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

Incomplete letter (unsigned) from [Sergeant Albert James Newton], Otago Infantry Regiment, 1NZEF, to 'Mother, Father and Brothers' describing the passage from Hobart to the port of Albany [Western Australia], dated 15 November 1914. (3 leaves)

The text reads as follows:

"Dear Mother, Father & Brothers,

Owing to the censorship regulations we are not allowed to send any information about our present whereabouts or about the number of the convoy or the escort. All letters are to be left opened, so that they can be read by the officer appointed as censor.

We left Hobart on the 22nd of October for Albany where we arrived on the 28th after a splendid passage. While we were in Hobart we had a route march through the town. The people were very hospitable and gave the men apples, biscuits & drinks whenever we halted for

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a spell. We had a good reception from the people and the men were all well pleased with the attention shown them.

We picked up the Australian transports at Albany where we stayed three days to coal.

We were not allowed to go on shore and did not pull into the wharf but were coaled from coal hulks in the harbour. We did not see much of the town so I cannot tell you much about it except that it has a good big harbour but not much wharf accommodation for steamers. It was a grand sight to see all the transports & war ships lying at anchor in the harbour and also when we were at sea.

It looks like a little township to see all the lights of the boats at night time although

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most of the lights are shaded only two or three on the masts showing. All lights in the Mess deck are shaded with black paper so that the light only strikes downwards and is not visible from the side and does not show out through the portholes. Albany was left on Nov 1st and we have now arrived at another port but owing to the regulations I cannot say where. We have had a marvellous passage all the way, the sea being as smooth as glass all the time.

It is hard to realise that we are at sea, there is scarcely a movement of the boat. The weather has been fairly hot in the tropics but we have crossed the line now and it is not quite so warm. It is very close and warm down in the holds where we sleep at night, about three hundred men occupying the space to be obtained in a four-roomed..."