H.M.S. MALAYA.
c/o G.P.O.
Friday 15th.
[Paul got the date wrong]
My dear Mother – I never got another chance yesterday to write to you – I had a lovely time ashore – really it was a topping day – spent most of the time turfing a new golf green we are making. We had a mess dinner in the evening – dined several of the Gun Room – also we had the “Somme Films” – excellent I thought but rather sordid in parts.
Of course re this farm idea of the girls – I must say – there is that to think about – re their good jobs when they come back in September-, but I should think in their cases – they would probably be taken back again – especially Dreda & Marjorie where they are known – Ben I’m sure could get a job similar to her present one if she wanted it – & Lance’s is’nt a paid job you see; so on the whole I don’t think they ought really to lose by it.
The thing is that I should’nt like Ben & Dreda to get too far away from you – you ought really to have someone with you at home; Jane wrote to me yesterday & said she was going to make her job into a daily one & so be with you in the evenings.
I see Gordon Campbell is excelling himself – really excellent work he’s done though we know very little about why he was promoted – D.S.O. & a V.C. We shall probably hear soon though. High excitement at Hillier House I should imagine. If you hear anything – why etc – do let me know will you – I saw Digby for about ½ a minute ashore yesterday – very Digby-ish as usual.
Rather – black cats are fearfully lucky they say – so don’t lose him now.
They seem to have had a great week end at No. 10 Elsworthy. James & Marjorie were there as well.
I had a long letter from Mrs Conway-G – old C.G. is not so bad apparently as was first thought – & must have a month’s complete rest. Very surprised about my engagement.
Bestest love to you all-
from your ever loving son
Paul
Paul had recently got engaged to Nancy Swan, whose aunt by marriage was Mrs Conway-Gordon. At this distance of time, it is impossible to know if “Marjorie” was Nancy’s sister. Nancy’s father was Colonel Charles Arthur Swan C.M.G., M.A., J.P., and her mother was Ethel, only daughter of Colonel F.I. Conway-Gordon. Her brother was brother was Major Charles Francis Trollope Swan MC who was born in 1887 and her sister Marjorie was born in 1886.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Campbell_%28Royal_Navy_officer%29
http://lewishamwarmemorials.wikidot.com/person:campbell-gordon
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=10222242
His writings
http://guttedarcades.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/vice-admiral-gordon-campbell-vc-dso.html
My Mystery Ships online
https://archive.org/stream/mymysteryships00gord#page/n9/mode/2up
Pencil sketch of Gordon
http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/7628
Hillier House now flats for the elderly
http://www.hillierhouse.org.uk/about.aspx
