February 10, 1941

In Audrey and Phyllis’s letters they mention that Liulf stated I was in the R.A.F. This made me feel very foolish as this is not the case. The truth is the Colonel refused to grant my release, which makes it impossible to transfer. I haven’t entirely given up hope as I enlisted the aid of Sir E.D. Swinton, who suggested the procedure I followed and told me to let him know how I made out. As this method has failed, I intend to seek his advice again and perhaps, with his influence, I shall win yet. In the meanwhile, I am learning all I can about our guns, as I am at present a gunner in A. troop on number 3 gun.

We are scheduled to go on a three-day manoeuver which will mean roughing it in the fields miles away from our billets. I understand that on the nineteenth we are to move to a gun range for a practice shoot, which will be very welcome for me as I have never fired a gun.

Last Saturday, I went to a dance in a nearby town and had a very good time, in fact, a little too good. The result was that Gunner Swinton fell asleep on the train and went ten miles past his destination. Fortunately, it was a moonlit night and, after making several wrong turnings, which added on several miles, I got back to town just in time to go on sick parade, thereby escaping the “rap” for missing church parade. I had a light head cold but was just a little afraid the Doc might accuse me of “swinging the lead.” However, all went well and after taking four of his pills, I was given twenty-four hours excused duty.