12TH June 1944

46421 Dvr E.A. Henderson. 18th N.Z. Tk Tptr Coy N.Z.A.S.C. 2nd N.Z.E.F. M.E.F.

Dear Dorothy, I received a letter from you yesterday, dated 9th April and was very pleased to hear from you again. Five days ago I wrote you on airgraph to let you know I had received the chocolate parcel you sent me, many thanks old dear, it is jolly good of you. I had a tuck in to it the next day and also again today. I have just arrived in from the days driving, had tea and am writing this before I hop into the old flea bag, the time being nine o’clock. We are doing a lot of driving just now, up early in the mornings and in anytime between six and nine at night. Yesterday we happened to be near a large crop of new potatoes and of course got busy with the shovels and a bag and obtained said spuds.

Page 2 They were not quite fully grown but were they nice, yes please. We had a good feed of them for tea tonight and at dinner time today we boiled a few in a billy and had them with a piece of bully. This is the first time I have had new spuds, since leaving home. Today we pulled in to a new area, (I should say tonight as we just arrived in half an hour ago) so I will not be able to tell you about it, until next letter. I must get on to answering your letter now. You certainly seem to be getting plenty of days off, from the nursing it is alright being able to get home so often. Tell Sonny I am still looking for a few lines from him and also that I was asking for him. How is our wee Lenore doing, she must be a bag of tricks now I am looking forward to getting home to see her, some day soon. That must be some pup you have, one of the

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boys in our platoon has a nice pup we have quite a bit of fun with him. It is a wonder Dad does not have him as he hasn’t got Mack now. You certainly seem to get an assortment of patients in hospital, I had a laugh when I read about the old girl and her yarns. I see you still managed to get to a few dances, I have quite a lot of lost dancing time to catch up. You will be able to have plenty of partners when we all get back home. What is wrong with Sonny, falling off boxes and knocking himself about. Tell him to put more water with it, in future. I think I mentioned in my airgraph that I had a letter from Jock, the first one for some time, he is waiting to go home, lucky beggar. I have not seen any sign of Russell, Barney or Cecil Dixon for some time now, as I am quite a distance from them and do not pass where they are on these runs we are on at present. Just now

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I cannot tell you where we are working or the names of any of the towns and villages we pass through, so will have to leave it until a bit later on. Well old dear I have run out of news for the time being and it is now ten o’clock, I will have to hop into the old nest and get some sleep. I am hoping we will have a day off tomorrow, but still we can never tell, I have a bit of washing and some more writing to do. Will say cheerio for now Dot, give my love to all at home and an extra lot for Lenore. Cheerio and lots of love and kisses. Your loving brother, Eric xxxx xxxx