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Royal Naval Air Station
Hendon
Sunday, 18 July 1915
Dear Mother
At last I have made my first flight alone and am here to tell the tale. I had quite an exciting time as the [aero]drome was full of machines and I twice got into a backwash just as I was landing, which made things rather unpleasant. However I didn’t do so badly and at any rate it was much the most exciting experience I have had yet. I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s flying.
So sorry my letters do not satisfy your curiosity but I can imagine your mode of life at Aulich [a village in Perthshire] and did not remember that you could have no idea of mine here. If there is flying the Divisional Officer, at 4am, wakens the six whose turns are next and wakens another six as required. If there is no flying we sleep peacefully on till ‘Harry the boots’ wakens us at 8am when we rise, wash, shave, dress and descend to breakfast in the Mess Room at 8.30.
Breakfast consists of porridge made without salt which I seldom take, sometimes fish, sausage, bacon and eggs, bread, butter, marmalade, tea, coffee. At 9am we fall in, in front of the Press Club for drill. This we get from a fat old colour sergeant who can’t be less than 17 stone. It consists of squad drill, rifle drill and extended order drill sometimes varied by revolver practice and lasts till 10.30.
I only once had revolver practice. The pistols were the latest Webley Scott Automatic firing 8 shots, the target was a cardboard box lid with
a 3 inch bull on it. I got the bull first shot but only got 3 other shots on the target at all.
At 10.30 we either have a lecture on the principles and practice of Aviation from various people or go to engine class where we play with
an old Gnome engine till 12. Lunch is at 1pm and consists of two courses - 1st roast beef, mutton, pressed beef, chicken (or pheasant) and ham, all cold. 2nd various kinds of tinned fruits, prunes and some sort of tart.
We fall in again at 2.00 and have instruction in signalling, knots and splices, searchlights, etc. till 3.30. Sometimes we have a First Aid lecture from the doctor from 4.30 to 5.00 and then we hang about for flying. Tea at any time in the afternoon is served in Mitchell’s Café
on the Aerodrome. Dinner starts at 7.30 but when there is flying, it is often not over till 9.30. After dinner we generally walk over to the Press Club to see if there are any letters and then to bed.
I have a little room with just enough space for a bed, chest of drawers and a chair. However the windows open wide sideways and there is plenty of fresh air. We are practically all day in the fresh air here, more so than at Windermere….
Much love to all
Douglas
NAS: Hume papers: GD486/54
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