Papers relating to war service of Ernest William Newton and Albert James Newton

Letter from Sergeant Albert James Newton, Otago Infantry Regiment, 1NZEF, to 'Father, Mother, & Brother' from 'Somewhere in France' describing time spent in the trenches, dated 11 June 1916. (4 leaves)

Extracts from text read as follows:

Extract 1:

"Dear Father, Mother & Brother,

We are in the trenches once more but this time we are not in the front line, but are a short distance behind it. It is quite a safe post and we hardly ever get any shells. The only thing we can complain about is the weather which is not at all nice. It started to rain the night we moved in & has been raining nearly ever since and the place never gets a chance to dry. It reminds me of Southland weather and as we are not allowed to bring our blankets into the trenches we feel the cold at nights.

There is not a great deal of fighting on our front, though there are..."

Extract 2

[Page 3]

"14.6.16. It is still raining hard and everything is wet and muddy and there is no sign of the rain ceasing. This is the seventh day of it and during that time it has hardly ever left off. If this is the kind of weather they have in France in summer time, winter must be very bad indeed. The heat of Egypt was bad enough but one was always dry there. However it’s a long lane that has no turning and the rain must stop sometime.

I have been getting the papers you sent me, we get plenty of papers as a good many come for fellows who are not here and they are given out to anyone who wants

[Page 4]

them. I have not seen Ernie for two or three days, he is with the snipers in the front line, but I expect him down to see me any day now. Well I must finish now as I have no more news.

Ernie & I are both well

Hoping you are all in good health, I remain

Your loving son

[Signed] Albert"