Letters of James Stuart Leslie Ross, 1918-1919 - Part 6

7
so will do a few of the
matinees then.
we are situated in the
rough part of the city -
Whitechapel, East End, but
that makes no difference, as
even if there was a
view you ^would never see it
in the smoky London
atmosphere.
when I tell you that
my greatest grievance is
having to wash as early 
as 6.30am, you will guess 
there's not much 
wrong. The boys always 
raise a hullabaloo at 
being called at that hour.
8
Well mum, I'm just 
going to a show by 
the phone so will conclude.  
Much love to Dad & 
the rest

Les
 

Hospital 
France 
Sun 22. 10. 18.
Dear Mum, 

Have shifted 
my abode since my last 
letter. The people at the 
C.C.S decided that my 
wound would take a while 
to heal so last Sunday 
they bundled me out & xxx
addressed me to a Base 
Hospital. After a couple 
of ambulance car rides & 
a train journey I arrived 
at No 8 Red Cross Hospital 
(Boulogne) in which I am 
at present incarcerated.  
when I had been here 
a couple of days they 

2

decided that a few stitches 
might facilitate matters, so 
the quack performed the 
"Sister Susie" stunt.

Since then it has 
improved a lot and should 
be OK again soon although 
I'm still in bed. I may 
be sent to England yet, but 
I'm not particularly keen as 
it will probably be a bit 
difficult to get straight back 
to the squadron from there.  
However, I won't object to 
a little leave after Hosp. 
which I may get.

The hospital is quite 
comfortable and in 
prewar days it was a 
Hun hotel so will 
understand that there 
are no large wards.

3

There are only 3 of us 
in our room which 
overlooks the shipping 
quarter of the town so 
I amuse myself watching 
the boats come and go.

This place has a nasty 
habit of getting bombed 
but since I've been here 
most of the nights have 
been either cloudy or windy 
or both, consequently the 
old Hun enjoys his lager 
and Sausage at home. On 
two nights (or rather mornings 2am) 
we have been rudely 
awakened from our slumber 
by a great ruckus going on - 
Archie batteries in and round 
the town here opened up
 4

but nothing has been actually 
dropped on the town. They 
seem pretty "windy" with their 
barrage here because we 
can't even hear the Hun.  

I think they must get 
telephoned that he's coming 
and then they start shooting &
have poor unfortunates 
from their beds.

I feel sorry for these 
poor French people 
altho' it's not without it's 
humorous side. On fine 
nights they don't take their 
clothes off or go to roost.  
As soon as the first 
shot goes, they're off 
the mark like foot 
runners & we hear them
scampering along the
 

5
footpath down below,
away to their Air Raid
Shelters.
I've had no mail here
yet, but, I suppose they
haven't had time to
send it on. By the way
I never receive any papers -
I think I've only had one
lot since I started
flying 14 months ago;
Those I got by accident
at another aerodrome.
It was the merest fluke -
the clerk heard me say
my name on the phone.
Lord knows how it got there

6
I had a letter from
Mary Stuart recently -  she
had received the photo
then.
Much love to all
Les

 A.F.C. Depot,
Wendover, Bucks,
17^th May 1919
Dear Mum,
I'm afraid I've been neglecting
you horribly lately.Things have been
unsettled & I've kept hanging on waiting
for something definite to happen
Before you receive this I expect the
bulk of the A.F.C. will have arrived
home - they left on the Kaiser-I-Hind,
though quite a number have stayed
on Non Military Employment or
an Educational course. I could
have gone on the Kaiser, but I think
that I can profit by remaining here
a while. I know it must be
disappointing to you to have me stay
here, but, when you know that its
for something to my advantage, I feel
sure you'll agree.
I did intend going into an Aircraft or
Motor firm to learn something, but
have hit on something better.

2
A boy named Douglas from Queensland
who got the MC & DCM with the Machine
Gun Corps & has since become a pilot
is in with me.
We have been thinking of having a
go at the flight to Australia - I expect
you know there is a ₤10,000 prize

for the first Austln to do it. We have
been keeping it very dark so far, as
nothing definite has happened & of course
it may never come to anything.
We have intended interviewed the different managers -
of practically every decent aircraft firm
in London. x has Sopwith's (for whom
Hawker is attempting the Atlantic) and Vicker's
both gave us a very good hearing &
there is a possibility that something may
eventuate. x Vickers, of course,  is one
of the biggest concerns in this country - I
think they were the people that Boyd Judges
came over to.
On Thursday the Colonel in charge of
the A.F.C. sent for me to go to London
& I had quite a long talk to him
about it. Douglas & I are leaving

3
for Andover tomorrow for a course
in Aerial Navigation & Directional Wireless
etc. on Handley Page's ( big twin &
four engined machines). It is a very
good and advanced course & we are
extremely lucky in getting it as practically
no Australians have so far gone 
through. The course is intended for
officers who will be staying in the
Permanent Royal Air Force. It will
last about 3 months & then if the

Australian Flight has not been
accomplished (it is certain to have been
attempted) & we can persuade a firm
to let us have a machine, we'll have
a go at it. The possibilities would
be enormous - an ma we'd be made.
Col. Williams (of A.F.C.) was very decent to
us & it was he that got us the course.
It has nothing really no connection with
the flight to Austla, but, I think
our intention influenced him as he's
rather predjudiced against the Royal air Force
& is very keen on seeing A.F.C. pilots
accomplish it. I want you to realise

4
that I'm not building too many castles in
the air about it as I know that there's
just a bare possibility.
However, leaving the Flight aside, we'll
profit enormously by the course, as we'll
be practically the only A.F.C. people who have
had it & I think I'll stay in the Corps
after the war unless I find something
better. I understand the pay will be
₤450 a yr for a 2/Lt & ₤550 for a 1^st Lieut,
(includes ₤100 flying pay in each case).
I'll be writing again very shortly and
will let you have any further partics.
Have lost the run of Lee lately. He
had a Non Military job on the Underground
Railways in London, but they made him
work on the Easter Holidays so he gave
it up & I understand is now on an
Arts Course.
Herb Meaker went home on the
Kaiser-I- Hind. I went down to Strand
to see him just before he sailed. He
expects to be in Moruya soon and is
going to look you up.
I forgot to tell you that I met Eddie