49123
N.Z.E.F.
46th General Hosp.
France
Xmas Day
Dear Mother,
I paraded sick last Saturday morning with rather a temperature so the doc shoved me in here. I don’t know whether the heads cable you that I am in here or not, and I have been unable to find out so far. If I were sure they did I should cable you and let you know there is practically nothing wrong. But as I don’t know, to send a cable might only worry you for nothing and be a waste of money supposing they had not done so. Things are very comfortable here after life on the boards with 1/4 inch of frost on the inside of the tent and 1/2 foot of snow outside. But I’ll be discharged when my throat gets better and I begin to enjoy it. Its a way they have in the army. If they were really kind hearted they would keep me here for duration – or the duration of the winter anyway. Trot went up to the front or its neighbourhood yesterday. Hope he keeps out of trouble. His luck has been pretty good so far. I don’t feel like writing much more this time. I was feeling ‘pie-on’ this morning but I had a Xmas dinner of chicken and sundries; and following on three days of milk diet it gave my stomach a good go for it, but my stomach’s winning and I’m glad I ate it. Whereas all you who have eaten hot plum duff with the thermometer 90° in the shade are sorry you ate it. Well I wish you all a merry xmas again even if the wish does arrive a bit later.
Yours
Neil