My own Darling,

Now that the time draws near when I will be able to see and hear you again after so long, I find myself in a perfect frenzy of impatience. Oh! Sweetheart, I love you! When I look back and count the days that have grown into months, and the months that have grown into years since last I was able to hold you in my arms, sometimes I wonder how I have been able to bear it! I nearly went mad, in Canada, when they held us up for weeks, and now that it appears that I may be stuck here for Lord knows how long, I'm beginning to froth at the mouth. If I could only ring you up, or somehow hear your voice!

Auckland has been very kind to us. Alby Creek, who is a friend I made on the voyage, and I have been made the guests of a Mrs. Pilkington who has been kindness itself to us. We've just got home from a drive all over the surrounding countryside. (She has a "Gas-Producer" on her car) and our stay is being made very pleasant, but I wish they'd hurry up and send us on! Alby is a Corporal in the Medical Section, and he has assigned himself the job of looking after me. (Don't worry Dear, - there's nothing much wrong with me, except this awful longing for you!) Alby is a good chap. He's from Adelaide, and he's been very decent to me. I don't know how I'd have got on without him. He's a very good R.C., too, and has made me stick to the straight and narrow.

I've had a marvellous trip, and some grand experiences to tell you of; incidentally, Love, I've managed to pick up those things you asked me to get; hope you like 'em.

I hope your Mother and Dad and Al and the others are all well. It will be great to see them all again. It's terribly hard to bear, not hearing from anyone at home, especially you, for so long! I hope the Cables and Airgraphs I've been sending from every place I've touched have all arrived safely. I wonder if I'll be able to get leave as soon as I arrive in Aussie? I'll go mad and bite someone or something if I don't! I don't know what is to become of me when I get home. I wonder if they'll keep me on as an instructor or if I'll be discharged and go back to the G.P.O.? Frankly, I hope it's the latter. Lately I've begun to incline to agree with the quacks and the lads who have told me that I've done more than my share in this war. - I have more operational hours than anyone else I have met who have been in England as long as I have, and I feel both physically and morally tired, - washed out, in fact, and, I think I need a long, - long rest! This spell away from flying that I've just had on this trip has freshened me up considerably, and already I feel like a new man. Only these attacks I have now and then, - the aftermath of that darned concussion, - worry me. But I find that if I take things very quietly, - and keep right off drink or high excitements, - that I have no trouble. I haven't had a glass of beer for months, now, and feel a lot better for the lack of it.

I hope all the Mulls and the lads are well. It will be grand seeing them all again. I can laugh at it all, now, Darling mine, but, when I left Brisbane that day, I felt that never again would I be coming back. It was a silly way to think, but I didn't give myself one chance in ten of surviving.

God has been very good to me. You and Mother must have prayed a lot for me. I shall have to spend the rest of my life being thankful.

Well, bed is calling and I'm a bit fagged after today's drive, so Goodnight, Darling. I hope it's only a matter of days before I can ring you (at least) and that you still love me, - because I adore you, - I always have, and I always will, Ed xxxxxx

P.S. Love me? Ed x