TRANSCRIPTION
42 Squadron
R.F.C
Abroad
5/12/17
Dear Edith,
I expect you will wonder how I am getting along. Have not yet settled down & will be on the move again. I enjoy the life that is the principal question. How are you getting along this the first letter I’ve written the mail does’nt go anytime these days. I shd. like to hear how the picture is getting along. I wd. have thoroughly enjoyed my promised holiday but I bet it was best not thi to have it & come out here instead never know do you? I had another peep at our photo’s tonight it struck me what an excellent photo it is of you Ed. I mean that it shows a fine strength of character shall that do? I got at what I meant. I want to see Reg’s now I shall be very interested in his because I think he ought to have changed a bit.
To get back to describing a bit about my travels the weather has been fine along which made our shifting an absolute holiday although we were couped [sic] up in [illegible] pretty tightly. The further away from our old place the prettier the country & towns were which surprised me. The houses are very superior it would be jolly worth doing the trip thatway instead of going by steamer when you + I [illegible] home + Reg of course too I ponder still about the rest you know. The towns here are quite superior to those I was used to where I was. The people surprise me here as they seem more refined somehow than I thought – among the [illegible]
It is bitterly cold at nights in these parts ice + all things that go to make life comfortable. The days are sunny thank goodness you never said much about your tour to Manchester. Fannie has thrown me the cold shoulder for all my [illegible] towards Poppie. I was a fool to let myself be lead by writing it was too primitive a method. I generally get going about some affair when I write to you dont I?
Best love Ed
your loving brother
Harry.
Got [illegible] Auckland I was glad of it.