Letters of James Stuart Leslie Ross, 1916-1917 - Part 3

(3)
with big stones for warming. Each hut
is divided into two each room holding
about 18 men. We have iron bedsteads &
a ticking with straw. Its easily the best
place we've been in, & being in the
Aldershot Command the discipline is
some.
Have got into communication with Herb
& we are trying to arrange a meeting.
He is just about to leave the hospital
again. Reg returned to trenches 5^th inst
Their mate Jack Shelley was killed on
his 22nd birthday - terrible isn't it. Glad
I'm not in the Infantry.
There are only 34 Austlns here (the first
Wireless opers fm there) but we are having
a shivoo on Friday (Anniversary Day).
a banger dinner & a concert. We have sent
to London for some wattle. We cant do much
on account of the Isolation but we'll do our
best. The camp has about 700 poms & they
& their NCO's will do almost anything for
us. They are assisting greatly in the
preparations for the concert. 

(4)
I can now give you a good idea of what
we will be doing at the front. It is
practically a certainty that we wont fly.
We will either be at headquarters or working
in Artillery dug-outs (a good deep one with
the Battery Commander probably). The aeroplane
directs & sends corrections of the firing to
the Artillery which we receive & its a
pretty responsible job too. The sending is
done by the pilot or observer (usually
officers). I would take it on if I got the
chance but we don't get the chance.
I was in a dugout this afternoon & we had
aeroplanes going well (for practice). There is
an officer flys here who has the record for
bringing down German machines (57). He's a
wonder & a mere boy - only 20. Has a D.S.O.
with 3 bars & military medal. You ought to see
him loop the loop.
Must close now as or I'll miss the mail.
Will write again next week. Love to
Dad & self from
Les.
Am feeling very fit & now weigh about 12.6.
This is one of the coldest winters for some time. The
snow has been more destructive than any since 1880. 

Farnborough Eng,
3^rd Feby 1916.7
Dear Mum,
Still in Farnborough & going
strong.  Have been having some pretty cold
weather lately. The papers say that this is
the coldest winter for over 30 yrs, whilst
last Jany (1916) was the warmest for about 60.
All the streams round here are frozen hard
& ice skating is indulged in rather extensively.
Practically all the boys have bonsa colds
& the majority a good number here have been laid
up with them. I had one but it wasn't too
bad & I'm OK again now. It was some
change here after Sierra Leone.
Every afternoon while at the School
here, we have actual practice with the
aeroplanes from Dug outs that they have
made. There is about an inch of ice
round the walls inside & snow all over the
top so one hasn't much difficulty in keeping
cool even in the most violent discussion 

(2)
There are very big aeroplane works here they
are said to turn out about 7 machines daily.
We have had a good many accidents here
lately too, the majority proving fatal. They are
put down to the large number of new machines
to be tested & also the weather has been
very treacherous of late. One rather sad accident
occurred last Sunday. A major was up doing
stunts for the edification of his lady love
when one of his planes broke & he fell
like a stone.
Last Saty afternoon my cobber Roy &
I paid a visit to a place, named
Farnham, reached by bus from Aldershot.
We went over an old castle there that
dates back to 800 odd. It has been the
residence of the  Bishop of Winchester for
centuries - he still lives there. There is
also a great round stone affair in the grounds,
the "Keep" where they used to do the
fighting - Cromwell fought for it
We are not able to see too much of the country
round here on account of the Isolation, but
we pinch out a good deal.
We celebrated Wattle Day here right royally. 

(3)
The N.C.O's in charge of the barracks here
made all arrangements for us & did everything
they could to make it a success. We had
a dinner & smoke concert. Brought a couple
of bottles of whisky for our Scotch Sergeants
& before the night was out, nothing was too
good for the Australian laddies.
A few days ago I got a little parcel
from Mrs Frank Stuart containing a pair of
socks, a handkerchief, some lollies & nuts. She
is a boska little lady & very good to me.
We haven't got our four days  leave yet.
I haven't quite decided where to go yet. A chap
wants me to spend it with him in Liverpool.
He's an austln but has relatives there. I
would like to see L'pool & I expect we'll
have plenty of chances of seeing London
later on so I think I'll go.
Am in touch with Aunt Em & will
probably be able to see her when I return to
Lincoln. Will write again shortly - love from
Les.
You will probably be wondering who my
cobber Roy is. He's a bonsa bloke that 

I've been mates with ever since leaving
Sydney. Roy Berry is his name & his
father has about the biggest boarding house
in Hobart. He had a commission in
Cit. Forces but was too young to take
it with him. He's 22 now. We halve
everything.
Have recd 3 Bulletins from you.
appreciated the "Billzac" one very much. 

South Careton,
Nr Lincoln,
Lincolnshire.
Tues. 27.2.17.
Dear Mum,
It is about a fortnight since I last
wrote, but things have been upside down since
arriving here from Farnboro' last Tuesday week.
This is a very poor camp at present - no
conveniences etc, one hasn't too many
opportunities for writing. The Station to just in
course of erection & we work on Saty's & Sundays
just the same as week days, so they don't give
us much of a chance to look around the country.
A few days ago I received a letter from you
and one from Jean telling me of Dad's
illness. I was  very sorry to hear of it but glad
to hear that he was recovering. I hope & expect
that he will be quite alright again long before
you receive this. so He must have had as good
time at the Hospital when properly convalescent
A few days ago my one of my particular
cobbers named Lee Smith got a letter from his
mother asking if he knew anyone in the Corps
of my name. It appears that his people live
next door to Mrs Eales of Harriott. We have been
mates ever since leaving Melbne - sat opposite
at the table on the boat. We expect to get 4 

days leave commencing from Thursday, he has
invited to me to his Uncle's place in Liverpool. His Unc.
is a dentist there - evidently a good one as he used to
lecture at the University there.  I decided to go with him
as I'm very Keen on seeing L'pool & we should have
plenty of opportunities of seeing London later.
Has been very cold here lately but its improving
much lately now. Yesterday was a fine day, it 
being the first day of sunshine since our arrival
in England. Somewhat different to Australia ins
isn't it?
In a recent letter I told you of my cobber Roy.
They took him to the Hospital a week ago with
pneumonia. His temp. one night was 105.2 so he
was pretty crook. A great many of the boys have
been in Hospital. One of our Sergts died of
meningitis a fortnight ago. I have a slight cold
but am thriving a treat - feeling very well &
putting on weight.
I am writing this on guard duty & I'll soon
have to go out again so please excuse this short
note. Will write an account of the L'pool trip as
soon as possible. With Love to Dad & self from
Les.
How do you like this swanky paper? 

They treated us very well at F'boro.
The day we left we presented our old Scotch
Sergt with a case of pipes & carried him
shoulder high round the Camp. He was quite
overcome & wept like a child. He treated
his "orstralians" like his big family.
We evidently made a hit down there.
Haven't been able to see Herb yet.
He has recovered again having left the
hospital 

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