Letter from Eric Lorentzen to his wife and daughter

PR 82/8
Adelaide Y.M.C.A. Army Department
with the Australian Imperial Forces on Active Service.
Egypt
Ghezireh Palace
^# 2^nd General Hospital
My darling Wife & Daughter
Just a line to ask how
you are getting on I hope you are both keeping
in good health & please dont worry about me now as
I am getting on splendid. I was operated on yesterday
afternoon and had the bullet extracted it is very painful
just now but I dont mind that it could have been
much worse. I am sending the bullet home by the
same mail as this letter dont lose it pet as I will
get it mounted it is a snipers bullet & not a shrapnel
as was at first thought. You will notice in the side
which is bruised on the bullet a little pce of wood that
is evidently off a box which it richoched off before
it hit me it was laying between my ribs _^on right side when they got
it. so I am very lucky. just below the shoulder blade
Well there are a lot of bad cases here but they
are all cheerful so we dont mind as long

2
Adelaide Y.M.C.A. Army Department
AUSTRALIAN
WAR MEMORIAL
as we can get back to the firing line. I only hope
it is not all over before then as it will probably
be a few weeks before I get away from here. I
have not seen any of our boys in here yet so I
presume they are alright. at least I hope so. as
they are not trained enough. but they are all
anxious to get busy. Well I will write regularly
from here to you so you need not worry love
& by the time this reaches you I hope to be
convalescent & back again. The men are
needed & we want all we can get so if any
young chap in Sydney can go and wont he
ought to be horsewhipped as they know it is
not such an easy job as they think it is a real
inferno at times. Boat shelling. big guns on the hills
machine guns & rifles you cant hear yourself speak
at times & yet in the middle of it all you see the
bomb thrower throwing bombs & ducking down again
but they are the worst things as they make an
awful mess when they hit anyone. but

3
enough of this now. How are you two going
on. I hope you manage to get a little
enjoyment out of life at times but try & not
think badly of me love. as I think I am doing
my duty here & if every young man did
the same it would soon be over. but I
am not complaining I would not have
missed this for worlds. it is a lifes experience.
Tell Polly & Ern that I am
doing very well also Louie & Tom. Well
dearest I will close now with fondest
love to you all wishing you the best of
wishes & good health & hoping to hear from
you soon.
I am ever your loving
husband & father
Eric Lorentzen 

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IF NOT CLAIMED WITHIN 7 DAYS PLEASE RE-ADDRESS TO
BOX 506 GENERAL POST OFFICE, SYDNEY.
Mrs May Lorentzen
Glencoe
Kensington St
Kensington