MaureenE Posted 24 January , 2018 Share Posted 24 January , 2018 Transcribed letters written by Thomas Gilbert to his parents and other family members, chiefly from India, State Library of South Australia http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/archivaldocs/prg/PRG266_7_1-150_Gilbert_letters_transcript.pdf ( http://www.catalog.slsa.sa.gov.au:80/record=b2187028~S1 Catalogue link ) Page 12 13 June 1915. He is not allowed to join the Indian Army Officers reserve. Page 28 18.6.16. Indian Army Reserve of Officers Page 33 Conditions of Service for IARO Page 34 Attached to 27th Light Cavalry at Lucknow Page 42 15.10.16 He “put down “yes” on a notice asking if we were willing to fly” Page 49 30.12.16 Notified he is to be posted to Egypt for training in flying Page 53 28.1.17 He commences training at Aboukir, Abbasia, Heliopolis Page 67 23.6.17 Advised he is to be posted to England Page 75 9 Sept 1917. He receives notice he will be posted to India. Page 82 27.11.17 114th Squadron. R.F.C. Lahore Page 92 18.3.18 Transferred to Sibi, Baluchistan The war against the Marris Page 96 23.4.18 Harnai Pge 97, 6.5.18 The squadron prepare to leave for Quetta Page 112 10.11.18 The squadron moves to Lahore. Cheers Maureen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimberley John Lindsay Posted 4 February , 2018 Share Posted 4 February , 2018 Dear Maureen, Thanks for providing such a fascinating insight into an Australian IARO. Super! Thomas Gilbert seems to have had a quite leisurely War... Kindest regards, Kim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 4 February , 2018 Share Posted 4 February , 2018 9 hours ago, Kimberley John Lindsay said: Thomas Gilbert seems to have had a quite leisurely War... To be fair I don't suppose it was a fairground ride flying over mountainous areas in one of those ropey old early biplanes with distinctly hostile tribesmen below. If you didn't kill yourself in a forced landing then you had to persuade the locals not to cut you off at the pass. Hence the goolie chit! Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimberley John Lindsay Posted 4 February , 2018 Share Posted 4 February , 2018 Dear Charlie, I have now read right through (from his IARO attd Cavy beginings), to Lieut. Thomas Gilbert's RFC and RAF flying time in a military backwater (Baluchistan). For example, to 'Dear Marjory' on 3 Mar 1918, RFC Lahore: '...we put up at the Meerut Club, and had a game of tennis in the evening'. This was followed by another letter on 25 Mar 1918, RFC Sibi: 'I tea-ed and tennis-ed with the Actons yesterday and am doing the same today, also dining. I don't mind this sort of Active Service a bit...' My late father (MC, Mentioned) used to say things like, 'Oh, old Bun Tyrell, he had a lovely War!' That sort of comment would fit the fortunate Tom Gilbert, too. Dear All, Can anyone attach a portrait of Thomas Gilbert? Kindest regards, Kim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie962 Posted 4 February , 2018 Share Posted 4 February , 2018 2 hours ago, Kimberley John Lindsay said: he had a lovely War!' Kim Yes, of course, by comparison. There were also those who had 'a good war' which seemed to involve a lot of fighting. Funny the euphemisms. Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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