Category Archives: British Ships

H.M.S. Malaya

C/o G.P.O.

Wednesday, 25.

My dear Mother.   Very many thanks for your letter – rather a quiet weekend you seem to have had – with no one at home.

I did’nt know Dick was in France. I knew he had arrived at Marseilles – rather a good job – a Field ambulance is’nt it – & I expect he is rather pleased – and attached to the cavalry an’ all. Thanks for his address – I will write to him presently.

I’ve never known such a series of rotten days – always raining & blowing hard – & makes things so miserable-

Yes I saw about old Ommaney’s son – but I thought he was going into the Navy; so I was’nt absolutely certain – so sad for him. You might tell him when you see him next how sorry I am will you.

Yes quite a show I believe those Gloucester fellows had down there with the Flag-hanging – I knew all the men in that picture.

I am glad to hear Chubbie is fit again – I hope to hear from Jane soon – as I’ve just sent them another customer- That Maisie Hill girl – the friends of mine up this way, whom I go and see. They are in Town now for the winter.

Awfully nice idea I think to let the Wounded men use the dining room. I’ll see if I can send some papers along for you-

with much love to you all

ever your loving son

Paul

H.M.S. MALAYA.

c/o G.P.O.

20^th Sept.

Dear Mother- Thank you for your letter. How too lovely Topher arriving home – and for 10 days leave – I was so surprised when I got his wire on Monday. I sent him one, and also a letter yesterday. It is a pity I can’t get home and see him – but I am afraid there is absolutely no chance.

Extraordinary how Rosamond met him at Waterloo – and I can see so well the reception he got when the girls came in – and the noise & laughing -! Well he deserves his leave does’nt he and I hope he has a jolly good time.

How sickening about Dick – and so disappointing for us all – he’ll get my letter now anyway – so Jim’s off to France – someone told me last week – Dreda I think, that they thought he was going to India!!!

I had a signal from Mr Lyon yesterday asking me to go to dinner – but I could’nt go. Don’t know when I shall see him now! – and I should like to see him so much & hear all the news – so to speak.

We have had filthy weather these last 3 days – blowing a gale – but it’s much better today-

My best love to you all-

Your ever loving son

Paul.

Thank you for the lavender Bag – I always like them so much-

H.M.S. MALAYA.

c/o G.P.O.

19^th.

Dear Mother-

Very many thanks for your letter. We are away from Mrs C.G. now and my good times are over for a bit – but I thoroughly enjoyed myself while it lasted. A niece of Mrs Conway’s turned up while we were there – and as it’s a dull place – I think she (Mrs Cy) was pleased that we helped to amuse her & show her about- I took several fellows with me at different times – Oh yes she told me the story about your tea & being all dressed up & how she had gone out for the day – & saw nobody else but you – would have come again the next day – as she asked you.

We have had some beastly weather lately- a sort of continuous gale blowing but to-day it’s lovely again-

So Dick is at Marseilles – I do hope he will get home soon now. I want him to come up & stay – he’s only got to go and ask I believe at the Admiralty – we have had several Canadians already – they stay about 4 or 5 days. It would be lovely if he could would’nt it.

Rosamund wrote to me about the linen cloth & I sent her the measurements. I heard from Mrs Jim –  yesterday & all about their lodgings an’ all at Aldershot- she told me about going to Guildford for 4 days.

Any more luck about that mantle?

I must end now-

With my best love to you all-

ever your loving son

Paul

Paul was increasingly close to Nancy Swan during the summer of 1916 and early 1917, possibly via an existing friendship with her aunt by marriage, Mrs Conway-Gordon.

Nancy’s father was Colonel Charles Arthur Swan C.M.G., M.A., J.P., and her mother was Ethel, only daughter of Colonel F.I. Conway-Gordon. Her brother was brother was Major Charles Francis Trollope Swan MC who was born in 1887 and her sister Marjorie was born in 1886.

Nancy herself was born in 1895, making Nancy 22 in 1917 to Paul’s 28.

H.M.S. MALAYA.

c/o G.P.O.

14^th Sept.

Dear Mother-   V. many thanks for your letter and the Surrey Advt. I’m so glad the wedding went off allright – I have heard from Jim & Sheina – and they seem to be quite enjoying themselves down at Bexhill playing golf.

It’s suddenly turned most beastly cold up here, and we have started fires in the Ward Room already- “out with yer woollies”-

Nothing at all exciting has been happening up here – we hope for a change soon though. I wonder if Dick would come up & stay onboard for a bit – when he comes home – soldiers very often do – I must write and ask him; he might enjoy it rather.

Another fellow has got shingles now – a Lieut – but he’s been in bed with it for the last 4 days – so I was apparently rather lucky and only had it very slightly.

Our guest night tonight, I hope Mr Drew is coming to dine with me – as we have a “Movie” show as well.

My best love to you all

Your ever loving son

Paul

H.M.S. MALAYA.

c/o G.P.O.

Wednesday. 10^th

My dear Mother-

V. many thanks for your letter – and I am so glad you had such a good rest at Pitney-

Ripping photographs those of Jim’s wedding – think I must have them mounted & put in a frame-

I am still having a jolly good time here – though I was fearfully busy all last week with our men’s Concert – 3 times we did it- & they want to do it again to-day at the local Hospital- but to tell the truth I’m bored with concerts & am not going – only making the arrangements.

I’ve seen a lot of Mrs Conway – I go there a lot – & she is kind- She has a niece staying there now-, an awfully nice girl – Mrs Conway’s been in bed with a chill for a couple of days – but we go & have tea in her bed room.

We are having a slight blow up here again – & makes boat work rather rotten.

I must write to Topher & cheer him up – poor fellow. I met a Lieut in a ship yesterday who was at Canterbury with him – Bellairs by name-!

Hope to go out to the Hills’ to-day if I can get there.

So no luck with the mantle – any chance of getting one in Guildford anywhere?

With much love to you all – ever your loving son

Paul

Mrs C.G. sends her love to you – I asked her to write-.

Not the same Bellairs but may be what precipitated the -!

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

Paul was increasingly close to Nancy Swan during the summer of 1916 and early 1917, possibly via an existing friendship with her aunt by marriage, Mrs Conway-Gordon.

Nancy’s father was Colonel Charles Arthur Swan C.M.G., M.A., J.P., and her mother was Ethel, only daughter of Colonel F.I. Conway-Gordon. Her brother was brother was Major Charles Francis Trollope Swan MC who was born in 1887 and her sister Marjorie was born in 1886.

Nancy herself was born in 1895, making Nancy 22 in 1917 to Paul’s 28.

H.M.S. MALAYA.

c/o G.P.O.

Sept. 6.

Dear Mother

V. many thanks for your letter. Extraordinary about that fellow Lyon – turning up at Delaford – Oh ha yes – he was onboard about a month ago I should think. He knew Chubbie out in S. America when he was in a ship out there – so I expect he went to the Shop I told him to. An awfully nice fellow.

I rushed off a letter to Sheina & Jim – and I hope they get them before the wedding; did’nt know you could suddenly shift the date at the last minute so to speak.

I had a letter from Mrs Steer yesterday telling me about dear Chubbie – she seems to have been rather bad poor child – and what with Tochie as well & then she (Mrs Steer) said the puppy went ill as well – she was rather worried.

I had a lovely long letter from Ted last night – seems to have plenty to do at Lansdowne – teaching recruits etc. How lovely Dick coming home – but what can he be doing I wonder. I do hope he gets to England for a bit anyhow-

Some air raid that – and a good bit of work getting that one down-

With my best love to you all

Your ever loving son

Paul

Herbert Inglis Nigel Lyons (died 1917, fought in the Falklands)

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/3043890/

His father (died 1919)

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/4009588/

H.M.S. MALAYA.

c/o G.P.O.

Tuesday evening 3^rd

Dear Mother- Thanks very much for your letter from Pitney – & I am glad you are having a good rest down there – & I am sure it will do you a lot of good – Beastly all these raids lately – but they don’t seem to have done much damage from what the papers say.

I had a letter from Dick to-day – he still seems to think that he’ll be home soon – and fearfully keen for me to arrange my leave at the same time as his – but that’s impossible at present.

I am still having a good time up here- I went to tea with Mrs C.G. this afternoon – I am fearfully busy with our Ship’s Company Concert – I am sort of running it for them – we hope to give it ashore here on Thursday & Friday.

We don’t want a mantle just yet awhile – because our officers’ show is postponed- Still it would be useful to have it to see if it suits-!

Ripping of you to have Chubbie down for a few days – & I am glad she is so much better.

Best love to you Mother-

Your ever loving son

Paul

H.M.S. MALAYA.

c/o G.P.O.

Sunday evening

Dear Mother-

I am glad to hear you have arrived safely at Pitney – and I hope this letter reaches you there-

It seems to have got so cold all of a sudden to-day. I had my friends the Hills onboard to tea this afternoon. I think they enjoyed it quite – although there’s not fearfully much to do. I went to tea & dinner with them yesterday-

A happy feeling to-night – that you are in a nice safe place.

Goodnight Mother-

My best love

from your loving son

Paul

Please give my love to all at Pitney

H.M.S. MALAYA.

c/o G.P.O.

Aug. 31^st.

Dear Mother.

Very many thanks for your letter – I did’nt have time yesterday to answer it. I’m glad the silver oar arrived safely.

Yes- my cold has quite gone now – but I’ve started them going in the mess now – & I’m thoroughly sworn at all round.

Good news this about Roumania coming in at last – it seems to have shaken the German populace a bit – so awfully amusing I think having their own ammunition fired back at them. I only heard from Dreda that Jane could’nt get to Seaview because Chubbie was away- but I never knew till you told me that she had an operation an’ all.

Chubbie hardly ever writes you know- I wish Jane had written & told me about it. Rotten luck for Jane not getting her holidays now – & I do hope she’s found someone to help her. I had a long letter from Ben last night – she’s recovering a lot she says – but still seems much distressed poor child.

Glad you’ve heard from Topher – I really must send him a letter.

Very best love to you all

Your ever loving son

Paul

H.M.S. MALAYA.

c/o G.P.O.

Aug. 23^rd

Dear Mother

V. many thanks for your letter. I’m glad the wedding has all been fixed up allright for H. Trinity – the last I heard was that it was to be at St Mary’s – must have been a slight scare that – Jim being recalled suddenly like that.

How ripping for Dick & Ted to have met. Wherever is that place Ambler – I must look it up. I suppose it was Ted who went to see Dick.

I’ve sent that little oar along & I hope it will arrive safely.

I had a letter from Ruth a few days ago- please thank her for it will you – She seems quite busy at the Hospital.

I’ve just started my usual cold – I’m always the first one to get them – It’s just in its worst stage now.

Awfully sorry to hear that Julian Yeatman is wounded- I met him up in town when I dined there one evening-

We’ve just had a beautiful Ship’s Bell presented to us by the Malay States- & tomorrow a Malayan fellow is coming up to make the formal presentation – and each officers’ mess has got a little silver model

[last page missing]

Julian Yeatman was the R. J. Yeatman who co-wrote 1066 and All That. The Yeatmans were friends of Gertrude’s and Benedicta Yeatman was Ben’s godmother.