FAC159/1/23

Letter: from Richard Dillingham at RFC Camp, Lydd, [Kent]; to Christine Dillingham at Kings Road, Flitwick - writer has received a parcel from his wife and was very pleased with it; - is sorry to hear that the children have had diarrhoea, " I should think it was through eating green plums and apples"; - "Never mind old girl each day is one more nearer the finish of the war"; - asks did Ben expect to find me at home?; - hopes that Harry will be able to get into something besides the infantry; - notes they are getting a lot of drill on the balloon and lectures and have been issued with their overseas kit; - runs through details of a route march with a full pack, and lists what they have to carry - one shirt, 2 pairs socks, 2 pairs overalls, 1 pair slippers, 1 pants, mess tin, razor, knife, fork, spoon, shaving brush, comb, towel and dubbing; - expects not to be going out for another few weeks; - notes their Officer was telling them that "we were a jolly lucky lot of fellows to be in the A&B section as we were in for a jolly soft job when get over in France and that we were in for a job where the danger was the least of any of the troops out there as they would be out of the range of any guns with the exception of their heaviest"; - comments that they will be 4 to 5 miles from the trenches and 8 to 10 miles from their guns and generally the balloon is in a wood out of sight; - expects to be home in the winter as the balloons are not used; - notes there are some sports in the camp and that "it is a bit lively here for a change"; - asks after Harry, Rose, [Christine Dillingham's sister], Flo & George and Min & Reg;

September 1916

From: 1916 To: 1916

item

Dillingham, Richard,
Dillingham, Christine,
Dillingham, Ben

military balloons, Royal Flying Corps, apples, FLITWICK, Lydd, France