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:

27 February 1856

My Dear Father And Mother.

I now take the Favourable oppertunity of writin these few lines to you hoping this will find you in Good health as it leave me at present thank God for it Dear Father & Mother I hope you will excuse me for not writin to you before this but I should have done. So only waiting to join head Quarters of my regt. But we ar still at the Bay of Island. Dear Father & Mother all our men is gon from Auckland to Wellington to join hour regt. Dear Father and Mother all your men is Dersirtion to the Whalers of America there is 21 Privats and 2 Drummers gon An more expect to goe every Day they are all Dersirsion from the Bay of Island lest then a Weeks on count of being alone in a lonesum place and so much Drill and Confiment am I But I ham not tired of my life not yet. Dear Father & Mother I think of kindness of advice of your letters that you did leve to me I ham still now live in hope and the War will soon be over think God for it Dear Father And Mother I have tired of Soldiren I still may come home again a Soldier Dear Father and Mother I hope you will not be un happy for me Dear Father and Mother you know that my tempter will not let me Soldier not long But I have great patiance yet. But hoping of that you will sone be able to Purches my Dicharge son as you can. Dear Father and Mother I hoften think those happy Days when I was at with you I honly wish that I was only home once more and then I would led a Derferent life

[page 2]

My Der Father And Mother. I ham sorry to say to you that there is now White people there except the Soldiers Wifes and they are now good at Present But nevery mind it I hope that I shill soon be where there is some people they are all Black what is there at Present and they are like i dow what for they are all tattood on the face and all all overy themselves

Dear Father and Mother I happy say to you that we due except to join our Regiment and goe to Auckland, because the men is goin away from us if they dont be very quick are will find heney of us at Present I shall be very happy if i was goin of to join Regiment there I shall be happy to say at Present.

But I have nothing els to say to you at Present to you my affection Mother & father

Please to give my best Respects to all my inquirers

Friends Aimen

God save the queen Aimen

[Page 3]

Plase to Give my best Respects to him
Best Respects to Mary H Tab
and to Marther
an to James
and to Thomas
and Cousein Besey and to Sari[?]

From your Afection Son George Tatler
65 Regiment Auckland New Zeaalnd
Wahapu Bay of Island

Directions

No. 2356 Private George Tatler
65 Regiment E Company
Wahapu Bay of Island
Auckland
New Zealand

 

Elsewhere to.

[on reverse of page written in between folded page lines]

from George
aug 8 54
R-Jan 1 1856

July 3
Oct 12