H.M. Submarine E.11. c/o G.P.O.

3rd May, 16

My dear Dodie:

You are quite right about my not having written for some time. I managed, very stupidly, to crush my right hand in trying to close the conning cover hatch in H.3. We were changing batteries off the enemy coast, when we were attacked by a Torpedo Boat and in the hurry to dive I closed the hatch too quickly on my hand, it is getting better now, but still rather painful. It happened on a very dark night so we could not see her until she was quite close. I have got a new boat now, but I am not very pleased as it takes me away to a place where there is not any amusing work. We have our headquarters ashore in a very dusty and sandy camp, it is also swimming with mongrel dogs and fleas, between them they keep one awake for most of the night. Some Turkish aeroplanes came to pay us a visit yesterday, we opened fire a