Torquay
Sept 23rd 1918
Dear Mother,
I had my classification entered in my pay book today. It is C1. It is nearly three months since I was boarded so if I don’t get boarded for a discharge in New Zealand I am afraid that my stay will be fairly short.
It is a month tomorrow since my arrival in Torquay and I am expecting every day to be put on a boat roll. There are persistent rumours of a boat leaving here about the middle of October but there is nothing official as yet. I have written to Mack again to try and get some word before I leave but as I had no idea of his unit I am afraid that the letter will be a long term reaching him. It was Mat’s birthday yesterday. That is the second birthday of hers that I have been away from. Time seems to have gone very fast. I suppose the continual change in our lives over here makes the time run more swiftly. The last month has as you can well imagine, been the slowest time I have spent anywhere. Waiting day after day for a boat is far from being an excitting business. I am expecting another N.Z. mail next week. The last letter of yours was dated July 19th.
I hear from Neil every few days. He seems to be taking things very cheerfully and devotes himself to having a good time generally. I wrote to Gorrie yesterday, but as I only received definite news of my classification a few hours ago I thought I would write again today. The War Contingent Club that I am writing this letter in is a jolly cosy little place with a splendid canteen.
I have just put away three newly baked Queen cakes and a cup of coffee.
Food is evidently becoming more plentiful as a lot of the restrictions seem to be removed now. From what I have see during the past four months I should say that there has never been at any time a real shortage of anything except sugar. I shall keep on writing until my name is put on the boat roll and if I do pass some of them on the way home there will be no harm done. No more news just now.
Norman