Karachi
March 9.
Dear Mother
Arrived here yesterday. Hot as blazes. Very many thanks for your letter & 2 of Ben’s at Cox in Bombay. I got them after I posted those I sent when we arrived. I expect your next lot went to Suez after my cable. But I had arranged an exchange & was stopping on, when the blighter I had changed with cried off. I believe a mail goes tonight, more next week. Write me c/o Cox. Karachi
Best love to all
yr loving son
Richard.
All papers welcome.
March 9th 1916.
S.S. Muttra
Dear Mother
At last this very monotonous voyage is coming to an end. We are two days out of Bombay now, we ought to get there on the night of the 11th, and shall probably disembark on the 12th I should think. I believe the mail leaves on that day too, so it will be a fluke if we catch that mail. Anyhow we are going to have a try.
This is a beastly dirty little tub; all the officers’ accommodation is aft, so we get all the smuts & dirt all blown back on to us, & I don’t think any of us have felt really clean since we started. She is only a very small boat, & the men are rather like the proverbial sardine, but seem quite happy & contented, doubtless the prospect of getting near their own country again has something to do with it.
We have had splendid weather all the way, cool breezes & no rough days thank goodness as the ship would have got into an awful state if we had had any bad weather. We have’nt called anywhere en route, so shall have been 14 days at sea when we get in; not very long I know, but seeing that that is the usual length of the voyage from Bombay to Marseilles (we only came from Suez of course) in an ordinary P. & O. you can imagine how slowly we have travelled.
We have’nt the foggiest idea what’s going to happen to us on landing. Some think we shall go back to Lansdowne for a bit, but I very much doubt that, but beyond this I have’nt the vaguest idea as to what they will do with us. I certainly hope we stop in Bombay a day or two as I want to buy a few things. Also Dick left Suez in a hospital ship just ahead of us, but whether he went to Karachi or Bombay I don’t know, still there’s a good chance of seeing him so for this reason too I hope we put in a day or two there.
For the present I should stick to the India Office address, as I think it’s safer all round. It saves changing addresses if by any chance we are moved out of India again, though I don’t think that’s likely.
Tomorrow 10th March is the anniversary of Neuve Chappelle. What a lot of water has flowed under London Bridge since then, & what lots of things have happened. Having been all this time at sea & having no wireless on this rotten old tub we have of course had no news of any sort all this time, since 28th Feb! So we are all agog to get the latest news on landing. We left during a rather critical period on the Western Front, the big German offensive on Verdun, & we are of course fearfully keen to know how things have been going. And any fortnight during the war is bound to have something big happening in it. Just before we left we heard the bare fact of the P & O Maloja being mined off Dover but that’s all, we could get no details.
All well on board, & I personally am fit as a fiddle, but I feel I should like a leetle more exercise. There’s hardly room to swing a cat on our deck so we don’t get much chance of keeping our weight down!
Must wind up now.
Best love to all
from your loving son
Ted.
I do hope old Topher’s all right.
The Eau de Cologne you sent in the parcel has been a perfect Godsend on board.
The Cake was much appreciated also the China tea.
SS Maloja, sunk 27th Feb
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Maloja
H.M.S. Malaya
c/o G.P.O.
Ash Wednesday
Dear Mother-
Thanks very much for your letter- I think the phases of censorship & one thing & another tend to make my letters take such a long time – one thing if I miss the only mail out in the day – it has to wait 24 hours before it leaves the ship – so that accounts for it probably.
I’ve just had a long letter from Ted – he seems to be happy enough – he says they are going to the place where he was originally bound – does that mean India-
We have had bitterly cold weather here too – violent snowstorms – I seem to have lost a good many of my woollen things – such as mittens & Balaclava helmets during my shifting ships. I’m sure I packed them in the Gloucester – but I can’t find them now – so if you hear of any benevolent person who has knitted a helmet or a mitten – you might ask if I can have them – Sickening having lost mine – because I had some awfully nice ones.
We’ve started measles – in the Wardroom too- I hope I escape them – as I did in the Gloucester.
So you’ve been to see the shop, it does sound a nice clean sort of place – & you seem to approve of it – which is a great thing to my mind because you were awfully unhappy about Jane going there to start with – I thought – but now you’ve seen it – it helps a lot does’nt it?
Poor old Topher – he seems to have had a rotten time lately – & I do so hope he will get a commission – he deserves one I’m sure. Is there any more chance of his getting his leave fairly soon?
They seem to have had some terrific fighting lately don’t they. I can’t imagine how the Huns can go on losing all those men – it seems incredible –
Well I must get to bed-
Ever so much love to you all-
Your ever loving son
Paul
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balaclava_%28clothing%29
BRITISH INDIA STEAM NAV.N CO.L.T.D.
T.S.S. “NEURALIA”.
March 3.
Dear Mother.
I suppose you fancy I’m dotty. All those cables. But at least that F.A. stunt was washed out, so I had to come on here. So go on writing Cox Bombay. Only that waterproof has arrived. No boots or distemper pills. June is a dear, tell Ben frightfully fond of me & can beg perfectly now!
It’s so hot now, but I am being homesick & would prefer to be at home. Ted will be coming out soon. We are due in Bombay tomorrow, & we’ve heard no news since we left Egypt, so goodness knows what may have happened, for all we know peace may be declared.
I hope there’ll be some letters for me at Cox in spite of all the muddles.
Best love to all
yr loving son
Richard
SS Neuralia
http://www.clydesite.co.uk/clydebuilt/viewship.asp?id=4271
H.M.S. Malaya,
c/o G.P.O.
March. 1st 1916
Dear Mother. Many thanks for your letter – they seem to take much longer these days – don’t know why though-
I wonder if you have been up to see Jane’s shop yet? she told me in a letter 2 or 3 days ago that you were going up to see it- They seem to be quite allright there.
I must say I think you are quite right in a way about moving – it does involve much more trouble than one really imagines – & might not be worth it when all is done – but at the same time if everything did work out nicely it would be much better in a way for you – and the girls.
Another thing is that at present as all the girls are working you would have no one to help you do it – although you could manage it – but it would tire you out I’m sure, with all the worries and all- attached to a decided move.
We are getting rather nice weather up here – all our snow seems to be finished, to-day seems much colder though. So Dick is off to India again – I wonder how he likes the idea. So far away he seems to go-
Awfully little news – best love to you all – your ever
loving son
Paul
Feb 28/16
Dear Mother
Just a line to say we got on board safely and sail sometime today I believe. Awful squash on board, & the men like sardines. This is a very old ship, about 20 years old I think! There are several other officers on board, including one Bampton of the 8th Gurkhas who knows Dick & Ben.
I got a parcel last night, with tea, ink tabloids (using ‘em now) and some chocolate. Thanks awfully. The tea is a huge success as we get filth on board. I think a packet of China tea is always a good thing to have about the place.
Nothing much doing. All well here. I cabled Nell “Just off”; I wonder if she sent word to you.
Love to all
from your loving son
Ted.
Lt-Col J.A.H. Bampton made honorary Colonel, 1946
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/38710/supplements/4383/page.pdf
H.M.S. Malaya
26.2-16
Dear Mother-
Thanks very much for your letter – Yes I was adrift last week with my letter I am afraid – but I expect you have got it by now.
Not much news from this part of the world – I’ve just had a letter from Ben & Marjorie – Ben does’nt like being couped up all day at all- but otherwise seems happy enough.
I’ve “spoken” to that nephew of Mrs Black’s – he’s in my “division”, all same “company” – so I speak to him a good deal – quite a nice fellow – he was awfully surprised when I said I knew all the Blacks quite well-
I am glad to hear Ruth has fixed it up with Guy’s Hospital – seems a long way off though – Aug: 9th – but she deserves a good bit of leave first – does’nt she?
I get plenty of exercise these days – which is a good thing – as I was getting fearfully out of training with all that long leave.
Our quarter deck is huge – so we always play hockey every evening now & we also have a boat’s crew under way – in which I pull.
Miss Kellie seems to be installed as a Delafordian – I must say I liked her awfully – & everyone says something about her in their letters-
best love to all
your ever loving son
Paul
Feb 26.1916
The ship we are sailing in is
called the MUTTRA
Dear Mother
Just a line to say thanks awfully for your letter today, of 16, only 10 days ago. I also got 2 letters from Nell & one from Jinny. I had a letter from Nell yesterday too, so am in luck’s way. I cabled to Nell “just off” yesterday & so we are. We go on board tomorrow, at last, after all these rumours something definite is going to happen. After this you will just catch the usual weekly mail as before I suppose, only I think it’s best to stick to the India office address, for the present at anyrate.
So glad Dick enjoyed himself. I hear he has sailed for India in a hospital ship, but have heard nothing definite from him. He bought me a bed in Cairo & sent it across but it was never found this side of the Canal, so I don’t know what happened to it. I had several searches & so did lots of people, but we never found it!
I got your letter from Dumps Morse & will answer it as soon as I can; but I have been so busy today making preparations for tomorrow that I have’nt had much time.
I seem to be getting my letters better now, but I’m afraid I shan’t get any for about 3 weeks now, & the same for you I suppose. The films arrived yesterday: thanks awfully for them. I shall get a camera when I land, as the one I was going to buy has been bought by someone else!
How nice of Bob & Mrs Bob to come & see you; I’ve never seen her have I? What’s he in, & is he going out soon? I’m so awfully glad to hear Jim is looking so fit, & I do hope he is now quite well again. Topher must have been having a rotten time lately poor chap, I can sympathise with him. I do hope & pray he came through this all right. There seems to be lots going on everywhere now & the Russians seem to be helping our Baghdad campaign a lot. What splendid fighters they must be. We owe them a lot in this war.
Yes I’m afraid taxes will be heavy after this war. I don’t think I’ve chosen a very good time to get engaged! Never mind, Nell is such a dear that I would do anything for her. I hope Dryden got my letter last mail; I always try and answer letters as soon as I can, otherwise one gets so fearfully behindhand.
Nothing much doing here, all quiet & likely to be so I fancy. I’m not really sorry to be going. One feels very much out of things here, & though I don’t really want to be in the thick of things, yet somehow one feels that’s where one ought to be.
Your idea of living near London is a good one I think and I hope it materialises, it would be so awfully nice for the girls. Jinny tells me Ruth had exciting times in the Broadstairs raid; I do hope she’s all right. Best love to all. I’m awfully fit & well.
From your loving son
Ted
Pic of SS Muttra
Details of ship & its career
http://www.poheritage.com/Content/Mimsy/Media/factsheet/93844MUTTRA-1891pdf.pdf
Feb 23/1916.
Dear Mother
Just a line late at night to thank you most awfully for the ripping parcel I got today. Everything in it was just lovely. The attaché case is too priceless and exactly right size & shape an’ all. Tommy’s cooker, kettle, & refils all arrived safely and are most welcome. The little packet of nail scissors etc just the thing, and the writing pad & pencils extremely welcome. Thanks most awfully mother for it all & it’s just arrived in time too, for we leave here tomorrow, for the destination I originally started for, and are sailing immediately. So don’t expect any more letters from me for at least a month; you see the journey out will take about 10-15 days & a letter going home will take that, so that makes a month. We should arrive about 10th March or so, & if we catch a mail home at once you might hear from me about the 25th March; so in any case don’t expect a letter before the end of March or so.
I don’t know the name of the ship we are going on or anything. We only got orders tonight at 5 o’clock to march tomorrow and embark next day. So I have been fearfully busy ever since & am just scribbling a line before we clear out to catch an English mail leaving tomorrow.
I haven’t heard from Nell yet, but I got a parcel from her today, with a letter dated 23rd Jan, but I have had no letters from her by the ordinary mail. A lovely parcel hers was, all sorts of nice things in it, so I have had a gorgeous day. Still, I wish letters would’nt go so wrong. And now we shan’t hear for years I suppose, being on the sea and all that. It was she who sent me the lovely watch; was’nt it ripping of her; too sweet I think; I am a lucky person to have so many nice people who are so ripping to me.
Must scribble to Nell now.
Best love to all
from yr loving son
Ted
Feb 22nd/1916
Dear Mother
Very many thanks for your letter today dated Feb 9th. Also for Weekly Times & Pink papers, much appreciated. But other chaps seem to get a weekly Times dated a week later than mine always, so could you manage to post it so as to catch the same week’s mail as it’s published in. I also got a ripping wrist watch today, done up in a G.O.S box but with nothing inside to say who it had come from. Anyhow whoever sent it, it’s a gorgeous watch. I am spoilt with all the ripping presents I get, really people are good to one.
Very warm here now, but not unpleasantly so. English mail in today, but I had no letters from Nell. Is’nt it weird, her letters always seem to go stray and they never seem to roll up till a day or so late. It’s sickening to expect letters & then get none. However I got several others so can’t complain. No parcels have turned up yet, except the flask, the watch, & the stars & buttons. Heaven knows when the others will turn up, everything seems to be very funny in the postal line here.
I tried to go over to Suez last week end to see Dick, but missed the 4 p.m. boat because (as I found out late) it had gone at a ¼ past 3! awful rot, they never keep any time here: so I did’nt go over after all. I have’nt heard or seen anything of him for some time. Bee Dudman wrote me a nice letter today. Also from Jinny who seems mighty pleased with her new job & not very many customers as yet. But I suppose it will take time for the shop to get known. I should hate it myself I think, but she seems to enjoy it which is a good thing.
Fancy Wiggy being a temp: captain. Heavens how these new armies do get promotion. I’ve not doubt they deserve it but it’s rather bad luck on us regulars is’nt it. We have’nt had a single officer in the Indian Army promoted except in the ordinary course of events, as if it were peace – since the war began.
I say is’nt that Persia letter of mine going the rounds rather a lot? Bee D. seems to have shown it to ½ the people she’s met. I do hope it’s not being shown about all over the shop. Please don’t, I only wrote it just to let you people know at home; it’s a purely private letter. Yes I remember Col: Wynch, whom Bee met, quite well. But don’t call us the “Garhwals” will you; either “Garhwalis” or “Garhwal Rifles”; there’s no such word as Garhwals; Garhwal is the place, & Garhwalis are the people.
So Glad old Topher’s keeping fit & unhit through all this bombardment. Did he ever get his 2nd Christmas hamper I wonder. What a lot of people seem to have written to you about me. Only I don’t know a lot of them to speak to, and I assure you I’ve never ever heard of quite half of them! Such as Ethel Ford, Mrs Randolf, Dr Pierce, Mrs Berkley, Mrs Denny & several others!
Must end up now.
I’m very fit & well & going strong.
Best love to all
from your loving son
Ted
No more news of our moving yet. Everything seems held up for some unknown reason, though of course we may go at a day’s notice.
