Letters of James Stuart Leslie Ross, 1916-1917 - Part 6

You Had a letter from Herb yesterday.  

He is with one of our Squadrons at 

Shrewsbury near Shropshire. It is just 

possible that he might get into this game 

before very long.

Lee & all the "Temp. Unfits" have 

to undergo a Second medical Exam 

in London on Saturday.

If I get enough leave, I'll take a 

run up to Scotland. If not, I'll stay in 

London, I think.

It may be of interest to tell you 

that in the photo, the officers with the 

little Short wings are "observers".

The white bands on the Caps, are, as you 

possibly know, denote "Officers Training

Corps"  The chaps sitting in front, with 

the little side Caps are RFC Cadets.

The background is a wall of the 

College. By the way, this college is 

about the oldest in Oxford having been 

first built in 1340.

You wondered in your letter if I 

was  sorry I'd taken the soldier's life on.  

A Really, Mum, I would miss the 

experience for anything.  I am having a 

(4).
very good time & am perfectly happy.
Lee & I & the other boys say we'll

be satisfied when we bring down 41

Huns & go back with the Military Cross.

That would be a pretty decent record

wouldn't it?

You see, by the time we get to 

France, the Yanks ought to be there with

a big Flying Corps & it wont be so bad

as it is just now. Our crowd too are

getting out some good machines now.

They're trying one now that can do about

190 miles an hour.
Must now close so good bye
Love to all from
Les.
You asked for a rising Sun but 

think a pair of Wings would be 

better.  I'll probably send both

"A" Flight.
48^th Training Sqdn.
Thursday, 9^th Aug, 1917.

Dear Mum, 

Got through

the Exam at Oxford

last week O.K.  It wasn't

very hard. We then got

leave from Friday afternoon

till Sunday night. I hadn't

time to go to Scotland

so took a run up to 

London. Stayed at the 

Regent Palace Hotel again &

had a very enjoyable 

time.  Saw the famous

2.
Gaby Deslys - she's some

dancer. Also went to see
Gladys Cooper.  She's lovely -

I've never enjoyed a show

more than her's.

On Sunday was out at 

Chiswick to see Herb's

people - the Hardman's &

others. (You know Herb's sister

is married to a Hardman).

While out there, I met Reg

Meaker. He is still in

Hospital but is getting about.

I have persuaded him to

try & get a job in the

Flying Corps too - photographer

or Motor Cyclist. He didn't 

need much persuasion - 

the Infantry's no good.

3
Returned to Oxford on Sunday night & had a day off

on Monday & was sent up here on Tuesday. I wanted 

to go somewhere else (Scotland for preference) as I know

this count part of the country pretty well. But it doesn't 

matter as we'll probably be shifted again when we finish

our Lower training. The flying ^(in first course) consists of about 5 hours

dual Instruction & then 5 hours Solo - all on Maurice

Farman's - old-fashioned things that simply can't fall 

down. We will be here longer that expected, I fancy,

as they are overcrowded with pupils (about 18 to 1 instructor)

& the weather , has not been too congenial for flying

of late (they cant won't fly in rain or on very windy days).

We are living in Tents at present (2 in each). The

huts are not yet completed. We have all the 

priviledges of officers.  I am writing this in a 

beautiful big lounge filled with easy chairs & lounges

writing tables etc (stationary provided). All daily papers

etc provided. of course it all has to be paid for & I

can tell you its going to take some financing as we're only

cadets yet.

4
You see all the young fellows

in the R.F.C. get their Coms.

on leaving oxford & receive

₤50 Kit allowance. The AFC

gives ₤15 - 8 on becoming a 

Cadet & 7 on becoming an 

officer.  I sent a cable

the other day for ₤20.

Don't think I'm extravagant -

I'm not wasting a bean.

We have an awful lot 

of gear to buy.  We haven't

got a quarter of it yet &

most of the boys are broke.

The Cables will just about

run hot.

5.
We are having a splendid time here - put in most of our 

time eating & sleeping. We answer a roll - call at 9am &

5.30pm. It's pretty rag - time - doesn't matter much if we're

not there. The rest of the time if we're not flying is our own

with the exception of an hr hour at each Wireless &

Machine Guns.  As we've done no "flying to date & have

passed all Wireless tests you can imagine that I'm having

a pretty "cushy" time. I expect to get quite fat.

For breakfast we get porridge & something like bacon & eggs

or steak & mushrooms with the usual padding of marmalade,

etc.

Then lunch generally runs to 3 & perhaps 4 Courses.

afternoon tea at 4 pm.

Dinner at 8 pm - another 4 courses.  So you can 

see that we're doing rather well.

We have batmen to clean the tent - make the beds etc.

If one requires a drink of any sort while in the lounge,

ring the bell & the waitress hops out.  I keep off the 

drink - you've got to live cleanly to make a ^real success

6.
of the flying.  We got a 

lot of flying Cap Kit issued

yesterday. Big leather boots

(up to thigh) rubber soled &

fleece lined - feet & all.

Snow boots to go over them.

Leather C double breasted 

overcoat (lined) Flying Cap,

goggles & gloves - all of

leather & lined with fleece

I will get a photo one of 

these days. If a chap floated

round in the gear in 

australia, they'd think a 

big bear or something had

got loose.

Lee was not sent to 

Squadron on Tuesday as 

he had to go before a 

7.
Medical Board on Wednesday.

Haven't heard result but

think he would get through

alright.  It was hard luck

as we wanted to keep

together. We may pick one 

another up later on.

I have been writing a 

lot lately & have kept you 

well posted since embarking

on this venture. I do hope

you are getting them alright - 

The U boats are pretty 

active of late & accounting 

for a good bit of our 

mail, I think.

8.

When in London I called on Col. Hurley again.  He

was very pleased to see me, and apologised for not

having written to Dad yet, but will do so. He is very busy

you know - has same job.
Mum dear, I think I've about told you all

for the present now.  I'm quite alright so do please

don't worry about me. I'll be quite alright & hope to

bag a Hun or 2 before getting back.

Best love to Self & Dad

from Les.
I hope Jean doesn't think I've been neglecting her.

She's always in my thoughts, but I haven't had

much time for writing & she'll get all the news from 

you.