Letter - 10 December 1916 - a flight over the Turkish lines

Athol writes home to mother. More letters and parcels arrive. The men in 'A' Flight form a soccer team as the competition (an English regiment) won't play Australian rules. Athol takes part in a bombing raid of the Turkish lines. He and a friend, Lieut Cole*, plan a trip to Port Said.

Kantara
10.12.16

Dear Mater,

Two letters to thank you for this time 62 & 63 also a pair of boots, and a couple each of Australasians, Punch  and Table Talk etc. I won't want any more boots for ages as I've two pairs that I haven't worn now, and Bruce's boots practically don't wear out. Anyway I've never fairly worn a pair yet through I bunt one and lost two!

There isn't much doing here as usual. We are quite a small family now as 'C' Flight have moved out leaving only 'A' and ...... Cap't Sheldon is acting O.C. Squadron whilst Major Rutledge is in England.

We had a game of soccer the other day, practice match and then yesterday the Squadron team played another Regiment and lost 4 to 1. You see we can't get a game of Australian rules and so have to play the English games.

I had a fly over the Turkish lines the other day. Gave them a couple of bombs to go on with. Didn't do much harm though.

I'm going up to Port Said for the day today with Cole*, the coroner's son. It will be the first time I've been ashore there for over six years. When we went through in '14 we didn't land. My love to the Aunts and Pater.

Yours lovingly,

Athol

Adrian Trevor Cole was the same age as Athol.  Lt Cole was also a Melbourne Grammar boy. He enlised on 28 January 1916 and arrived in Egypt on 16 March 1916. He initially trained as an aircraft mechanic and went on to learn to fly in November at about the same time as Athol gaining his pilot's wings in November 1916. He also served in WW2 in the RAAF and had an interesting career after the War. You can read more about him at:
http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/cole-adrian-lindley-trevor-9780

Capt Adrian Trevor Cole

Australian War Memorial image: P01034.050

c.1917, Palestine