Dvr Richard Pendlebury (Seville), 2^nd Field Artillery Brigade: At St David’s Hospital on Malta. In a letter written to his brother George –‘I guess you will be surprised to know I am here: tried to hang out but it was no ‘go’. I was three days on the hospital ship coming over, and a good many of the boys died on board, in fact the ship was continually stopping for a burial. You have no idea how great it is to be in a nice clean bed and in a safe place, with no Taubes to come over dropping bombs and darts while one is trying to get a little sleep, and no guns or anything to worry you, we get well looked after.

I am living on milk at present under the doctor’s orders, but, I feel like a good square feed. The nurses are very kind and attentive. Things were quiet at Gallipoli when I left. It is a wonderful sight to see our airships and warships everywhere, giving us confidence. There are very few of the old boys of our battery left when landed on the first day. By the time you receive this, I expect to be back again at the front. I reckon we have had a good innings. I hope to be about in a few days and to see this beautiful island of Malta. As far as I can see from my bed, it must indeed be a lovely spot’.