Letter from Roy Bruce to Maud Bruce

Your letters seem to be missing
somehow lately, and are arriving at any old
time. I am sure there are some missing
because you don't, in your last, tell me at
all what arrangements you have made for
Helen 's schooling, merely mention the fact
that she has gone or is going, as if I knew
all about it.

I have not had any news
from you for 3 weeks, others have been
getting letters, but I suppose mine will
arrive all in a heap as they do sometimes.

I am very glad to hear the
Finch's Finchs are doing or have done their duty
to the state, and that all goes well again
with them. Please give them my love
and congratulations. I wonder if M rs
Finch ever received my letter and if she
did, whether she showed it to you. From
what I can remember it was not written
in a very pious strain.

Remember me to old Harvey when

you see him, I don't forget the old bird.

Sorry you had such a fright over
losing the ring, but glad you found it
again. Have you had the scarab adjusted
to your finger or does it fit, you never told
me?

Those two Harpers are good fellows, they
have both done awfully fi ^w ell, both got their
commissions and both the D.C.M. Gordon
has the machine gun here with the
regiment and Robin is running the Brigade
guns. The old people will be very proud
of them, and with good reason.

You ask me to tell you about the
evacuation of Anzac , I think I have
said something in some of my letters,
but probably not enough. There is really
very little to tell, it is difficult to
write about it, but sometime I will
tell you all about it, because so long
as I live, the last night at Anzac I
shall never forget. It was brilliant
moonlight, our side was in shadow, we
lit odd fires as usual, candles were left
burning in the dugouts, trick rifles were
placed in the trenches to go off up to

half an hour after we left, and we
just shouldered our packs and walked
out. Our orders were that we were not
to fire a shot under any circumstances
until we got inside the original Anzac
position (we had 1/2 miles to go) and then
if necessary we were to fight like hell &
let as many get away as possible. The
hospitals in Egypt prepared for 10,000
casualties. We walked down to the original
position with unloaded rifles. I was
detailed to walk in the rear of the lot.
I got them all along with a little trouble.
Probably your imagination will add
details to the whole show. I can't write
them.

I go the two parcels you mention
quite safely last week, thanks very much
dear. I think I have told you the things
we like most. We are living here very
comfortably at present, very much as at
Zietoun Zeitoun , but of course we do not know
how long it will last, or where we are
going to. The general opinion points to
France , but honestly we are as likely
to go there as anywhere else.

If you are going in for this hospital
training, you must realise there is no
individual sentiment about it. If you
go, you give up everything, and do just as
you are told. You cannot make your
own conditions. I should very much
like to see you do it, but at the same
time you are not to feel you are com-
pelled to, and if you cannot give up Helen ,
why cut it out. This war will not be
over for some time, and if you leave
N.Z. New Zealand you must make up your mind
for possibly a prolonged absence. So far
as your health is concerned, don't let
that worry you, it would probably
affect you as it has me. I am fitter
now that I have been for years, and
I don't altogether spare myself at times.
If you get ill, why you get well looked
after, and noone, except at odd times
is asked to do impossibilities. The training
& the discipline will proved very irksome
to you, but if you start on the lines that
an order is an order, and there can be
no criticism, why then you will be alright.
I think it would do you an awful lot

of good, but weigh carefully all you will
have to give up temporarily. Don't worry
about me, whatever can happen to
me at any time I shall always get
the very best attention. Helen must be
your only consideration.

I am very glad Miss Trask has got
away, I don't know where she is but
I have sent her a line tonight. She
may be quite close or she may be a long
way away.

I got 48 hours leave last week & went
to Cairo - some spree - details verbally
some day, about these things, as usual.

Chillie is back at Zietoun Zeitoun now I
believe, after touring Italy . Some people
manage to fall on their feet from any
altitude.

Well good night old girl. I must go
to bed. You told me nothing about
Harvey 's visit, except that he had been
to see you. Kiss Helen for me, and remember
me to anyone who asks. Saw old Andrews
yesterday at Ismailia , he is very well.

Kiss me dear, I am often very lonely.
Roy .

R Bruce