Letter from Roy Bruce to Maud Bruce

I arrived back
here yesterday morning about
4 o'clock and found the
regiment in fresh dugouts having
a few days spell.

Tomorrow we go
into a new line of trenches for
a fortnight, quite close to the
Turkish lines and we shall
probably get some experience
of hand grenades. The Turks
have a goodly supply and so
have we.

I was very glad to

get away from that hospital -
it was not very well managed,
and I wasn't getting fit
quick enough so I thought
I would come back, and I
feel ever so much better since
I arrived here.

There have been no further
casualties amongst my lot,
everything on our line very
quiet. Major Wain & Gibbs
the signalling officer were hit
by a stray shell yesterday
morning. I don't think
either are seriously wounded,
( Major Wain's was through the
leg) but of course they will
be away for some time.

I found a letter & two

papers from you waiting for
me which wer very welcome,
& I got another letter today.

I hope your little scheme
with Greene materialises, it
sounds promising.

You seem to be playing a
great game of golf. Haven't you
brought your handicap down
yet?

I don't know what is happen-
ing to the parcels, I have
received two from you which
I acknowledged from Egypt .
Everyone is the same & it is
nothing to do with the O.C.
There will be a day of reckon-
ing for some of these people
later on. Thanks for the

handkerchief contained in the
letter, the main things we
want while we are in the
field are little luxuries to eat.
It is very hard to get any-
think here. Chocolate, cocoa,
coffee, cake, anything like that
is very acceptable. I don't
want you to spend your money
on me, and ver small parcels
are best, so if you sometimes
could manage to send me
some little things I should
be very grateful. Anyway I
don't anticipate being here
many months, I think the
show will finish up before
the winter here, but anyway
we may still be in the field somewhere.

I am awfully glad you
are interesting yourself in
making things for the Red Cross
etc, it is good work and any
amount is needed. You will
find some difficulty in having
the stuff sent for our wounded
& sick, because the they go all over
the place, Malta , Egypt , England
& some back to N.Z . It does
not matter where it goes to
so long as someone gets it.

Keep yourself as much
occupied as possible and then
you won't think too much.
You must not worry about
me, because I shall be
alright, and let me impress

upon you again not to
believe anything you hear.
I read in the "Times" list of
N.Z. Casualties that Capt Houlker
had died of wounds - Houlker
is here perfectly and was
only away a few days with
a slight flesh wound. So you
see the papers don't know
much.

Your criticism about the
landing party not taking
cover is not quite right. You
see the place had to be
stormed and one can't take
cover storming hills with
entrenched Turks on to.
Their only fault was they went
too far and troops could not

be landed fast enough to
support them. They did very
well and some praise won't
hurt them.

Have you heard this one:-
Two men travelled round the
country with a performing
bear. When they stayed at
hotels the bear always slept
outside the door of their
room. One night they heard
a noise outside and a female
voice down the passage.
"Well, if you must, you must,
but at least take off that
heavy motor coat" -

I think Helen 's remark
about Satan being a German
is lovely, with a good drawing

it would do for Punch.
Dear little soul, I am just
longing to see you all again.
This is a very deadly form of
warfare but it cannot last
for ever. Cheer up dearest
& be happy, kiss me darling
& give Helen a big fat one.
I expect you will want
all your philosophy just now,
so just go on quietly and
peacefully & believe always
in the best. We have many
happy years in store dear
one although perhaps they do
seem a long time coming.
God bless you both my darlings.
Your loving husband
Roy .