Letter from Roy Bruce to Maud Bruce

None

The horses suffered a good deal,
but came through the journey
remarkably well and without
any serious accidents. I don't
know whether you will find
this place on the map but it
is somewhere on the canal.
How long we are going to be
here and what we are going
to do I cannot tell you, because
I don't know.

I have had two letters
from you lately, but some
seem to have gone astray. I
cannot understand why you
have not received any from
me, because I have always
written regularly until just
lately. Chillie may possibly

have written more often, but
you must understand I do
my best and if he has found
more time to write than I
have, he may possibly have
had more time.

I have not been promoted
yet but it may come through
any day. The recommendation
has now been sent forward from
the regiment to the brigage &
from the brigade to the division
three times. Once I believe
from Anzac it got torpedoed,
but what has happened to it
since I don't know. Anyway
"Malesh" as the Egyptians say,
it does not matter and there
is plenty of time.

to go where you are sent, but
that again does not matter at
all, because everyone nowadays
is here today and gone tomorrow.
You must take into consideration
the fact that the war may last
indefinitely or may be over in
six months, and if it lasts
indefinitely you may be separated
from Helen for a very long time,
that is if you have to leave
N.Z. . Of course there may be
something you could do there,
and if that is possible it would
be the best thing, and if it is
not possible why then you have
my full consent to do the other,
subject always to the fact that
Helen will be well and safely

cared for. I can say no more
than that except to add that
I feel very proud of you indeed.
Carry on & carry through, neither
Helen , you or I will ever regret
it.

I am afraid dear that you
do not get a great deal of
satisfaction from my letters, I
must ask you to forgive me.
You must remember that here it
is very difficult to always write
the moment one wants to, and
afterwards when one has a few
moments the thread is lost and
is difficult to regain. Also one
lives in a rush, life is just one
damn thing after another, and
to do one's job properly one has to

concentrate on that alone.
Perhaps I am allowing this show
to take too much possession of
me to the exclusion of better
things, I don't know. Eighteen
months of this life with all its
ups & downs must make a
difference in minor things & it
is very difficult for me to read
say Bates' weather forecast
without impatience. Do you
follow me. Don't worry about
it dear, the great essentials
of our lives cannot be changed &
if the lesser detaisl can never
be the same again, well I venture
to say they will eventually recast
themselves better than they ever
were before.

I posted you my old troop roll
the other day, it will be rather
interesting to keep - hope it
arrives safely.

The squadron is fair, Hammond
is in command, I am second
& the four troop leaders are
Mathias , Blakeney , Bowron &
Williams .

Saw Alf Knubley the other
day looking very well.

Ulrich was in Egypt Cairo , but
did know he was there until after
we left.

Good bye for a little while
dear one, take care of your two
selves, must fly more work.
God bless you both always
Roy This is a squashed egg