Notebook of Gerard Henderson Cowan - Part 12

Sunday 6. 10.18
Spent the morning in  
packing and getting papers 
signed and interviewed 
the O.C.
At 2pm a Ford conveyed
G & I & our luggage to 
the Imperial Hotel Stroud 
where we are spending
the night. We catch  
the early train to
London tomorrow. 
Tuesday 8.10.18
Arrived London 11.30am
yesterday left our
luggage at Kings Cross
and spent the day in 
London.  
We were to catch
5.30 pm train for
Marske the others 
did not arrive. I came
through by it and
arrived here about 11.30
last night and then
spent about 2 hrs trying
to find a bed eventually
succeeded.
The other fellows. G.B.B.
arrived this morning.
Very strong wind blowing
Wednesday 9.10.18
Went to instructional
room this morning and
were allotted numbers
but have not been put
in classes, so have had nothing
to do all day. Had a look
at the machines here.
They have Snipe, Dolphin
SE5's. Bristol Monoplanes
Camels. Pups DH4. DH98 DH9

with a Liberty engine.
Bristol Fighters. Avros.
^(French) Spad. ^(German) Albertross.
One Bristol Monoplane had
a Lion & a Kangaroo shaking
paws. I guessed it belonged
to an Australian who is instructor
in the R.A.F. here and I guessed
right as I was talking to
him afterwards.
Saturday 12.10.18
Did nothing but la
hang around on
Thursday but on Friday
were allotted to classes
Of course it is the same
old uninteresting stuff
again but it is good
to be getting it
finished. This morning
we had an exam on
points before flight etc.
The weather is still pretty
awful but they have
managed to get in a little
flying during the
last two days.
I walked to Redgar, about
3 miles away, this afternoon
not much of a place.
Seaside town. all the
boats are on wheels
so they can be run
down to the waters
edge easily.
Have a half holiday today
and also tomorrow
after church, but
have no week day off
as at Minchinhampton.
Large smelting works
at Redgar would like 

to visit them.
Thursday 17.10.18.
Have been too busy with
machine gun notes to
write up anything since
Sunday. Finished our ground
course of Gunnery today
and start on aerial work
tomorrow.
The ground gunnery consisted
of Stoppages, deflection practices
C.C. gears and Lewis gun.
My highest score in shooting
was 94% which and was
quite O.K. on Gears & Lewis.
The weather has been fair
during the past couple
of days but is dud again
now.
See a great variety of
aircraft round here
Dirigibles, Seaplanes, Flying
boats, Handley Pages
Diagrams - see original document 

Blank pages in 
this item have
not been
scanned

26, Sunday - Frank came home
for dinner - but had to
go back fairly early - took
Mick with them.

27^th
Did usual jobs - worked in
the garden.
28^th
Rev left for Mt Barker, - went 
to Narngulu for bread - and to
see M^rs White.
29^th
Played one sett tennis - feel 
too sore for more - went on
down to Gould's - Mrs a little better
listened to wireless for a few
minutes - Frank came home
after eight - very cold -
30th
Did some gardening Mr Brough
called in to see if I wanted any
wood - gave him some afternoon
tea - and some books to take 
back.
July 1938

His wife laughed. She [[idolized?]] is
the - Many times in
their married life he had used
it, & always with good effect
But now it lacked force - 
As he sauntered out of the room
she went to the window, & stood
idly gazing out on the garden
trying to reduce the chaos of
her thoughts to some semblance
of orders - When she thought of
her past days of nursing, & the glory
that had come into them, when
the cleverest surgeon in the hospital
had asked her to be his wife -
The happiness had lasted for a time
but very early the thought stuck
in her brain - did he love her
or her skill in surgical cases
The thought stirred & slept,
stirred & slept - only to waken 
again to wonder if he loved any
woman thing besides his expe
 - June 1938
20^th Frank came home from
camp & we both went to the

Rev's farewell - Meeting the latter
coming for us - and he brought
us home.
21^st
Went to Narngulu for bread
and it rained very heavily for
a little while -
22^nd
Played tennis with M^r Carson
& the Perijuans - Went down to
see how M^rs Gould was -
23^rd
Did usual jobs and some
gardening
24^th
Went for the bread - then on down
the Goulds. M^r G. not so well -
25^th
Mary & Cedric Stonje came out
in the afternoon bringing Suttul
and Helen Mary - worked in garden

Pages 7 to 10 are identical to page 6.

Inside cover of Diary -refer to original

Back cover of Diary - refer to original