Letters of James Stuart Leslie Ross, 1916-1917 - Part 4

No. 69 (AUST.) SQDN.                                                                   
R.F.C.
Lincoln Eng
22 - 4-'17.
Dear Mum,
Its quite a long time since I've
had any Austln  mail especially from home - had one
from Jan about 3 weeks ago.  All I've had since was
a Bulletin which arrived today - sent by Miss
French. Have got a good many papers from
you since being here. They are very acceptable
especially the Bullys.
The weather is getting much more congenial
now. The snow has all gone I think. The days
are stretching out greatly & with the Daylight 
Savings act in force its light up to quite 9 p.m.
We should be getting ideal weather in a
couple of weeks.
The food is getting scarcer than ever.
At the Cafes etc one is rationed- the quantity
being fixed! a lady in the YMCA just told
me that they wont be able to procure any more
pastry after tomorrow, its manufacture being
prohibited.
Am sending with this a few snapshots
which no doubt you will find interesting
I don't happen to have a camera myself but
 

(2)
get a print from some of the other boy's
negatives Will try to get some more of the
aeroplanes as they will probably interest you.
These "pusher" types are being abolished all tractors
only being abolished used at the front. I'm very
enthusiastic & could talk for hours on
aeroplanes but on paper it would appear a bit too
technical. I'd love to get into the game. There's
nothing much in the actual flying once you get
into it  Lee & I are both Keen on the pilot
stunt but think we haven't much chance.
Yesterday a great airship like a young
Zepp flew over here. It's the first we've
seen. They're very slow but very safe & sure.
Herb is still in London & may be
going back to the Front any time. Haven't
been able to see him yet as I can't get
any leave at all & he's not able to get away.
when a Squadron is in training here
like ours, officers from all over the place
are attached f temporarily for instruction in
flying etc. Through being on the Picture
Target job I meet them all. There are
some fine chaps amongst them too. I very
much like the English officers & prefer them to
 

(3)
our own. P S The Flying Corps certainly
gets the pick of them as I can't speak
for the other Regiments. I used to think
that the stuff we read about these "Johnny"
officers & the coolness etc was a lot of
rot. But it's not. Some of them are the hardest
cases I've ever met & the most narrow
escapes in the air doesn't take a feather out
of them. All the Canadian ofcrs I've
struck too are fine chaps
Well Mum dear its getting near
"chuck out" time & I've to write on these
little photos yet so Good bye Writing
again shortly. Much love to self &
Dad & hope that he has quite recovered
ere this from
Les.
O I nearly forgot! Got the £10 alright a
fortnight ago - sent a cable at the time
Hope you got it O.K. It took the Commonwealth
Bank a fortnight to get it here fm London. I cabled upon
receiving their advice that it was in London. It only
took 5 days to get back from Austla. Thanks very
much for being so prompt.
 

Lincoln
22^nd June 1917.
Dear Mum,
Recd yours & Dad's letter
of 4^th March a few days ago. Glad to
hear that you are keeping well & hope
that Dad is quite fit again now.
I got your cable for the ₤25 alright
few days ago but haven't got it
from the Bank yet (the Cwealth). They
are very slow in attending to their
biz. I will send a week end cable
when it arrives to let you know
its here. I hope you wont think
I'm getting extravagant - wasting money
or the like. My funds were getting
low & I thought that I would cable
for a fair sum to save the trouble
& expense of cabling again soon.
I am leaving some in the Bank to
draw when we get some leave. You
must not forget to take all expenses
etc out of my account & if you want
any at all just bog in. I am
going to try for a couple of days
 

(2)
leave shortly to live visit the Whitburn
Rosses (near Edinburgh). They seem
very nice, people - write some bosca
letters. I would be sure of a good
time there.
I also got your parcel with shirts
sox etc O.K. Thanks very much. Aunt
Tilly too sent me another balac & pr socks
which I got thro' Auntie Em.
I hear regularly from Jean. I like
getting her letters very much.
Have had a good number of flys
lately  was up the other day with
little Canadian officer. He's a real
sport & let me take control of the
bus & I flew it for 20 mins, consequently
feeling very proud of myself. I think I'm
about the only air Mech that's had
the priviledge. I enjoyed it very much &
feel sure that I could make a success
of the game - have any amount of confidence
in the air.
At present there are great rumours current
about our going Overseas shortly. Its
hard to say what's going to happen but
I'll probably be able to let you Know
 

(3)
something definite very soon. Have heard
nothing lately re pilot's job of late something
may turn up - hard to say.
Am receiving regularly from you, Bulletins
& Sunday Suns. The former are most
acceptable. Jean sends Syd. Mail & Lone
Hands. She sticks to it very well. I get
some every mail. I am going to send her
a little R.FC brooch when the moneesh
arrives. It will be a bit late but will
serve as a birthday present.
Cousin Kathleen (whitburns) informs me
that her elder Sister's birthday is on
same day as Dad's - 14^th.  She says "the
family lacks originality".
We are getting same lovely weather
now - in fact its almost too warm. I
had begun to give hopes of ever
being able to feel warm in England. Its
daylight now till about 11 p.m. I am
still thriving & have never felt better,
notwithstanding all the food restrictions.
Am still maintaining my record of
never having been on a sick parade
I am very fortunate, indeed
Herb managed to get out of the
 

(4)
the cursed old Infantry before
going back to France. He has got
a transfer to the A.FC as Wireless
ofr & is at present in the Details Camp
at Salisbury Plains. I will try to
get him in our Squadron. He is Keen
in being a pilot too.
Well Mum I think I've about
exhausted my news so will close
with best love to Dad & Self
from
Les.
Please address in future
589 Air Mech -
Wireless Section
Hdqrs, No 69 Sqdn
A.F.C. , A I F.
Am enclosing a little snap of a few
of the boys.
 

Queens College,
Oxford, Eng.
10^th July 1917.
Tuesday.
Dear Dad & Mum,
Quite a
lot of startling things have
happened since my last letter,
& if I don't start at the beginning
we'll get tangled up. I suppose
you have received my week-end
cable sent today, telling you that
I was selected for pilot.
Last Tuesday all the Wireless
operators left the Squadron
at Lincoln for Farnborough
to go overseas shortly. Two
days later, seven of us, including
Lee Smith of Waverley were called
to London to see Col. Reynolds
(the Head of A.F.C.)
He informed us that we had
 

2
been selected as pilots & were now Cadets
due to report at Oxford on Monday 9^th.
We were given £8 to get a Kit. This I may
say goes nowhere as everything in the
Clothing line is very expensive. We have to
get officers clothes - the tunic alone, costs
£4.4.0. I was very glad that I had
my £25. While in town ^(London) on Saturday
morning the biggest raid the Huns have
yet sent across took place. It was a
great sight. The papers say about 20 came
but I counted about 26 myself. They were
very big machines flying in beautiful
formation & at not a very great height -
between 7 & 10 thousand feet I should say
our anti-aircraft guns ("Archies" as they are termed)
didn't appear able to do any good at
all. The public are going mad for a
better Air Defensive System. There was
great excitement in the Streets during
the raid. All traffic suspended but people
running about like scalded cats, women
fainting etc. They flew straight toward
us (we were in Covent Garden) until nearly
overhead then turned - just as well 
for us perhaps. We had a great time
picking out our machines from the Huns
for the benefit of people who "got the
wind up" when our own came near.

 

3
Lee & I had a bonsa week-end
stayed at the Regent Palace
Hotel. It's a rather swanky place -
full of officers & flash people
but as we had our "glad rgs
rags" on we were quite able
to keep our end up.
was thinking of Jean all the
time & how she would
enjoy it. On Sunday I went
out to Holloway & saw the
Crocketts & the old Grandad
Crockett. They were very
surprised & pleased to
see me - The old gent wished
to be remembered to Dad.
But the biggest boil-over
of all occurred on Monday
when I had to go & see
a Lt Col Hurley about some
uniform etc. Imagine
my surprise when I beheld