Item 77 - Letter from George to Ruth Mallory, c. 23 October 1917

1 item, paper

Letter to Ruth Mallory written from Avington Park Camp, Winchester. No date except 'Tuesday'

Their written exam would be on Wednesday afternoon and there was a good deal to look up before then and he had only just managed to get hold of a handbook of the gun. This morning they had passed through the gas chamber. They had to go in and change their masks. He didn’t realise the chamber would be full of gas when they entered as it was usual to let the gas off once they were inside. He mistook the practice change for the real test. He had some difficulty with his helmet. The tube which was supposed to go in his mouth seemed to be going into his eye so he took it off to get it right and had a whiff of gas. The gas must have been very light as he felt no ill effects except a slight headache.

Was going to dine with the Irving’s that evening. They would be outdoors doing map work during the afternoon.

The exams would finish on Thursday so he might come home straight after. The motor bike had blown off its exhaust so he was getting one of the fitters in the camp to mend it.