46421 Dvr E A Henderson N.Z.A.S.C. Attd. 6th Fd Amb 2nd N.Z.E.F. Middle East Forces

12th December 1943

Dear Dorothy, Two days ago I answered four letters I had just received from you, by Airgraph, so here goes for the letter I promised you. The Airgraph will reach you much quicker than this will. This is the first mail we have had since the beginning of October, when we got a few letters a day or so after we landed in Italy. We expect to get our Christmas mail and a big parcel mail, in the near future. These letters I am answering are dated 26th August, 6th & 21 Sept and 4th Oct. You must be having quite a busy time at the nursing and I see you you have a rise in wages. Wee Lenore must have had a good time at the competitions, she must be a bit of a wag now. What a shame Bert & Mona Whitley lost their own child, I’ll bet they were very disappointed, give them both my regards whenever you see them.

Also tell Dr Crawford I was asking for him. You should have had quite a good return for the lambs this Christmas, I wouldn’t mind if I could have a whole fat lamb for Christmas. Mum was telling me in one of her letters that you are putting on a bit of weight and Dad also. You should go and have a look at Stewart Island when you get your holidays, it is a great place and I think you would like it better than Queenstown. Ilene told me in her letter that she had seen you at the Buffalo Lodge dance. I will be able to take you to a few of them when I come home as I joined the Lodge in Cairo. Barney took me in and joined me up. Give Mrs Stephens my regards next time you see her I’ll bet Tenny Russell and Joe Stephens are both glad to be back home. I have not seen young Billy or Jimmy Russell since we left Egypt, but should do so one of these days soon. You all

must have been worrying a bit when you had no mail from me for a while, but our mail would be held back for a few weeks while we were getting ready and moving over to Italy. I always manage to write once a week except on one or two rare occasions. That was jolly decent of Mr Souness giving you some money to send me a parcel, thank him very much for me. I should get the parcel in this next mail and when it arrives I will let you know by cable. I know old Eamie (?) Nichol from Bluff and I expect he is out of hospital by now. I got that parcel of tobacco you sent for last Christmas some time ago and I wrote to you immediately thanking you for it, so I think the letter must have gone astray. What a pity you did not get to see the Kiwi Concert party, it is a marvellous show but still as long as you heard it over the radio it wasn’t so bad. I have

been to hear them a few times, over here. I was talking to Edna Marshall’s boyfriend (Doug Batt) yesterday, and told him you and Dad had been to her 21st birthday party. I see Doug quite often and at present am attached with the Ambulance to the same battalion as he is in. You and Dad still go to a few dances, wait till I come home we will have a lot of lost time to make up. I hope Mrs MacDonald has recovered from her stay in hospital, tell her and Angus I was asking for them. I see that Hugh still goes out home on Saturdays, tell him I was asking for him and is he still trying to shoot rabbits with that pop gun of his. I haven’t heard from Jock yet since I left Egypt, but a few days ago I had a letter from one of his mates (a room mate) and he told me that Jock was due out of the hospital in a few days time. I hope to see Jack Fox

round about Christmas time. A few days ago I saw Barney and he asked me to send you all his love. He is driving a truck now and likes it much better that foot-slogging. The weather here is rather cold just now and we have had a drop of rain which makes things very muddy. We are up in the hills now next to a range of snow covered mountains and are busy chasing Jerry out of it. I am writing this in a room of a farm house and next room and upstairs the family live. I should say these are three familys (sic) in it and there are kids of all shapes and sizes. They seem to go in for large familys (sic) over here. The cows, sheep, pigs, fowls and even pigeons all live under the same roof in the winter time. So you can imagine the house as a combination house, pigsty cowshed and hen house. I have seen two of the big towns in this part of Italy, during

my travels, Bari and Taranto, but just at present I cannot describe them to you on account of the censorship. However later on I will be sending you some post cards and telling you all about them. Well Dot old dear I am afraid this is all the news I can give you at present. So will say cheerio just now and lots of love and kissed to you all at home.

Your loving brother, xxxx xxxx Eric

For Lenore xxxxx