25 September 1938

Dear Mother:

Here at Alex I though that although it would be hot, it would be a dry heat but no such luck - it's piratically as damp as Malta. Jack Roulston who went from 41 to 805 Squadron, Ismailia, Egypt, was unfortunately quickly transferred to a bomber squadron in Nairoba, Kenya, so I won't be able to meet him here. Practically the whole Mediterranean Fleet is here and they make a wonderful sight.

Today is Sunday and there is very little to do but sit quietly and smoke. A flight of Torpedo Bombers have flown off to Abukir and will use shore base for awhile. Hope we may do the same.

Very interesting having supper ashore, as they bring in gully gully men who do tricks with cards, etc. - very good. Thousands of beggars should baksheesh at you and riots are very common - all policemen carry rifles, even on point duty - what a place!

When the Fleet is in, all officers are made honourary members by the various clubs, so we have a very good time. Fast motor boats take us ashore at set times and call for us.

Yesterday evening the Engineer Officer and self went for a long journey around Alex in a garry (carriage). Grand fun and only cost 10 piastres each, or 50¢ Malta uses English money but here, no use!

Wurtele, a chap from Montreal, and I knocked back a few Canadian Club rye high balls the other evening to support home industry - we must keep our markets open!

All the milk we consume on board is manufactured, but I am used to it now.

Everything can be bought in the ship duty free - cigarettes, handkerchiefs, pillow slips, shirts, ties, shoes. Gin, whiskey, etc. if 5 cents -tremendous savings. Beer is two pence a half pint, tobacco correspondingly. Still, as a great deal of your time is spent on board, you always spend more, so it balances out. Ronny must be growing fast and talking a great deal. Sorry I won't be able to see him frow up. Jean, of course, will be absolutely tops these days with grand stories to tell of school at lunch time. Certainly glad she is going to C.C.I. instead of Commercial. I'd like to see her go to the University of Alberta and get a Bachelor of Commerce or something like that. I'll cut off her allowance if she doesn't get her senior matriculation. Much better for her to keep at school and amount to something than to leave High School early and be a stenographer.

All mail to Egypt goes airmail for three cents - two days, about 36 hours, actually. So you will receive this just as quickly as ordinary mail for England.

All ordinary mail, three cents, goes airmail to Egypt, India, Australia and South Africa, so you can imagine how big Imperial Airways are now.

Peggy MacWilliams, niece of Mrs. Clark, has written me from England - addressed to Catterick. Too bad - I'd like to have met her - sent a reply from Alex yesterday. Alexandria is a very large city and I see many tanks of the Standard Oil Company of New York (Socony) here.

Haven't heard from Bill Edwards since his father's death and hope to soon. It's amazing to think that Edwards and Macdonnel have both passed away since I was home. They both looked marvellously healthy.

Well remember to have 2 1/2 tricks to open and 4 1/4 to go two on an opening bid!!

With lots of love

Bill
(not the ag)
P.S. I haven't entrusted the chassis to a camel yet but soon maybe.