Published on Saturday, 25 April 2026 at 6:00:00 AM
Library patron Jane Gibbons-Eyre recently deposited a rich collection of family-related documentary heritage material at History Great Southern – Kaartdijin Biddi Albany, where it was digitised and returned with accompanying digital files to Jane. It is an important record of its time, containing this touching letter of a New Zealand soldier who wrote to a young Albany schoolgirl he had met at the Wesleyan Church Hall – Albert Hall, while passing through Albany on the way to war. The 14-year-old teenage recipient of the letter was Molly Greenhalgh - Jane’s grandmother. Molly remained a dedicated correspondent to many New Zealand soldiers she exchanged addresses with. The letter was read by another Albany student at the Dawn Service this morning.
Read the transcript below:
This letter was written by New Zealand Lance Corporal Richard William Chappell to 14-year-old Albany schoolgirl, Molly Greenhalgh. Molly corresponded with more than 50 New Zealand soldiers who called at Albany on their way to the battlefront. Dick Chappell was killed in action on 7th June 1917.
7th December 1916
Dear Molly,
I was going to write you a lot more, but here I am on the last day of the mail closing. I’ve been very far from being well this last week, through vaccination and sore throat and so on, still, I’ve got over all that now but where is my letter writing, still to be done I’m afraid or else there will be some friends of mine very disappointed with me, as it is there will be a few disappointed. I am so sorry I’m not able to write you more Molly. We had some lovely meetings last Sunday. I do love singing Molly and my word, we get plenty of singing with Captain Bladin here to keep us going. He is a grand singer himself and he makes a great choir out of us lads as easy as can be and I do enjoy myself.
I haven’t been seasick once yet Molly and have therefore enjoyed the trip with the next one. We’ve just had dinner, such lovely soup too Molly. I haven’t written to Mr Freeman yet and I must do so but however I’m going to do it all I don’t know as yet.
I’m going to write you my sisters’ address on the next page. I do hope you will write to them Molly. They are twins 15 years of age, one when I left was at the high school and the other one Nessie has been home some little while now as she is not too strong. Mabel, the other one is quite a strong girl. I suppose they will be telling you all about the place I came from, Hastings Hawkes Bay. It’s a lovely place Molly and such a lot of fruit is grown there. My father has an orchard there of peaches, plums, pears and apples. Won’t I miss the fruit this year after seeing that the last 3 years I have had any and any amount of fruit of all sorts. Still Molly, I must look forward to the fruit I’ll have when I get back mustn’t I? We will soon be at drill again. It’s really great. Whatever men can see in fighting each other I’m sure I don’t know, I’d far sooner be picking fruit or ploughing something of the sort. I’ll write again as soon as I can, Molly and I do hope you will write too, especially to my sisters. Hoping you are still quite well and doing well at Sunday School and day school. What a lot of good you may do with so many boys coming to your town. I must now write to Mr Freeman, so until next time I must say ta-ta. We have such lovely prayer meetings every night at 6:15. They do us all good. I remember you each night too Molly as I trust you will remember me. Hoping you will always be ready and willing to serve God as “There’s no one like Jesus”.
Hoping to be, Your true Salvationist Soldier’s friend,
Dick Chappell.
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