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Monthly Archives: September 2016

10 September 1916 – Paul to Gertrude

H.M.S. MALAYA.

c/o G.P.O.

Wednesday. 10th

 

My dear Mother-

V. many thanks for your letter – and I am so glad you had such a good rest at Pitney-

Ripping photographs those of Jim’s wedding – think I must have them mounted & put in a frame-

I am still having a jolly good time here – though I was fearfully busy all last week with our men’s Concert – 3 times we did it- & they want to do it again to-day at the local Hospital- but to tell the truth I’m bored with concerts & am not going – only making the arrangements.

I’ve seen a lot of Mrs Conway – I go there a lot – & she is kind- She has a niece staying there now-, an awfully nice girl – Mrs Conway’s been in bed with a chill for a couple of days – but we go & have tea in her bed room.

We are having a slight blow up here again – & makes boat work rather rotten.

I must write to Topher & cheer him up – poor fellow. I met a Lieut in a ship yesterday who was at Canterbury with him – Bellairs by name-!

Hope to go out to the Hills’ to-day if I can get there.

So no luck with the mantle – any chance of getting one in Guildford anywhere?

With much love to you all – ever your loving son

Paul

Mrs C.G. sends her love to you – I asked her to write-.


Not the same Bellairs but may be what precipitated the -!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlyon_Bellairs

Paul was increasingly close to Nancy Swan during the summer of 1916 and early 1917, possibly via an existing friendship with her aunt by marriage, Mrs Conway-Gordon.

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.

Nancy herself was born in 1895, making Nancy 22 in 1917 to Paul’s 28.

 
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Posted by on 10 September, '16 in About, HMS Malaya, Rosyth

 

9 September 1916 – Ted to Gertrude

LANSDOWNE,
GARHWAL,
U.P.

Sept 9th/16

Dear Mother

I see the mail leaves a day later so I’ll be able to catch it today. Many thanks for your letter yesterday, dated 16 Aug. So Jim’s to be married today, that appears to be the latest fixed date anyhow. So I’m sending him along a cable, & I hope it gets him somewhere near the right time. I’m most awfully glad he’s getting married- the very best thing for him, & from all accounts Sheina is the right girl for him. I had a line from him yesterday, also telling me he was getting married today. I also heard from Dryden & Ruth, which I must answer next week.

Yes Dick & I had great – if short – times. I wonder if he has sailed yet; last time I heard he was awaiting further orders, though the first line I got said he was off at once. Rains have more or less stopped, thnak goodness, as they were most depressing; & now we have gorgeous weather, cool mornings & evenings & nights & fairly hot days; but I expect we shall have a drop or two more rain yet awhile.

Nell has got the bureau & is mighty pleased with it; old Ben made a splendid choice apparently. I do hope she’s better now; I did’nt hear last mail. Nell is still very busy “house maiding” as she calls it at her hospital. She sometimes writes & says she’s had a real hard day, I do hope they’re not over-working her there; but she seems very cheery & happy enough.

So glad you have good news of Topher, & I’m glad he’s well behind, at present, at anyrate. Fancy feeling the effect of gas 9 miles away! I do hope Julian Yeatman’s all right; I thought I saw his name in the paper, one’s R.A & one’s Wiltshires is’nt he, I forget which is which. Harry was wounded before; is he all right again now I wonder?

Must scurry to catch the mail: I’ll answer your letter properly later.

Best love to all

Yr loving son

Ted


Julian is Robert Julian Yeatman – www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28984/pages/9696/page.pdf (bottom left) educated at Marlborough College, co-author of ‘1066 And All That’ – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R._J._Yeatman

 

 
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Posted by on 9 September, '16 in About

 

6 September 1916 – Paul to Gertrude

H.M.S. MALAYA.

c/o G.P.O.

Sept. 6.

 

Dear Mother

V. many thanks for your letter. Extraordinary about that fellow Lyon – turning up at Delaford – Oh ha yes – he was onboard about a month ago I should think. He knew Chubbie out in S. America when he was in a ship out there – so I expect he went to the Shop I told him to. An awfully nice fellow.

I rushed off a letter to Sheina & Jim – and I hope they get them before the wedding; did’nt know you could suddenly shift the date at the last minute so to speak.

I had a letter from Mrs Steer yesterday telling me about dear Chubbie – she seems to have been rather bad poor child – and what with Tochie as well & then she (Mrs Steer) said the puppy went ill as well – she was rather worried.

I had a lovely long letter from Ted last night – seems to have plenty to do at Lansdowne – teaching recruits etc. How lovely Dick coming home – but what can he be doing I wonder. I do hope he gets to England for a bit anyhow-

Some air raid that – and a good bit of work getting that one down-

With my best love to you all

Your ever loving son

Paul


Herbert Inglis Nigel Lyons (died 1917, fought in the Falklands)

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/3043890/

His father (died 1919)

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/4009588/

 
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Posted by on 6 September, '16 in About, HMS Malaya, Rosyth

 

6 September 1916 – Ted to Gertrude

LANSDOWNE,
GARHWAL,
U.P.

Sept 6/16

Dear Mother

Very many thanks for your letter which turned up last Saturday. More good news after a longish lull, but we can’t expect to make  a very rapid advance just yet. The general opinion seems to incline towards the Germans retiring either voluntarily in order to shorten their line, or because they will have to weaken their western front on account of Roumania’s entry into the Arena. I only hope they will go, but on the other hand it may prolong the war by enabling them to hold out longer, unless they are routed & retire in disorder. What rotters the Greeks are, & I’m glad the others are taking similar action at last, & are manning their show for them, as they seem quite incapable of doing so themselves. As for Tino – well, there, I don’t know what to say, he’s too despicable for words.

I say I hope you were all right in the last big air raid, 13 zepps they say, & only 3 managed to reach London & one was brought down near there. But the rest seem to have penetrated over the Eastern & Southern counties & I do hope they had’nt got as far as you. The official statements put the casualties & damage at a very low figure & I sincerely hope they are telling the truth & not concealing anything.

I had’nt seen Guy Crossman’s name as a matter of fact; I’m awfully sorry, & I don’t know what Mrs Crossman will say. Indeed I well remember our week end at St Edith’s, great fun. Yes I was at Canterbury with the Brinsley Richards, I missed his name too, though I always go through the lists very carefully.

I had a wire from Dick as I told you to say he was off at once, but I got another yesterday to say he was awaiting orders, & might not even go till the 15th of this month. He’ll be glad to get away I expect.

What a smash hit that was outside Delaford, the old motor van taking a toss, but it’s so long ago by the time you get this that I expect you’ll have forgotten all about it.

I had a line from Ben last mail, poor child, I do hope she’s feeling better now.

I’m glad Ruth’s taking up Red X work but it’ll put her back a bit at Guy’s won’t it. However as you say she’s young yet, & in any case she will be able to begin next year all right.

What great news about Jim! I don’t know whether to send a cable or not on the 8th, as it does’nt seem quite certain yet. I must wait for the next mail which should be here on the 8th before I take any steps, & even then I’m afraid it’ll be a trifle late in arriving. Yes I hope you see Billy Barlow, but I fancy he’ll be in town in hospital for a longish time. They are going to cut a bit off one of his ribs & make him a new bone from it in his upper arm; sounds jolly does’nt it; poor man, he’s suffered enough as it is, & ought never to have been sent out here again.

No news here. The rains are coming to an end thank goodness, I was getting a bit tired of them. The first Batt. have’nt gone to Quetta yet, & have got no further orders. Meantime the 3rd Batt is “all dressed up & no where to go” as the saying is, as there are no barracks for them here & won’t be till the 1st Batt go. So thoroughly Indian all the arrangements have been; they just sit down in comfort up at Simla, & say Raise a third Battn of the 39th, & leave the rest to chance & the British officer!

Nell sends good news, & has been staying with her godmother at Leamington. Her godmother’s people have a castle or something in the orkneys & have asked us to go & stay there! Far off at all! I hear she is getting thin; well I suppose she can spare a little, but I do hope she’s not working too hard at that old hospital. I have told her to be careful, & if you are writing you might say I hate thin people!

Must wind up

Best love to all

yr loving son

Ted


 

“Tino”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constantine_I_of_Greece

3rd Septemer Zeppelin raids and the first domestic VC

http://www.worcestershireregiment.com/wr.php?main=inc/vc_w_l_robinson_page6

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leefe_Robinson

Pathé reel

http://www.britishpathe.com/video/zeppelin-wreck-at-enfield/query/AIRSHIPS

Guy Crossman

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/556434/CROSSMAN,%20GUY%20DANVERS%20MAINWARING

Brinsley-Richards

http://www.hambo.org/kingscanterbury/view_man.php?id=130

When You’re All Dressed Up & No Place To Go sung by Billy Murray

http://www.loc.gov/jukebox/recordings/detail/id/3648/

Probable Orkney castle

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balfour,_Orkney

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
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Posted by on 6 September, '16 in About

 

3 September 1916 – Paul to Gertrude

H.M.S. MALAYA.

c/o G.P.O.

Tuesday evening 3rd

 

Dear Mother- Thanks very much for your letter from Pitney – & I am glad you are having a good rest down there – & I am sure it will do you a lot of good – Beastly all these raids lately – but they don’t seem to have done much damage from what the papers say.

I had a letter from Dick to-day – he still seems to think that he’ll be home soon – and fearfully keen for me to arrange my leave at the same time as his – but that’s impossible at present.

I am still having a good time up here- I went to tea with Mrs C.G. this afternoon – I am fearfully busy with our Ship’s Company Concert – I am sort of running it for them – we hope to give it ashore here on Thursday & Friday.

We don’t want a mantle just yet awhile – because our officers’ show is postponed- Still it would be useful to have it to see if it suits-!

Ripping of you to have Chubbie down for a few days – & I am glad she is so much better.

Best love to you Mother-

Your ever loving son

Paul

 

 
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Posted by on 3 September, '16 in About, HMS Malaya, Rosyth

 

1 September 1916 – Richard to Gertrude

Karachi.

Sept 1st

 

Dear Mother.

Sorry for such a hurried note last week, but I thought I was off. There apparently has been some difficulty about transport & I am standing fast & hope to be off soon. I have orders to report at Marseilles & know no more. Anyhow, it may mean a lot of leave later on, & perhaps, if I do ever get to Marseilles (you never know till you’ve actually started) I can get across & see you all, spurs & everything complete. Poor Ben it is dreadful for her, I do hope she is better.

I am glad Topher is all right. Nuisance about my dress clothes. I’ll have to have them sent back now.

Harold has arrived & has been quite a success.

I am playing cricket today & must rush off.

I hear I may sail on the 13th.

Best love to all

yr loving son

Richard.

 
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Posted by on 1 September, '16 in About

 

1 September 1916 – Paul to Gertrude

H.M.S. MALAYA.

c/o G.P.O.

 

Sunday evening

 

Dear Mother-

I am glad to hear you have arrived safely at Pitney – and I hope this letter reaches you there-

It seems to have got so cold all of a sudden to-day. I had my friends the Hills onboard to tea this afternoon. I think they enjoyed it quite – although there’s not fearfully much to do. I went to tea & dinner with them yesterday-

A happy feeling to-night – that you are in a nice safe place.

Goodnight Mother-

My best love

from your loving son

Paul

Please give my love to all at Pitney

 
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Posted by on 1 September, '16 in About, HMS Malaya, Rosyth