By the way, this is now the third successive night that we have had an alarm. Have not yet been up in the balloon but am looking forward to it. I never thought that we should come down to an old (1902) gas bag. Heaps of love and don't let Mummie get alarmed. You must bear in mind that night flying is ten times more dangerous than day. Ever your loving son, HAROLD. NOTE. _An interesting letter, written in September, is missing. In this the waiter described a balloon trip that he made over London in the dark, ultimately coming down near Ashford, and having an exciting experience while landing._ _Early in October, 1914, the aviator went from Hendon to the Royal Naval Air Station, Fort Grange, Gosport. A letter of this date is also missing. It described his first cross-country flight, when, owing to engine failure, had to make three forced landings (from heights of about 4,000 feet), all of which he managed safely without damaging his machine. The engine was afterwards found to be faulty. In this letter he referred to the Commanding Officer's pleasure that he had made so good a beginning._ [1] Met an air-wave. [2] The nacelle is the short body of an aeroplane, as found in all machines with propeller behind (usually called "pusher" machines). II ON HOME SERVICE V. _To his Father._ Royal Naval Air Station, Fort Grange, Gosport. 14th November, 1914. DEAR DAD, Many thanks for note received this morning. Shall try to get home for inoculation in about a fortnight. From what I can make out, we shall not get our squadron together until the end of January. We were to have gone over at the end of this month. We may, however, go over in pieces, a flight at a time. If the Germans reach Calais, we shall stay here permanently for home defence, but at the rate we are progressing, we shan't be ready until March, and then, maybe, the war will be over. I must say I want to see some of it, and one would be bound to get a second stripe if one went across. 15th November, 1914. Have spent quite a successful first day over at Whale Island:--squad drill, Morriss tube and Webley Scott firing practice. I got on famously. The Morriss tube is particularly easy. It merely becomes a matter of getting all on the bull. It's a grand place to wake one up; everything is done at the double. My cold is awfully heavy and I'm feeling pretty rotten. Best love. Ever your loving son, HAROLD. VI. _To his Father._ The Queen's Hotel, Farnborough, Hants. 18th November, 1914. DEAR DAD, Thanks so much for your birthday letter [his 21st birthday], which I had just time hurriedly to read through this morning. Late last night we had orders to shift, and everything has been a rush ever since. I have left all my luggage at Fort Grange and have only a small dispatch case with me. Am very disappointed. As the C.O.'s machine was not ready to go, he collared mine, and I am travelling as passenger. However, it can't be helped.