Archive Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Letter |
Title |
Robert Vernon (Vern) Armstrong - Correspondence |
Creator |
Armstrong, Robert Vernon (1892-1915) |
Description |
Robert Vernon (Vern) Armstrong (1892-1915) - Correspondence Canterbury Mounted Rifles 7/1328 (1st Battalion) Letter from: At Sea Handwritten letter, NZ Expeditionary Force Letterhead. To Mother, Father and all - transcript below [Please Note: Some letters contain language and terminology that reflect the attitudes and beliefs of its time. Some expressions may be considered offensive, racist, or inappropriate by today's standards. They have been preserved in their original form to maintain the historical integrity of the record. We acknowledge the impact such language can have and encourage readers to approach this material with critical awareness of the social and cultural context in which it was created.Letters transcribed as written and include punctuation and spelling errors.] Transcript: NZ Expeditionary Force [letterhead] [At Sea] Dear Mother, Father & all. Well here it is, we have been a week out and haven't reached our first port of call yet, we have had a dandy trip so far, I was only sea-sick once, not bad for me. I feel real decent today, Justin, Cyril and I have been on mess orderly work for a week in the same mess room. We finished up this morning and we weren't sorry either, it wasn't the best of jobs at times it used to get too stuffy down there. I think I wouldn't have been sea-sick at all if it wasn't for that job. They wanted us Page 2 to take on the mess job for the voyage, but it was no good to us, it would be a beggar of a job going through the tropics. So far all the Akaroa chaps have been doing first-rate bar Chum he has been pretty crook I believe. I saw Link and Maurice a while ago, they were busy writing, so you might get plenty of news. I had crook luck with that other fountain pen when Justin gave it to me, it was broken. It must have been the throw that broke it. If I get a chance, I will try my luck with another one at the next port of call. Tell Elsie Page 3 and Evelyn & Joe that the box of cake was decent. I still have some of it left, I am keeping it as long as I can; we get well treated aboard this ship, plenty of tucker of the best sort, and fruit about once a day. I still have a bit of a cold, but hope to shake it off soon, I have been to the doctor once with it. We have to be careful what we put in these letters, for they have to be censored. We are not allowed to mention any port we call at or ship we pass or is keeping company with us. I expect to strike our first port Page 4 of call about Tuesday. We expect to stay there about two days, it will be alright to be able to stretch our legs on firm ground again. I think we will be going on a route march, I hope to get leave for a while for there are several things I want. Well I must stop now, wishing you all good luck. I hope you are all well. I will write again as soon as I get a chance. It might not be for a while for there is some talk of us making a pretty straight trip. Your loving son, Vern. |
People |
Armstrong, Robert Vernon "Vern" Armstrong, George (jun.) Armstrong, Mary nee Gray (Mrs George jnr) Lelievre, Justin George Lelievre, Maurice James "Chum" Armstrong, Lincoln Lelievre, Cyril Eugene Armstrong, Evelyn Armstrong, Joseph Ernest |
Subjects |
Letters World War I Soldiers |
Provenance |
Armstrong family archives. Gift of Jan Shuttleworth and the Armstrong family |
Web Rights |
http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/ |
Collection |
Armstrong Family Archive |
Catalog Number |
2025.20.32 |