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Private J. D. Caves: The Long Journey Home

5 January 1942 B Coy 24th Bn N.Z.E.F. Middle East Forces

5 January 1942 B Coy 24th Bn N.Z.E.F. Middle East Forces

My Dear Jean,

By now no doubt full casualty lists will have been published and you will realise how fortunate I was when you see how many of my cobbers are in it. We cannot mention names when writing home as too often false news gets home that way.

Jean, tell anyone that you know who has lost someone close as a P.O.W. up here to the Huns, that all our chaps were treated wonderfully well. I know many chaps who were prisoners for quite a few days and all speak most highly of the Germans' treatment while in their power. The Hun seems to respect the N.Z's very much and many cases of special courtesy to our chaps have been brought to notice. Really Jean I would not go on leave without my old badge. We are damn proud to be Kiwis.

I full appreciate how hard it must have been to continue writing news and gossip to me when you did not know if I would ever read it and to keep your worries out of your letters.

We are now sick and tired of rain. If it rains much more I don't see how there can be a desert. We have hardly had a decent fine day since coming out of Libya.

I guess there has been excitement in NZ lately. It is well for them to be prepared for as possible for eventualities any way. A pity we could not return to fight for our native shores eh!