TRANSCRIPTION:
France
May 12th
Dear Edith,
I received a letter from you yesterday dated April 4th. It is covered with different addresses it has been too. So I had been give you my correct address
11/2651 Pte Jas Stewart
No. 2 Coy
NZ Divisonal Train
Nz Div. France
I will be seeing Hal any day now & I will give him the letters you sent. Hals new address is
11/2653 Sergt HP Stewart
Ruahine Coy. 2nd WIT

NZ Division. France He is in Capt McLeans COY now. Yes I received the parcel & the Birthday Greetings you sent for which I thank you very much. I received it when everything was upside down over here. I saw a good bit of Hal till about a fortnight ago but I suppose I will be seeing him any time now. By jove we have had some great rumours flying around lately. The best one I think was that Fritz had given the N.Z.s. till six oclock one night to give themselves up & would give £50 to everyone who gave himself up but no one was tempted & fritz did not attack next day & then another one was that Fritzs troops attacking on the N.Z’s. front had been issued with a Booklet stating that they were not to hold the N.Z’s too cheaply as they were 100% better than the English average troops He didn’t reach the front line that time he got badly cut to pieces. Reg thinks it is alright in Blighty does he. Well if that bunk is still empty beside him I will [illeg] next game we play & fill it up as best I can & see what Blighty is like too. What do you feel like 61 now I should think you would feel like 16 the other way round to 61. Yes I had a letter from Thea telling me about Vera’s
& her great ride on the motorbikes to Littlejohns Well Edith I will ring off now hoping this finds you in the best of health & hope Reg is progressing favourably
Well goodbye
Your cousin
Jim