Letter from Geoff Field to Frances Hodgkins
Date
19 Aug 1917
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Object Detail
Date
19 Aug 1917
Transcript
France 19th Aug 1917
My Dear Aunt Fanny
You must have almost given me up for lost by this time, as it seems so long since I have written to you, but I know that you will understand and forgive me when I tell you of some of my doings during the past few weeks.
But before I start any narratives, I must gratefully acknowledge that welcome parcel of cakes and sweets which I received safely the other day. It was very good and kind of you to send them, Auntie, dear and you cannot imagine how thoroughly appreciated they were. They reached me on a cold and rainy afternoon when our company was quartered in a few shell ridden old French houses which were serving us as temporary billets, and I can tell you that I never enjoyed anything better in my life than that welcome parcel of yours which, in a word, saved my life.
I also received your (thrice?) welcome letter, of a week or so ago, and I do hope that all is as well and bright with you, as it is with me. I trust that you are getting along splendidly with your rather large order of portraits at Port Isaac, and that you are enjoying a nice stay with the pretty lady who lived in the green studio. As for you making a mess of them, this idea is ridiculous, as you make such splendid successes of all the portraits you paint, and I shall get shell-shock if I hear that you have thrown yourself over the cliff.
Several days ago I received a large New Zealand mail in which were letters from all members of the family. They tell me that all is well at home, everything is going splendidly and they are all ‘bright & cheerful’. They have received the letters and articles I sent home from Cape Town also a cable or two from England and consequently they are all very happy, and rejoicing over my safe arrival in the “Old Country” as they call it, and “Blighty”, as I am becoming accustomed to call England. I trust that they will also have very soon received my letters, describing the right royal time that you gave me in Cornwall when I was on leave. There will be a lot more rejoicing then when they read of the glorious holiday that you gave me Auntie and they will be as grateful to you as I am, for the way you looked after me so well. I shall always remember my pleasant stay in St Ives and I am eagerly looking forward to the time we shall have together when I get leave from France.
Mother writes very cheerfully telling me that all is well at home, and she hopes that both she and Dad will come over to England when we get the war through and we will all have a great time together, having a look around and enjoying ourselves before returning to New Zealand. Dad, Granny, Girlee, Ba, Jack and Peter, Mother tells me are all getting along first rate and they are all looking forward to my return.
When I last wrote to you I was at the N.Z. Base in France, but since then I have marched a wee bit closer to the lines and the sound of the guns is distinctly audible to my ears and I must say that at first it has a very ominous and disturbing effect on one. But I am getting quite used to it now and as I am looking after myself very well and am getting quite an expert at shell ducking I am keeping in the best of health and enjoying life to the full.
You ask me to let you know of anything I really feel greedy for. Well Auntie I simply loved that parcel of cake and sweets and if it is not imposing too much on your kind heartedness and is not too much trouble, another would be greatly appreciated.
Well I will write again soon and I trust that all is well with you.
Much love and best wishes Your loving nephew Geoff
My Dear Aunt Fanny
You must have almost given me up for lost by this time, as it seems so long since I have written to you, but I know that you will understand and forgive me when I tell you of some of my doings during the past few weeks.
But before I start any narratives, I must gratefully acknowledge that welcome parcel of cakes and sweets which I received safely the other day. It was very good and kind of you to send them, Auntie, dear and you cannot imagine how thoroughly appreciated they were. They reached me on a cold and rainy afternoon when our company was quartered in a few shell ridden old French houses which were serving us as temporary billets, and I can tell you that I never enjoyed anything better in my life than that welcome parcel of yours which, in a word, saved my life.
I also received your (thrice?) welcome letter, of a week or so ago, and I do hope that all is as well and bright with you, as it is with me. I trust that you are getting along splendidly with your rather large order of portraits at Port Isaac, and that you are enjoying a nice stay with the pretty lady who lived in the green studio. As for you making a mess of them, this idea is ridiculous, as you make such splendid successes of all the portraits you paint, and I shall get shell-shock if I hear that you have thrown yourself over the cliff.
Several days ago I received a large New Zealand mail in which were letters from all members of the family. They tell me that all is well at home, everything is going splendidly and they are all ‘bright & cheerful’. They have received the letters and articles I sent home from Cape Town also a cable or two from England and consequently they are all very happy, and rejoicing over my safe arrival in the “Old Country” as they call it, and “Blighty”, as I am becoming accustomed to call England. I trust that they will also have very soon received my letters, describing the right royal time that you gave me in Cornwall when I was on leave. There will be a lot more rejoicing then when they read of the glorious holiday that you gave me Auntie and they will be as grateful to you as I am, for the way you looked after me so well. I shall always remember my pleasant stay in St Ives and I am eagerly looking forward to the time we shall have together when I get leave from France.
Mother writes very cheerfully telling me that all is well at home, and she hopes that both she and Dad will come over to England when we get the war through and we will all have a great time together, having a look around and enjoying ourselves before returning to New Zealand. Dad, Granny, Girlee, Ba, Jack and Peter, Mother tells me are all getting along first rate and they are all looking forward to my return.
When I last wrote to you I was at the N.Z. Base in France, but since then I have marched a wee bit closer to the lines and the sound of the guns is distinctly audible to my ears and I must say that at first it has a very ominous and disturbing effect on one. But I am getting quite used to it now and as I am looking after myself very well and am getting quite an expert at shell ducking I am keeping in the best of health and enjoying life to the full.
You ask me to let you know of anything I really feel greedy for. Well Auntie I simply loved that parcel of cake and sweets and if it is not imposing too much on your kind heartedness and is not too much trouble, another would be greatly appreciated.
Well I will write again soon and I trust that all is well with you.
Much love and best wishes Your loving nephew Geoff
Pages
2 pages
Sender's address
France
Institutional No.
MS-Papers-0085-33
Credit Line
Letters
from
Frances
Hodgkins.
Field,
Isabel
Jane,
1867-1950
:
Correspondence
of
Frances
Hodgkins
and
family
/
collected
by
Isabel
Field.
Ref:
MS-Papers-0085-33.
Alexander
Turnbull
Library,
Wellington,
New
Zealand.
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22720420
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22720420