Category Archives: British Ships

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

Tuesday. 9^th Nov.

Dear Mother – Thank you very much for your letter – Topher wrote me a line and said he was going – so I sent him a telegram & a box of cigarettes – Sorry to hear Dreda has a cold – but I hope it is better by now.

I say how dreadful about that huge fire at Cabel Reeks – as a matter of fact I saw an account of it in the Daily Mail or some other paper.

Thank you muchly for the two Surrey Advertisers – I suppose you must have addressed one to me, instead of one of the other boys.

Susan’s done well! What are you going to do with them all-

I had a lovely photograph of each of Ted & Jane sent to me to-day – awfully good I think they are. Ted looks so fat-

We’ve got a bit of a gale blowing up here to-day – raining like anything too-

Yes. Dreda sent me Willie’s address – & I got my sox to-day – please thank Ben most awfully for doing them. Also Nancy has sent me some of that lovely butter they have at the Lodge.

I must say Jim does seem to move about – he never seems to be in one place for more than about a week-

Afraid this is a very short letter but there is no news really-

I am awfully well & fit-

With ever so much love to you all

from ever your loving son

Paul

If this is the same Susan that Richard washed with Lux in the summer, then she was presumably a dog who survived the motor accident in June and had litter of puppies in the autumn of 1915.

H.M.S. Gloucester

All Saints Day

Dear Mother

V. many thanks for your letter- So my chest does sound rather huge – how you ever got it down those back stairs I don’t know.

My ankle is quite all right again – as far as I can see – I have played hockey once or twice since, and no ill effects. I use one of those anklet things.

Nothing doing at all our way, as usual – It’s getting quite chilly these days & so fearfully damp, and colds seem to be fairly easy to catch.

Yes allright I’ll send Dreda a contribution to Topher’s gramaphone. I suppose he must be nearly having his final leave before he goes out. I heard from him the other day.

I’ve just had my cabin done up & a thorough painting – it had’nt been done for ages. Very sort of pale blue enamel now it is – remarkable lack of pictures though.

How dreary Guildford sounds now – being so black. I suppose that is all on account of that Zepp raid. I do hope you won’t have another one.

Does anyone know Willie’s address now? I want to write to him – but cannot get an address out of anyone-

Rather a dull letter I’m afraid.

With ever so much love to you all-

Your ever loving son

Paul

H.M.S. Gloucester

28.x.15

Dear Mother – I’m sure I quite forgot to put that 10/- in the other day – silly of me.

A simply filthy day – raining & blowing hard-

Please thank Ben for her letter – If you want some pictures for the lumber room – or rather the dining room – my sea chest is fairly full is’nt it – why not use them.

Did you see Digby had a son the other day?

With ever so much love from your loving son

Paul

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

Tuesday. 26^th

Dear Mother –

Thank you for your letter – & I’m glad the sox & chest have arrived safely. I enclose the 10/- – Ever so many thanks for paying the other 5/-, what’s the gear like inside – I expect I shall want some of those plain clothes shirts soon – I believe there are some quite good coloured flannel ones in there, are’nt there?

The lumber room sounds awfully cosy as a dining room- & ought to be quite warm with the kitchen so close – excellent idea it sounds-

What does that mean, Jim being transferred to a Reserve Battalion? Will he go out any sooner. I heard from Topher yesterday – he told me he expected to go out very shortly now.

Yes- they gave me £2 for my wins in the sports – & to buy my own prize – but I haven’t as yet bought anything.

It’s getting pretty parkey up our way – but I have’nt really begun to wear anything winter as yet – one wants a great coat ashore though. I don’t know whether you remember that big blue Reefer coat of Jim’s, that he gave me; do you? Well anyhow I’ve had naval buttons and shoulder straps put on it & it makes a ripping new great coat – which is a thing I wanted badly.

I say how ripping of Dreda to get some money for Topher’s gramaphone. I wish I had known – because I would have sent her some – why did’nt she ask me?

I was sent a most beautiful white knitted sweater yesterday by a friend of mine – gorgeous it is – all hand knitted-

We have a hockey ground now – which is very nice – but I’ve got a very slightly groggy ankle at present & the doctor says I’d better rest it for a week – but a funny sort of new lump appeared & only hurt when you touched it – I’ve felt it there for weeks & weeks but I thought it was a hack, from football or something – but when it wouldn’t go away – I showed it to him & he was bluffed and didn’t know what it was – but said it might be something – an abscyss forming in a tendon gone – anyhow I’ve had it well Iodined & occasionally wrapped up & sounds funny does’nt it – I’ve got the cold alright – but I’m glad to say the hard lump is going away & does’nt hurt ½ as much – (I’ve just felt it again & feel it still there – that’s why I changed the tense).

It’s nothing to worry about – for one thing I’ve never told you before – simply because I forgot that anything’s wrong at all. I ran all through the sports with it.

Well goodnight Mother – I hope you are all well.

With much love to you all.

from your ever loving son

Paul

H.M.S. Gloucester

Oct. 19^th

Dear Mother-   Thank you muchly for your letter- I say how dreadful about that air raid – and I am thankful that none of you are hurt or have suffered in any way – I should just say there was some excitement in Guildford – It must have been a great shock to everyone – I had no idea, till I got your letter that they had been anywhere near you, and of course I rather got a bit of a shock when I read your letter. They seem to have been over most of the Southern part of England-

I have been meaning to pack up some socks to send you – but I have had very little time to do anything just lately.

We had our sports last week, the finals – I managed to win the 100 yds & 2^nd in ½ mile & obstacle race – but I was disqualified in the latter – because I did one of the obstacles wrong – not a bad day though on the whole & I think the men enjoyed it

Oh – do let me know if you have had to pay anything for my chest – they said it would be about 15/- so if you will let me know I will send you the money-

It’s getting jolly cold up our way now – more cold winds than anything else. I have’nt actually started my winter clothing yet though.

Yes – Jane seems to be enjoying herself immensely – I heard from her only a few days ago.

We have just got rather a good hockey ground fairly close here – it is a cricket ground really – so it’s very good. & they are letting us have it for nothing too.

Well I am glad you are all safe and well –

With ever so much love to you all

ever your loving son

Paul

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

October 12^th

Dear Mother

V. many thanks for your letter – I expect by now you have got my letter telling you how it was I had’nt written. We are in harbour again now – & have received a batch of mails.

They have postponed our sports – but they are to take place as soon as possible – so I shan’t have much time to do any training – because I have’nt had a run since the end of last month nearly-

So glad you have had a day in London-

I am writing in a minute to Gieve’s about my chest – I have’nt had a chance till now – I can never write any letters at sea.

That friend of Jim’s who sent him some cigarettes has just sent me some – she must be rather a nice person I should think. I am awfully well and fit & hope you have not been worrying about my not writing.

With best love to you all-

from ever your loving son

Paulie

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

Oct. 9^th

My dear Mother.

V. many thanks for your letter – which I got yesterday – because we have been messing about at sea all during this last week, & consequently no mails out or in till yesterday – so that’s why you have’nt heard from me as usual.

All right I’ll tell Gieve to send my chest home – oh yes I’m sure it will fit in anywhere really – but you know how one imagines things are huge & they are not really.

I must send Ruth a fountain pen – I presume she writes with a Relief like we all do.

Sickening about our sports – because since the heats we have been at sea & so I’ve had no training & at present are at a different place – and the finals are Monday & Tuesday- so whether we shall be there for them I don’t know. I do hope we are.

I say how sad about Fred Hewett & what a shock for poor Bunchie – I never saw it in the paper – & did not know till I read it in your letter-

I had a letter from Jane from Gloucester – she seemed to be very happy-

Yes all this news East & West is extraordinary. I really believe we are on the move now – I think all those Balkan states are the limit- Heaven knows what will happen next.

My cold has quite gone now- oh about a week ago I should think.

If I send some socks home to be darned & mended – has anyone any time to do them – seems a pity to waste them – they are such nice ones.

Heaps of love to you all & I hope everyone is very well.

Your ever loving son

Paul

Relief pen nibs were dipped in an inkwell (difficult in a ship at sea, one would think). Fountain pens had a rubber bladder containing ink. 
http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-relief-314-nibs-17-display-162842161

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

Wednesday. 29^th

Dear Mother.

Many thanks for your letter – Dreda & Jane seem to have enjoyed themselves very much at Bognor. I heard from Dreda while she was there. I must write to her in a minute.

Rotten weather we are having now – all rain & quite cold – This afternoon we ran off some heats of our sports – pouring all the time – I won my 100 yds heat & tomorrow is our ½ mile – an awful track, all long grass-

I’ve made friends with our Chaplain’s kids – who are up here- I went to tea there this afternoon & thoroughly enjoyed myself.

Isn’t the news lovely – we’ve just got our evening papers & I see they say 120,000 Germans are accounted for, in some way or another – I wonder when our casualty lists will be out?

Is it any use having my sea-chest sent home – it will cost 15/- apparently to send to Guildford, and if I store it – it costs 4^d a week – what do you think – it’s mostly full of pictures & clothes I don’t want at present.

Mr Tyers was married to-day – he’s that fellow who came to see you with his fiancée – & brought my cigarette Box-

Slight old acquaintance- Mrs Maturin – eh? – Course I have’nt the slightest idea what she is like.

My cold has quite gone now thank you & I’m feeling ever so fit again.

There is no more news – very best love to you all from

Your ever loving son

Paul

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

Wednesday. 22.

Dear Mother.

V. many thanks for your letter – I’m afraid I am a bit late with mine – but these last 3 or 4 days seem to have been rather a rush somehow – and last Saturday I caught a rotten cold playing rugger in the rain, & having to wait about afterwards – so I’ve been feeling thoroughly Paulish – It’s much better now – though my supply of handkerchiefs has given out – It’s turned into a cough now – besides that, I’ve had to attend 2 boxing tournaments – which haven’t helped at all; and I’m going again to-day.

I’ve heard from Jim once or twice – he said he felt much better & hoped his stay at Bournemouth would do him no end of good.

Glad to hear Dreda is getting a holiday- I expect she deserves it – after sitting in that stuffy Bank all these days.

Poor old Tew. Yes truly a Camberley tragedy – I see the New Budget is out this morning – really the figures are huge, and how it’s all worked out I don’t know – What vast economies we shall have to make – One thing, the £130 touch will affect a good deal of people I expect.

Well I must rush off again to examine some fellows in gunnery!

rather a rushy letter I’m afraid

Very best love to you all

Your ever loving son

Paul

Spectator article on budget
http://archive.spectator.co.uk/article/25th-september-1915/6/the-third-war-budget

H.M.S. Gloucester

Wednesday. 15^th

Dear Mother.

Thank you very much for your letter- I am so glad you enjoyed your holidays & that everyone says you look ever so much better. I’m sure you have had a well earned rest.

I must say we have been having simply gorgeous weather lately – really hot it’s been, and I’ve had some good basks in the sun – but to-day is the first time I’ve been able to get ashore though; & I’ve been for a motor bicycle ride & marvellous to relate, I arrived back from where I started after a 2 hour ride.

I’m glad you like those photographs – they are rather interesting are’nt they- That one of you is quite good I think- the tiniest woman in Asia I should say!!

I did’nt write for those cardigan’s – because I don’t really need them – I seem to have got heaps of woolly waistcoats & things left over from last year.

Bee’s plums arrived rather crushed – but excellent whern stewed or in a tart.

Oh. I’ve found my sea-chest really this time & have sent to find out what’s in it etc because I can’t remember –except my gun – which I want for clay pigeon shooting.

Sorry to hear Jim is still a bit dicky – I hope he’ll get better soon

Chubbie’s brother has arrived home from the Dardanelles – he’s got a concussion – and is convalescing.

Well – I must stop – I’m just off to bed –

Goodnight & very best love to you all

from your ever loving son

Paul