Wednesday, August 29th.
Today has been very "dud" and I spent most of the morning walking over to get some cash from a field cashier, but found he couldn't pay me unless I have a special book from our pay officer at the Base, so I applied for one!! After lunch I lay down to finish a cigarette in my tent and fell asleep until tea time at 5 P.M. Then I had a nice tea and got coaxed into a game of poker and won 50 francs. After dinner I played two rubbers of Bridge and won 15 more!! T. G. as I usually lose!! Our messing here is 50 francs a week and its splendid grub. Gee, what a difference to the way I lived in the ranks. It is so much easier to "stick" things out here when you are clean, dry and decently fed. In the air we sure have our nasty times, but you have a decent bed and other comforts to make up for the dangers when you arrive back at the Aerodrome. We have been bombed several times at night by the Huns, but nothing very near. It's great to see the searchlights pick up a machine in the air, and watch the "Archie" get busy on it. The machines fly very low in the dark and when the lights get them they have a poor chance of getting back to their lines.
Have been feeling rather under the weather lately, digestion not quite right, I guess, but feel better tonight.
I must be closing now, as I may be called for an early "show". The weather shows signs of clearing a bit, and we usually fly if at all possible.
The guns are roaring a bit tonight, nothing out of the ordinary, and it seems like old times. I fly over the first Battery positions we ever had when I came out in '15 nearly every day. It looks like a mud flat now.
Wednesday, the 29th. 12 P.M.
I was delighted to have your letter of the 24th. yesterday and thank you very much for the cigarettes, which I am looking forward to receiving.
It will be nice for you having the Lanes near you in town. Suppose Major Lane will be quite happy over being on the Air Board.
I hope Elmer was not badly gassed. If I knew what hospital he is in over here I would look him up some "dud" day. Too bad about his parcels not arriving. I have made a note of his Battery address. (Note - I find this address noted on the back page of his small Bank of Montreal pass book received in a portion of his personal kit a few days ago. H.C.M. Nov. 11'17.)
Have you received those photos from Inglis yet? I see that place where Walter Baker and I had a swim every day - It was very pretty at the time we went into action there in fifteen.
Today has been very dud, and I have not been up but the weather shows signs of clearing so I expect to be up early for a patrol of some sort.
My digestion is rather dud just now; ate some tinned crab and think it was a bit "off". Anything that can upset my digestion is some dish!!
