Letters Thomas Charles Richmond Baker 1918 - Part 4

2.
while.  I wrote to
Auntie t'other day &
told her how I
downed my first Hun.
I have since shot
another to pieces.

Twas thus, —

Three of us decided
that we would go out
& look for stouch.
So we hopped a few
thousand feet into 
the atmosphere &
taking  advantage  of
the clouds crossed over
to Hunland. I can't

tell you what we

 

France.

11 Aug. '18

Dear Old Jeff.
I received a

batch of Aussie mail
yesterday dated June 4th

& one from you 13/5/18
for which I thank

you. so,  — Next time
you have a letter
already written don't

forget to post it.
Pleased to hear
about the cattle.

Ought to be alright.

Now for a 
little good news I
have for once in a
 

3.
intended doing but 
I know that, when
we dived out of 
the clouds to do it.
we saw two Hun  Next
Scouts not far off
So we gave chase.

A pal of mine shot
his down in flames
& as the other tried
to turn & get away

4.
his left bottom [[? plane]]
off.  He then folded
up & crashed to
pieces.
Next piece of 
news.  King George

visited us yesterday.
I was introduced to 
him by Gen Birdwood
& he asked me where
I got my MM & bar
etc. How many
Huns I had shot
down & ended up
by shaking hands.

etc. He seems a
 

6.

is very cheering
lately. I see

we have given him
particular blazes
down the Somme

way.  Hope this is 

the beginning of the
end.

I have purchased
another mandolin.
I don't know how
long it will be
before I am sick
of it.  Going strong
at present.

Health good.

 

5.
jolly decent sort.
I had a long
talk to Gen. Sir W.

Birdwood before I 
met the King. He 
is a fine old chap &
no mistake.

I notice you
have not managed
to sell the boat.
That doesn't matter - 
you will get plenty
of fun out of it
 in the summer.

The war news

7.
weather fine, flying
still très bon.
Give my love
to everyone, & don't
forget to write &

post what you have written.

So long. I 
hope to add a few 
more Huns to my
score soon.

Rich.

x x x x x x 

TELEPHONE  290    1.
RANDOLPH HOUSE

OXFORD

No 4 Squadron

A.F.C.
[*France*]

[*15/9/18*]

Dearest Ma,  

Here we are 

again. As you will 
observe I am on leave.

The day before I set
out which was 31st 
Aug. I started a lengthy
epistle to you, telling

you when I expected
to go on leave etc etc
but was cut short
in the middle of it

2.

& told to bunk.

This is my last day

& I have had just
a ripping holiday.
Have been  most of
the time staying with
Lady Ethel Baird in 
Scotland, 16 m from
Aberdeen.  Such jolly
nice people too.

Lord Kintore^ (Earl of Kintore)
Lady Baird's father
was there & Miss
Law. Mr Bonar Law's
daughter & a jolly

 

3.

nice girl too. Also
met Sir John Gladstone
Son or Grandson of
the Grand old Man
but I forget my 
History  & I suppose
you do too.  Had any
amount of fishing &
shooting there.  All 
kinds of game etc. &
I think it is  the 
first place I have
been to where there
hasn't been a War
on. Any amount of 
cream.

4.
I met such the
dickens of a lot of

Earls & Lords ^that I forget
half of them.  However
Miss Law & I 
used to play billiards
every evening & she

is some sport. I 
was badly licked
once or twice but 
I  had to give her
a start of 50 in 100.

I flew over 
from France.  17 of 
us came over in

 

5.
a Handley Page.

Some stunt what ?
I am going back
tomorrow, by air.

Was walking along
the Strand yesterday,
had just been to the

war Office on business
when I met Jack

Gibby. Same old chap

& still going strong.

He is stationed at
26th Battn.

No 2 Bde

Warminster

England.

6.

I find I can't read
his writing but try
this address & he

would very much 
like to hear from
you.
Did I tell you 
before that I had
increased my bag of
Huns to 4. . I think
I did.  Got one a 
couple of days before
I came over.
Met  Joe Coleman
& Ron Howood at the 
club. Old Saints y know

Also met Dutchy

 

TELEPHONE 290  RANDOLPH HOTEL

OXFORD

7. 

Howard who is getting
on well again & ought
to be back in a few
weeks.

Naturally I
came down here 
to see Gwen who
has been awfully
crook again. Better

now though.

Well Have
seen  ever so many
fellows I know over here

[* Rest of no interest*]

 

2.
cuts across into Hun
land & gets between
him & home, being

'Archiad' like "stink". !!

As soon as Brer Hun

spots black Archie

between him & home
he turns & goes

East for his natural

but Brer Baker is 
just waitin' & wishin'
that Brer Bosche will 
do that very thing.
No sooner has Brer

Fritz turn, sure nuff

 

France.

1/10/18

Dearest Ma,

That makes 
five! Had a ripping
time this morning, on

an early flip before

brekker.  Had no
sooner got to the 

line than I see a
fat Hun two seater

tootling along ^ miles over
his side of the line. 

Baker  .T.C.R.  pretends

not to see him but

 .

Brer T.C.R. he tumble

head over tail & here
he come jus lik ton
of yo mammy's hot

bricks right on top of

Brer Jerry wif his

sights layin right on

he's cockpit. Then
taps turned on & 
every fing goin' pop

pop pop & all ze
bullits chasin' thay

y'ere bird, till sure 

4,

nuff, old Brer Fritz

say to his observer

'Wat that I feels now

Brer Hans! Brer

Hans aint sain nuffin.
Brer Hans  Hun dead.

Den down goes Brer

Fritz  now wiv one

wing low & big puffs

of white smoke &
hits de groun wiv
one big pouff & is

no mo. Dat honey is
how Brer Rich get

his fifth Hun.