Letter - 30 November - the enemy flies over Cairo. Athol's plane crashes.

Athol writes home to mother. He recounts how the German pilots flew 90 miles behind their lines to bomb Cairo. The AFC retaliated with raids which bombed a railway line east of the Dead Sea.
The lads invent a new ball game called 'bounders' and Athol umpires two football matches.

Kantara
Egypt
30.11.16

Dear Mater,

There is a mail out this morning I believe, so here is a line.  As you know the Hun flew over and bombed Cairo. A fine effort as he had to go over 90 miles behind our lines to do it. But we got even with several raids, one of which two machines (one Old Melb pilot) bombed the railway on the east of the Dead Sea.  Three of our machines were sent to Cairo to patrol and I had a job on one but as we were leaving here the pilot 'stalled' the machine and we crashed about 30 or 40 feet to earth. No one hurt, I got a bleeding nose, and the machine was about finished. Also I lost the job as another pilot and observer were sent.

I have umpired two football matches for the men and we have invented a game we call 'bounders', a cross between baseball and rounders. 'A' Flight played the rest of the mess a couple of days ago and won by 2 runs. Next Sunday the officers play the men and as they have three baseball players we expect a good game.

We went down to the Canal about ?p.m. yesterday and saw the Medina go through from Australia. Expect we'll get a mail tomorrow. My love to Pater and the Aunts.

Yours lovingly,

Athol

P.S. See V.H.A. (Athol's elder brother - Valentine Harold Adams) is gazetted as a flying officer in RFC. (21.10.16).