TRANSCRIPTION
Reg coming in about a [illeg.] heard this morning
5 Leinster Sq
W. 2
Sept 23
Dear mother & father
Well I saw Harry off to France last Sat morning. He came up from Brooklands in the afternoon sorted all his luggage out & reported at Masons were all airman report before going to France, then we had dinner took his luggage to the station & to a theatre wanted something [illeg.]. We came back & he wrote to you & Uncle Freds kept thinking of things he wanted to do had a shave about 2am, as we had to get up early & get the train at Victoria. Why he looked splendid. He is very grateful to you for getting him into the flying as he enjoys it so although it is such jolly hard work Harry stands a very good chance as he is so cool & keeps his head, his O.C said to him he was the sort of man they want a good steady chap
I got that out of H- by degress.
Victoria was crowded 7.30am with soldiers all going off to France trains for officers on one side & [illeg.] on the other side, it felt like a dream seeing H- off I’ll be getting a letter in a day or two, they say the airman get an easier time in France not [illeg.] so [illeg.] up & they have the very best machines to use. I am very glad H- is air artillery observing & not a scout A-R is not so risky. Well Harry went off in great spirits. His [illeg.] & two of his NZ friends were over in France & he was going to try & see Reg if possible. I had two letters from Reg this week he seems in great spirits they are very quiet where he is, he enjoys those magazines I sent from you and father very much the whole team read them three a week and says they have plenty of time to read just now – the field artillery is the [illeg.]. I got your cable about
Reg going into the Flying & I am sure he would be delighted only I haven’t done anything except tell him I haven’t heard from him yet but as he gets his leave next month I told him he ought to take that for certain as goodness they don’t get much leave in the flying until [?] they get to France where they get a [illeg.] every three months so I thought he ought to take it when he can & then do the flying in the spring as not to be in the great fights in Summer. Proofs for Harrys photos have come & they are splendid, just sending them on to H- to choose the one he wants. Get plenty of Auckland weeklys for the [illeg.].
I wrote again [illeg.] Jack must have given me wrong address I wish they would send address well I’ll [illeg.] (rest of letter is torn and illegible).