to buy our own bread and eat it without butter or jam.

“ London at the present time ia Developed in heavy fogs, though which it is almost impossible to see one The papers claim that the fogs are the heaviest the city has ever had. Alt Dreckmacn is the only other West Coaster at Hornchurch. Nearlyall of my old fr euds in the A Company of the 4th Battalion of the Rifls Brigade have besn either kiilad or wounded. When I return to France,, there is no knowing into wh»t unit I Bhall be placed. Owing to the trainingwounded men have to undergo, it will probably be three months before I. shall be back in France. This will allow me to esoape the winter in the trenches, and for this I am not * sorry.”