28th March 1901

Dearest Mother

Just received a letter from you and am glad to hear Ernie is recovered. I hope Clara and baby will do well but seems to be doing well with Mrs Aichers.
Our spare kits goes on board today and we expect to sail on Saturday, so please God I shall soon see you all again.
The base Commandant paraded us the other day, and told us he had to tell us from Lord Kitchener that he was very anxious to keep as many of us as possible and offered us every one a rise. A Trooper to be a Corporal. A Corporal to be a Sergeant and so on right up. I felt very much inclined to avail myself of the oppornity, but the longing to see my dear Mother and Father and all the rest was irresistible. The Major said Lord Kitchener considered the Australians the very best troops he had under him.
I saw Corporal Hartley in Precocial he looked well. He said he could not remember me but he did my brothers. I am glad you had a letter from Cousin George, he is such a nice young man and cousin Maud is a splendid girl. I shall be able to tell you about them if spared. You never said if you received that letter I put my leaves in from Grandmothers and Grandfathers grave at Blyth. I should be glad to know you had got the box I sent home with Mrs Peddle all right. I hope I get my money all right at Brisbane I dont think they can stop my pay on sick Furlough especially as I was very bad indeed.
I hear the ship we sail by is a splendid boat, it is her maiden voyage. She has just made it from England; she brought 1000 men for Baden Powels Police. I am pretty short of money owing to my trip to England. If I had money there are many pretty things I should have liked to bring home with me. I have been with Harry Hagyard from Londesboro several times. He sails for home today, poor chap he has been terribly wounded. I am afraid he will not be much more good, he is very jolly all the same and a good heart goes a long way to help carry you through. You must excuse much of the letter this time, as we are pretty busy today and have to go on parade. I have to clean up for it. I will write to Maud and Clara tomorrow if I get the chance.
Best love to all hoping soon to see you
Believe me ever your loving son Ted

P.S. You may see in the papers the name of the Ship and write to me at Melbourne etc.

The plague is still bad there has been several cases in this camp.