T. E. Lawrence Correspondence – Page 664

LH 9/13/42 Southampton. 7.XI.34. Dear Flight Lieutenant Norrington, Please excuse a hand-written letter to you^ to-day's query from R.D., Arm 2 about the smoke genera- tors. We so arranged the hood over the candle-sockets, on the boat's stern, as to ward them against spray and rain. Hence the waterproofing the detonators is mainly to prevent damp getting to the lighting powder. Preparing a candle. We remove the taped-on tin lid. Then tear off the soldered tap, by its ring. This discloses the grey firing-powder. We lift one corner of the rim, where the square tab had been soldered down, and bury one of the firework detonators in the firing-powder, under the edge of the tin-rim. Thepressue of the tin keeps it down in contact. The candle-head is then water-proofed, by one of several means. It is important not to let the water-proofing medium seep into the firing powder, for it may coagulate it and delay ignition. It is best to cover the tab-orifice with a good lid of brown paper on thin fabric; if the candle is to be soon used, this, (tied by string round the top of the canister) is sufficient protection. If the candle is to remain in 495