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Private J. D. Caves: The Long Journey Home

20 April 1942 B Coy 24th Bn N.Z.E.F. Middle East Forces

20 April 1942 B Coy 24th Bn N.Z.E.F. Middle East Forces

My Own Jean,

On Saturday night I wrote to you, but as I was a little drunk it was not altogether the best of letters. I promised to write again and the opportunity has arrived today. I'm glad we understand each other so well Dear and that it enables me to tell you the truth always. I know you dislike drunkenness but it would be foolish to pretend we never drink and are always having a glorious holiday. When we are together again we will soon keep me from excessive drinking but I guess you can understand an occasional booze-up over here really does us good. One lets oneself go a bit and a lot of little worries seem to get washed out. Most of us have sense enough not to drink too often and take care to drink only in good company.

Compared to the desert it [Syria] is marvellous and it has more wild flowers than N.Z. but the land not under cultivation is really very sparsely covered with vegetation. Rocks are everywhere.

page 44

Wind seems to have swept nearly all the surface soil away and the hills are very bare. A few almonds, cedars and stunted pines have a precarious hold among the rocks. However, it is fresh and clean and although dust storms are not unknown, the air is usually sweet and fresh.

While we were having lunch under the shade of a tree today the Brigadier went past. He is new to us and we did not at first recognise him. He had his shirt right off and was sweating profusely. The climb up is pretty hard and he had a Bren-gun on his shoulder. He must have asked at the bottom if there was anything to come up. As he passed he said "Christ, this is worse than the bloody Chateau". A photo of him like that would do good in NZ.