Letter from Geoff Field to Frances Hodgkins
Date
07 Jul 1917
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Object Detail
Date
07 Jul 1917
Transcript
Rest Camp Folkestone 7th July 1917
Dear Aunt Fanny
Just a few lines to let you know how I am getting along and to thank you for being so good to me during the few happy days I spent in St Ives. I enjoyed every minute of my stay in Cornwall. It was so beautifully free from bustle and soldiers and khaki that it was a splendid rest to me and was the most enjoyable leave I have had. I hope I was not too much trouble to you. But you were so good in making my stay so delightful and making things so pleasant for me that I must tell you how grateful I am and how I loved every minute of my holiday of which I shall always retain the pleasantest of memories.
It was a long journey back to Salisbury, but we arrived there shortly after midnight. I picked up my mates in the train all right and we went back to camp together.
We did not stay long in Exeter so there was not much time to look around. When we arrived in camp we received definite instructions to proceed to France on Friday night. Consequently all Friday was spend examining equipment, and making final preparations for departure. At 11 o’clock Friday night we marched away from Sling Camp to Bulford where we entrained and after a long journey in the troop train, arrived at Folkestone at 3 o’clock the next morning. We proceeded to the Rest Camp and here we shall remain all day and tonight we will slip across to France. I do not know my address yet but will write as soon as I get there.
Well, Auntie I have written these few lines to let you know where I am and once again thanking you for giving me such a delightful holiday. I must for the present bid you farewell. Very much love Your Nephew Geoff
p.s. As I expected on the eve of our leaving for France I lost my remaining stripe and am now in the ranks as a private. All for the best I think. G.
Dear Aunt Fanny
Just a few lines to let you know how I am getting along and to thank you for being so good to me during the few happy days I spent in St Ives. I enjoyed every minute of my stay in Cornwall. It was so beautifully free from bustle and soldiers and khaki that it was a splendid rest to me and was the most enjoyable leave I have had. I hope I was not too much trouble to you. But you were so good in making my stay so delightful and making things so pleasant for me that I must tell you how grateful I am and how I loved every minute of my holiday of which I shall always retain the pleasantest of memories.
It was a long journey back to Salisbury, but we arrived there shortly after midnight. I picked up my mates in the train all right and we went back to camp together.
We did not stay long in Exeter so there was not much time to look around. When we arrived in camp we received definite instructions to proceed to France on Friday night. Consequently all Friday was spend examining equipment, and making final preparations for departure. At 11 o’clock Friday night we marched away from Sling Camp to Bulford where we entrained and after a long journey in the troop train, arrived at Folkestone at 3 o’clock the next morning. We proceeded to the Rest Camp and here we shall remain all day and tonight we will slip across to France. I do not know my address yet but will write as soon as I get there.
Well, Auntie I have written these few lines to let you know where I am and once again thanking you for giving me such a delightful holiday. I must for the present bid you farewell. Very much love Your Nephew Geoff
p.s. As I expected on the eve of our leaving for France I lost my remaining stripe and am now in the ranks as a private. All for the best I think. G.
Pages
2 pages
Sender's address
Rest Camp, Folkestone
Institutional No.
MS-Papers-0085-32
Credit Line
Letters
from
Frances
Hodgkins.
Field,
Isabel
Jane,
1867-1950
:
Correspondence
of
Frances
Hodgkins
and
family
/
collected
by
Isabel
Field.
Ref:
MS-Papers-0085-32.
Alexander
Turnbull
Library,
Wellington,
New
Zealand.
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22784883
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22784883