1 H M.S. Excellent
Portsmouth
57 Mess Thursday Dear Father Just a few lines in answer to your
letter I am very glad you are able to fish again I
see by your letter that you are at the lines and the
haddocks is plenty and the main thing is that your are
getting a good price for them. You were wanting to know
how many boys went with Jack he went himself for
Liverpool but there was a lot fleft for Cardiff and
Glasgow all of them for merchantmen. You were hoping
that I would get a merchant ship well there is every
chance of me going as I told you before that all R.N.R.
men are for the defence of armed merchant vessels. All men that join them have to sign papers to work
about the ship as well as at the gun that is when they
get out the danger zone. I am glad that the boats are all
doing well. you were wanting to know about Jack & Andy
they only done 10 days course it is only a short one to see how
they get on but there was bigger block heads stayed behind
to go through for seamen gunner than Andy was at any
rate he was in a different classthan I was so I only can
take his word for it. Wellfather I was out fishing on 2 Tuesday and what do you think the first guns crew to
open fire was all Ulster men and the first shot went right
through the target so what do you think of that I was
britch worker and Charlie was butting in the shells and
a Belfast man was gun layer. well we fired 207 rounds
the gun was black with heat — she burned all the paint
I do no know how I got on but I had very good shooting
I fired 14 rounds and I can tell you I did not firemuch
for a while god only knows what it is like in France
I am glad Sam is still all right — I am sure he has
it pretty cold poor fellow I will close now give my love
to Jessie. I remain
your Loving
Son Willie P./S.
I will be going before the commander
shortly to see he will read out our points
I was told that I got a reckamend for CL3
W.