Letters of Gerard Henderson Cowan, 1918-1919 - Part 10

and we travelled down
in a Motor lorrie.
It is a good long run
and it gets dark very
early here now
We arrived at St Omer
in time for lunch
and left there after 3 oclock
after going about another
20 kilos it was quite dark,
and the roads were very
muddy and slippery
In passing another lorrie
ours got off the road and
started to dig in - as all
heavy lorries do as soon
as they get on anything  
at all boggy.
We hitched another 

lorrie on and with its
help got out.
After going about another
two miles we got ditched
again. And did it properly
this time - could not get
out even with the help
of another lorrie.
To make matter worse
it was raining solidly
all the time and continued
all night.
We found a camp close by
and were able to get some
supper there and as they
could not put us up for
the night they provided
us with a lorrie and
we proceeded on our

journey. We went
splendidly for about 3
miles and then ditched
that one also. As we could
not get it out the only
thing to do was to find
somewhere to sleep.
We found an Estaminet
and after some trouble
was roused up the
owner and eventually
made him understand
what had happened.
They managed to find
places for us all to
sleep and though
nearly midnight when
we landed there, set
to work and made
coffee for us all.

The Next morning a
lorrie came out from
Marquise and took us
all on.
Our return journey was
not half so exciting.
We lost our way once
in the shell area at
La Bassee but apart
from that and being
feeling like and icicle
after travelling from
9.30 AM to nearly
midnight, there was
nothing startling.
Mother and Helen in
their last letters said
that you had gone 

up to Dr Hungerford's
to get a horse he had
given you. Do you
mean to say he has
made you a present
of one. Very good of
him if he has.
Well old man I must
close. We are walking
in to Lille tonight to
get a decent dinner.
neither of our two
batmen can cook
and we have been living
on bully beef etc.
Heaps of love to you
all
Gerard 

No 2 Squadron
Australian Flying Corps
France 18.1.19
Dear Dad,
Nothing much has happened
happened to write about since I
last wrote.
We have done no flying today
as the weather has been too
dud.
I walked over to one of the
Old forts of Lille it was called
Fort Macdonald and had been used
by F as a prison by Fritz. - We
are using it now as a prison
for Fritz. I beleive it was at
this fort that he treated the
Australians so badly. Cramming
them all into a small room
and also practically starving
them.
Afterwards I walked over to
where an observation balloon
was stationed in the hopes

of getting a trip up, but by the
time I arrived the they had
finished for the day and the
balloon had been housed.
I head today of two of our pilots
who had managed to get
apprenticed to aeroplane firms

in England for 6 months.
That is what I should like to do
if possible so as to get a
thorough knowledge of the
principle of their designs
and construction. If I managed
that I would probably arrive back
in Aussie very little later.
However so far I have not been
able to make any enquiries
so do not know very much.
We played (The Squadron) played
an Ausiralian Tunnelling
Coy - football this afternoon
and I am glad to day we
won. As regards sports I think
we can hold our own a 

against other units.
I have just been down to where
we had our mess when we
first arrived here. The French
people there are awfully decent
and seem grieved if we don't
come in and make ourselves
at home. They have a very cosy little
drawing room with a fire going
in it so we are only too pleased.
The only drawback is that Madame
brings in coffee (noir) and keeps
on filling up our cups and
absolutely wont take no for an
answer.
Monsieur - is an engineer and
hee he can speak a fair amount
of English. He is very interesting to
talk too.
Well Dad it is 11.30pm. So I
will wish you bon soir
Heaps of love to you all
Gerard 

No 2 Squadron

Australian Flying Corps

France 24.1.19
Dear Frank

I expect you are having

scorching hot weather and

here we are just about

freezing. I have just come

back from a church service

which was held on the

lower floor of the brasserie

where our men are billeted.

This ground floor is practically

open air and I'm just about

frozen. I can scarcely hold

the pencil.

It snowed fairly hard last

night and today everything

is white. It has stopped

now but only because it

is too cold. I fancy it

must be all frozen in

the sky.

Did I tell you we had a

concert party. A real first

class show - all men from

2^nd Squadron A.F.C.

They have been giving 

entertainments to the various

units billeted in different

villages round about and

eventually returned a few

days ago and played specially

for the squadron. It was a

jolly good show and I am

enclosing a programme as

a souvenir.

I have practically no news

as I have not been anywhere 
lately and have

not had any letters for

sometime though there

should be a mail in

from Australia soon now.

I have not had a xxxx

line from Ted, Clive, Dick

or any of the others for

ages. I have written several

times to their old addresses

and have had no reply.

A Frenchy came along yesterday

and photographed our flight

and also yours truly in

flying togs standing by

a bus, so if they come out

well I will send some

along.

Well cheerio old son. I must

hurry off now.

Heaps of love to you all.

Gerard

P.S. The photos have turned up

they are not too good but

will am sending a couple along.

G.H.C.