h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hello Len,
Congratulations on a well deserved FRONT PAGE spot. As a man who had everything to lose the Will To Live came through loud and clear.
I have pointed quite a few people in the direction of your stories not only for the well told well rounded Tales but as a shining example of fortitude and perserverance.
I also told them it gave us the truth at long last after our Government of the time called it cowardly and tried to sweep it under the mat.
It needed to be told and you have told it well.
Now Centre your hat man dont wear it on your ear like a quiff.
Regards Frank.

Dear Frank,
Thanks for that. You've been a great scource of encouragement to me. Hope your PC has by now recovered from its ill-health. My 1st world war uniform in the picture taken early 1939), was designed to go with a peaked cap & putties. We had the putties but never used them; they hadn't kept any of the caps. Many bought them from a shop in Bury St. Edmunds, but I was too hard up - only earned half a crown a week working for my father. The 1914 Short Lee-Enfield .303 rifle I was holding (and a very fine weapon it was, too) was the one I took into battle with me.
Yours Len

Dear Len,
Thank you for the kind words, you have taught me many things I did not know or could even guess at. You painted a completely new picture of those times which to me shows we should always keep an open mind on all things.

As an Army Cadet for five years I grew to love the Short Lee Enfield. Our first real weapons were the Ross Rifle a Canadian weapon that could be dangerous if not locked down properly. We also had some single shot Carbines.
Because I had learned to shoot on the farm I took to the rifle and got Marksman with it so got the first Short L/E. I was in all the shooting teams with that weapon and never lost faith in it.
The Mark 4 we got when I was in the regular army was good but I spent many hours in the armoury before shooting competitions. My most favourite weapon was the A1-L1 SLR or self loading rifle 7.62 but that was many years after your time Len and now they have the SA80 and we have all heard about that one and its problems.
The Short Lee Enfield would still fire in the worst conditions and I knew many old soldiers who said it was the best.
Those first world war uniforms served a multitude of purposes. I wore one dyed blue with a white shirt and red tie while Convalescing in the Middle East, talk about sticking out like a sore thumb I was glad to get out of it.
I see they are editing more of your stories Len I also have a couple to catch up, you have sneaked past me while this thing was playing games.
Regards Frank.

Thanks Frank. Another good thing about the Short Lee Enfield. One could never carry enough ammo., and with the SLE one was not tempted to waste it all on a few targets before could it could be replenished. Finally, it was robust easy to service, and if looked after it never jammed.
Regards Len