He pārongo atu anōChristmas Greeting card from Stewart Grammer to his family in Bainesse during WWII

299542
Gnr S Grammer
Artillery
2nd N.Z.E.F.
N.Z.A.P.O.
1000.

Dear Dad and all at Home

Well here goes a bit of a note to you. I am still some where at sea and enjoying the trip O K the best part of it has been so far a two days shore leave at our last port of call. The first day we got off about two o'clock and it was just one mad rush to the pubs but never the less we had a good time the people treated us great we could go nearly anywhere for nothing and the NZ government put on free trains for us. The second day we got off at 10 in the

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morning and we had a great time. I was with Jhonny Marshall, the chap you met at Trentham that Sunday and we started of to do the rounds but it is such a hell of a big place I think we only did one street and by that time we were feeling fairly good so decided to go and have a meal. We went to a grill show and there was no eggs they are rationed there so we decided to go and try and buy some. We went into the first store we saw and there was a couple of grouse girls behind the counter but they wouldn't give us eggs with out coupons but after a lot of kidding and I gave my badge away they smuggled us half a dozen which Jhonny put inside his tunic. We decided to have another spot before dinner so went
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to the nearest pub and on the way out some silly cow had pulled a few bags of sugar off a passing truck so we decided to help him put them back on. I grabbed one and went to pick it up and went head over heels with the bag of sugar on top of me so Jhonny had a go and as he picked it up he broke all the eggs and they all ran down the front of his trousers and wasn't he in a mess and wasn't he wild because we have made arrangements to meet the two girls who had given us them when they knocked off work. Well we didn't get any eggs in the finish but we told the girls they were real good and we are still laughing about it. I tried to buy a little gift like Ron sent me but I couldn't get one so bought myself a pipe and

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am getting used to it now. I am pritly well sunburnt and am feeling a bit and by Christ isn't it hot I just lie on top of my bed with nothing on and try to sleep but there isn't much hope with the heat and the bed bugs which eat at you all night. I have bought a ships magazine which is quite good and I will send it home it will give some idea of what it is like on a transport. Well Dad I guess I will have to close hope Liliah Tom and kiddeys are all well as I am so cheers

Stewart

P.S. We are getting good beer in the canteen at present and with the great heat you are half cut with one bottle Bill (?)

P.S. Will enclose a mess card which the old Dutchy in charge of the mess gave all us mess orderlys to send home.