1st August 1916
A relatively easy day for Arthur at the school; the weather is blazing hot which makes their morning mapping exercise a little taxing: “It was hot – even my old pen seems to feel it.” The afternoon is more relaxed, and Arthur has a brief end of course interview with the Commandant: “He was very pleased with a couple of sketch maps I did for him of our part of the show & made a great fuss of them”. Their afternoon lecture is postponed so Arthur takes a welcome swim in the river.
Arthur to Dollie
7.20pm Tues
… Another day of blazing heat – summer seems to have set in with a vengeance. I was awfully disappointed to-day, for there has been no mail in at all. Let’s hope for a big one to-morrow. By the way, darling the School breaks on Saturday so will you just address your dear letters to the regiment again as usual.
This [morning] we had an early morning parade. Afterwards brekker & then the main parade. We were trekking round country mapping. It was hot – even my old pen seems to feel it.
Luckily this afternoon was pretty slack. Our parade consisted only of an interview with the Commandant. He just had us in one by one and asked us two or three questions, how much service we had, how we had enjoyed the school & so on. He was very pleased with a couple of sketch maps I did for him of our part of the show & made a great fuss of them. After that we were supposed to have a lecture but it was postponed till to-morrow. So about eight of us went down to the river & had a bathe. It was very pleasant.
Since tea I’ve slept for half-an-hour & done some work. What is the weather like at home, dear – is it hot yet? Write & give me all your news…