Category Archives: British Ships

H.M.S. Gloucester
C/o G.P.O.

29.xii.15

Dear Mother – I’m hustled beyond everything – all this being appointed away etc etc – and I am ever so busy finishing up on board here – I have’nt had a moment to write to anyone – I’m feeling fearfully guilty – but it can’t be helped.

I do thank you all for your lovely Christmas presents – really they were too ripping – will you tell the girls how much I liked them – & say I hope to see them either Saturday or Sunday – because I shall stop on my way down to [censored?] where I told you.

But things are uncertain yet – & I’ve heaps to do – yet.

I had a lovely Christmas – ever so cheery we were –

I have’nt got time for any more – I’ll explain everything when I see you-

best love – your ever loving son

Paul

H.M.S. Gloucester
c/o G.P.O.

24.12.15

Dear Mother- Thank you most awfully for the cigarette case – it really is lovely and will be ever so useful.

We are fairly busy up here – what with one thing & another – ½ the fellows being on leave – but still it’s quite allright – but a most filthy place – one mass of mud everywhere – I am staying on board to-morrow and Sunday – because the married officers wanted to spend Christmas ashore – but I have arranged a Christmas lunch party – so shall be quite happy- I wonder if Mr Drew was down on Wednesday – or whether he got that wine – sickening he being appointed away – I shall miss him dreadfully–

I’m writing with the Dudmans’ present – a stylo – really quite useful – but I hate writing with them.

Well I hope you will all have a happy Christmas & I only wish I could be home with you-

With ever so much love to you all

Your ever loving son

Paul

H.M.S. Gloucester
C/o G.P.O.

3.xii.15

Dear Mother

Thank you for your letter – and the parcel of clothes arrived to-day – for which also ever so many thanks. I’ll look after them all right.

I couldn’t write before – because we’ve been at sea since last Sunday & I’ve got a perfect mass of work to do in consequence – don’t know when I shall get settled down again – so you must excuse a short letter-

Filthy weather we had at sea – except the last day – & then it cleared up a bit – but it was bitterly cold all the time.

Poor old Topher. I had a letter from him too – he doesn’t seem very happy at present. I’ve sent him a parcel of cigarettes – tobacco etc from Dunhills – & several papers.

Dick appears to be having plenty of leave- I hope he is at home when I blow along –

Bee Dudman has written to say she wanted to send me some more food of sorts- They are kind are’nt they-.

I suppose there’s a certain amount of Christmas hustle already at home.

The things I want for Christmas are so fearfully expensive – i.e. a good luminous wristwatch & a blue Burberry – with a lining – My watch is always going wrong, & I had a Blue Burberry – but it was too big & I sold it to another fellow & bought an oilskin coat – souwester & trousers with the money – of which ½ is yours really – but a Burberry is so useful ashore – specially in this kind of weather-

I must stop now – ever so much love to you all – Hope to see you soon-

Your ever loving son

Paulie

H.M.S. Gloucester
C/o G.P.O.

27.xi.15

Dear Mother –

Are there any oldish shirts of mine in my sea-chest – or are there any of any description lying about at home that the boys will not need again – because I am getting up a concert etc onboard & we have no properties – I imagine there must be an old suit or two at home somewhere – dinner jacket – or dress coats – anything like that would be useful-

Will you send them fairly soon. Have we any other properties at home – wigs?

So sorry to trouble you – Here are some stamps for postage –

Still jolly cold up here – I’m just off to play hockey-

Very best love to you all

Your ever loving son

Paul

H.M.S. Gloucester
C/o G.P.O.

23.xi.15

Dear Mother,

V. many thanks for your letter and also for the shirts which arrived safely – I am glad you have had a rake round in my chest – I told you about those brass cylinders ages ago. I had heaps more but I don’t know where they are now.

Rather nice Dick being home – is he still in hopes of going abroad? I had a p.c. from Topher too – has he written to you yet?

As a matter of fact our Captain wanted a dog – so I told him about Susan’s puppies – but he’s just told me he thinks he’d like an older animal – it’s rather hard to bring them up properly on board – so he’s getting another one.

We’ve had heaps of frost up here lately – but to-day is quite warm again really – & everything ashore is all slushy – I’ve just been playing football.

Poor old Specs – I do feel sorry for him – I wonder whether he will ever get through the medical.

Ben seems to be flying high with her Aerodrome job-! Rather difficult to start with I should think.

Well I must stop now-

very best love to you all

Your ever loving son

Paul

H.M.S. Gloucester
C/o G.P.O.

15.xi.15

Dear Mother.

V. many thanks for your letter – early this week. I generally don’t get it till Tuesday. What a ripping time you all must have had for the week-end – Ted & Nell there! An ordeal for Nell to go through, I should say – I am glad you like her. Ted sent me a letter & told me about it – & I sent a hurried wire & wrote – but I have’nt heard from him since. There’s no doubt about it – the soldiers get all the luck these days.

Coldish up here these days – snowing & it’s been freezing for 2 or 3 days now. Will you send me along a shirt or two out of my chest – a couple of warm looking ones.

Yes – there is a chance I believe of some leave soon – but only a day or two at the most – & it will be very sudden – because I can’t tell you when I’m coming-

My rotten old ankle keeps swelling up. I played footer the other day & of course started it again – but it never hurts really – except when it actually gets touched-

Do you want any homes for Susan’s puppies? I am thinking I should rather like one.

So Topher has gone to France, I have written him a letter & sent him some papers.

I never know who these weird people are of whom you talk – whoever’s John Thompson – I’m sure I’ve never heard of him before.

Well I must go to bed. I must start a 2nd blanket I think.

ever so much love to you all-

Your ever loving son

Paul