{"id":622,"date":"2013-06-06T21:30:03","date_gmt":"2013-06-06T21:30:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/warletters.falkor.gen.nz\/?page_id=622"},"modified":"2013-06-26T23:48:13","modified_gmt":"2013-06-26T23:48:13","slug":"neil-mother-24-apr-1918","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/warletters.falkor.gen.nz\/?page_id=622","title":{"rendered":"Neil \u2013 Mother: 24 Apr 1918"},"content":{"rendered":"

2nd letter<\/p>\n

No 2 Discharge Depot
\nTorquay
\nApril 24th 1918
\nDear Mother
\nI have shifted to the above place this afternoon. I made the attempt to get some money this morning, but it was a wash out. It doesn’t matter, though, because even if I had the money, a cable to you even at 2\/8 a word would not be delivered for four weeks – so says routine orders of three days ago and they never lie. A deferred cable 1\/4 would not be delivered for six weeks and a weekend (8d) is out of the question. So I must simply trust to your sending that \u00a315 I asked for from Cayeux. It may come in time for my leave. If not, I shall find some inexpensive way of putting in the fortnight in quiet meditation or something. I shall write an anticipatory letter to the bank in London so that there will be no delay about my getting it if it does come.<\/p>\n

The tucker here is very good and the beds are the same as those we had in Hospital, sheets, feather pillows, 4 soft heavy blankets, spring mattresses etc. I am in a marquee. I am feeling rather more forgiving towards the authorities tonight now that I know I cant get money from NZ anyway. It is Anzac Day tomorrow. There is a bit of spree on here, concert etc, and I am going to stroll out on the ran-tan<\/span><\/a> and blow the 6d that is left out of the bob I borrowed yesterday. I tried to get Vic’s parcel tonight but the P.O. was closed. The orderly room clerk took a note about it though. I have written London asking them to forward to me any parcels for Vic that are unclaimed. Like my check I don’t know whether they’ll send them or not. If there are any not from 10 Paget St I shall not open them in case they might contain anything intended for Vic alone. One never knows does one? I have still not heard from Trot or Mac or Charlie or N.Z. or anyone or anywhere else on this planet. But I dare say the letters will begin to blow in now that I have given up my roving life and settled down.<\/p>\n

I saw Brown the chap who occupied the next bed to me at Trentham, at Walton. A heavy HE 5.9 exploded between his legs and they haven’t been found yet. He is quite gay on it though. Dellow has been wounded I don’t know particulars. There is no one else that you know whom I have seen in the lists. They dont seem so very heavy considering, but there is a safe feeling over here in Blightty that is very pleasant. Not that I was ever anywhere very unsafe in France, but I always was expecting to be somewhere where things were happening in another few weeks.<\/p>\n

I am feeling pretty fair now, but I am still anaemic, so I may be in Blighty some time. Major Hosking at Walton told me to get my rt. tonsil cut out, but I am not going to rush it after what the quack told me at Cayeux. Its a horrible messy business anyway, and I very much object to the idea of an anaesthetic – one is so liable to give away personal history while coming out of it.<\/p>\n

Wish Clyde many happy returns for me. I’d send him a card or something if I had any dough. The same applies to Doug <\/p>\n

July 1st.
\nWhen is Vera’s birthday – I cant place it at all, somehow, I usually have rather a good memory too, for anything with figures in it or regimental numbers etc.<\/p>\n

I think I might spend my next birthday in Blighty.<\/p>\n

Ever Yours
\nNeil<\/p>\n