Author Archives: Richard Berryman

Karachi.

August 4.

My dear Mother.

Many thanks for your letter & the photograph of me, most amusing & I’m so glad you’ve sent it. I expect Harold & the clothes’ll arrive later. Many thanks for the D.M. too.

How dreadfully sorry I am to see poor Wiggs is killed. Poor Ben, I am sorry for her. Ted sent me a wire asking if I had seen it, as we don’t see the papers till a day after he does. The initial was J instead of I, but it must have been the same.

I will see if I can write to Ruth, not this mail as I shan’t have time.

I am sending you some photographs, some for my album. These of the bungalow. Not very good I’m afraid. I am glad Voules send that 10/- back, £1 was quite enough don’t you think?

Many thanks for sending that photograph to Evelyn, thank Rosamond too.

Many thanks for tidying Harold up.

I am much better again now, as last week I’m sure I was getting low fever, never very bad, but never feeling well enough to do much.

It’s still very hot. Ted has lent me a most interesting letter of Paul’s to read, all about the Jutland fight.

Must end. It’s so hot & I want to catch the mail.

Best love to all

Yr loving son

Richard.

Karachi:

July 28.

Dear Mother.

Many thanks for your letter. 2 Tatlers & 1 D.M. rolled up. You need’nt send Tatlers as I see them in the Club, yet it’s nice to have them to read in the bungalow, but I expect people at the front would like em best.

I’ll try & see if I can find out about that Major Carson. I do hope Topher is all right. Really the officer Casualty list is so big, what must the Tommies’ be. Jim seems a useful man nowadays. I expect he’ll get his star before I do! rather I know Betty Neville. Who on earth married her!

I am finished with that train now. Don’t imagine that Enquiry which you may see about in the papers of a train going across the Sind desert refers to mine. I was much more careful!

A very short letter but no time. I’ve left it so late.

Best love to all.

Yr loving son

Richard.

Possible Major Carson (halfway down)

http://1914-1918.invisionzone.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=131985

Hansard mentions of Sind train deaths

http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1916/jul/24/indian-troop-train-deaths-of-soldiers

http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/lords/1916/aug/01/death-of-territorials-in-india

Report in NZ Press (close to bottom)

http://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/cgi-bin/paperspast?a=d&d=CHP19160803.2.59

Thursday 20^th.

on the old train still.

Dear Mother,

Many thanks for your letter. It is a shame about Topher’s leave. I do hope he has it by this time, but I suppose as long as the big push goes on no one will get any. Pathetic indeed his nearly crying when he got your letters. Fancy Paul shaking hands with the King, getting in with Royalty an’ all.

How exciting that motor accident sounds, but I wonder there are’nt more really, except I suppose so few people drive nowadays, is’nt petrol 2/10 a gallon or something. Guildford seems in the habit of having an annual fire. I know where you mean. Gates is where I get a Wensleydale cheese. It was lucky the hospital escaped.

I am glad Dreda enjoyed her holiday. Many thanks for the Bystander & London Mail & Daily Mirror.

Ted came down this time to see me at Amballa. His old C.O. was very stingy & he could only be with me a very little while. However it was awfully nice seeing him & he looked very well, but perhaps a bit balder. I did’nt tell him so, & don’t for goodness sake say I said so. He had dinner with me on the train, & we biked about Amballa on my old mo bike. Ted sitting on a cushion on the back. His train went at 2.15 that night. I was so glad to see him though & I hope he’ll be able to get down to Karachi.

I believe I may have to do another trip as the real O.C. Amb. train is not back yet.

We are just passing through the Sind desert and it’s getting hotter & hotter.

I hope to get some mail tomorrow but you never know.

Best love to all

Your loving son

Richard.

No 4 Ambulance train-

in the train. July 10.

Dear Mother.

Excuse this pencil, but it’s easier to write with. Many thanks for your letter June 14. I sent you a line last mail just after I had started a journey & now I am off on another. Lor the dust & the heat. Ben knows what it’s like as she had to do the same journey to get to Karachi, but it was cool then. The temp last time was 112 in the carriage & the water (you won’t believe it) which you have your bath in gets so hot from the sun, that I can only just sit down in it.

I am wondering if I shall see Ted this time. We go to Ambala & it’s not far away from him. I’ve wired him & he might possibly come down & have a                    We stay a day. There are 120 wounded natives on board. Of course they don’t mind the heat, but some Tommies just from home the other day had a rotten time of it. You ask Ben, she did the journey in a cool & clean part of the year!

Paul must have enjoyed his leave & I would have loved to have been with them all in town. I long to see that shop. I dunno’ who Miss Billie (is that it) is.

I hope Dreda enjoyed her holiday after all, anyhow the rest must have done her good. She tells me she can’t imagine she’s been only a year at the bank.

Really it is a shame about Topher’s leave. He does deserve some. I am so glad your flu is alright : Take care of yourself now, & don’t go rushing about too much. Any news of  Miss Sparrow?

I shall post this tomorrow. My lines are for a small block. Hence big margin. Thank Jane & Dreda for their letters. I will write when I have time. Best love to all

Yr loving son

Richard.

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

“My lines are for a small block. Hence big margin.” – Richard had placed a sheet of paper with solid black lines on it under the top sheet of the block of thin writing paper he was using. This enabled him to write straight lines. in this case, the lined sheet was smaller than the writing paper.

No 4 Ambulance train

at Rohri

Dear Mother.  Many thanks for your letter. I arrived just too late for me to answer this last time & now I have’nt much chance of writing. I am on this ambulance train for the next fortnight to relieve the man in charge & while he goes on leave. Oh the heat in this wretched Sind desert this time of year’s terrific. Ask Ben, I believe she’s had a taste of it, when it was a little cooler. I am so glad the watch has arrived at last, I had begun to despair of you ever getting it.

It must have been nice seeing Paul & what a surprise visit. I never thought the Malaya had so many casualties. I am so glad Paul escaped. I thought Cyril Manders was at the front.

The camera has not arrived yet, I suppose it will soon & then I shan’t be able to get any films I know.

I wonder if you’ve heard from Miss Sparrow yet.

I have left June behind. She will be quite happy with the other men in the bungalow.

Best love to all.

Yr loving son

Richard.

[on envelope flap]

Thank Dreda for her letter. Richard

http://anniealikhan.wordpress.com/2013/11/19/rohri-sindh-an-ancient-modern-city/

c/o Cox & Co

Karachi.

June 31.

My dear Mother.

The mail is late this week & expected today, but I’ll have to post this before I get your letter

I wonder if Topher has had any leave yet. I am writing him & you might send him on my letter. Much the same going on here. Not many wounded nowadays, but lots of sick from Mesopotamia. 1 friend of mine turned up yesterday from up there, an Assam doctor, he had been up there the last year, and had had enough for a bit.

I am going up in charge of an ambulance train for a fortnight. The train goes up by Lahore, Delhi, Amballa etc, Ben’ll know the way I expect. It will be fairly hot but quite a nice change. Ted may be coming down this month, but he will have to wait a bit now. I must wire him.

We had a burglary in the bungalow last night. 2 big brass pots were stolen & all our hats! I sleep in the verandah downstairs & June did get up & bark in the night, but I thought it was one of the others coming back from dining out! They had’nt taken mine topee as it was in my room!

There is some play here tonight we are going to, I dunno if it will be good or not.

Best love to all

Yr loving son

Richard.

There is no 31st June, presumably Dick was writing on the 1st July

Photo of an ambulance train in the Middle East

http://www.flickr.com/photos/uon/7465049710/

http://www.worldwar1postcards.com/ambulance-trains.php

Topee

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

c/o Cox & Co

Karachi.

June 23.

Dear Mother-

Many thanks for yours & the bystanders & tatlers. I will expect the Camera. It has not arrived yet. You must excuse a short letter as I have left it so late & I must catch the mail. Blow that man for not sending the watch. But I saw a friend of his tother day, he says he is sure he will post it in the end. Hope he does!

You say you must go to bed it’s long after 11.30, it’s not really it’s 10.30 is’nt it?

Best love to all

yr loving son

Richard.

c/o Cox & Co

Karachi.

17^th June.

Dear Mother.

Many thanks for your letter May 25, you won’t get this till a bit late, as I see the mail steamer does’nt leave Bombay till 20^th, so I am writing a day late, but the Quetta mail will catch the ship they say.

I remember seeing “Peg of my heart” in London with Chubbie. Very good is’nt it? It’s poured with rain here last night & this morning, quite exceptional I believe, & anyhow we shan’t get much.

You did have adventures going down to Mr Hunt’s, that wheel coming off must have been funny, his place sounds awfully nice. I always like the idea of old country vicarages.

Yes I saw a Mr Kirwan had died, it was in one of the Indian papers last week. I believe I have seen him, & fancy I once heard him preach.

How idiotic of me, I sent £1 to Cordwalles myself & now you’ve sent 10/-, they’ll get quite a lot out of me. I forgot I had asked you.

I was going to play cricket today, but the match is cancelled because of the wet. I am so sorry as I am getting quite fond of cricket & so far I have made 15 & 16 not out, so I am going to try & never get out.

I heard from Ben (2 letters) this week, she seems to have enjoyed herself when Wiggs was home.

Well best love to all.

Yr loving son

Richard.

Karachi.

Friday 9^th.

Yes see about Miss Sparrow.

Dear Mother.

Many thanks for your letter May 17. That man has never sent my watch yet. Hope he has’nt run away with it! Trust he has only forgotten. I am glad you like the photographs. Who I wonder told you about a doctor in No 1. G.H, I much prefer the men in it to the fellows in ours. I hear from Evelyn that she had been down to tea on a Sunday. I am so glad you like her. Rather nice for you being at Aldershot.

I got the two letters all right; many thanks. One of them very welcome, about some money that was owed to me. It’s dreadful about Kitchener. We heard the day after, I wonder what everyone thinks at home about it.

Just at present it’s very very hot here. Always is they say before the Monsoon breaks. Ted says he may be able to get down here next month. I’ve told him we’ll be delighted to see him, but he may find it a bit hot. Anyway it will be cooler than it is now.

I’ve just had most awful bad (not really as bad as some) prickly heat. Such a nuisance, & I’m so angry, as it’s just like a beginner I say, not like an old Anglo-Indian like I am.

Fancy seeing Dumps Morse again. I have’nt seen her for years! You might send me (don’t get excited or flurried about it) my ventriloquist doll, as there are crowds of kids here and I’d like to amuse ’em one afternoon. Stick him in a strongish box & send it by the mail. I expect the man in that Express luggage shop near the station will tell you the best way, or write to the Eastern Express Co (can’t find address) they are as good as anyone & they have a depot in Karachi. Put in the box too, some of those white shirts of mine with R.B on the front and also my blue uniform.

Ask Jane to send me some new songs if there are any. There is some money of mine still knocking about. She has some anyhow.

I am putting in some photographs which Trel took the other day, funny I should meet him, is’nt it! Did Evelyn sing the other Sunday, does’nt she sing well? She liked you awfully.

I must stop & catch the mail. Best love to all.

Yr loving son

Richard.

I see the Malaya arrived in time to do some fighting, how pleased Paul must be.

While all the boys asked their long-suffering mother to send them things, Richard’s requests were always more extreme and more frequent than Paul’s or Ted’s. It seems typical of Richard, the convivial party-goer, that he should have a ventriloquist’s doll but it’s verging on the ungrateful that his long-suffering mother would make a fuss about sending it to India. 

The fighting the Malaya had been in was the battle of Jutland.