TRANSCRIPTION
[illegible] 4/3 Strand
[illegible] Gov. Offices
Aug 5th

Dear mother & father.
Harry was down here last Sunday week he brought a machine down from Doncaster to Hendon didnt leave till after half past six p.m. & arrived at Hendon at half past eight 180 miles in 2 hrs, really more as he flew over part of London [illegible] – he is very good at finding his way about H- has been all over England by aeroplane it is a novel way of seeing England.
I think Harry has a very cool head about a fortnight ago he was caught in a storm & [crossed out] tossed + jerked [illegible, about?] as soon as he got right [illegible, he was?] tossed again needed [illegible, all his?] strength to keep the machine going but he landed alright his [illegible] complemented him on the way he landed. Nine airmen were killed in the storm just outside London.
I am waiting in for Harry, he is coming up for a few hours. as he is going to France in a few days so I am feeling a bit excited. They say in a way it is safer for airmen in France, they get the best machines to fly on & not such long hours here they are on duty till 9 a. m., & one Sunday a fortnight off. H– looks splendid in his uniform & very keen on his flying. His great friend at Doncaster Capt. Lister has just gone to France a day or so ago, he has done more flying than H–. Harry often hears from his N.Z flying friends they are here still. H– says he does more flying in one day here than the whole year in N.Z. I heard from Reg yesterday morning & he is doing well. he is with the French just now on the coast when I was at Ashford. I could hear their guns. R– doesnt see Jim & Hal now. The French give them a good time every week I send from you Punch & a couple of magazines & they are handed round, they like stories better than papers also send him food pretty often he doesn’t do bad with parcels [crossed out] [illegible, Vera?] & Dolly sent a pound each & Harry sent him some things & I. £2. came from your mother last week. I think Ill send something to Jim & Hal & hold some back for later on for Reg or anything Jim & Hal dont get so much & J– will be feeling [illegible] after his leave in London.
I didn’t see any difference in Jim he has grown a bit, he did enjoy his leave he didn’t waste any time flew all over the place. I thought how Auntie would like to be flying about with her boy here instead of me.
While Harry was waiting here a couple of days I painted his portrait & so far it has turned out jolly good if I get a couple of days in his 2 wks rest after 3 mths, in France I’ll finish it.
About coming out to N.Z you wrote in your last letter if I could it would be jolly hard just as H– goes over.
They are not allowing women & children to travel on seas at present. Mr Mackenzie cant do anything about a pass all shipping is controlled by the Admiralty they couldn’t do anything for Charlotte Russell although the N.Z Gov. managed to get her from Germany, it took Mr Aiken months to get his pass & men are allowed to travel over age, but the war is going to last so much longer
Of course I was thinking of being a first class teacher when I get to N.Z, for some time I haven’t taken lessons worked on my own & taken a few odd lessons on design & next week till Xmas want to have a figure model I haven’t had a bust on that yet. I wont be able to get figures in Wanganui. I could get work to do 24/- a week & jolly long hours – for canteen work you are not paid at all, but they give you food.
There are millions of women grabbing after every decent job, but I really ought to earn something, Hours is my [illegible] eh!
I really am careful with the gold but when the boys are here I seem to spend more having meals here & so dont really have a flat on the roof & can do as I like & entertain
Well I really must stop as [illegible] has just come in she is staying here a few days
Much love [illegible] from
your loving
daughter Edith.