Letters of Gerard Henderson Cowan, 1916-1917 - Part 7

course a good square

hit with a shell settles

them. The old battlefield

of Pozieres was about two

miles from this place

 but I did not  have an

opportunity of going

there.

Well Old Dad I must

close now. I will continue 

this in the letters I am

writting to the others

Love to all

Gerard

3DRL 366s (1)

AUSTRALIAN

WAR MEMORIAL

Warminster

24 Nov 1917

Dear Dad,

Just writting this

now, while waiting for a

couple of fellows, but will

have to finish later.

I am in Warminster at persent

present, it is Saturday afternoon, 

so of course a half 

holiday.

I went to St Boniface College

this afternoon and had

th tea with the Headmaster.

Afterwards, Willie Willis came

in. We sat and talked

for  a while, but I did not  

stay long as I had arranged

to meet Ted. The Headmaster

has asked me to go there

any afternoon I can. They

were very nice indeed.

I think Gracie is responsible

for this as she wrote to 

him saying I was going into

Camp at Sutton Veny and

I expect added a few things

in my favour.

I tried to put in another

application for a transfer

to the R.A.F.C but it

was turned down.

they wont look of at

them here. They called

for men to go to a signal

school a day or so ago

and as I need that in

the Flying Corps I stepped

out. I am not sure yet

whether I am going or

not. There are about four

of us picked but we have

not heard anything definite.

There is just a chance that

I might get a transfer

through from the school

to the Flying Corps.

Sunday 25^th Nov

The last few days the weather

has been quite warm but

to day it is decidedly cold.

A very strong biting wind

blowing, it has also tried to

snow once during the

day.

I have taken a few snapshots

since I have been in England

this time and had a few

developed. They have turned

out fairly well.

I left some at Tunbridge

Wells to be developed but

have not got them yet.

The one They were mostly

snapshots of Donhead

The film I have had developed 

here has two snaps of the

little church at Donhead

they are both fairly good.

One of the railway station

at Ventnor Isle of Wight

Two of Miss Wilson also good

The remaining three

were failures. Two

were of the flag of the

battle ship Warspite

which is hanging in

a village church near

Tunbridge Wells the other

was a snap of Ventnor.

I am putting this letter

in with some photos

of myself that Aunt

Bertha had taken at

Bournemouth. I will

also enclose a letter 

to Helen.

Love to all

Gerard

 

DONATED RECORDS LIST

3660 (1)

3rd Series

10^th Dec

1917

Dear Dad,

I am now at the signal school and

have been here since last Monday and

I hear the course last 14 weeks. I hope to

come through it with flying colours as it

will help me in getting into the Flying 

Corps. I have lodged another application

for a transfer since I came here. It

has been recommended by my Coy OC

and gone on to Brigade, but I won't be know

for a week or so whether it goes through

or not.

Ted and I went to tea with the Headmaster of

St Boniface College on Saturday afternoon

and yesterday (Sunday) we were going into

Warminster, but as he did not turn up

I guessed he must be on duty so walked

across to Heytsbury Artillery Camp about 2 1/2

miles distance and found him on Stables

however he came off duty at 5 p.m. so 

after having some tea in the canteen

we went into church at Heytsbury.

(2)

It is very cold here now and although we

have had no snow here so far we have had

a couple of very severe frosts.

I think I mentioned in my last letter that

my birthday parcel had arrived safely; and

you can't guess how much I enjoyed it.

Also I sent some snaps of Donhead when I last

wrote. I hope they arrive safely. I have

a good many more snaps here but have not

got them all developed and printed yet.

There is very little news here it is a frightfully

slow old place, but it is a better camp

than Salisbury Durrington Camp was and the 

food is much better.

Tell Helen to send all the snaps she can

as I look forward to getting them and Uncle

Ernest and Aunt Bertha and all are very interested

 in receiving them.

There ought to be another Australian mail

in any time now and I am looking forward

to it.  I had a few Australian letters a couple

of days ago but they were only strays

from the last mail. 

How much did you manage to get under crop

this year and how did it turn out.

I expect it is getting pretty hot in W.A. now

My word I don't wonder that all the Pommys

like Australia this is a most dismal

country in winter, you don't notice half

so much in civil life, but it is having

to stand about in the freezing cold that tells

on one However I don't think I will feel

it so much this winter.

Well this is a frightfully short letter

but there is absolutely now news.

Love to all

Gerard

13^th Dec 1917

Dear Mum

I am progressing

slowly at signalling. I find

it extremely interesting

work and am rather sorry

I did not take it up before

in away.

Ted and I have been in

twice to evenings at

St Boniface College.

One was a sort of break 

up concert gv given 

by the boys the other

was a dance. We both 

enjoyed them thoroughly

anything like that is