22 September 1938

Dear Dad:

We have arrived here from Greece at 4:30 this afternoon. Flew for an hour today, i.e. this afternoon, doing squadron attacks on Mediterranean Fleet approaching Alex. We did machine gun attacks on their bridges - really split. Used nine machines and came in from every direction - many close shaves - but rare sport and used up much of our pent-up energy.

Huge harbour here and country is absolutely flat sand. Really large delta here where the Nile flows into the sea from many points.

Plenty of Egyptians about in their red fez's and pyjamas - indescribably dirty. Here one has to ring all your money, there is so much dud silver about. Money is in piastres, 67 to £1 I believe.

Very hot - I sleep on the quarter deck for coolness but one has to get up at 6 AM to allow sailors to scrub down the deck so it has a drawback. Marvellous sight at night to see our attendant destroyer lights and in the morning to see destroyers slipping back and forth in formation, clearing the way.

Greece and the island of Crete (which is quite a large island, by the way) are very mountainous right down to the sea. The mountains average about 12,000 feet. The Greeks I have seen are very poor - where they can make money on such soil I don't know. I suppose the reason they were ever famous was because they had to steal for a living.

The sea here changes from a deep blue to a light green because it is much more shallow.

There is a boat going ashore at 4:30 but I'll stay on board as I can visit Alex anytime in the next few weeks probably.

We are getting many lectures on a naval officer's duties, so time is very filled up.

Uncle Ross thought I was a long way from home when I was in Malta, but Alexandria is another 1,000 miles.

Very beautiful palm trees here, right down to the water's edge.

I am enclosing a picture of myself in my room at Hal Far and another of my machine in the air over Malta - note my bronzed features (or black).

By now you are working hard on the road. Hope the crop is large.

I owe $200 on my uniform, which I am paying off as soon as possible. The whites and tropical gear on top of blues sure hit hard, but I am bearing up quite satisfactorily. I hope you won't mind waiting till after Christmas for your £20 - I'll pay it off just as soon as possible.

As you know, I'll be worth $500 October 12 (theoretically) and a further $500 each year I fly after October 12. So at the end of my present term, that is in 1944, I shall get (if still alive?!) close to £800 or about $3900 at the age of 29.

If I stay on to finish 15 years, i.e. till I am 35 - I shall get $8.000.

I don't know if this is a great asset or not - in civil life one should be far better off for assets. What do you think? I certainly wish I could smoke some more of your cigars and discuss the whole matter with you.

I almost think that by the time I'm 29 I'll have had all I want of it and should like to step into civy life, but then I am looking ahead perhaps too much. Here I am only 22 and I feel an old man.

If by an act of God or something "Glorious" does get this New York Exhibition in September next year or August, wouldn't it be wonderful if you could come to New York! But then that is too much to look forward to. Still, I could probably see Ross and Adelene at least (perhaps) or Ida.

Ross seems to think markets are quite shaky due to war rumours - they probably are. He thinks I should have a number. He got tired writing Sub-Lt. (A) WH Martyn R.N. 802 Fleet Fighter Sqdn. HMS Glorious Mediterranean Fleet G.P.O. London

but my mother calls me "Bill"

By the way, it's shocking bad form in English bridge if every one doesn't keep a score of his own while playing, i.e. four pads. So there is no excuse for not knowing when you are vulnerable or not.

By the way, I ramble hither and yon - I should perhaps say "Lovely weather we're having!"

Best of Love to Mother, Dad, Bob, Jean, and Ronny.

Love Bill
I don't know when you'll receive this or when I'll receive any mail.