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Private J. D. Caves: The Long Journey Home

23 May 1942 B Coy 24th Bn N.Z.E.F. Middle East Forces

23 May 1942 B Coy 24th Bn N.Z.E.F. Middle East Forces

My Dear Jean,

As the Japs seem to have turned aside from Australia and N.Z. we are feeling more happy about home and the lack of mail is not felt so keenly. It is now more like the old days when mail may not come for weeks and then turns up in bulk. We for our part have now been in the hills for nearly six weeks and you must realise have little news to write home.

The "Kiwi Concert Party" came around this way last Monday evening and put on a show at the foot of our hill for companies in this area. It is a fine talented show and their orchestra and acts excellent. Their women impersonators are first class and we deprived of the sight of females as we are almost fell for them. The audience was very mixed for besides we NZ troops were Indians from a mule transport corps, Africans from a black labour corps with Pommy officers and of course the whole population from the village.

We are leaving here on Tuesday and have before us some manoeuvres, a spell of guard duty and about the 10th June our much looked for spell at Beirut. Leave will be available from there to see the town and also trips to Damascus and other towns of interest. Unfortunately leave to Palestine was cancelled for us at present so I'll save my money for a later date. From then on the course of war will no doubt control our movements - we have no idea what lies after that. The Russians certainly are doing well still. The whole outlook seems to be changing this way and an early victory to the Allies talked of. Myself, I still think Oct 1943 about right to see home again.