No. 2 Aircraft Depot France
1 April/17.

Dear Ones All,

"The best  laid plans of mice and men"- you know! Here I am within a few miles of the firing line, and with the expectation of being nearer yet before to-night, just when I thought everything was arranged for me to remain in England for a while longer so that I could come out here with an F E 2 d squadron. Evidently the Bosch couldn’t wait for me to carry out those arrangements, for I was wired for while I was at Hythe with my machine gun course half finished, and rushed over here with barely enough time to get my things together. The railways in France don’t carry out the same system of "rush" however, and after landing at Boulogne on Thursday it took me something over 48 hours to reach this place. At one stage of the journey it took us 14 hours to go 20 miles- and on the train all the time too!

This place is a "pool" where pilots are sent from England and supplied to squadrons as required. I didn’t have to wait long for my move- just spent one night here and got my instructions this morning. Am now waiting for the tender to take me to the squadron with my baggage. Haven’t the least idea where the squadron is but here is the address- No. 11 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, B.E.F. France.

It isn’t necessary to tell you how hard it was to say good-bye to Molly. It just about broke my heart and she was so brave about it too, and hardly shed a tear right up to the last, for she was determined that I shouldn’t go away any "bluer" than she could help. Poor, dear little kid, all alone now among strangers, and with nothing to occupy her time, and with the future so uncertain for her and she bore it all so pluckily, like the brave little soldier that she is.

You mustn’t worry about me, Dear People, I am flying the same kind of machines that I had at Hounslow and I know them as well as I do my old bed at home.

I got- or we got- the dearest letter from Harry a few days ago. One of the best things about getting married has been the reading of all the lovely letters that have come. I am so anxious to hear further news of Eva. The last word from Fred was shocking to us all.

With best love,
Yours as always,
Eric.