Letter from Charles Stewart Alexander to cousin Amy Reid, at sea, 1917

Letter from Alexander to Amy Reid, Tuhikaramea, via Ohaupo, Waikato, New Zealand, 1917 (full date censored), written at sea [aboard SS Mokoia] about 10 days out from New Zealand, containing a partly censored description of an encounter with another boat; war as a test for man. (holograph; 8 leaves)

The following extract was taken from page 6:

"Whatever may be said about war there is no doubt that it is to many beneficial. A man has either to go down or to improve under this test there is no other course but either one of these two. If he is strong then he wins out & the test strengthens him - if he is weak he goes down... . Tis cruel & merciless each man for himself... ."