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Date: February 4th
To
Beryl
From
Lancelot
Letter

C/O Bank of Montreal

Pall Mall.

London.

Feb 4th

 

 

My dearest Beryl

 

Have got 2 or 3 of your letters to answer so am making a start now- I’m still up in Scotland on this aerial Gunnery course and expect to be here for a week or so longer. Scotland is alright but I cant possibly stick the Scotch accent- Every time I hear it- & thats pretty often up here- I dislike it more! Mrs. Hector wouldnt like to hear that I know but it is the case nevertheless!

 

I was speaking to a Canadian here today who trained in Toronto with the R.F.C there: he said there was a Segt. Major there who fairly used to make them all jump about on parade when they were cadets- well this ferocious man turned out be my old 88th Company Segt Major. a fellow named Brewer!! I was very surprised at hearing about him again-

 

Some time ago I sent out a photo taken at Reading of myself & a fellow named Saunders in a punt on the River, well he went to 35 Squadron in France, my old squadron, a few days ago & two days afterwards was killed! Poor fellow, he didn’t last long out there. we were both in the same billet at Reading-

 

I havent heard any more news about my friend Mackinnon I do so hope he is a prisoner-of-war:

 

You asked me about the photo of yourself that you sent me by Val in Sept ’16- Well I never got it and if you have another spare copy I should much like to have it, as I havent got a proper one of you at all.

 

So glad to hear Jack is doing alright at the flying game- no doubt his good knowledge of mechanics has come in handy to him- It will be a great advantage to him in England when he comes over for the mechanics we are getting nowadays are far from good & the great majority know nothing whatever about engines etc & it always pays one to look over your own engine before going up into the air-

 

Quite a large number of the instructors here at Turnberry Aerial Gunnery School were at Hythe when I was there in 1916 and they of course remember me and are a source of great help to me in getting off lectures etc anytime I want to !!

 

I havent heard from any of the Pembertons for 3 or 4 months- they must be feeling Despards death very much now-

 

Well I must close now, remember me to Jack & tell him I’ll look out for him when he comes over either here or in France-

 

Much love

From your ever loving brother

Lance

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Duke Lancelot RFC Canada WWI Duke Lancelot RFC Canada WWI Duke Lancelot RFC Canada WWI Duke Lancelot RFC Canada WWI Duke Lancelot RFC Canada WWI Duke Lancelot RFC Canada WWI Duke Lancelot RFC Canada WWI Duke Lancelot RFC Canada WWI