Robert Bragg to his father, William Henry Bragg

Written from Oundle School. Robert discusses his firing practice and notes that, although they have new guns with special instruments to calibrate them, this would not be applicable to actual warfare.

Dryden House, Oundle, Northamptonshire

4/7/09

Dear Dad,

I had a letter from Guy telling me all the news. He is in the upper part of VI B jolly good isn’t it. Do give this cover of the Royal to Buntie. Isn’t it a beauty. Last week hasn’t been so as the others but still we are not yet allowed to bathe. The first time a new boy goes in if he can swim 100yds he is called a blue. I am going to have a try as soon as possible.

I went up to the range again last Thursday but did not get on at all well. The light was bad, the sun kept going in & coming out and also there was a good wind blowing sideways. I only made 47/70 (35 points at 200 & 35 at 500). This time I used a match rifle with wonderful new sights. They fix up their sights with verniers & also put on wind allowances & all kinds of wonderful things. I don’t think it is quite right do you because in actual warfare no one would have time to produce a vernier & put on 2’ of wind & take off 1’ of elevation.

We have had a practical physics & mechanics exam I think I did fairly well in them I find the practical exams much harder than the theoretical ones because we never did any practical work at St Peter’s. It is quite nice to-day the sun is out now. Wont we have fun at the end of term I am looking forward to it no end.

Rob.

Photos courtesy of the Royal Institution RI MS WLB/37a/2/22

Notes and General Information

A vernier scale is a scale used for precision instruments, it allows the user to read divisions between two points of the main scale giving a more accurate measurement.

‘Buntie’ is a nickname used by the family for Robert’s younger sister, most usually called Gwendy.

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