Letter

This item comes from a collection of letters, covers and other historical material which Te Papa has acquired from Gerald Ellott at various times since 2001. The collection includes items from as early as 1818, but most relate to the New Zealand Wars period (1845-1872) and particularly the 1860s. 

Gerald is one of New Zealand’s foremost postal historians, and for nearly sixty years has been collecting, researching and exhibiting the early postal history of New Zealand. He was invited to sign the Roll of Distinguished Philatelists in 1988, is a recipient of the Fédération Internationale de Philatélie Research Medal, and was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to philately in the 2008 Queen’s Birthday Honours.

The New Zealand Wars collection includes letters written by soldiers serving in British regiments in New Zealand, as well as letters from members of colonial militia and volunteer units. The content and context of the letters provide a wealth of historical, social and military information about this period. The postal markings on the letters and envelopes are also informative, allowing us to track the movement of British troops and the opening up of post offices in their wake.

Many items in the collection are mounted and annotated on archival pages. Gerald wrote the annotations for the purposes of display and storytelling. They reflect his views and the language of the time, and Te Papa has not reviewed them for accuracy.

Transcript:

Jersey Decr 7^th 54

dear father and mother

i received your very kind letter on last Thursday and am very sorry to tell you that i could not get leave to come to my uncles at london for he would not give any one leave to go of the iland that is for the draft the commanding officer will only sign passes for a few days on the iland and I cannot tel you how soon we shall go away

[Page 2]

dear father and mother I am very sory I cannot come to se you before i go away there is a talk about us going on the fifteenth but I dont no wether it is true or not or you cannot tell how i should like to come to se you but it is no use i must content myself the best way i can but i cannot write it out to you so well as i could if i was to se you

[Page 3]

but it is very near past time give my respects to all inquirers friends I hope you will excuse me not saying any more but i should like to see you before i go away and then I can tell you something more

so i must conclude with

my love to you all

from your loving

son

George Tatler

farewell