Category Archives: British Ships

H.M.S. Gloucester

Tuesday. 31^st

My dear Mother –

V. many thanks for your letter. Did you get a letter from me a little while ago with some certificates of mine in it – because you never said whether you got it or not. I rather want to know – as they are rather important things to keep- Thank you for Ted’s address-

No I don’t remember Fizzle hizzle at all – can’t think what it is. I had a letter from Stephane – an awfully nice one – they don’t yet seem to have heard anything official about Donald, so agonizing for them I think, and Mrs Black must be in such a state.

Sorry to hear about Jane’s job – she told me she was’nt very pleased at the way they went on in the P.O. and I quite see her point really – must be very hard for her

We went to sea the other day – quite a change – but we did’nt stay very long, worst luck – wish we could do a bit more- Beastly nuisance these coal strikes are – some very strong hand ought to settle them all for good and all I consider.

Slight improvement in the weather lately – really we’ve had some quite hot days.

Very best love to everybody – & let me know about those certificates won’t you.

Your ever loving son

Paul

H.M.S. Gloucester

Tuesday. 24^th

Dear Mother.

Very many thanks for your letter – Well you do seem to have lived in a rush last week- & what a ripping time all the girls must have had with Willie – I bet he thoroughly enjoyed himself –

Rather amusing about Dick & Jim looking for dress suits – how they must have all laughed- Just like Jim that, not turning up again for a day or two. Never met such a wanderer-

So Ted is at Gloucester – you never sent me his address- will you? Because I want to write to him.

Thank you for Stephane’s- rather difficult to write a letter when it seems uncertain.

Bee Dudman sent me heaps more Jam the other day – so good it is- She told me you were going to stay down there sometime – now do have a good rest when you are there Mother – and stay there a good long time-

What a Black week that was last week was’nt it – but what glorious news yesterday- I do hope things have started to move now. We still seem to be waiting – I get ashore & play a good deal of football and am keeping awfully fit. I hope to go out to dinner this evening, with another Essex pal of mine. I had a letter from Rosamond the other day – she seems to enjoy her fruit picking.

Well there is no more news – Hope everybody is very well-

Best love to you all from

ever your loving son

Paul

H.M.S. Gloucester

Aug. 17^th

Dear Mother.

V. many thanks for your letter. I am awfully pleased to hear Ted has got a job – & how topping for him being down at Salisbury with Jim & Topher. I wonder what sort of job he will have – kind of adjudancy I expect.

No- the weather is still awful up here – everyday it still rains & thunders.

Yes I saw about Donald Black, awfully sad I think and was that Geoffrey or Desmond Gabb who was killed? I can’t remember whether he is out there or not. Will you send me the Blacks’ address- because I should like to write to Stephane.

Heaps of fellows I know in the Naval despatches in to-day’s paper. We’ve had one or two letters from fellows out there – and they say it’s perfectly ghastly the fighting, & the ships – especially the destroyers are in action of some sort, practically every day. I always wish we could have started out there now & had some fighting – everyone is getting so fed up with this waiting game here.- but somehow we keep remarkably well & cheery-

There now I nearly forgot- tho’ I remembered it & had been thinking about it when I started this letter. Your birthday on Thursday – so I wish you very many happy returns of the day – & may God keep you for many many more birthdays.

With ever so much love to you all from ever your loving son

Paul

H.M.S. Gloucester

Aug. 13

Dear Mother

I have been meaning to send you the enclosed for ages – but I keep on forgetting – Will you put them in that sort of book with my other certificates that you have- Don’t lose them.

I have just written to Ruth – d’you know of anything useful that I can give her?

It’s still raining & thundering – sickening isn’t it.-

Ever so much love to you all

ever your loving son

Paul

H.M.S. Gloucester

10Aug.

Dear Mother.

V. many thanks for your letter – it arrived a bit late – as I generally get them on Monday – but it has only just arrived. So Ted has been up for another board – will he go out again or are they going to give him something to do in England?

Well the whole family seems to be employed one way or another now, don’t they – ripping I think. Ben’s job sounds very amusing – I think the hiring of our Court sounds very spy-ish – Where does the Baroness live?

Yes that was the show we had with the A. of York – there was a long article in most of the papers. I think he said much too many good things about us.

We have had the most poisonous weather lately – seems to continually rain – to-day at last it has cleared up a little.

Yes- I will write to Ruth – do you mean to say she is 21 – I can’t realise it – she seems about 17.

We had our 1^st anniversary dinner last Saturday – of our action with the “Breslau” – the Captain came in and dined with us and several of us had guests from other ships- We had a very cheery sing song afterwards

Nothing interesting at all has happened lately – and I am afraid my letters are always awfully short – but there is really nothing to tell you – when you are stuck onboard a ship for about a month-

I am awfully fit and well!

With ever so much love to you all

Your ever loving son

Paul

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

Tuesday. 3^rd

Dear Mother.

Thank you for your letter – glad you liked the photograph. I seem to be getting that habit of mine again-

Bee Dudman sent me two parcels of fruit the other day, one of plums & another of red currants – an enormous amount of each – they were awfully good – the currants were a bit squashed though – was’nt it awfully nice of them-

Yes you must try & get down to Pitney when Ted goes away – a change would do you a lot of good.

I am glad to hear Jane has got another job – as you say jolly tiring I should think – standing up all day long and fairly long hours too.

So old James was over for the week end – he has’nt been to Delaford for ages has he?

Nothing much doing up our way as yet – I am wondering whether the anniversary is going to bring us something – I do hope so.

We are absolutely out of quarantine for mumps & measles now – which is a good thing as now we can visit a few of our friends in other ships.

I believe I’ve discovered the whereabouts of that sea chest of mine that I told you about – with all my clothes in it-. I’m not absolutely certain though but I believe it’s at Devonport somewhere.

Afraid this is rather a short letter – I am awfully fit and well, except for a hack on the shin at football to-day.

With very much love to you all

from your ever loving son

Paul

H.M.S. Gloucester

July 8^th

Dear Mother –

Thank you very much for your last letter & the bags & shoes have just arrived – Don’t quite know why you’ve sent Topher’s bags- as I left mine behind – the only ones belonging to that grey Hopes suit – they must be somewhere I suppose-

What a mass of friends seem to have come in on Sunday -, by your letter they appeared to be pouring in continuously- I hope Topher is’nt sickening for anything serious – I wonder what it is.

We have just been ashore to hear the Archbishop of York speak – he’s apparently been visiting the “Navy” lately & giving sermons. Most interesting it was & he spoke awfully well – I’ve never seen such a crowd of sailors before. About 10,000 of them altogether.

Suppose everyone will be fairly busy seeing dear old Ted off when you get this. Is he leaving on the 10^th or only going up for another medical board?

I am at last investing in a fountain pen. I have so much writing to do, I really had to – I don’t think I shall like it a bit.

There appears to be a slight heat wave down your way – how lovely – cos lately up here we have had miserable wet days & yesterday evening we had a fire!

Awfully little news – with ever so much love to you all, from your ever loving son

Paul

Bags = trousers