Category Archives: British Ships

H.M.S. MALAYA.

c/o G.P.O.

30 Dec. 1916

My dear Mother-

Very many thanks for your letter. I’ve only just got it to-day. It has taken a whole week-! But the mails are bound to be a bit adrift these days I suppose – and the parcels!! heaps of people have not got things sent off at least a month ago! For instance I was sent some things for our show on Nov 4th! & I have never got them yet!

So Jim has gone – I could’nt have known before I suppose – because he was at the end of a wire to leave I suppose. Poor Sheina! but it will be ripping for her if she goes out later when Jim sees what it is like. So glad you had all the girls home for Christmas and it must have been ripping for those soldiers on Christmas day having such a good time.

I had quite a cheery Christmas, Tommy Drew & I have been dining together & one thing and another – there are 2 or 3 old Gloucester fellows quite close.

How simply lovely for Topher to have been transferred to Dick’s Regt – I bet he is pleased – in fact a good thing for both of them – is Topher going to get a commission soon.

I was thinking of all of you and opening the Dudmans’ presents! Rather a nice medal really – but I laughed of course – it’s a sort of memorial medal – bronze looking thing.

You seem to have had some pretty rotten weather down south by all accounts – up here it is lovely for this time of year – in fact to-day is the first rough day for a week or two.

I love that calendar you sent me – thank you awfully. With best love to you all – & happiest days in 1917-

Your ever loving son

Paul

H.M.S. MALAYA.

c/o G.P.O.

Dec. 21^st

My dear Mother-

Ever so many thanks for your letter – & also thank you all awfully for the cake – lovely it is – and we had it for tea to-day.

So glad you liked the photographs – rather amusing are’nt they- Both Mr Lyon & Tommy Drew said I was like Jane when I came on the stage.

How ripping the dining room being so popular- I must really try & send you off some more papers- I seem to be so busy lately over various things – rather a good idea taking the piano in there for them to play.

I had a lot of Christmas letters this morning – & of course 2 people to whom I forgot to send cards – & I have none left now. One from Rosamond written with her left hand – jolly good – I am sorry to hear about her thumb. Also one from Willie Perkins – There seems to be a chance we MIGHT be on leave together.!

Jolly good of Joe to let you buy a turkey. I remembered him all right with a card.

I was awfully sorry to worry you over asking you to buy the girls their presents from me – but I thought you would know ever so much better what they want – If you have’nt given them by the time you get this, I enclose 5 tally’s to put on them when you put them on their plates-

with my bestest love to you all & heaps of wishes of happiness etc for Xmas –

Your ever loving son

Paul

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tally_%28cap%29

H.M.S. MALAYA.

c/o G.P.O.

Dec 19^th.

Dearest Mother –

Just a line to wish you the happiest Christmas & heaps of good wishes – and of course my very bestest love to you all

from your ever loving son

Paul

H.M.S. MALAYA.

c/o G.P.O.

14^th Dec

Dear Mother-

Very many thanks for your letter – so glad the papers were useful- I’ll see if I can send some more. I hope you got those photographs alright – awful thing really – but amusing to us as a memento.

The country does seem to be waking up at last. I must say it’s high time control was taken over most things- It’s a certain way to bring the British Public to reality- What about their Peace show. Definitely – NO – by telegram I should say. I can’t think what they have got up their sleeve. I’ve just had a card from Topher sent on the 6^th – but crossed out everything except – I am quite well-

We have had jolly good weather during the last few days – not a bit like winter – I don’t mind the cold now half so much as I used to – I hear there is a chance of leave in February!!-

My best love to you

Your ever loving son

Paul

H.M.S. MALAYA.

c/o G.P.O.

Dec 6^th 1916

My dear Mother-

Thank you most awfully for your letter – & for the present – simply ripping of you really- I have sent off 3 lots of Illustrated Papers which I hope will be useful for the Wounded soldiers – I’ll see what I can do each week-

Well our show went off awfully well – & everyone seems to have thoroughly enjoyed it – we did it 3 a day for 3 days – jolly tiring – but great fun. We have had some photographs taken of the Troupe – and I will send them along as soon as I get them. Of course we are all sorry it’s over now.

Yes I heard from Sheina about Jim being a Captain – so I have written to him – still more rumours about his eventual Hdqrs!! wonder where he really will go.

Have just seen about this Food Supply shortage-! I suppose it really must be getting time they did take control of food. You’ve seen we have a new C-in C. We are all awfully sorry to lose Jellicoe – still it is not for us to discuss it really – whether we like it or not.

Has Jane gone on a holiday – I have’nt heard from her for ages.

My very best love to you all – & very many thanks Mother-

Your ever loving son

Paul

http://www.historyplace.com/worldhistory/firstworldwar/brit-breadline.htm

Jellicoe’s replacement: “There seems to be something wrong with our bloody ships today.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Beatty,_1st_Earl_Beatty

H.M.S. MALAYA.

c/o G.P.O.

29. Nov

Dearest Mother-

Just got a minute to scribble off a letter. Thank you muchly for yours – and for the stocks – of course I can’t think how you tie them – but I daresay someone does.

Yes- fearfully busy – our show is tomorrow – & heaps of things to be done yet really – that’s why I am in such a hurry-

That’s good Zepp news eh! I’ll send you some papers when I can find a little more time-

Must end now-

My bestest love to you all-

Your ever loving son

Paul

A stock is a simple tie worn when horse riding – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stock_tie

H.M.S. MALAYA.

c/o G.P.O.

24 Nov

My dear Mother-

V. many thanks for your letter- I am late in answering because I was waiting for your letter. I had a letter from Dick on Tuesday telling me how he has met Topher & that he was trying to get Topher over to his unit – Must be awful out there now in that mud & cold – ugh! It’s miserable enough weather up here – but we have the advantage of having a comfortable mess & a cabin with a bunk in it.

We have had a few days at sea too lately – but I don’t think it was so bad there-

That new train service to Town sounds a good thing – most useful to the girls for weekends at Guildford I should think- I had a letter from Jane – I sent her an urgent letter to send us some wigs from Clarksons for our show – much better someone you know to choose them – I had a wire today saying they had been sent off.

What extraordinary things Jim seems to hear about where he is going! Hongkong sounds so extraordinary – is that the Portuguese show or his regiment.

Please thank Ruth very much for these beads – jolly nice they are – did you get that letter about a stock?

Yes- it’s pathetic about Roumania – and how truly ghastly about that ship the Britannic – & a hospital ship too – really it seems incredible that a human being can do such things in cold blood.

There is no more news really – I am awfully fit & well-

My bestest love to you all-

Your ever loving son

Paul

What I should really like for Christmas is some white handkerchiefs & ordinary blue or black socks – I’ve hardly got any left.

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

Gaudy US documentary

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IziNuV1nDrU

2000 TV movie – looks bad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS598mAVSac

H.M.S. MALAYA.

c/o G.P.O.

15^th Nov.

My dear Mother-

Thanks very much for your letter- Oh yes – I really had to get another uniform suit – as I only have two – one everyday & working & one for dinner & Sundays – & the former is getting so filthy – I must shift one better so to speak – It’s alright is’nt it – because I have’nt had a new one since last January was’nt it-

We have had some lovely weather too lately, such a relief-

Yesterday Mr Drew came over to lunch with me – and we had a good old talk together – I had’nt seen him for about two months – & not since he went on leave – Also today Nigel Lyon is with me and staying the night – such fun it has been hearing all about his weekend at Delaford and all – he did so enjoy himself-

Our theatrical show is definitely fixed for the 27^th Nov – so we are getting more busy than ever over rehearsals, scenery etc-

Rather a good thing for Jim I should think this Portuguese Staff show – I suppose they will make him “Officier de liason”-

I must go & see Lyon again – & entertain him –

With my very best love to you all-

Your ever loving son

Paul

H.M.S. MALAYA.

c/o G.P.O.

Nov. 8^th.

My dear Mother-         Very many thanks for your letter – thanks very much about the ruffle- I don’t know when this acting is coming off – we keep on having to postpone it for various reasons – but we hope to do it in about 3 weeks – that’s if everything goes all right.

I had a letter from Dick too – we both wrote to each other on the same day -, now I expect we are both waiting to see who is going to answer first – so silly.

Same sort of weather as we are having – miserable is’nt it- ? but to-day for a change it is quite a calm day.

Looks as if they are sure to ask you to Billet some of those 5000 troops that are going to Guildford!

Awfully little news this week- I am awfully fit and well – Oh I had another patch of that alopacea on my head the other day – very annoying – but the hair is growing again fine now-

with much love to you all

Your ever loving son

Paul

H.M.S. MALAYA.

c/o G.P.O.

1^st Nov. All Saints’ Day.

Dear Mother

Ever so many thanks for your letter – and all the news. A few more of the family home for this week end.

I have’nt the slightest idea when we are likely to get any leave so I can’t tell Dick very much – Glad he’s having a good time in France-

We had Father Carey over to preach last Sunday. Rosamond’s friend! – he can speak straight enough – if you like.

Yes – one thing about this weather it keeps off the Zepps – we rarely get a decent day here now – and of course we have fires.

I never knew Ted had got the Humane Soc. Medal – I knew there was a movement on foot to get him one. I am pleased to hear it – he certainly deserved it. Rather a good thing I should imagine doing guard at Delhi – a lot of social work attached to it I should imagine – a fine thing for the Regt to be chosen.

Oh. could you make me a “muff” – one like Ben & Dreda used to wear – smallish one – & tied up with big ribbon – I want to wear one with my dress – when I’m acting as a female – must be black.

Any more news when Jim is going out?

With best love to you all

Your ever loving son

Paul