October 5th
Dear Mother.
V. many thanks for your two letters- 16th & 21st- they arrived together 2 days ago. I am glad to hear Jim has come home & enlisted – the last letter I had from him, he was fearfully keen. Ted by now I suppose must be well up at the front.
I can’t quite make out why you have’nt got many of my letters – I’ve sent a good few off – but they may have been censored. I wrote you a fairly long account of our little scrap with the “Breslau” – but you have never told me whether you got it – so I suppose that one was anyhow. We have had some cuttings sent us from various papers re our show – truly amusing – The “Morning Post” one was quite the best – did you see it.
We have also had heaps of scarves etc from the Navy League – they seem to be doing a great deal in that line, but I can quite see that it can be overdone.
One thing about this war – anyhow from our point of view is that we can save a lot of money – you see I have’nt been ashore now for 8 weeks – so we have only our food onboard to pay for; so if you want some money (cash) – I can send you a remittance thro’ the Admiralty for £5 or so which might help along the larder for a week or so – now mind you let me know.
There seems to be a certain amount of stagnation in the war now – anyhow where our fellows are fighting- This 23 days’ battle seems to get no further either way – how fearfully exhausted they all must be.
Yes I see that Lawrence Russel is killed now – also George Moodie wounded – how I should have loved to have been in that charge the Scots Greys did.
Jane tells me you are trying to get a Belgian lady (refugee) to stay!
Well I can’t think of any more news-
I am quite well- & I hope all of you are too.
Very best love from
Your ever loving son Paul
It’s frustrating that Paul’s letter about the Gloucester’s encounter with the Breslau is lost. Chapter 7 of Geoffrey Miller’s book “Superior Force” describes the encounter.
£15 in 1915 converts to £215 in 2005 values.
