No 4 Reserve Squadron
Royal Flying Corps,
Ruislip,
Oxford.

1/11/16

My Dear Mother,

I do hope this note gets off on tonight's train. Today has been very rotten weather, very misty and very, very cold. In fact it has been jolly uncomfortable. And we have had no flying for some days.

This morning, quite early, we were called for an early flight. Just as we were almost up the orderly came and told us flying was off and we dropped back in our beds with a thankful gasp.

Yesterday was lovely and we could have flipped, but it was our turn (my squad) to shoot on the ranges. We are doing quite a bit with machine guns now and I like it muchly. We left the camp at about 8:30 in a motor car. We had a very nice run of 12 miles into the country, thru several villages, just as imagined they would be, all on one street and several thatched cottages. The ranges are at Runneymede, Em will remember the place where King John signed the Magna charta. When we arrived the Coldstream Guards were on the ranges. They are rather good looking chaps but not any better than our Canadians. Their Colonel came over and chatted to us, and was very interested in our work. As usual I had my beginner's luck and made the highest score, but I think I can assure you that it will never happen again. However I like the game and may pull up in it. I am getting along fairly well in my flying now, I think. We do not have much flying weather, but when we do I get up all I can. I hope to do my first solo next week. After that one progresses much more quickly because we get on the better machines, the faster the better.

Had a letter from Alf the other day. He was busy buying Xmas presents, which, by the way, l have not done any of yet. I don't know what I will do about Xmas yet. I am afraid you will all come out rather shy, unless the unforseen happens.

Must close now as I want it to get off. Lots of love for Father, Em and self.

Loving son
WHG