John Hall – Letter 1

Pvt. J. Hall No.61289
30th Reinfts
Tauherenikau
Wellington

Aug 11th 1917

Dear Mary,

I received your card alright the other evening although it was addressed to Trentham. I came on to Tauherenikau a week ago on Thursday last. I have already put in a good week’s training: we march out to a paddock about a mile or so from the camp and there divided up into small companys with an officer or an N.C.O. over each who puts us through various manoeuvres and exercises some of them pretty stiff too at least I have found them to be so especially to one of my legs which has become quite sore and stiff. I think it is rather sudden to be put through all day and every day to one who hasn’t been used to it; it is the old rheumatics in my leg that is causing the most trouble. All the roads and foot paths round this are made with big loose stones & it is very hard on one feet walking over them no doubt it is all a good test to one’s physical endurance even the accommodation, climate & etc. I find to be somewhat trying, the weather since I came here has been very wet but not so cold as in the south. today & yesterday

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have been sunny and warm like real spring. I notice a good deal of wattle in bloom round the country here, our sleeping accommodation is not good, eight men are put into one tent of about 12 ft in diameter with four small ventilators in the top the result is the air becomes pretty stuffy especially when nine out of ten are snorers. I have had a cold in the head and a sore throat since I came into this camp & also in Trentham. I will be glad when we shift into camp Featherston. I think that will be the week after next; this camp is only about 2 miles from the one at Featherston. The purpose of this camp I think is chiefly to test the men’s endurance. We had a pretty keen frost here this morning. We also had an earthquake one morning early in week; it woke up all hands in our tent. I see by the paper there has been other quakes during the week but we never felt them. What name are you going to give your new son & who is he like. I am sorry to hear about Bessie it is an awful pity she didn’t understand her own condition better before she got married and left that alone. I am still hoping to get my transfer into the ambulance when I get back to Trentham again. Your affect. Brother JH

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