31 July 1938

Dear Mother and Dad:

Thanks very much for your assistance - I will repay you just as soon as I get on my feet again.

My naval uniforms, including whites for Mediterranean come to over $500 - I have bought it through Gieves London and paid them the £50 or $250.00 allowed to assist purchase. The rest I will pay off monthly. Gieves are the same firm that I dealt for my RAF uniform. I did owe them over $100 but had paid that all off so am in good standing.

I have received word from the Admiralty that I am to sail on the H.M.S. Galatea (pronounced Galaysha) from Portsmouth. She is a cruiser of the Mediterranean Fleet.

It should be a wonderful trip as I will sail to Gibraltar and see Spain, Africa etc. on my way.

Malta, my headquarters, is also H.Q. of the Mediterranean Fleet.

From what I can gather, the H.M.S. Glorious is on a two-year commission in the Mediterranean and I'll probably be able to get leave in two years' time - not as generous as the R.A.F. but should have a little more money for leave. Also could get across to Canada if there are any cruisers, etc. going there on a visit. They do this for officers on leave if boats are available at the time.

You can address all mail now to

Sub-Lieut (A) WHM R.N.

802 Fleet Fighter Squadron

H.M.S. Glorious

c/o G.P.O. London

Malta is noted for its silks such as Maltese lace etc. - hope I can send some home, but will read regulations as to customs.

I have sole some of my R.A.F. uniform - anything I do not get rid of I shall have sent home or kept here by Overall until I decide what to do with it.

P.S. The material would make wonderful clothes for Ronny. How is the kid anyway! Must be quite a lad.

41 leaves for Duxford on Tuesday to cooperate on Air Defence of G.B. exercises. Put a lump in my throat to see them roar away without me. The snap and esprit de corps of 41 is hard to leave but I want as much experience and travel as I can get - also a certain seven years more service with a most probably six more is not to be sneezed at these days.

After my commission in the Mediterranean - if I still like it I will most likely put in for China - at least that is my idea now.

I certainly hope you get a boom year this year in Canada - we might need that wheat to help us against the I-ties about 60 miles north of me. We are sitting on the powder keg out there but I like the smell. It will certainly feel more like active service.

We also go on an autumn cruise visiting all ports in Mediterranean such as Cairo, Cypress, Gibraltar, etc.

I hate to think what is going to happen to this lily white skin of mine after the fog and cloud of ye olde England.

I haven't heard from you yet by letter but hope you are behind me 100 percent.

Well Dad! You keep shooting car loads of twine in to Alberta and I'll keep shooting up any insurgent bombers who come near the Med Fleet.

Love Bill