Letters Thomas Charles Richmond Baker 1918 - Part 3

 10

little likelihood of an

accident.  What struck

the beholders as most

clever was the manner

in which, after their

machine had dived to

within a few feet of

the housetops it planed

& then rose again at

terrific speed.  Those

who were not nervous

marvelled at the pilot's

skill & the capabilities of the

machine!

No small compliment

I call that, what?

2nd June

Had a jolly time

9

wins as follows.

The antics of a

certain airman have caused

some perturbation to the

residents of the East Ward

this week.  On more than

one occasion this pilot

has flown his machine

perilously near the roofs of

the houses & has alarmed

people of nervous temperament.

It was obvious, however,

to those who know anything

about flying, that the

aviator was not only a

brilliant pilot, but that

his machine was of

wonderful construction,

& that there was therefore 

11.

yesterday evening.  My

pal & myself hired a

boat & some fishing

lines from the neighbouring 

village & went a fishing,

taking some sandwidges &

etcs with us.  Had a

delightful swim & a

feed & then pulled out

for some fishing we

caught seven quite

decent sized whiting.

My latest letters

from home are, Ma's

26 Mar, & Rho's 27th Mar.

Both nice long budgets,

for which I thank you

12.

ever so much.  There

ought to be quite a

lot of mail knocking

round somewhere in

Blightly.  However it

usually turns up.

Yes, Mum, I received

parcel containing flannel

shirt, socks, towel, soap etc

posted to Reading.  I

know I didn't forget

to mention that some

time ago, also own of Oct' 18, shortbread, smokes etc

Auntie

says in every letter

that I have not told

her or anyone whether

I received her cheque

for £3.  The only

[*Rest of no no further pages Rcd.  Rest of no interest*]

 2.

mean is, especial

tres bon.

The weather

has been rather

rough lately & the

sea has got its back

up but it is still

jolly nice here.

Had a delightful

picnic t'other day

by a small loch

not far up the

coast.

I have been

awiating the elusive

Camel quite a lot

lately in spite of the
  
Twinberry

12th June '18.

Dear old Nan,

I have not

received any letters

from home since I

wrote last.  I expect

they will turn up

soon as there is

another Aussie mail 

in Apr 20^th or there-

abouts.  However I

received the birthday

tin of sweets which

arrived in good condition

a couple of days ago.

The coconut ice was, I

3.

wind which makes

landing rather ticklish.

Wind doesn't worry

one one atom up

top.

I have nearly

finished the course

here.  When I have

I suppose I shall

be put in the pool

for a little.  Will

go joy riding in a 

Bristol monoplane

then.  I have not

flown a monoplane

yet as you know

they are washed out 

4.

for active work.  It

ought to be a good

experience.
______________________        
4th Squadron

Australian Flying Corps

France

 17^th June 18

 Now what do 

you think of that.

Last Thursday morning

I received word to 

pack & clear out to

above address & here

I am.  Arrived day

before yesterday even.

It is quite

funny getting back

6.

over this side [[are

some bus.?]]

It is a jolly

sight better life than

when I was over

here before.  Live

decently & we are

not bothered overmuch

by shells etc.  So much

the better.

There is precious

little to talk about,

being in the land

of the censor again

you see.

Well, so long,

till next time.

[*Rest of no interest*] 

 

 5.

but not at all bad.

The actual fun has

commenced now.  I

went up to the

lines yesterday &

had a look around.

Looks pretty desolate

from above though.

Am going on my

first show tonight,

which is looking

after balloons or

some such thing.

You may bet

your life the machines

2.

been glorious lately.

The surrounding

country is particularly

decent considering that

this is France, & we

have excellent fun

coming home from

patrols by contour

chasing.  i.e. flying about

five feet from the

ground at about 100 M.P.H.

dodging trees, jumping

hedges, going underneath

telegraph wires, &

brushing our wheels

in the tall grass &

oats.  That is the only

France 

5^th July '18

_________

Dear all at Home

Since

my last I have

to tell you that

we have shifted our

drome, which was

not a bad idea as

this one is much

better.  We are situ

on top of a hill &

at present are living

in tents, which is

another good idea

as the weather has

3.

time that you get

any sensation of speed

except when just on

top of thick clouds.

We often have

to leave the ground

whilst it is dark &

then we go up

above the clouds &

watch the sun

rise which is the

prettiest sight imaginable.

By the way, I

had a go at the

first Hun I have

been able to get

close to a few 

 

4.

days ago.  I dived

right under his tail

& stayed there till

I sent him down to

about 50 feet over

his own side of the

line, but when we

had finished diving

I could't catch him

his being the faster

machine.  However,  I

pumped about 200

rounds at him &

must have hit him

once or twice as I

could see my tracers

 6.

planes.  That was

the best bit of fun

I have had for a

long time.

We go out every

day with a couple

of bombs which we

drop & then go down

low & fire at the 

Huns in the trenches.

Good sport too.

 I received a

parcel from Ma

dated 5/3/18 containing

cigarettes, sox, & raisins

& those R.S.A. mags.

The cigs are A.I. & 

 5.
bullets passing between

his wings.  When I

turned round to come

home dozens of machine

guns & hundreds of

rifles opened up on

me from the ground

as did his anti aircraft 
guns.  I had

about 5 miles to go

to get back to our

side, & I climbed

like 'stink' twisted

& turned & got back

with a few bullet

holes through my

7.

thanks muchly for the

outfit.

Letters I recd. were

or are. Apr 2^nd 4 & 19^th

from Ma.  Apr 2^nd Nan

& Apr 2^nd & 18^th Rho.

Also one from John

& one from [[Nim?]] Apr 4^th

July 6^th

Gee whizz!  I'm in

luck.  Last night I

received another good

batch of Aussie

mail, from Ma, May 10^th,

Nan 10^th, Rho 10^th John 10^th

& Rho 25/4/18.  Also others. 

 

8.

Sorry to hear

from your letters

that Fred. F. has not

been well.  I have

been very lucky to

date.

Have just drunk

the health of one

of our pilots who

has been awarded

the D.F.C. which is a

new medal, the

Distinguished Flying Cross.

Had a letter

from [[Barnie?]] Geoff,

this last mail.  I'm

glad to know he is 

better now.

10.

course together.  Beat

'em all by a month.

We are still

having decent weather

& I have never been

in better [[condish.?]]

Nothing left in

the way of news so

I think I had better

come to earth again.

Hope to see the

garden flourishing

when I come flying

home.  Much love

to everyone & xxxx's

Rich. 

 9.

Jove  Ma! old Bean.

I'm just looking forward

 to that cig. case.  I'm

sure it will be some

case!

I couldn't help

laughing at your summons

Um, extremely amusing

what?  That R.S.A.

will be some club

in time.

Another of

my pals, from the

5th T.S. arrived last

night.  I was the

first of the crowd

that started the