NZIBD
France
29/8/17
Dear Uncle Julius
I have received your letter dated 25th August enclosed with my New Zealand letters for which many thanks. About parcels from home - the girls mentioned that they had sent some, addressed to Badsey to be forwarded to me, but on receipt of my new address they proposed sending them direct. You have all been very good to me in the matter of letter writing, and I need hardly say how I have appreciated getting your letters. I was interested to hear of George, Arthur and Cyril. I wrote to George some weeks ago, but I have not heard yet whether he received the letter. I expect you would all enjoy having him home again as much as he himself enjoyed the spell away from scene of activities.
The Ypres sector has always been a busy part of the front and probably will be for some time to come. Congratulations to Cyril on his having been mentioned in the Mesopotamian report. With the approach of cooler weather, conditions should become a little bearable in that quarter. Baghdad is rather too valuable a prize for the Turks to relinquish without some effort to retake it, and it is reassuring to know that General Maude is ready for them.
Weather here has been of the very worst description lately. If you have had anything like it in England I am afraid the orchards will have suffered severely and the crops as well.
In the letters that you sent, there was one from Arthur to which he had added a footnote saying that he had just appeared before the medical board and was marked unfit for service. This would be probably on account of his eyes, and age as well. It was recognised from the start that one of us would have to remain to work the property and if Arthur had passed the doctor, the military board would no doubt have decided for exemption in his case. I hope to goodness I shall soon get reasonably fit so as to be able to do a bit more, to justify my coming over here as the representative of the New Zealand branch of the family.
The successful offensive of the Italians against Austria has come as a pleasant surprise and if the advantage already gained can be developed, it seems that big things may be expected.
Our own successes although on a smaller scale are still appreciable and demonstrate our ability to attack successfully at different points.
It is rather to be wondered at that Germany is satisfied to continue the struggle knowing how much worse her position must be later on when America’s weight is added to the scale.
I remain
Your affectionate nephew
Bernard Sladden
