Author Archives: Richard Berryman

30^th. Same address

Dear Mother

Many thanks for your letter written 12^th. Those fools at Marseilles never gave me several letters which you had written ages before. They only sent them on the other day. That lamp arrived & it is a Godsend. Just in the nick of time as I had actually that moment run out of candles. Thanks awfully for it. The glass was smashed but that does’nt matter & such elegant furniture would be rather out of place in a dug out.

I’ve left the billets now and am up with a party just behind the lines digging roads etc. How the girls will be amused to think that at last I am at the front. However it’s not very dangerous here, only an occasional shell goes over. Our guns all round make a lot of noise, & it’s a nuisance at night to have your candle put out by an extra big bang. One put the lamp out last night.

It’s absolutely rotten weather & the mud is awful. I shan’t be sorry when I go back again. I’d like some candles & a writing block about this size & some envelopes

Please thank Ben for her letter. I must try & get the Rouen one. Lots of letters arrived from Karachi forwarded. Best love to all.

Yr loving son

Richard

Oct 23.

Dear Mother.

I’ve had 3 letters sent up from Marseilles. The last you wrote from Pitney I think. There must be some gaps as you only say Topher enjoyed his leave & never said when he had it & for how long. I don’t think I want any clothes thanks. I expect I’ll be wanting some sox soon.

I wonder if all those boxes have arrived yet to load up the overcrowded house. Jim’s are there now I suppose. You will be boxed when all mine arrive. Jim seems to have had a nice quiet wedding. I wonder why they want to send him to India, I daresay he’ll like it, & Ted will be pleased to have him near. Mrs Berryman going if he goes?

Please send me a lanyard thing one carries a whistle on round your shoulder. I want a red one as that’s what medical people have in the cavalry. No good unless red. I’d also like one of those canteens you get from Pound’s. I’ll send you a cheque when Cox send me a cheque book.

If Jim would like one of those, Teapot, sugar basin & cream just, set complete from Harrods £2.6.0 I’ll give him one. Ask Mrs Berryman what she wants. I’m not very rich, but I expect Dreda is saving up something for my leave is’nt she? She generally does collect for us I believe.

I must write to Paul as I may be able to wangle a drop of leave & I’d like to get it when he does.

What a rag eh?

I heard from Ben, poor old thing, she still seems very sad.

I hope my breeches will hurry up. I’ve only one pair of them over. Poor Chubbie I do hope she is better by this time. I hope the shop was not shut when my friend called.

Best love to all

Yr loving son

Richard

Similar (?) creamer

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/harrods-silver-creamer-sheff-1916-219110085

Similar lanyard

http://www.tankmuseum.org/ixbin/indexplus?record=ART3844

Wednesday 18^th

Dear Mother

That address I gave you yesterday is all right, as I hear tonight I am to be permanent. I am quite pleased as it’s a good job & later on I’ll get a regiment if I want one. I want some breeches. There should be two pairs arriving soon from Karachi. Send me the new pair will you, as I only have one pair here & I’ve bust them already.

I can’t get any leave yet I fancy. We can go to Paris, but I want to save up my money for home. Tell the girls at last I’ve heard a gun fired in anger in the distance! but I’ve not been in any battles yet.

I am longing to hear if Topher is anywhere near & if I only had his address I might find out & if he’s anywhere near I could hop over & see him.

It is muddy out here & cold, but if it only stays like this I shan’t mind. I am at a place quite near a place the cathedral of which you’ll see in the last Sphere all sand bagged. The door I think it is. I might just as well tell you the name but it’s so mysterious like this & perhaps you’ll spend 6d. Could you get me an acetylene lamp like you sent Topher.

Must write to some of the girls.

yr loving son

Richard.

Martinpuich

http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery/cemetery/60708/MARTINPUICH%20BRITISH%20CEMETERY

Nr Amiens

http://www.pictorialgems.com/1916-French-Church-Architecture-Amiens-Cathedral-Sandbagged.60745

Dear Mother.

Would you write to me at this address

104 Inhow Indian Cavalry Field Ambulance
2^nd Indian Cavalry Division
France

If I don’t stay here they will be sent on alright I think alright. I hope I do stay here as it’s quite a nice job & a decent mess. We are in billets, but we don’t know how long we shall be here. I rather wanted a regiment but I daresay I can get one later on. Quite happy here at present.

Best love to all

Yr loving son

Richard.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_Indian_Cavalry_Division

Oct 13.

Dear Mother.

Many thanks for your letter I got from                      here. But only one! any others will be forwarded & I will give you an address next time I write. Off to the front tonight with no one to see me off! Please tell the girls “Mr Martyr”! I am joining a Calvalry regiment, but do not know which yet.

On the back of this is a list of luggage which will arrive some old time. Do let me know where Topher is. No one ever sent me his address. I am writing in the train a few secs before we start. We’ve been here 1½ days but I’ve been so busy.

Love to all

Yr loving

Dick.

Thank Jane for the Combined k f & spoon.

Dickinson, a friend who used to drop food on Kat is going to see Jane & Chubbie

1 black uniform case, new.

1 uniform case old.

1 small tin uniform case in crate

1 green canvas lunch basket

1 sml case leather empty.

1 small bundle of sticks.

1 tent.

1 box of cigar

1 bundle of bed.

KFS set

http://www.stevebusterjohnson.com/#!Combined-KnifeForkSpoon-Set/zoom/cnhi/imagev9m

ROYAL BOMBAY YACHT CLUB

Dear Mother

There’s a mail going out tomorrow so I may as well catch it. I am to sail on H.T. Kurfanus Castle tomorrow to Suez, & then overland to Alex & so on.

I may be able to get your letters tomorrow but I have to be on board by 10 & box won’t be open I’m afraid. I will write on the way home, but it will probably arrive same time as this.

Best love to all.

Yr loving son

Richard.

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

TAJ MAHAL PALACE HOTEL
BOMBAY

Sept 10 1916

Dear Mother

Many thanks for your letter & as I said when I took it out, “what a topping handkerchief”. That lavender was lovely & was so useful to smell on board yesterday when coming down from Karachi & feeling a bit squirmy. Of course you need never now have bothered about my clothes. Such a pity, but Cox have instructions to send them back to you when they do arrive, & how annoying forgetting that coat. I would have liked tails as well anyhow.

Jim & Sheina were married yesterday then, of course I won’t dare meet his father in law, as he’s the old IMS col isn’t he who said I dressed up so. Bit awkward meeting Sheina, (spose I can call her by her Christian name) too. She used to skoff did’nt she? No little book arrived, something about Daddy long legs you said.

I am sure Susan will like the change at Seaview. I was so sorry to have to leave June behind, I have given her to rather a pet of a girl. I am sorry Jane Yeatman’s boy has been wounded.

I arrived here this morning, but I won’t believe I am really off till the ship sails from here. You see they stopped us the other day & we had to wait a fortnight. How nice of the people to let Binkie in to see his master.

Please thank Ruth for her message at the end of your letter. I dunno’ what I shall do here all tomorrow. Spend money I suppose.

I hope I’ll find some letters in Marseilles.

Best love to all.

Yr loving son   Richard.

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

Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daddy-Long-Legs_%28novel%29

IMS

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

Karachi.

Sept 1^st

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 13^th.

Best love to all

yr loving son

Richard.

25^th August

Dear Mother.

I meant to write on the mail boat today as I’ve had orders to go to Marseilles. It’s been put off (this morning) so now I dunno’ when I shall leave. I’ve cabled you to write to Marseilles. Must catch mail.

Yr loving son

Richard.

Richard’s insouciance is breath-taking. Having been safe in India (safe from war, if not disease) he sends his mother these few lines telling her he is going back to France where the Somme is in full swing. As an army doctor, he didn’t face the same level of risk as his combatant brothers but even so, it must have been dreadful news for her.

Karachi.

August 15.

My dear Mother

Many thanks for your letter & the D.M.  Surely I asked you to send the D.M. or Daily Sketch & at the same time mentioned to you I saw the other papers at the Club if I wanted to.

Harold has not arrived yet, but I daresay the 2 parcels will roll up in time. I sent a cable too for my dress clothes, we may wear mufti again! And I’ve just bought some new uniforms. I am glad you remembered Harold’s book, how did you find it.

You did have a big house party last weekend, it must have been difficult to find food for them all but you generally come up to the scratch.

How awful for Cis Morse getting run into like that. She never married did she, funny as she was such a nice girl. I once met a great friend of hers coming out to India. An elderly man, a Capt Mac       , he was a bit dotty I fancy! & his wife & Cis were apparently great friends.

That’s quite new that search light near Guildford.

Funny Topher seeing Geoffrey by the side of the road.

Missed last mail, imagining it went later, but there’s a scheme by which you wire to the G.P.O. Bombay & they post the wire. I hope you’ll get it all right.

I played cricket last Sat with more or less success. Made 24 runs & caught a very difficult catch indeed.

Today I cadged a ride before breakfast on someone else’s pony. We have 2 dogs here now, a little Dachsund who is quite nice although an objectional breed, but of course he’s quite innocent. June & he fairly rag about.

Get Ben to send me June’s pedigree sometime when she can copy it out.

Must just write a line to Ted, I have’nt heard from him for a long time.

Best love to all

Yr loving son

Richard

Richard apparently had considerable charm. He must have needed it to overcome the ruthless selfishness which means he can ask his grief-stricken sister one month after her fiance’s death to write out his dog’s pedigree “when she can”. Sometimes it is very hard to like Richard, and this is one of those times.