Transcript Australian Imperial ForceApril 29th, 1916

SaturdayMy dear Mother,

We have had quite an eventful time since I last wrote to you.

This week the weather has been beautiful just like the Spring in Australia, in fine weather the Aeroplanes are always very active and this week especially so. On Sunday morning two German planes were brought down, one within half a mile of our billet; we saw it fall quite clearly just like a shot bird, it was a direct hit the shell passing clean through the engine, both the men in it were killed, it is the custom with the Aviators that when one of the enemy is brought down behind our lines, they collect all his personal belongings and clothes and take them over the German lines & drop them, so last evening about 6 o'clock a German plane flew over our billet and dropped a wreath and a note thanking our men for having done this. The German planes are faster and superior to ours but our men make up for this by extra daring. Our men counted 450 shell fired at one British Major in one flight over the German lines, not counting machine gun fire. They call this chap the "Mad Major" he has all his planes perforated with bullets and shrapnel.

On Tuesday last the anniversary of the landing at Gallipoli this Battalion held a sports meeting. My Company D was very successful in the best section competition our company got 1st 2nd 3rd and 4th. My platoon was 2nd, beaten by 2 points. I ran the flag race and pulled in the tug of war. We were second in both of these. I was judge in the Anzac Sprint for men who were at the landing at Anzac.

They are giving eight days leave for England - of course the men who have been longest within the Battalion go first under ordinary circumstances. My leave will come in three months time an officer five days. Lieut. Fox in my company went last night. His people live at Brighton, England, he has not seen them for eleven years, he only heard he was to go one hour before starting, so the visit would be quite unexpected, he was going to send a cable home for me.

Last Tuesday we were inspected be General Walker C.O. 1st Australian Division and on Thursday by Sir Douglas Haig the C in C and yesterday a Major General inspected our billets so there are plenty of tin Hats here. Will ring off now.

Have new Address 8th Battalion2nd Infantry Brigade Your loving son1st Division Gerald

A.I.F