T. E. Lawrence Correspondence – Page 661

LH 9/13/42 15 Birmingham Street, Southampton 11.XI.33. Dear F/Lieut Norrington, I think the enclosed letter - from L.A.C. Lapthorne, a very careful P.D.F (M) at Batten - is interesting. Shall I go into his toggle-collar idea? F/Lt. Smythe rang me up, very interested in a one-cylinder Ferry Diesel he has seen. The Admiralty have ordered eight, supposed to be for Pinnace Auxiliary Plants. Do you want it looked at?. Will you please tell F/Lt. Beauforte Greenwood that on Wednesday 22will finish her 20 hours run-in, if all goes well? Tomorrow 23d should launch. She should finish her run-in on Monday or Tuesday. Those are the closest dates that I can see, at present. The box-spanners have come from Robson, and so the tool-boxes can be finished off. I am enquiring daily into them; and have been, for six months. There was a hitch over the Kent air-valves; I hope to see it tested on 150 tomorrow. No news from Clayton-Dewendre. The edge of the sea has frozen, and also the engines in the shop. If this goes on I shall freeze, too. Yours sincerely T.M.Shaw.