46

France

Jan 7/1917

My dear Dad:

Received a letter from you to-day: the first I have had for some time. I am glad to hear that you are able to get out occasionally but do be [?] and don't overdue it. As you say you will be much more comfortable at home than if you went away for the winter.

I am enclosing a clipping that you sent me I don't know just what to make of it. It looks to me as if you would like me to get something myself. When I left Toronto you told me to take care of myself and that has also been repeated in practically all you letters. You say - take it easy and let the other fellow do some of the work and you say that that is Stan Beatty[?]s principle and he has always got along ok. Now, Dad I can do one or the other but I can't do both. You've got to take chances to get decorations and you cant do that and play safe both. Personally I don't think getting killed [?] me very much but I have always gone on the assumption that it might worry you. I think any fellow in the R.F.C. can get a decoration if he goes after it. All you have to do is to go after any bally Hun you see and get him down and trust to luck to get clear yourself. If you do that a couple of dozen times that's all there is to it & with luck you can do it. Now if you want me to get anything just say the word and I'll do my best.
As for the pictures - Just notice that they are all R.N.A.S. One out of a hundred decorations given in the R.N.A.S are earned. Read the account of the exploits for which they are given the same thing is done a dozen times a day in the R.F.C. and never given a second thought. The D.S.O's in the clipping were probably earned. The D.S.O. is purely a Naval Decoration and corresponds to something like an Iron Cross of the third class.

Orders came out yesterday that we are not to go near the lines for at least three weeks so I will have a soft time for a month or so as I go on leave at the end of the three weeks.

You speak of the interest that is now being taken in aviation in Canada. [?] has told me of a number of fellows who are learning to fly at the different drones at present. I should say that about fifty percent of the R.F.C. recruits will never see France. I heard of a number of fellows a few days ago who came over from Borden and who are now going back to Canada without ever seeing France. Damned if I see how they swing it.

You asked about Sharpe & Gibbord. Sharpe is flying an R.E. 7. around at a aerial gunnery school in France towing a target for the people to shoot at. (A fast life, how come?) Something like a hundred kilos from the front line I believe. The last I heard of Gibbord he had been admitted to the hospital while still in Eng. Not the result of an aeroplane accident as the orders say. One guess and you've got it. Not for me thank you kindly Do you remember Smith the Scotchman? He has a posh job in an office "somewhere in England." Eddie Booth did damn good work out here. Seven Huns I believe. He is in Eng. Now.
There is a big band of fellows who swing the lead and never get out here, get soft jobs somewhere. They can have them. I wouldn't change with them.

Have a lot of letters to write you for I have been getting quite a few lately. Eight to-day. Seven yesterday and three more parcels on the way according to Metcalf [?]

Take care of yourself & Fern & Grannie and lay in some sugar & coal and butter & things for the war isn't over yet.

Love to all

Gord

P.S.

An R.E.7. is the slowest, clumsiest, easiest to fly bus I ever saw.