Monthly Archives: January 2015

Sunday.     Jan 17^th

Dear Mother

Very many thanks for your letter which I got this morning dated 14^th. I was wondering if you ever got that wire as I gave it to a promiscuous boy on deck who said he would send it off, & I’m glad he kept his promise. I posted some letters to you all on Friday night, which I expect you will get tomorrow Monday as your letters have taken 3 days to arrive I see.

Now I’m out here again it seems colder than it was at home! though I always said it was colder in England than here; but on 2nd thoughts it’s worse here, as the wind is so bitter. We have a holiday today as it is Sunday, & I am going for a country walk this afternoon with one of our French interpreters. Ask Ben if she remembers my walking over the St Bernard Pass with a Venetian, & Joe said he’d never seen a Hungarian! As a matter of fact this man is an Englishman who lives in France, & is doing interpreter for us.

Many thanks for Ruth’s wire, which I wish I had got before I left, it was very sweet of her to send it. Yes I wish I could have seen her, but I will make a point of it next time I come home. I must write to her but I don’t know her address, so please let me know what it is.

I don’t think there is much going on here, in our front. In fact I’ve only heard one heavy gun fire in the distance since I’ve been back. Mr New-coat is going to take the woolly lining out of his scutum today & use the scutum part only, as it’s too hot to wear & too much fag to carry as it is, & it’s sure to rain! We’ve all just had a present of a tin of toffee from the Grocers association inscribed “to our brave lads at the front!” Hooray! People really are absurdly good to us, & we are doing nothing.

I do hope old Topher is getting on all right, but I expect he’ll soon settle down after his experiences in S.A. This time last Sunday I was talking to dear old Mr & Mrs Drew, hauled out of Church, etc etc & generally living in a sort of dream! Yes rather I’ll store up some of the enjoyment, there was certainly enough & to spare, & use it when things are dull.

Are the girls washing up at the hospital now. I think it’s splendid of them to take on a job like that & I’m very proud of you all.  Must end up & get this censored.

Love to all yr loving son

Ted

Jan.15.

Dear Jinny

I am a fool. I’ve brought out those films I bought at Masseys & they are much too small! I quite forgot to try them before I left, & only tried them this morning and found out. And I can’t send them home as you are not allowed to. I must send you some money to pay for them.

Hope you all got back safely after your sporting effort in seeing me off. I suppose now you are busy in the hospital, washing dishes and making yourselves generally useful. No news here, except that it is a rotten place, & there is no place to compare with England.

By the way I did’nt think much of the passing show, did you? I wish we had gone to Drury Lane now instead as several fellers here told me it was very good, & of course I’ve also heard it was rotten.

My dear my fur-lined [Aqua]scutum [coat] is quite the buzz of the regiment, & all are very envious; so it’s been a success you see, though I have’nt worn it in really wet weather yet. It’s been raining here all the time I’ve been away & is fairly dull today; awful cold too. We had a lovely crossing, just nice and rough and blowy enough to be really nice. Is’nt it rot having to come out here again; still I’m glad in a way my leave was’nt longer as I should have found it harder still to come out. I don’t suppose we shall get any more leave for some time now, at least it’s all been stopped now & we are going back into the trenches next week I believe.

Sorry I have’nt got much news to tell you but as I only saw you yesterday morning, I have’nt had much time! Thanks awfully for all you did for me at home Jinny, I had a fizzing time & hope to be home again soon to rag you. Write me a nice long letter soon and tell us all about it. So long keep smiling, tons of love from

Ted

Friday.       15.1.15.

Dear Mother

Just a line to tell you I arrived safely yesterday after really a very comfortable journey & a good crossing, during which I was NOT ill!

We got here about 9 o’clock last night, by train, motor bus, & motor lorry. Everything seems much the same as it was when I left, & the weather certainly is the same. They have had wet days all the time, so I was fearfully lucky to get such a nice dry spell for the few days I was home. I must just say how fearfully I enjoyed my leave, & how ripping you all were to me, it was topping seeing everyone again, & I can never thank you all enough for giving me such a good time; I only wish I could have stayed at home longer, but of course I count myself fearfully lucky to be able to get home at all.

I hope the others got home safely after seeing me off. I’m afraid I dragged them out fearfully early & it was awfully sporting of them to get up so early after a late night, & I appreciated it muchly. Rather a rush on the platform as I expect they told you, crowds of people & introductions & a final dash for the train as it was just starting. By the way I found I never took my nail brush home, so it should not be on that list of things I left behind. But I did leave my purse behind somewhere so please send that out.

Very cloudy & cold here, & we are off to the trenches again next week, but won’t be in such a long time this time. I hear they are entirely under water! Jolly is’nt it. By the way I find I ordered a pair of govt: gum boots some time ago & they have now arrived, so I shan’t want a pair; I don’ think they are really much good, as if one must get wet it’s much better to slosh around & do it thoroughly & not try & meet it half way, I don’t think it’s any good. Tons of love & thanks to all again for such a highly gorgeous time

Yr loving son

Ted.

Avonmouth, Bristol 10^th

Dear Mother.

I’ve just wired you to say I have arrived safe in England. Arrived today after an awful voyage in the Bay. The Dilwara was with us, tell Ben the way she rolled was awful, I hope Ben had a better time than that.

I’ve just been to see Kathleen, so nice being in England again & seeing someone I knew, talk about Jane & everyone. Tomorrow we go on to Brighton I believe, where we are to have our hospital & I’ll let you know about things.

So nice being home again in spite of all this awful war. I’ve seen no casualty lists lately & I hope everyone is safe. I’ll try & post this here tomorrow.

Best love to all

Yr loving son

Richard.

You might write to me

Richard. C.P. Berryman Esq
E.M.S.
No 8A Indian General Hospital c/o Post Office
Brighton.

Richard’s destination is the famous Indian Military Hospital at Brighton. 

Jan 4^th

Dear Mother

I’ve got my leave all right, so barring accidents I’ll be home on the 8^th allright. I don’t know what the rules are about wearing uniform or mufti at home, but I expect I’ll be able to find some mufti in the house somewhere if I want it, though I’ve got nothing to go to town in-

Very wet & miserable here still and frightfully cold. We had a big parade this morning for Genl Willcocks cmdg: the Indian Army corps, & he dished out some buttery remarks; my word it was cold on parade, & it was raining most of the time. Really I’ve never seen such cold & persistent rain. I enclose a sketch by Dolly Lyell, rather good is’nt it. So long. See you all soon.

Love to all

Ted

According to Drake-Brockman, the Garhwalis were in billets at Hurionville near Lillers which was the Indian Army Corps Commander’s headquarters at the time as well as their realhead. They arrived there at 2:30pm on December 30th.

Jan 3

Dear Mother

Just got a ripping long letter from you of 31^st, written in the Parish Room, & I’ve just time to scrawl a reply. I have just been to church in the local theatre, as they said it was a special intercession day, but there were only 21 officers there.

Incessant rain all day & every day & very cold. Yes rather I have got my new uniform, & feel fearfully smart & clean. Hope Dick is home same time as I am.

Why is Topher going into the RNR, I thought he wanted a mounted job. This is Sunday & with any luck I’ll be home on Friday. I don’t know what the trains are, but I ought to be able to catch one down to Guildford somewhere around 4 to 6 o’clock. Anyone going to hang round Waterloo on the off chance? I hope Ben’s all right. See you soon & tell you everything.

Lots of love to all

from Ted

According to Drake-Brockman, the Garhwalis were in billets at Hurionville near Lillers which was the Indian Army Corps Commander’s headquarters at the time as well as their realhead. They arrived there at 2:30pm on December 30th.