Diary of Second Lieutenant Harold Gordon Cornell- 1916-1917- Part 5

field & I think the experiment will

be successful. The colonel got me to

overhaul his car lighting set, today &

I found things in a bad state. The

colonel seems a very decent chap & a

big improvement on [[?]]

Tonight's orders contained the unexpectedly

sudden announcement of my promotion to

Sgt. My lick is phenomenal. Needless 

to say I am quite excited. Thompson

becomes 1st [[?]], b ut Knox tells me there

is to be no [[N/s.?]] Coys. I am very sorry For Reg

who is one of the best. [[?]] Jones

turned up unexpectedly today; he

is [[?] [[?]] in the 4th Squadron (71st)

& is [[?]] at Waddington. He came

over to vote, as today is polling

day, for the Fed elections. He was

very pleased to see Ted & myself &

seems to be having a very good time.

A pilot on a [[?]] tonight gave

a sensational exhibition of [[?]]

 

nose diving. the first time he

put the the wind up everyone, &

all were looking on on [[?]] waiting

for the sickening crash, when the [[?]]

[[sighted?]] the machine. The second time

we were all admiration, then he [[trade?]]

a graceful look, shot off to [[?]]

dived again & landed.

 

New B.E. lost a wheel in using &

caused a sensation all the attendants

[[?]] about [[?]] the wheels to

inform the pilot who fortunately saw

them. He landed in his next after

another circuit, luckily escaped

injury as the machine, pulled up

dead, [[stoved?]]  on to head, & almost overturned

& then fell back. The ambulance was

[[?]] readiness but fortunately it was

not needed

Wednesday Shifted into Sgt's hut, in

evening, visited Sgt's Mess for tea

& found things very [[?]]

Got the Major's dynamo in the way, commentation

returned, & [[connection?]] sweated on.

Another fine day & everything went

smoothly, went to bed at 9-30 being

rather tired.

Thursday Slept in till 6 a.m. today

as I was not called. However no [[?]]

was done. Went into Lincoln on

side-car, for [[brushes?]] & screws for

Major's dynamo, Finally getting them at

[[?]] & [[?]]. [[?]] all afternoon &

till 6 p.m. [[?]] up the job, but though

dynamo was all right, there was some

fault in the connections so took out

the whole apparatus.

Friday May 4 Another perfect day. Only one

serviceable B.E. this morning & that

[[?]] at Wadd before midday.

Went in early morning parade this [[?]].

first time In about a week. [[?]]

meals in the Sgt's mess, quite a 

luxury after the men's mess hut.

Had a heated argument with J.B. over

the question of wireless duties verses

[[?]]. J.B., was finally [[vanquished?]]

by my appealing to Ross, so I expect

no more trouble. Will have my

permanent late [[?]] after today.

 Had no time to tackle Major's

lighting set today, but Marriott has

found me another set to fix up in 

addition. Will probably spend my

[[?]] and in camp attending to them

Flying now classes between 12 & 4 p.m

but continues till about 9p.m late.

Friday May 11th Have had no leisure

to [[?]] entries or write letters

In a week, We have had splendid

weather again, fine [[?]] day with

the exception of last evening which

was wet. Saturday evening last

went into town & collected prints

from film of hut & 2 crashes from [[Boots?]].

& 44 prints in all & I have since

had to order over 120 more. Ran into

Hayles & we spent evening together

Made a few [[?]] then visited

Mawers, but everyone was out. Took a

stroll, then visited Picture Theatre.

Afterwards to Arcadia Cafe, where we had

a rather elaborate supper; then took

the [[?]] girls home, & walked

back to camp, arriving just on 1 am

However it was a splendid evening.

Sunday [[passed?]] off quietly but I did

not visit town; went to bed early.

Monday evening Lt Ross sent for me &

asked me to take over Headquarters

as Downing had complained that his

hands were already full with the [[?]]

[[?]] were too, but I couldn't xxxx 

very well dodge it. [[?]] Ross if

promotion went with it but he

said [[?]] would probably come

later. However I have not found

the job over troublesome so far

 

& there have been no cases for orderly

room. Have now to call reveille

roll call & [[?]] parades & [[?]]

drill men at 8 a.m. I suppose

I could drop part of this work

on the others, but so far have 

not found it troublesome. Ha e

met with some opposition  A 

early roll call, as men are

inclined to lie in, But I [[?]]

all will go well now. Tuesday

our first [[?]] was held great

preparations had been made (No

I had no hand in them) & the

thing was a great [[?]].

[[?]] evening walked into Lincoln

& spent a pleasant evening with

Mawers. Have lately started

to give Lt Ross practice in buzzing

as he [[intends?]] to graduate. He

gets ½ an hour from [[6.30?]] to 7