Correspondence between Herbert Vincent Reynolds and his family, 1918-1919 - Part 1

New Years Day
Jan 1^st 1918
Dear Mother
Just a few lines for this
evening, as there is not much time to
write much, I've just been to Albany
Wards show with a mate, it was awfull,
a couple of dancing turns & some pictures
about the worst 8d of amusement I've seen
I don't trouble about going to these
camp theatres generally, but being New
Years night, thought we might spend the
evening somewhere, as no YMCA concerts
were on, so decided to slip in at Albany's
worse luck. I wonder wether next New Years
Day will find me back with you, at the
dear old home, let's hope so, any how, then
we can spend the evening all being well,
at some of the good old Golden city's
places of amusement.

(2)
Well I spent the Xmas in a far
better way than the New Year for
I was detailed off for cook house
fatigue this morning, & till almost
dinner time, enjoyed myself peeling
frozen spuds, it was simply great
I can tell you, we had to be very
carefull that the hot ones did not
burn our hands, any how we got
through the job, & set to, on the
special dinner intending to do some
damage, well, you would be surprised,
the first plate full had me thinking,
we have forgotten the art of putting
away a real ding dong feed, we've
been so used to studying the econoymy
racquet, that a good meal gets us
thinking. Well - anyhow we started
the New Year well with Roast beef
roast potatoes & cabbage, - Roast pork & boiled
potatoes, - any amount of them too - & to
finish up with Date pudding with
a pint of the best procurable, to wash
it down, it was to cold this weather
though.

(3)
I went for a walk this afternoon with
my mate Harry Madden a Townsville lad
we strolled down to the old village of
Barford St Martin it consists of a few
ancient looking buildings with a pub,
& a couple of minature buisness
establishments that appear to be puting
up a big struggle for existence.
I received a few letters etc
since coming back off leave, one from you
No 72, one from Flo, & another from Ciss
along with your parcel, & a pocket writing
outfit from Mrs Herring in London.
I hope Norm will find things
more satisfactory being near home, you
might remember me to him also to his
Mother & Dad when you see them, I don't
know what they must be thinking

(4)
of me, for not writing, I, often think
about sending them a few lines but
that is as far as it gets.
The weather is bitterly cold
over here now, talk about frosts etc
I'm mighty thankfull to be over
here, where we are enjoying a fair
amount of comfort, we have a dry
bed to sleep in, regular nights sleep
& a fire, which is a lot to be thankful
for, when our mates are over the other
side, perhaps shivering under a sheet
of iron for a shelter.
I will have to finish off for
tonight so will write a few more lines
later, we do not know when the home
mails go so just have to guess.
Jan 2^nd 1918
Well I think I've already written all
the news that there is to send so will
just thank you again for the parcel, it
was just A1 Trusting you are all quite
well at home I will say Au-revoir
yours ever very truly
Bert

No 3 Command Depôt
Camp 7 Hurdcott
England
Jan 4^th 18
Dear Brother
Well just a few
lines to let you know how
things are going with me lately.
I expect you have been
wondering why my letters have
been so few & far between, well
to tell you the honest truth
I've been extremely lazy, &
have not written to any one, except
Mother with the exception of one
or two now & again when my
conscience pricked me, to you & a
few others.

(3)
How are you progressing at
school? - I'm really very
anxious to hear.
Have you thought seriously
about taking to any thing in
particular?
Mind you don't let your
opportunity slip by, well I
really hope you are making
the best of your time at
school, & will be very pleased
to hear how you are getting
along, Mother never says
very much about you, I expect
she leaves it to you.
The weather is bitterly
cold over here now, especially
during the morning, it is
freezing almost all day long,
(2)
I spent a very pleasant time
at Xmas with the friends at
Parkstone, things were exceptionally
quiet, but I was rather
pleased at that.
Most likely I will
be getting my sick furlough
about the 10^th of this month,
so there is that to look
forward too, before I get
back to the hot shop, which
I will see again before very
long, worse luck; anyhow I
have an idea that the war
will be finished before very
long, so providing my good
luck sticks to me, you will,
I hope, be welcoming me
home before the end of the year.

(4)
& there is ice every where
just fancy there being ice
on the ground in Ausie, with
the sun shining upon it, it
would not be there very long
yet the sun shines all day
upon the ice over here & it
never melts away.
I'm expecting some
mail from Home any time
now, its time we got some
of early Novembers letters.
Well trusting you are
all quite well at Home & not
shivering with the cold, when
those strong north winds are
blowing. - well Au-revoir
with best wishes to all
Bert
PS  Please give my best wishes
to Mr & Mrs Hodgetts when you
see them.

Stanley Reynolds
Albert St
Sebastopol
Ballarat
Victoria
Australia.
[*Jan 4^th 1918*]

AUSTRALIAN
+

Hurdcott
Jan 16^th 1918
[*PS  I would not mind
a few cigarettes
occasionally if you
are sending any
parcels.*]
Dear Mother
I did intend writing last evening but
after thinking about it, for some time gave it best, there are
times when I can't write to save my life, & at the best of
times my letters are very poor, I expect you an notice that,
so I need not trouble about mentioning the fact.
Well there is very little news to tell you,
I'm quite allright, except for a bit of a cold, but I am
very seldom without one.
I received a nice card from Eva & another
from Ade a few days ago, but there was no news from you,
there should be some letters from you about somewhere,
because the last I received was Oct 12^th.
The weather has been rather bad this
last week, plenty of snow & rain & of course there is
nothing but mud & slush, but we are well off being in