France

Monday July 15th 1918

Dear Kate,

Your nice long letter of 16th May arrived a few days ago. I wrote to you not long ago, but I will answer this one now, while I am in the humour. Dough of course is still in Blighty and I hope he manages to stay there. Youngan is sitting beside me now, in his shirtsleeves. It is very very warm just now. We have had a few showers lately. We both received the parcels you sent and enjoyed them muchly. What did you think of Uncle Will? By all accounts he is a funny old stick. We may meet him on our next leave which is due at the end of August, but we have Buckleys chance of getting it then. I had letters from Annie with last mail from Invercargill and she said that “our boy and Jean could not agree”. Annie and all at home were quite well. Gordon and Lizzie seem to have had a good shoot. They got 84 ducks. Annie said you seem to have had quite a good day with your Paddys market, and it is good of you people to do so much for the Red Cross and other Funds. Dough would be wondering what had gone wrong when father was so long in sending him the money he cabled for. Dough had a long leave to Scotland lately and by all accounts had a great time. I would like to get over there in the summer time. It was midwinter when we were there last, but we had a glorious time even then. Corfe has volunteered again. He is keen. If they were all like him there would be no need

for conscription. I am afraid that he will not be able to stand the training though. It is hard life at times and very soon finds a man’s weak points. I heard about Corrie. He got a piece taken off his nose I believe. I’ll bet he is laughing where ever he is. We saw him last in December and he was just the same old Corrie. I don’t think Mr Edwards was in Kurow when I was there. I saw Jim Cameron’s brother today and he knew nothing of M Smart’s husband coming away at that time. He has, as you say, been in camp a long long time. I was surprised to hear of Mabel Munroe’s marriage, especially to Ike Neave. Did Uncle Will know Alex Milne’s people in Scotland? The folk in Scotland thought quite a lot of our sayings were strange. Youngan had a letter last night from Aunt Elizabeth and she said that “Uncle Will was in Australia” and she did not know when he would reach Scotland. Tell Corfe not to be in a hurry to come over to relieve me, because I can carry on for time yet. We are having a fairly good time, plenty to eat and real good weather so we have not mIuch to growl about. Of course I would like to get home, I cannot tell you how much but must finish this business first. I have not much news so will close now, hoping you are all quite well and hoping to see you all before very long.

I Remain With Love to All

From Youngan and Billy W. Robertson

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