Category Archives: British Ships

HOTEL REINA CRISTINA,
ALGECIRAS,
SPAIN.

4-3-15

Dear Mother – We are off on a warmer commission again & here we are at present- I’m just over here lunching with the Captain. Gloriously warm weather – & I’ve had a lovely sun Bath-

You may not hear again for some time – because I don’t know where I am going.

Very much love to you all from ever

yr loving son

Paul

HMS Gloucester Log – 4 March 1915
Gibraltar
Lat 36.1, Long -5.3

4caf86d4cadfd34197017ecb: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ADM53-43058/0022_0.jpg)

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

http://www.hotelesglobales.com/en/hotel-globales-reina-cristina-algeciras/historia.html

It seems surreal, but we can read reviews for the hotel that Paul was staying in on Trip Advisor

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Hotel_Review-g315909-d287017-Reviews-Hotel_Globales_Reina_Cristina-Algeciras_Costa_de_la_Luz_Andalucia.html

H.M.S. Gloucester

21^st Feb.

Dear Mother. V. many thanks for your letter – we have been at sea ever since last Sunday & only arrived in yesterday- so news is particularly scarce this week.

Not a very cheery time at sea either – beastly weather & we did not get any scrapping. I’ve never seen such enormous flakes of snow as we had to-day- huge they were. I all but thought of going ashore for a walk – but I am glad I did’nt now.

I’ve got that silly rheumatism again across my shoulders- but 10 grains of aspirin has sent it away for the time being. I do hope I shan’t have a miserable night – where you can’t move hand or foot.

I am glad you enjoyed your midweek holiday in Town. We can never get you to go away for a really good change & a rest – but even a few days like that I expect did you a lot of good.

I expect you will receive a bag of some of my clothes soon. I don’t think there is much in there that’s of any use to anybody. Would Capon like the grey suit. I rather love it though & would like to wear it again – which I hope I shall before I finally discard it. Oh – and sometime or other a huge sea chest ought to arrive, with various things I landed at Malta – pictures – greatcoats etc – but I should think that would be sometime yet.

I am miles behind in my correspondence being at sea all last week- has thoroughly done me down & I have got heaps of letters to write.

Willie Perkins seems to have got into the thick of it fairly soon does’nt he.

Well I must off to bed. If anyone is thinking of making a cake, will they make me one at the same time and send it along. I should love it.

Goodnight. With ever so much love to you all-

from ever your loving son

Paul

HMS Gloucester Log – 21 February 1915
Scapa Flow
Lat 58.9, Long -3.1
2.0pm Landed CPOs on Flotta Is

4caf86d4cadfd34197017ec0: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ADM53-43058/0016_1.jpg)

H.M.S. Gloucester

Next Sunday before Lent

Dear Mother.

V. many thanks for your letter. We have been doing nothing lately up here; so as usual I have not very much news. I had a long letter from Ted to-day – very interesting  – he doesn’t seem to have so much Trench work now.

Dick sent me a hamper of edibles yesterday- awfully nice of him. Food is fairly difficult to get- but we feed very well really. Various fellows in the mess have cakes & things sent them.

We seem to have been inundated with Parsons to-day. Two services this morning & one this evening & the R.C. parson is still holding his service on board.

We are having a boxing tournament in our squadron at the end of this month. It wiles away the time. We had a footer match against the Flagship last week & what’s more, we beat them – it’s about the first match we have ever won.

Have you seen in the paper about our Rise of Pay? I get another 2/- a day now. Lovely is’nt it. Very nearly get married on £220 a year.

I was sent a huge bundle of scarves the other day – about 30 – by a lady friend of mine whom I met at Smyrna- Of course they have been kicked out of there & are staying in Athens. Rather nice of her to remember me – as I have never written to her in my life, or seen her for nearly 2 years now.

I really have no more news. I do hope you are all very well. Wish I could get near a dentist to have another hoick round!

With ever so much love to you all-

Your ever loving son

Paul.

HMS Gloucester Log – 14 February 1915
Scapa Flow
Lat 58.9, Long -3.1
9.10am Performed Divine Service. Celebrated Holy Communion. Sent Roman Catholic Church party to Colossus
5.0pm Received 2 ratings from HMS Liverpool

4caf86d4cadfd34197017eb9: (http://oldweather.s3.amazonaws.com/ADM53-43058/0013_0.jpg)

H.M.S. Gloucester

Monday.8^th.

Dear Mother.

V. many thanks for your letter.- So you have been having scares already – how frightfully exciting! All our fine weather is over it seems for the present – & the last 2 days we have had a proper gale blowing – Heavens it was cold – & the worst of it was we had to go to sea one night in it & I’ve never known this ship roll so much- we had to come back as it was too much- I haven’t got much in my cabin – but all I had was bumping about on the deck in the water & to add to the amusement – I had a bottle of some Eau de cologne that broke & all mixed with the water on the deck, so you can imagine the smell – I couldn’t help laughing though –

Rather sad – the other morning when we were coming into harbour we lost a man overboard – & we never saw him again- I wrote to George Moodie & got a letter back from him 2 days ago – he is at the front again.

What do you think of the latest German announcement? Doesn’t look safe for anyone to be on the ocean nowadays, does it. I hope they won’t last out much longer though.

I really have absolutely no more news. My very best love to you all.

Ever your loving son

Paul.

Transcript of the Gloucester’s Log:

2 February 1915
Scapa Flow
Lat 58.9, Long -3.1
5.50am Sighted Pentland Skerries & Noss Hd Lt
6.35am Skerries Lt abeam, cos as reqte for Scapa Flow
7.05am Man overboard from Steam cutter. Stopped as reqte. Lowered cutter & steam cutter
7.25am Proceeded as reqte for Scapa Flow
7.50am Stopped, hove to with stard anchor in 17 fathoms
Departed this life, lost overboard, Herbert C. Stanbury, Boy 1st class O.N. J.27093
1.0pm Court of enquiry assembled onboard, Captain Pratt, HMS Yarmouth, President, to enquire into loss overboard of Boy Stanbury
5.40pm Weighed
5.50pm Proceed astern of Collingwood, leaving harbour
6.11pm Passed obstruction. Cos as reqt through Pentland Firth West of Skerries

H.M.S. Gloucester

1.2.15

Dear Mother.      V. many thanks for your last letter – absolutely no news at all – to tell you. We have been having the most gorgeous weather for some time now – and this evening is the first rain we have had for over a fortnight – but it is still cold – but not that beastly damp sort.

Your last letter I got was written on our day of action. I expect you have heard all about it & I can tell you no more – we were round & about there – but did not actually do any scrapping.

We’ve got a parson now amongst 3 of us small ships. Such a nice man – he has been at Buenos Ayres for the last 8 years- & remembers the Essex lot when he went out there – He seems a thorough man – anyhow he impressed us all yesterday when he took the service on board here for the first time

I’ve had 2 letters from Ted – just lately – he seems rather sick at having to go back to the trenches so soon- he wrote congratulating the navy on our effort the other Sunday.

I’m so glad you heard from Digby. I haven’t seen him again.

I have seen any amount of my pals lately, the weather has been so good for ship visiting & there are heaps of Essex fellows here. Des Dolphin is just next door & I ask him to lunch nearly everyday – but have never seen him yet. He might come over tomorrow however. I dined with Lobby Hewett – the other evening – he asked after all of you.

Good-night – Mother & I hope you are all well & flourishing.

Very best love from your ever loving son

Paul

It’s difficult to tell exactly what “scrap” Paul is referring to. The Gloucester took part in the hunt for the Emden in November 1914 and according to www.naval-history.net she then was detained to search off the coast of Africa for the German AMC Kronprinz Wilhelm. But I am not convinced that this is what Paul is referring to. http://www.naval-history.net/ have transcribed the Gloucester’s logs for January to June 1914, and so we can accompany Paul day by day for the next six months.

Log for the HMS Gloucester 1 February 1915
Scapa Flow
Lat 58.9, Long -3.1
7.55am Collier Westgarth secured alongside
9.40am Finished coaling having received 115 ton. Collier cast off
10.18pm Weighed and proceeded as requisite out of harbour
1.33pm Passed obstruction. Course as reqte through Pentland Firth
11.15pm Skerries Lt abeam 3′ (miles)

H.M.S. Gloucester

15.1.15

Dear Mother-

Very many thanks for your letter – dated 10^th – How lovely it must be having Ted at home, and I can well imagine the hustle that is going on- I am awfully sorry to hear about Capon – what a nuisance it must have been when he was away, especially when there is such a crowd at home.

You said nothing about Ben being engaged to Wiggie in your letter – Dreda wrote & said in a passing sort of way ”Isn’t it ripping about Ben & Wiggie being engaged” – I said “Yes” but I did’nt know they were. Don’t think I exactly approve & I don’t suppose you do – but still it’s not for me to say & I do only hope & pray it will turn out a success. Ben is worth 100’s of Wiggies. Am glad to hear Ben is all right again & that the operation was successful.

Did you see in the morning post of 12^th about us being sunk – some German news – written by an English lady, married to a German- Dorothy Black (that was) I expect.

So Willie Perkins is off to the front at last – he must be pleased

I have got various presents & cards from the King & Queen – Princess Mary etc- I’ll send them along –as I am bound to lose them if I keep them.

We are still waiting – generally most miserable weather- stacks of rain-

Washing, is our worst enemy at present – can’t get any done- I washed my pajamas in my bath today-

I’ve had the usual aching cough during the last week – all but developed into a churchyarder, but not quite. Am all right again now. Have the gramaphone records arrived?

With ever so much love to you all

From your ever loving son

Paul

 A churchyarder was a cough that might put you in the churchyard, one that made you sound as if you were dying.

10.1.15

Dear Mother.

V. many thanks for your letter. How lovely Ted & Dick coming home & Topher at home- Seems such a pity I can’t get away but it’s absolutely impossible.

Topher writes & says he’s joined in Jim’s Regt. I do hope he will like it & get on well.

Glad to hear Ben is all right again. I enclose some photographs taken when we were off the Dardanelles – they are all much the same & are for distribution amongst the family.

Please thank D for her letter & the sox. I’ll write anon.

I’ve sent you some Gramophone records (2) one organ one called “Evensong” I think you will like awfully.

Must go to bed – It is cold here today.

Very best love – your ever loving son

Paul

I forgot to tell you. I saw Digby the other day. He asked very tenderly after you.

Jan. 2^nd 1915

Dear Mother,

Thank you most awfully for the leather waistcoat – it has just arrived & does look warm – it will be very useful – and also the socks – cake & pudding arrived today too – jolly good cake – the pudding I’m keeping till tomorrow.

We didn’t have what you could call a Merry Christmas – we were at sea for 4 days or so during that time – & in the most appalling weather I’ve ever known – blowing & as rough as possible & bitterly cold as well, & when we came in we had to coal all during the Sunday, – night as well – there seem to be continual gales blowing round these parts – so different to our Mediterranean weather.

The Dudmans have sent me 3 pots of “apple jelly” – excellent – I must say our mess has been liberally supplied with food-stuffs during Christmas – the amount of chocolates & various things I’ve eaten during the last week is awful-

That strange P.C. F.N. Renny person sent me a box of cigarettes yesterday- and what’s more I’ve remembered who it is – I used to know him down at Portsmouth ages ago when I was in the Essex.- I’ve had stacks of letters lately too, but nearly all from people to whom I sent Christmas cards.

How’s Topher getting along – has he decided on anything as yet. Glad Lyon has good news of Ted. I sent him papers from the mess & a parcel of various things for Christmas. There is very little news.       with ever so much love to you all from

Your ever loving son

Paul

I am not certain where the Gloucester is at this time, but by early February she and Paul are in Scapa Flow in Orkney, so it seems likely that this letter was written there, or in one of the Scottish North Sea ports.