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Date: August 12th 1943
To
Family
From
Geoff
Letter

Dear Family,

I wrote to you about a week ago but I had to send it ordinary post, so you'll probably get this first. I'll work on that assumption.

I'm on a special course at an English school, to prepare me to take over as technical adjutant in the regiment. A very swell job with an extra pip thrown in, if, as and when I get it. The tech. adj. is technical advisor to the C.O. in all matters of vehicles etc, and is a job peculiar to armoured units. I think the job will be right down my alley, as you know, I like fooling with engines (including clocks!)

The course is interesting as the devil, so far. We just finished a week in the machine-shops, playing around with filing, drilling welding, threading, tempering etc. I'd make a pretty poor black-smith at the moment, but with a few years practice I'd be O.K.

This week we take an engine apart down to the last bolt, then overhaul it and put it back and try & make it work. We'll get it apart O.K. but the rest of it is in the lap of the gods.

I'll be here for about 7 more weeks, and by then the tech. adj. job should be open at the unit, as Peter Mustard is going (or has gone) on staff.

You will see by this that the new C.O. is getting things going at a good clip.
These English messes certainly know how to feed. There is a choice at practically every meal, which is miraculous at this period of the war, in England. And the amount of saluting that goes on is prodigious.

Apart from the course, I havent much to talk about, because I haven't done anything else of interest. There's lots of chance to work here, although lots to do also. Matter of fact, I saw a play last night in the garrison theatre called "Dangerous Corners". I saw it with an English officer who used to be on the stage, (not well known), and he'd played in it at one time. His criticism was very knowing and professional, of poor old E.N.S.A.(who tour around and put on shows at the big camps,) but it was good fun.

I see by the paper that Mr. Churchill (and family!) are in Quebec. I mentioned that he should have taken some deserving Canadian (like myself) along as his aid instead of his daughter. I was severely frowned upon. apparently Mr. Churchill can do no wrong, as a contrast to our old friend Mackenzie King.

I'm glad you send my suit, although it hasn't arrived yet. Of course, I don't mind John wearing any of my stuff that he can. None of it will be much good to me when I get back. That goes for any of my other belongings, skis, golf clubs and both my cars, because they might as well be used as rust in the store-room, or wherever they are.

Well, end of paper, and I've got some notes to write up so - love to you all.

Geoff. P.S. Same address, they'll forward my mail.