18. this will be a miserable Xmas for us all.

Elsinore

Spring St

November 25 1917

My dear Norman,

Another Sunday and another letter.Well, my son I have received another nice letter from you and your diary. (This is in the family papers and will be typed up eventually. It describes the trip across the Pacific, through the Panama Canal and via North America to Liverpool) 

All safe. I think it is very interesting and very nice. Mr Manning and Mr & Mrs Best and Mr Gooud all read it. Mr Gooud came in and had dinner today and read it after. They all think it is grand. I must take it up and let Ilma read it. I don't like to post it, it might go astray. Then I got your other three packets on Thursday evening and the handkerchiefs are lovely, and the little cards and the book. The Panama must be a lovely place. When you come back you must show us all the places you have been.

It was nice to meet Charlie Palmer. I suppose he was surprised to see you. Have you found out about any of the other boys yet? Have you heard anything about Clarrie yet? Dear Norm, it is not use making enquiries about poor Les? Vale. You know they got word he was killed and poor Charley Cox of course you have heard before this of his death and Dave Borthwick. I believe Meg? Hancock is coming home again. He has been ill for month. There came a field card from Charlie Cox yesterday for you. No use ending that on.

Oh Norman, it was terrible when the strike was on. No tram, trains or anything. We had a few trams. They were out for 7 weeks. Of course they had the Volunteers to help the Government which did great good and kept things going for a long while. I don't think they will come out again in a hurry; for they gained nothing. The Government was firm and never gave in to anything for which I was very glad. Fuller is a strong man. I admire him for it. If Holman had been here , I believe he would have given in to them.

You must have had a lovely time on your trip dear Norm. Mr Gooud says he fancies he was with you and how he would have loved to have been. Mr Allen is back at the school today, he will be a great help to Mr Gooud. They are just coming out now. Mr A and his two children are here. They are having their Bazaar this week I believe. The Secretary is working hard for it. I hope it will be a success. Mr Manning is away today. There is another young minister here today. I don't know his name. He comes sometime from the Camden district, I think where you have been. I think he is a Curate.

Illma had Eileen laid up now. Every since you have gone away she has had sickness. She had her own turn then and has never quite got over that then she had Claude bad with the same, then she had Bert. He has been very bad with the same, now she has Eileen down with it. She has had the Doctor out 2 or 3 toimes to Eileen and once to Bert. It is influenza and Bronchitis. I hope Marnie?(Normie?) doesn't take it to George.

Well Norman, I think this will be a miserable Xmas for us all. You being away will make it so but I hope you will be home for the next Xmas at all events. Be sure to tell me if there is anything you want or anything I can send you. are you short of anything over there? have you plenty to eat and drink. let me know when you write.

Mrs McClean & I are going over to Mrs Waites on Wednesday. I have not been over for a long time. Mr Waite has been out of work for a good while but is working now on the YES No vote. Of course he is for NO  he tried to enlist to go over but Harry came home. He was too old. They have 2 or 3 meetings every night now. I have never been to one. Pa has been to 2 or 3.

I say Norm, did you forget Pa's birthday? the 5th of this month! You didn't forget Mr Gooud's, he was showing me the card you sent him. I suppose you had not received your yet, but of course will  before this letter reaches you. I wouldn't care about sending anything valuable ove rthe water for it might never reach you.

Now my darling son I must come to a close, will be looking out for letters every mail now. I write you every Sunday. have done since you left, so you can count up the Sundays and see if you get all my letters. I hope you do. Pa sends love Says he will write. he might when he comes in.

Oh if you could only come in and have a talk to me it would be nice. but God is watching over you dear boy and will bring you safely back to your loved ones, ever your loving Mother.

 attached on a slip of paper:

1602  Air Mechanic

         AAR Harvison

         69th Squadron

         AR?C  AIR   (Initials indistinct)

         Abroad                                          (? Cousin)    Maria writes: I suppose he is in England somewhere.