Page:Letter from Maurice George Delpratt to Nell 2 - December 1918 - p2.jpeg

 AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE. TELEPHONE: VICTORIA 8391 8390 A.I.F & WAR CHEST CLUB. Citizens "War Chest" Fund, Sydney, N.S.W.                                  97, HORSEFERRY ROAD, BEHIND ARMY AND NAVY STORES                                                    LONDON, S.W.1 AND OPPOSITE A.I.F HEADQUARTERS                                                19 Dec 1918 Dear Nell. Here I am in London with my mouth wide open at its' wonders. Before I go any further I'll give you a bit of the big mail I got this morning at A. D. F. Hqts & Australia Red Cross offices. It is like a Turkey letter starting this way, but I am not going to stick any more on your grand old pen as I can now answer them all for myself. I had letters from Ella Warner, 5; Mrs Murphy, 1,. Miss Waddell, Madeline, 1 with nickname Syb to you from Xin Xuie; Eileen Doarie, 1; Mrs M. E. Ross 2., Jack Nimmo, 1; Rex Crane, 1; Kitty, 1; & a note sent to A. D. F. from Aunt Fanny; yourself 5 - Sept & Oct letters. Well, Nell it is in great relief that one has at last reached England. I have been travelling in very great discomfort since Oct. 10 (7 months of it). My last letter was from Port Said just after meeting Best at the Rest Camp. We were sent there to Alexandria & went aboard the 'Caledonia'. There was the normal troopship tight fit for which lasted for 5 days to Marseilles. There almost the final person I saw was a 'townie', as they say over here, who claimed a Longreach aquaintainship. She was behind the counter of a Y. M. C. A. tea room. I don't believe I ever saw her before & she scared me too much to ask by name. It wsa very pitiful to see the horses of one of our transport corps there. There were nearlly all alone - blind as the result having been 'fumed' at the front. though.