Letters of Gerard Henderson Cowan, 1918-1919 - Part 9

course a Victorian and is a jolly nice
fellow.
Last Sunday afternoon I walked into Saltburn
about two miles away along the coast
and in the opposite direction to Redcar
It is slightly larger than the latter
and is more picturesque surroundings
being built close to some cliffs.
There is a fine beach here when the
tide is out stretching right to Redcar
about 5 miles away. You very seldom
see a good beach in England and they are
usually very pebblely.
Well I must ring off.
Heaps of love & a Merry Xmas & a
Happy New Year to you all.

Gerard 

6 Training Squadron
Australian Flying Corps
Minchinhampton
Gloucester
23.11.18
Dear Dad,
Quite a nice bundle of letters arrived
for me today, they had been up to
Marshe and had been readdressed from
there otherwise I would have had them
a couple of days ago.
They are up to Sept 9^TH Franks letter
with all the snaps was among them
Thank him very much for them
they are not bad at all.
I am enclosing two snaps of myself 

One is slightly blurred by light
getting at it but they are not bad.
I am also putting in some snaps I
took while I was down in Bath
They have turned out fairly well.
I must cut this short as I want
to get down to Stroud to send a
cable to you re my address, and I
will have to hurry to catch the
train. This may reach you in time
for the new year so, - A Happy
New Year to you all.
Heaps of love
Gerard
3660(1) 

3DRL 3660(1)
6 Training Squadron
29.11.18
Dear Frank,
Many thanks for those
snaps you sent, it was jolly nice
getting them. My word those foals
look well. How many horses have we
now. I have lost count.
How many sheep can you shear
in a day. Am afraid you will
be better all at the game
now than I will. Why I believe
I would get blisters on my
hands now if I trid tried
to chop wood. 

Rather hard to imagine your
brother as soft as that isn't
it. As for riding Ive almost
forgotten what a horse looks
like, if it wasn't for seeing
an occasional one over here
I believe I h would have.
Well I wish they would think
of trying to fly to Australia
instead of to America and then
a fellow might have a chance
of getting out quickly.
Wouldn't be too bad would it
getting out in about a week
instead of 9 weeks. 

(3)
Have no more news as to
our movements at present
but expect we will know
xxxx something definite as
soon xx as the peace is properly
settled up- Afraid Im in rather
a hurry.
Went to Bristol last Wednesday
to visit my nice nurses,
The Bushes and also of a
fellow fr Geraldton chap from
the 11^TH Battalion who is there.
His name is Fathers Dig & Walter
would know him. I think he
worked in the Post Office.
We get two days off every fortnight
now instead of one, which is
very nice if you wish to go any 

(4)
distance. The only trouble is that you
are liable to spend twice as much
money.
My word things seem to be very expensive
in as regards clothes in, Australia. At least
I thought they would not be as high
there as they are here but I think
they are much the same.
I hear the price of clothes have
fallen 50 % since the armistice
was signed, so hope it is the
same in W.A.
Heaps of love to you all
Gerard
P.S. I cabled to you dad last Saturday
to address to 6 Training Squadron
as it will be quicker than to
the battalion G.H.C. 

No 2 Squadron
France
18.12.18
Dear Uncle Ernest,
I expect you will be
surprised to see that I am in France again.
So was I when I received instructions to
proceed overseas. I did not think we had
any chance of being sent out,
However I am rather glad as it is better
than being in England with nothing
to do.
We are not very far from Lille and
came through it on our way here.
Our journey up was extremely slow.
We left Boulogne at 9.30 AM and did
not arrive in Lille till nearly
midnight. Then of course we had a
strenuous time trying to find somewhere 

to sleep.
There is a very fine Officers Club there,
but it was absolutely packed so we had
to try elsewhere.
Eventually we succeeded after having
tried three or four Hotels. Not being able
to speak French is a great drawback. I must
see if I cannot learn it this time when
while I am here.
We are having wonderfully mild weather
here and quite a lot of rain, which I
prefer to the snow though we are
bound to get that any day now I suppose.
This letter may reach you a little
late for Xmas, but it should not as it
is only the 18^TH today.
Wishing you all a Merry Xmas
I remain
Your effec^ate nephew
G.H. Cowan
3660 (1) 

3 DRL 3660(1)
8.1.19
Dear Frank,
Many Happy Returns
of the 8^TH of Feb.
This letter will arrive
a bit late but still I am
thinking of you, over
here -. I should have
written to you and
Helen before but I had
to go down to Marquise
for three days.
There were about 6
officers and 8 men
detailed to go down