FAC159/1/85

Letter: from Richard Dillingham at No 21 Kite & Balloon Section RFC Camp, [France] to Christine Dillingham at Kings Road, Flitwick - writer is longing for the time when he can return home to his wife and the children, "We have a lot to be thankful for compared with the poor fellows in the infantry"; - notes they have been very busy since the balloon was struck by lightning and set on fire, "The lightning struck the steel cable and set her on fire and in less than five minutes she was burnt up. Our Commanding Officer had been up in the balloon but luckily came down before the storm"; - notes that the incident has made a lot more work for the section; - runs through details of setting the balloon up [Some words have been censored]; - Is sorry to hear that the Military have appealed against Frank [Dillingham, his brother] and hopes he will get time again; - notes he is sorry to hear about W Whittington being killed and expects it has made a stir in the village; - comments Mrs Fowler is upset about George having to come out to fight; - notes Katie Brooks has come to visit his wife about having a party, "She has got a good cheek" and expects she had something to say about the poor soldiers, "Why doesn't she have a few of the wounded down at her place"; - is pleased to hear that the garden is looking so well; - "You must have had a job with Ben when he got covered with sand"; - asks does Ben and Baby (Richard) and young Jess get on alright together now?;

April 1917

From: 1917 To: 1917

item

Dillingham, Richard,
Dillingham, Christine,
Dillingham, Ben,
Fowler, George,
Whittington, W,
Brooks, Katie,
Dillingham, Frank

FIRE, lightning, Royal Flying Corps, military balloons, CHILDREN, FLITWICK, France