SOLDIERS’ LETTERS.

Hokitika Guardian, 4 May 1918, Page 4

SOLDIERS’ LETTERS.

have never seen any like it since I left New Zealand. ’ You cannot get i one even in the towns here for love nor money. Just as I started this letter who should pass but Bill Little. , He is just the same and hasn’t j changed a scrap. Yon may guess he j was pleased' to see ns and kept us fairly busy' asking questions about the different ones in Koiterangi. He was going to Cairo on six days leave. I j have not received any of the parcels j that you have sent nor any of the j papers. We get plenty' of reading books, magazines and so forth, but would sooner have something of local interest. Occasionally' one of the boys gets a "Weekly Press and of course it goes round and is nearly' worn out by the time it gets back to its owner. Wood is very scarce here. I really don’t know how the Gipers get enough to cook their tucker. Bu t 1 think by appearances they could cook all they require ou a box of matches. A candle provides all the light and heat a man requires out, here. Tim Murphy, George Horn and Mick Doyle are still here. So you see the Coast is well represented in this outfit. Kind regards to all friends.

FROM RIFLEMAN W. T. CROPP.

N.Z.R.8., Brerton Camp Staff.

You will no doubt wonder what 1 am doing on Details, lint it’s just a mere detail. The old horse broke down or rather jibbed at the pack. It got too heavy so I gave it up. The whole fact of the matter is the training was too solid, the old prop wouldn’t stand it so I had to give in. It seems rather strange after , being A Class so long, too: I went up to see the doctor for about four day's and lie gave me “ Excused Duty,” and lie must- have got tired of the sight of me so he classed me 82. How good is that; and now they have put me in charge of the Battalion ration store.' So I have a nice game to keep me going until duration if I’m lucky. I’m taking- on the storekeeping getting in form for when I get back to New Zealand, if ever. Things were very awkward for the first day or two, but now I am about used to the run of things and everything is going along nice and smoothly. I tell you one has to keep his wits about him at this game as there are so many things to think of, I have to issue to the battalipn every day'. I can tell yon I’m some storekeeper. Just quietly, George and Jack v have just been in and had afternoon tea with me. There’s some consolation I won’t starve at this game- News is very scarce and' I haven’t been out of camp for ages. Remember me to all friends.

We have been favored by a lady subscriber at Koit-erangi to make the following extracts from letters from soldiers received by her :

FROM W. K. COOPER. (N.Z. Con vales ct-! x t Homs, Hornchurch, Essex, Feb 24th. Have just received yours of hlov 9:>d which wont over to France and came back last week with 30 others, so I have quite a batch to reply to. Thank you Very much for slips enclosed. ’ I fount 1 them very interesting. I came over from France on Xmas 'Day and landed at my sister’s place on Xmas night, giving them a surprise as they were not advised of my coming. Tom Ecclesfield joined me there, as I was on 14' days’ leave. Onr O.C. sent me over to see if the change would do me good as. 1. had not been very well. My voice has now been missing for three months since Dec 3rd, and Jy kept, getting severe colds over there. Saw a doctor in Rugby who ordered me to report to 4th London General Hospital, but did notgo there I'll dan 7th. Tom went with me and I was detained and remained there tive weeks. Was examined by six doctors who reported my luDg and heart were affected by gas and also recommended me for a Hoard, but it has been washed out since I came here, so do not know what will happen. lam at present in isolation (14 days) and do not come out till next Thursday. This was on account of one of onr bovs being taken ont with measles, so we are having a real good time as there are only seven ol us and Jim Adamson is one of the party. W e get plenty to eat, more than we require, and everything is brought to ns by mess orderlies We get out every afternoon and incidentally some evenings too, when we want to go ont to a party. It is very pretty round here and the weather is splendid, jn«t the opposite to last winter. W e gel a fair friumber of air raids; they all go over here on tlieir way to London, as the Thames is quite close to the camp. Tom Ecclesfield left here a fortnight ago-* on 14 days’ leave. lie went to Edinburgh .and has since been staying with my people in the Midlands. He also stayed with his people at York and other relatives at Malvern in Worcestershire. His last letter was from my sister’s place. Bob (his brother) joined ns from Sling at Xmas time, so we were a jolly party as my cousins were staying with us too. The boys are now getting 28 days’ leave from here as Codford is full up, so I wired Tom, telling him to make application for an extension, soT hone he gets it,. Alex Graham left hero yesterday on 28 days’ stunt. He is looking splendid. Dr Doctor came to see him yesterday on liis way freni Scotland, but he was only here for a few minutes as he had to get back to London to catch the boat train for France. He is now in the Artillery and seems to like the change. Bill Cropp has struck a good job at Codford in the. ration stores, so. you need not worry about, him as he is set for the duration. You will be glad to hear it I know. Theie are quite a number of boys here I know, but they are chiefly ont of oar Battalion, many out of our hiwn Coy. Frank Wrnbleske was killed rybout three weeks ago. Poor old hoy; another of the old Kokatahi Band who went into camp with us. Charlie English is Reg. Sergt-Major here in charge of the camp. I spent a very good time in London and went to see a big number of the places of interest and the theatres. We were fortunate enough to get tickets admitting us to the Members’ Gallery of the House of Parliament, where we heard many of onr prominent politicians. There, are. nearly' 3,000 New Zealanders here. It is quite a- New Zealand colony' and many' are married and settled down in Hornchurch and Romford. Quite a number of the hoy's are getting married every' week. Evidently' the war is lasting too long for them to

wait. There is a New Zealand mail in. Jim Adg/mson received letters this morning, so may get mine to-morrow. It is lovely and sunny to-day, so we are going out this afternoon. I found it rather difficult in London not being able to speak, but one of the boys went out with me, so I had someone to talk for me, as it was impossible to make myself heard in the city with the noise of the trams and busses and in tbe tubes ; still I had a very good time. Am glad you are all well, You will find it quiet without Ned. Nope he is alright. So Paddy Heslan got away at last. Expected to meet him over here, but shalP not see them if they have gone to Egypt. Give my kind regards to'all friends. (

FROM DRIVER 0. E. D. CROPP

(On Active Service in Egypt.)

We are still in the same old place and having a real good time. We are having very good weather and it is getting warmer every day. I have not been into town for over a month. There is not much to see there and less here. There was quite a number of boys, sick and wounded, left here last Friday for old New Zealand. Jivnmy Bull was amongst them. I carried his bag down to the station and said good-bye to him and told him to be sure and come and see you all. By jove lie will have some news to tell you as he has been here a long lime and saw plenty of scraps They were all as happy as school boys when they left, but 1 don’t think I would have changed places with them. I want to see some of the game before I get back, but I suppose I won’t be sorry to leave this sea of sand behind, when I have been here as long as Jimmy. His old mate, J. Becher, another West Coaster, is working in the cookhouse, just a few yards from my tent. He often comes in of a night and we go to the pictures together. They have them here every night. One thing a man will appreciate when bo g*ts back will be a good hot bath. I