Author Archives: Ted Berryman

SIRHIND CLUB,
AMBALA.

July 18/16

Dear Mother

Very many thanks for your letter last mail & the pink papers an’ all. I am just down here for a day to meet Dick, who is turning up tonight in his old hospital train; even if he’s absolutely punctual I shall only see him for a few hours, as I have to catch a train back tonight to make certain of getting back to Lansdowne tomorrow.

I came down yesterday and arrived here about 5.30 this morning. A good deal hotter than Lansdowne of course, but not unpleasant, very muggy & sticky as usual in the rains. But it’s an amusing little Jaunt & ought to be awful fun seeing Dick this evening. I rather fancy it’s his last trip in this train.

The Lieut-Governor of the United Provinces is coming up to Lansdowne on Sunday; he’s the biggest Civil bug of the U.P. so we are having parades & lunches & dinners for him, so that’s why I have to hurry back.

What rotten luck on old Topher not getting his leave yet; but I’m afraid he won’t be getting it now. We seem to be having good success still on the Western front, which speaks volumes for the new armies & the munition workers; the cost is great, & the casualty lists terribly long, but it’s got to be I’m afraid. So far I think the push has been wonderfully successful, everyone seems very confident.

Yes I saw the King has been to see the fleet. Paul’s moving in high society isn’t he, shaking hands with Royalty an’ all. What excitement you’ve had; I know the Grocer’s shop you mean, & the Abbots hospital must have had a very narrow squeak. I had a long letter from Rosamond last mail, she does seem to enjoy her farming I must say. Is’nt Ben going on to land too soon? I have an idea she said something about it.

What a splendid letter that was from our prisoner of war, thanks awfully for sending a copy, we were all most interested. I suppose they get a Hindustani-speaking German to write for them, & I think they treat our men fairly well too.

Thanks awfully for sending the food etc, they do appreciate it don’t they. I rather agree with you about the war being over this year. Is’nt Verdun wonderful.

Love to all- from your loving son

Ted

Lt-Gov of the United Provinces, 1912-17

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

Three Pigeons pub fire alluded to re Abbot’s Hospital

http://www.exploringsurreyspast.org.uk/themes/places/surrey/guildford/guildford/guildford_from_the_archives/

http://www.thisisourtownguildford.co.uk/the-three-pigeons/

Podcast & poss info on Indian POWs

http://www.ottomanhistorypodcast.com/2012/12/world-war-indian-soldiers-prisoners.html

LANSDOWNE,
GARHWAL,
U.P.

July 13/16

Dear Mother

The mail is very late this week and won’t be in for 2 days yet, & that makes us 10 days without a mail. I don’t know why it’s so late, I suppose it got held up somewhere. We have had torrents of rain all the week, and hardly a fine interval, but I suppose we must expect this kind of thing at this time of year.

What stirring things are happening on the Western Front, are’nt they; but I’m afraid the casualty lists are woefully long. However we seem to be making good progress, though of course very slow & methodical; but it’s impossible for it to be otherwise; an advance must be slow & cautious, & we must feel our way along & make mistakes as few as possible by running no unnecessary risks. The new armies seem to be fighting splendidly; what a tribute to Kitchener, & I have no doubt his untimely death has spurred them on.

I’m afraid I’ve got a bit behind hand with my correspondence lately & I owe lots of letters; I must try & work them off this afternoon. I’ve just had a gorgeous swim in our tank at the mess; it was half raining at the time but of course that made no difference. It was pretty cold, the water, but gloriously refreshing : good exercise too.

We are all anxiously waiting Jellicoe’s despatch, which is now published I see. We have had bits of it in telegrams, but I suppose the whole thing will get out here eventually. From all accounts it’s very technical & somewhat hard to follow in parts.

Excuse a dull lettter only there’s no news. All work here; Dick & I are trying to fix up a one day’s meeting at Ambala now he’s on his ambulance train for a bit, but we have’nt managed it yet!

Love to all

From your loving son

Ted

Jellicoe’s despatch

http://www.worldwar1.co.uk/despatches/battle-jutland.html

LANSDOWNE,
GARHWAL,
U.P.

July 7th/16

Dear Mother

Very many thanks for your letter of the 14^th June, which turned up yesterday, so I have just time to answer it this mail. We did’nt really expect the mail in today, & the post office had a notice up that it was due today too, but it managed to turn up successfully yesterday. I had letters from Nell of course, & Mrs Fielding & Jinny also; the latter seems most awfully fit & cheery, & she apparently has great times at the shop. What a meeting place it has become, & I quite agree in wondering where we all used to meet in the old days!

Great doings in France nowadays are’nt there; & we have fearful discussions all day as to whether this is the big push or only a demonstration to relieve pressure elsewhere. Opinion is very divided, & I think it’s impossible to say yet, in any case it’s bound to be a very slow business. Poor old Topher, I am sorry about his leave, I think he’s been rather badly treated, tho’ I suppose it’s impossible to give everyone leave these strenuous times.

Paul seems to have had a good strenuous time on his short leave. I’m awfully glad he was looking so well & as cheery as ever. I hope I get a line from him with a few words about the show; I cabled to him when I heard about it, but I don’t think he ever could have got it somehow. What a                  they had to end up with.

Yes, rather, I had letters from Nell weeks ago saying what a gorgeous time she had at Delaford, & how ripping you all were to her. Thanks awfully for it all, I know she enjoyed it immensely. Jack Fielding is up at the front line now with his battery so has begun soldiering in earnest. Yes I remember Major Dawson very slightly on the Persia, & chiefly before I think, in the train going across France. As far as I remember (if I’m thinking of the right man) he had malaria very badly & used to walk about in a big great coat most of the time, I’m afraid I have’nt the faintest idea. I must go on parade now; I’ll finish this afterwards. A gorgeous morning after days of rain.

Later   Just come off parade & shall finish this before breakfast. Jinny told me in her letter too that Reggie often visits the shop; I’m so sorry he has to hobble about still on 2 sticks, I’m afraid his leg will never be quite right. I had a wire from Dick saying he was going away for a fortnight so putting me off going down to Karachi, but I have heard nothing further so I don’t know where he’s gone. He said he wd write. In any case I should have found it rather hard to get away just now, so perhaps it’s just as well.

So sorry you’ve had flu & I do hope you’re all right again now. I remember my goes of flu well, I always get it if there’s any going. Lucky you had Ruth at home to take care of you. I must answer the others’ letters next week; I’m afraid I have’nt time this week, unless they delay the boat one day, as they sometimes do.

Much love to all

from your loving son

Ted.

Major William Orford Charles Dawson

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1438543/DAWSON,%20W%20O%27C

July 5th/16

Dear Mother

Very many thanks for your letter last week. Fancy old Paul managing to get 4 days’ leave after that fight. I was thankful to get your letter with definite news of him; as of course we had seen long accounts in the papers in which the Malaya had figured very prominently & I felt sure she could’nt have come off scot free.

I was rather grieved at the depressing tone of all your letters from home this week. I cannot & never have been able to see anything but the bright side, especially lately. We can’t win this war in a day & we’ve got to suffer losses & make sacrifices before we can win, & we must educate ourselves up to tremendous losses in men & ships before we’ve finished, however terrible it is.

I know it’s ghastly to have to sit down & just wait, & you know how tremendously I admire all of you at home & your splendid pluck, and I know what a tremendous help your behaviour is to the men who are fighting; but all the same I think Kitchener’s death & the naval battle – it was nothing more or less than a splendid victory – seem to have cast an unwanted gloom over the whole country; “a black week” Rosamund called it.

Things seem to be moving on the Western Front don’t they, & every day now brings more news; but I’m afraid this will rather tin-hat poor old Topher’s leave if he has’nt had it already.

We’ve had our full share of rain lately & we’ve hardly had a fine day since the rains began. Very relaxing weather, & it makes one feel rather slack. Yes you & I would get on well strafing the government would’nt we! This war ought to be run by soldiers & sailors at the head of things; diplomacy is useless, it’s force we want to knock out force. What is the use of arguing with people like the Germans; all the time you are pleading & wasting words however diplomatic, they are inventing some new devil’s device which will set all your words at nought. No, I’ve no use at all for the government, & they will go down to history as a useless & rotten crowd, & well they deserve to.

Funny specs has not been roped in yet. Has he tried conscientious objection yet! I should’nt be surprised; really I should think the office might be shut up for the war now, & specs really might try & do something.

Of course I know it’s awful about Kitchener (I see you mention it again later in your letter) and the loss is absolutely irreparable; you know how I admired him; easily the greatest man of his age & the outstanding figure of the war; but I think his death ought to spur us on to further efforts & to carry on the war to a successful & lasting end, just as he would have us do if he were still alive. We all feel his loss almost personally, but time enough to mourn his loss to the full when we have finished the war which we shall be able to do, & thanks to him & to him alone for our ability to do so; for without his foresight & power & public confidence we would never have been able to put the huge armies in the field which we now have, & he is responsible for the one thing that Germany knew would knock her out in the long run, the entry of England into the war & the expansion of her armies beyond anyone’s wildest dreams. Poor old K, I am sorry about it all, but I refuse to be depressed; I’m not callous, please don’t think that; I’m only taking the line of thought I think it’s one’s duty to take these times.

Just going out for a short stroll before dinner. Major Billy Barlow is up here; he is going home again in a day or two; he is dining with us tonight in the mess, so I’ll tell him to be sure & look you up if he goes to Guildford again.

Well, keep smiling as much as you can won’t you all at Delaford; I know you will, because all you dear people at Delaford have been just splendid in this war, & you excite my wildest admiration & enthusiasm. And I love you all.

Tons of love from your ever loving son

Ted

Possible Major Barlow, Page 16

https://archive.org/stream/blackwoodsmagazi202edinuoft#page/16/mode/2up

June 30/16

Dear Mother

The mail is late again this week & won’t be in till tomorrow, so I have no letters to answer; I think I answered your last one at the beginning of this week, did’nt I? Very hot & muggy again now & there is such a change after the continuous downpour of the last 2 weeks.

I enclose a few photographs of the mess taken with the new camera I’ve just bought; very small but quite clear really, & I expect any photographs taken with it would enlarge all right. Have you sent mine out to Dick I wonder.

I’m longing to get this next mail, as it ought to have your first news of the Naval battle; as far as one can make out there was a feeling of depression at first, but it seems to have changed since, now that more & more details of the German losses are gradually coming out. I sent a cable to Paul congratulating him; I wonder if it ever got to him.

I have’nt been able to get any leave yet, but I may get some at the end of July; but we are still all very busy; we have had several new officers posted to the regiment, who are all very young & inexperienced so one has a good deal to do looking after them.

Excuse a dull letter only there’s no news. I think things will begin to move on the western front soon. Are’nt the Russians doing splendidly; nothing seems to stop them.

Must end up

Best love to all

yr loving son

Ted.

June 25/16

Dear Mother

The mail got in just after I’d sent off your letter last week, so I did’nt have time to answer your letter of course. Thanks very much for it, dated June 1^st. Yes, I’ve only lost that one mail so far, the Sussex one, & all the others have turned up, though sometimes 2 come in one week & then next week no mails turn up at all, though latterly they have been quite decently regular. Nell numbers all her letters to me so as I can tell if any get lost, & I’ve got them all except the Sussex ones, so I must have got all yours too.

So glad Mrs Quentin approved of Nell; she met Bunchie of course in town one day at the Harris’. Where is Bunchie now I wonder; I wrote to her once from Malta, but I never got a reply.

I don’t think the English tin helmets are very becoming, do you? They seem so flat & broad brimmed; the French ones look so much neater & nattier.

What a house party you had that week-end; I heard from Nance too & she said she had been over for the day; I hope they had good times at Bognor.

Such pouring rain here still, & thunder today, two most appalling crashes about midday, frightfully loud & frightening. I had a lovely swim this morning in a big tank we have in the mess, where we collect water for the garden. It’s only full in the rains, so we always use it as a swimming bath then.

Many thanks indeed for the number of “Land & Water”; most interesting & I’m glad to see the Indian Army’s work in France duly recognised. I have’nt finished reading it yet, & I will put it in the mess for a day or two for other fellows to read, but I shan’t leave it there. Also for the Pink papers, & John Bulls etc which have all turned up regularly, & make pleasantly light reading after a heavy day’s work.

You seem to have a lot of aeroplanes over nowadays; I see a picture of poor Col Lewis in one of the papers this week. Daylight saving seems a great success everywhere; I suppose they are sure to keep it on after the war.

This is just a scribble to answer your letter; I’ll write again before the mail goes this week.

Love to all from

Your loving son

Ted

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adrian_helmet

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brodie_helmet

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

Again, it’s unclear whether “Nance” was Nancy Swan who was to become engaged to Paul early in 1917. 

June 22/16

Dear Mother

We were expecting the English mail today, but I fancy the boat was late at Bombay so I suppose that’s why. It’s always frightfully disappointing when you expect the mail and it does’nt turn up.

There’s absolutely no news this week; it’s done nothing but rain hard the whole time, really hard & we have’nt seen the sun for a week. I always hate the rains, everything is always so damp & generally unpleasant.

I wish we could hear some more news about the naval Battle; we heard a good deal at first, but since then things have been very quiet and we are still anxiously waiting Jellicoe’s full report. It seems the Germans must have suffered very heavily and isolated scraps of information keep on leaking out. What a splendid victory it was, was’nt it & how proud you must be that Paul took part in it. I don’t suppose he’s been able to tell you much about it as yet.

I’ve written to Ruth to tell her to get herself a present, something really nice, when she starts at Guy’s; anything up to 3 guineas or so I’m quite ready to give.

I hope Cox sent you the money; he told me he had sent it last mail, but things take a long time to get home nowadays & one is never certain about things arriving at all. The Pink papers roll up regularly and are much appreciated, as we don’t take them in the mess.

I hoped to hear in today’s letters from home that Topher had got his leave, he certainly deserves it poor boy; I hope he’s got over his flu all right. Any more news of Jim going out?

I enclose Sir John French’s farewell order to the Garhwal Bde, the only Brigade in the Indian Corps that got one from him; he gives us his personal thanks you notice, which is a great compliment. Please keep this amongst the family archives.

Hope you’re all fit & well at home. I’m going strong; rather bored & very busy still. Excuse a dull letter.

Love to all

yr loving son

Ted.

Please give Ben the enclosed picture of a bureau, I’m thinking of giving Nell one something like this.

I met a Mrs Sherring up here, who was one of the Wrights at Frimley Hall. I think Ben met her in 1914.

June 15/16

Dear Mother

Very many thanks for your letter which arrived yesterday. I also heard from Ben & Rosamond & got various papers, for which many thanks. Your letter was dated 24^th May, so the mails seem to be coming a little quicker nowadays. Everyone says in their letters how nice & hot it is at home now; Nell says it’s lovely down at Gloucester; they all went down to Salisbury to see Jack before he went off to France, & they seem to have all enjoyed themselves.

So glad you’ve seen Peg o’ my Heart: pretty little piece is’nt it; I saw it 4 times I think, including once at Bristol with Kathleen. My dear mother, what adventures you had with Mr Hunt; that taxi wheel coming off might have been much worse, how lucky you did’nt turn right over into the ditch. His vicarage sounds lovely & I’m glad he was so pleasant. Thanks for sending Louie a photograph; Yes, please send Mrs Stack one, 150 Sutherland Avenue, Maida Vale.

Poor old Topher, down with flu now; every mail I expect to hear he has been home on leave, it certainly seems hard to get nowadays. Yes I saw Mr Kirwan’s brother’s death in the paper. I was most awfully sorry, & please tell Mrs Kirwan so from me; I met him once or twice out here, in Lucknow I think, & he was quite well known out here. Kathleen’s husband is still out in France I believe, & a captain now!

Yes Nell’s photographs are awful sweet are’nt they; I too like the side face one best I think, though the two full face are awfully pretty too. I got four! one of which I don’t like at all. I had a long letter from Dick a day or two ago, & letters from Ben & Rosamond this mail. So sorry Ruth’s arm is bad, I hope it’s all right again now; my love to her.

What about daylight saving? I suppose you are getting used to it now, & I expect it will be generally adopted after the war, for the summer at anyrate. After all it does’nt much matter what time you call it, so long as you get all the daylight you can. But I should think it takes some getting used to, it must be very strange at first.

The rains have fairly broken now & we live in a perpetual downpour, & mists & clouds. It’s freshened up the place a lot, and made it much cooler, & it has come just in time to save a serious famine in Garhwal. It has also improved the golf links, which were hard and dry and almost unplayable before; but they are in splendid condition now, & I generally try & get a game in most afternoons.

Any more news of the North Sea fight I wonder? They don’t seem to know for certain what damage they did to the Germans, but from all accounts of the Kitchener memorial service in the papers today; what a wonderful display of sympathy was shown; well, he was a tremendous figure in History, & will loom very large in English History especially. I don’t suppose there was a more outstanding figure on either side in the war, nor will there be.

I must try and get some more mail letters off today; I’m afraid I have got a bit behindhand lately with my correspondence.

My leg has more or less recovered now, though it is still a bit stiff, & of course I can’t play footer or anything, as I can’t put any strain on it, or twist or turn suddenly on it, & I am still a bit lame. I wonder if that microscopic wound I got weakened any muscles, because it was in just the same place; but I don’t think it is likely.

Best love to all

from your loving son

Ted

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peg_o%27_My_Heart

Charles Harrison recording (1913)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWODupYEMDI

June 8th/16

Dear Mother

I got your letter today dated          Please excuse a rotten letter, but we have just heard of the terrible tragedy of Kitchener’s death in the Hampshire with the whole of his staff. It seems to have completely knocked us all over here; personally I feel very much the same as I did when I first heard about the “Titanic”. Is’nt it ghastly? The one bright figure, the one proved patriot, gone. The creator of England’s mighty army now in the field that has done & is going to do so much; the wonderful organising brain, & the man who never for one moment lost the confidence of the whole Empire. Why could’nt he live just long enough to see his life’s work – for so I think we may call K 1 & K 2 & all the rest of them, however many there may be – crowned with success. But we must’nt be too depressed about it, though it’s hard not to be. And there are so many we could spare, & none to take his place!

What a full week this has been. The big naval fight of course occupied all our thoughts at the beginning of the week; [Ted is referring to the battle of Jutland] a magnificent show was’nt it, despite our heavy losses, for it seems we fought against tremendous odds at first. I can’t quite make out how long the Malaya was there or when she came up into the fight. At anyrate she seems to have had her baptism of fire & I do hope old Paul’s all right; but I don’t suppose you’ve been able to get much news out of him.

I had a long letter from Dick today, he wants me to go down & stay there sometime & I expect I’ll be able to go next month perhaps. He seems very fit & well.

I tore a small muscle in my left leg playing footer last week, & I am rather a crock now, & very lame. But I can manage to hobble about to work, though it’s very painful but will heal up in time I suppose. But it wants rather more rest than I can afford to give it to heal up quickly; but it’s nothing very exciting, quite a minor thing & will be all right in no time.

Nell sent me her photographs today, very good one or two of them; one of the side face ones is exactly like Dreda I think. She was awfully pleased with her stay in Guildford, & wrote glowing accounts of it.

I was so sorry to see the death of Mr Kirwan’s brother in the paper a day or two ago. Please tell him how sorry I am; I will try & write next mail. But I seem all knocked silly by the news today & I can’t help thinking about it.

Please thank Dreda & Jane awfully for their letters, I’ll try and answer them next week.

Best love to all

from your loving son

Ted

The original of this letter is in the Archive of the the Imperial War Museum: Private Papers of Lieutenant Colonel E R P Berryman DSO –  http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/1030021700 

Ted was right to be concerned about Paul: here is an account of the Malaya at Jutland

http://www.oswild.org/hobnob/family/john/jutland.html

Death of Kitchener

http://century.theguardian.com/1910-1919/Story/0,6051,126462,00.html

Kitchener’s Army

http://www.1914-1918.net/kitcheners.htm

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

http://wwi.lib.byu.edu/index.php/Kiplings%27_Reporting_on_The_Battle_of_Jutland

Rev R.M. Kirwan

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=63092864

The Kitchener Memorial, Orkney

June 2^nd/16

Dear Mother

Very many thanks for your letter yesterday, of May 10^th. I have told Cox Bombay to send you £4 for all the odds & ends you sent, many thanks for all the trouble you took, & I hope the money turns up in due course. How sporting of old Fielding to send you a cask of cider; I expect they’ll be asking you to go down and stay there before long; & I hope you will be able to manage it.

I have’nt heard from Dick for a long time, but I wrote yesterday. I was thinking of getting a few days’ leave & going to stay there but I don’t know whether I shall or not. Yes I certainly said he could have the camera; I have got a little vest pocket Kodak which does me quite well, only I must say that little one of mine takes the most splendid photographs.

We had some very welcome rain this week, which has made all the difference to this place. It’s much cooler & cleaner now, and I fancy the real rains will break pretty soon now; this year has been exceptionally hot & dry, and we could do with heaps more rain yet.

Poor old Topher, I do hope he’s got a bit of leave by now. Yes Jim certainly might keep you informed of his movements; I wonder if he’s gone yet, as he has been more or less on the point of going these last few days has’nt he. So glad old Wiggs managed to get home; awful glad for Ben’s sake; she said his nerves were all wrong, so I’ve no doubt a few days at home did him no end of good.

Yes of course I had heard about Maggie & Desmond, but I hadn’t heard it was formally announced before. How exciting. Nice little thing Maggie, but (how critical I am) there is’nt very much in her is there; I should think Lily & Babs were the pick of that lot easily! I suppose Miss Bradley is going about the place beaming. Please give Maggie my best love & congratulations & wish her all luck.

So you’re saving daylight! Splendid I think & thoroughly practical; I wonder if it will carry on after the war. I don’t fancy India will worry its head much about that sort of thing.

I always wanted to see “romance”, as it always sounded so fascinating. Doris Keane is very sweet is’nt she, she certainly looks it in her photographs. 17 the Arcade certainly seems a tremendous rendezvous these days.

I have’nt heard from Paul for a long time; I suppose he is pretty busy these days & of course can’t say very much. Yes Ben told me Mrs P. has given vivid descriptions of the bombardment of Lowestoft. It sounded most thrilling.

What’s Specs doing these days! Has he been roped in as a conscript at last, or did he fail his medical? Quite likely I should think. I do hope you managed to get away for your week end with Mr Hunt; I shall be very anxious to hear how you got on, & how he is these days. The garden’s in great form evidently, & ever so much more convenient than the Waterden road one is’nt it.

Must end up nnow

Love to all

from your loving son

Ted

Summer Time Act 1916

http://www.rmg.co.uk/explore/astronomy-and-time/time-facts/spring-forward-100-years-of-british-summer-time

Doris Keane, star of ‘Romance’ (a play at the time)

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

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