Dear Son,

Your 'bluey' arrived at about ten this morning
and we gathered in the lounge while your
mother read the letter aloud. Isaac laughed at
the pictures that you drew for him of your
'tank' getting stuck in the mud and snow. I tried
to explain to him that an AS90 is a tracked artillery
piece, but when you're seven years old - if it looks
like a tank, then it's a tank! Your mother was so
very relieved to learn that there is no more shelling
in the Glamoc area of operations, and that apart
from mines and booby traps, your Regiment's
main concern is the repatriation of displaced
persons and war refugees. I didn't explain to the
family what you meant when you wrote of the
survey being done for the gun positions in Kosovo;
nor what target recording actually meant. Hopefully
and God willing, it won't come to that. Perhaps Kosovo's
problems will be settled peacefully and there won't be
a repeat of Sarajevo. It is so very hard to believe
that so much hatred could be in the hearts of ordinary
men and women against their neighbours. We finished
your letter with a prayer and then rang your grandmother
to tell her that you were safe and well. The Kowhai
blossums this year are like burnt gold, and tumble
with the slightest hint of a wind; I am sure it is going to
be a long hot summer. So glad to hear that a troop
from your Battery is camped on the land owned by
the old washer-woman. I am in no doubt that as long as
they remain close at hand, the local Serbs will behave
themselves. It's just a pity that she has to walk twelve
klicks every day to the fort without a lift. I don't know
if the information has been released at your loc-stat yet
but a Brit SAS snatch team have captured one of
Milosovic's Generals and are holding him as a war
criminal; perhaps that might help in slowing down
the killing? We are all well son, and everyone sends you
their love, so take care and always wear your flak jacket.
Keep your head down mate and don't bloody volunteer
for anything.

Love Dad



Mike Subritzky 1998