familyletters.co.uk

Feb 14.1916.

Dear Mother

Thanks most awfully for that ripping flask you sent. It arrived quite safely yesterday. I think it’s just ripping of you to have sent it and I value it amongst my most treasured possessions. It is very much admired, and envied, by all my friends. I also got the button & stars today, exactly what I wanted, the stars are just the kind I want; very many thanks for them. I had a good mail today, letters from you, Ben, Nell, Paul, Margery Fanner, Jos Lane & an aunt of Nell’s. Also from Reggie Nation who poor man is still on crutches and is pretty rotten all round.

Your letter is dated Feb 2^nd, & addressed c/o India office. It arrived the same time as all the others so I think it’s best to stick to that address for the present at anyrate. I fancy we shall be moving from here sometime this week.

It’s warming up here now, and I think in another week or two it will be quite hot. But it’s by no means unpleasant yet & there must be many worse places than this. Dick was over here for an hour or two last week, trying to work an exchange into a field ambulance. I hear by roundabout ways that he has managed it, but I don’t think he has actually joined up yet. He came over to our camp for an hour or two.

Yes I hear Jinny has started her cigarette shop. I have’nt the foggiest idea where it is or what it is or what sort of show it is, but I am inclined to agree with you & Ben that it does’nt seem hardly the job for her. However, as I say I know nothing about it, & I only hope it is all right. So Topher’s been in some scrapping; I’m awful glad he’s all right, poor boy I expect he would like a bit of rest now. Yes I saw Zepps had been lively again; it seems strange we can’t give them a warmer reception. I see ‘planes have been over Ramsgate & Broadstairs too, I hope Ruth’s allright, but they don’t seem to have done much damage. I am going strong & am very fit & well & not so very busy.

Best love to all & again a thousand thanks for the flask,

yr loving son

Ted

Feb 12.

My dear Mother.

Very many thanks for your letter, also forwarding that Tasmanian thing & Vivian’s letter. I am glad you got the cable alright. I hope Jane’s cigarette business will be a success, but I trust they are giving her & Chubbie a commission as well as 30/-, if not they should bargain for one. Paul seems to have arranged & scrutinized matters all right. The little dance seems to have been a success & how funny about the Mitchells. I fancy Ben will do bank work in the end from what she says. How funny about Susan being lost. June is exactly like her in every way. She is full of beans & very popular with us all, & seems awfully fit. I wonder if the other two puppies have gone by this time. I am probably leaving this hospital to a Field Ambulance. No 123 Indian Field Ambulance. It’s not absolutely settled yet but I will cable you about a new address. If I do change you must go on writing to Cox in Alex & I must send to Cox in B & tell them to send mine here. If I change my new address will be

I.F.A 123
10^th Div.
I E F
Egypt.

How funny you getting a letter from the Privy Purse. What Mr Robbins is that? Our old friend, can’t be! I was over at Ted’s yesterday seeing about my Transfer. I saw Ted & his pals. Ted seems quite cheery & very fit, & hope to see him again soon. Please thank Ben for 2 letters, one from Selfridge & one from Hampstead. Funny but the Selfridge one written 2nd came a few days before the other. I thought you’d be pleased to hear by cable that Ted & I had met, it was ripping seeing him & we had great fun. I hope Jane & Chubbie have found a good place to live in London. I am glad Topher is alright. They say a mail goes today so I am writing now. Please tell Ben I will write her tomorrow.  We are playing hockey today against the H.M.S— sure to be censored if I put it in. The other day we played the E.T.C. here at football & got beaten 4-1.

It’s getting hotter & hotter here nowadays but I like it.

I heard from Evelyn the other day. She has been a success in her show at Wigan. She sent me some cuttings & the people there seem to have been dotty over her. When you get my cable or any news of a change tell Jane to write & tell her will you?

Well I must stop. Best love to all yr loving son Richard.

No coat or boots or pills yet!

Feb 10./1916

Dear Mother

Just got news tonight (10.30 p.m.) that the English mail goes tomorrow at 10.30 a.m. – so I will just try and get a letter off to you. I’ve had no letters this mail except from you & Ben. I fancy the postal arrangements are fairly rocky out here just at present. You see everyone seems to be on the move. Rumour has it we embark (for some destination in the East, probably the same place I originally started for) on the 15^th, so I may not be able to scribble you a line for some time yet, till we disembark again. I can’t possibly tell you & this is only just to warn you in case. I’ll try, but everything’s so uncertain, it’s impossible to say. No letters from Nell this week; is’nt it sickening. I suppose they’ve gone to Kamskatka or Timbuctoo. Hopeless.

I’m awful fit & well.

yr loving son

Ted

I had a line from Dick yesterday in Cairo.

Feb.7.1916.

Dear Mother

I sent off one letter to you this morning but the mail is in and brought me another from you, so I am answering it in time to catch this mail which leaves here today. Your letter is dated 27^th Jan. I got none from Nell, only one from you & one from Ben, but I suppose they will be turning up later. Yes I’ve got pink papers & weekly times very regularly really, none by the mail though; very many thanks. I have’nt got any parcels yet, but they are sure to take years.

Thanks awfully for the flask, I am looking forward to that turning up most awfully. I’ve had no Punches from Nell or J.B’s from Rosamund yet, but I expect they are on their way. I should like London opinion too if anyone wd care to send it to me; p’raps Nance would, she always used to.

2 letters from you to Dick, address Cox & Co, Alex:, & postmarked 16^th & 20^th, arrived here today. They really are fools & are constantly doing idiotic things like that. I wonder if he got any of mine today. No I don’t remember a Miss McDonald on board; I knew very few people really, as we had only been on board such a short time. Yes I.E.F “E” is all right; only better c/o India office, that will always find me.

Best love to all

from your loving son

Ted

I see the Zeps have been busy again. I do hope they don’t come anywhere near Guildford.

This is one of the earliest mentions of “Nance” in the letters – possibly Nancy Swan who was to become engaged to Paul early in 1917. If it is the same Nance, then she would have been about 21 early in 1916.

Feb 7.16

Dear Mother

Very many thanks for your letter by last mail sent to Cox (Alex:) which I got yesterday. I say I hope that Persia account has’nt become too much public property. My dear Mother, I did nothing at all really in the water. You all say much too much. I enclose a letter from Calcutta which may interest you, but please don’t let it go outside the family will you. I would’nt send it, only I know it will please you to know that by a really very simple act I have apparently brought pleasure into someone’s life- but evidently she exaggerated her story a great deal or he would’nt be so enthusiastic. Please send it on to Nell will you, as I said I would let her have it; but please take the letter with a very large pinch of salt.

What a muddle I appear to have caused by all my various cables and letters! I cabled Nell rejoining “here”, meaning Egypt, not Alexandria as apparently everyone seems to have gathered from the cable; of course I could’nt say exactly where they were, though I know “in Egypt” would have done better than “here” & made things plainer. And then that sudden dash down here to Suez to go on to India upset thing a bit I expect. However I expect you know by now where I am!

There is another English mail in today sometime; I think there are 2 mails a week to Egypt so letters roll up at all sorts of odd times. Hector Campbell was over here yesterday, I saw him for 2 minutes. Col Boileau & I have had two or three fearful Camberley F.F.’s; he wants to be remembered to you; Etienne it is.

Did I ever tell you I met Archie Grey of Camberley, you know Lillian Grey’s brother, in Alexandria? He has been sick a good deal during the war, & was only convalescent then. He told me Lilian was making munitions somewhere, but he did’nt seem to take much interest in her. He’s rather a rotter I think.

Paul’s lucky getting such a nice whack of leave. I’m awfully glad though as he has really had so very little during the war & he certainly deserves some. His new ship seems to be the complete buzz.

The air is still full of rumours about our leaving here shortly, a matter of a week or 10 days they say, & I think we shall too. Destination unknown, but we are not coming any further west.

I wonder if old Topher managed to wangle some leave. He’d love this nice dry place after all he’s been through. I got a whole heap of letters from Cox (Bombay) last mail and the horseshoe too, but I think I told you this in my last letter. I am writing this in a nice warm sun before breakfast. Energy!

Best love to all

from your loving son

Ted

SHEPHEARD’S HOTEL
CAIRO

Sunday Feb 5.

My dear Mother.

I am writing from here just to tell you how we are getting on. I have had 3 days’ leave & came here for some fun. It’s a great spot & I am sorry to be leaving tonight. I have just met Mrs Palui, you remember a Miss Elliot & we’ve been talking over Camberley & everyone. You remember her I am sure. Last night we had a lovely dance here & went on after to the next hotel for some more.

I’d like to be stationed here.

Best love to all

yr loving son

Richard.

Feb 4^th 1916

Dear Mother

Very many thanks for two letters from you, both of which have been to Bombay & back. I got no letters from Delaford by the last mail except one from Ben, saying you had got my account of that show from Nell. I can’t think what happens to all my letters, I got 21 in a bunch yesterday from India, England, & all over the shop; but perhaps they will be a trifle more settled in future.

I also got that letter case with the horse shoe in it; I was firmly convinced that that had gone with all my other treasures, but I’m most fearfully glad I left it behind now. Also all the letters enclosed in the case arrived safely; many thanks.

Nothing much doing here now; it is gorgeous weather and we are fairly busy all day. There does’nt seem much doubt that we are moving further East fairly soon now, but what our ultimate destination is I cannot say, as no one seems to know for certain. Your letters are dated 28^th & 29^th December, so are somewhat belated; I have got the pink papers regularly & they are a great boon in the mess. Also the weekly times.

I do hope old Topher manages to wangle a few days’ leave soon, he certainly deserves it. I expect I shall get one or two more letters this week yet, as I think there is a bi-weekly mail to Egypt; we generally get 2 mails here. I told Nell to tell you to send letters to me to the Garhwal Rifles, c/o India Office London, it saves change of address if we move, and they get here just as soon as if you send them direct. You may have to post a little earlier, but they would tell you that at the India Office. I’m very fit & well. Love to all yr loving son

Ted

The Pink papers reported on sports

Jan 31. 1916.

Dear Mother

(Just upset some soda all over this!)  I hear the English mail goes out on Wednesday so I am writing tonight to catch it. Also an English mail comes in tomorrow, so I shall have some more letters to answer I expect and hope. I’ve been busy all day today writing to all sorts of people who have written to me; I am trying to answer them all as soon as I get them otherwise I find one gets so behindhand.

I have had only 3 letters from Nell since I left, but letters seem all over the place in this country. So I wired to her last Sunday to send all letters to

THE GARHWAL RIFLES
C/O INDIA OFFICE
WHITEHALL
LONDON

as they get out here just as soon as if they are sent to any I.E.F and it does’nt matter where the rgt: goes they reach me just the same, so it saves changing the address. Still I should just write & ask the India office when they should reach there so as to catch the weekly mail. I asked Nell to send on the address to you so I expect you have already started sending them there.

Awful fun last week: Dick came over on Friday to stay the night, bringing June with him. She was in great form, and was a great favourite in the mess. I think Dick enjoyed the visit though of course there is absolutely nothing to do here, but I’m glad he had a chance to meet some of my pals in the regiment. He missed the boat back to Suez on Saturday so had to stay another night here, for which I was very glad. Just after he had gone a letter came for him from you, addressed from Cox Alexandria; they always mix us two up, so I expect we shall do a good deal of getting each other’s letters.

Gorgeous weather here nowadays, ripping and warm all day and still very cold at nights. Don’t worry about sending me anything; I should like a cigarette case, but it does’nt matter just at present; thanks awfully for offering to send one, but I’m so sick with myself for being such an ass for losing the other one; I ought to have had it on me really.

I got a Godalming paper today with some trash about me in it; I was glad some publicity was given to the fact that you have five sons serving, but I do draw the line at photographs!

There is great talk of our going back to the country I started out for- (a roundabout way of putting it, but there are censors about) And I think we shall fairly soon; but not back to L., probably to some outlandish place; I don’t think we’ve done with real live soldiering yet awhile.

Yes is’nt that a ripping little picture of Nell. I got one last week and I like it most awfully. Will you please get 3 copies of me from Adrian H. and send 1 to Mrs Stack (150 Sutherland Avenue Maida Vale) one to Bunchie & I forget who the other’s for, but will try & let you know soon! Glad Aunt Edward approved.

Jack Lodwick poor fellow was next me on deck, wearing a life belt, directly after the torpedo struck. We were trying to shore our lifeboat over to port & ours was a starboard lifeboat of course it was useless, & I never saw him again. But I know he was seen throwing chairs & tables overboard, to help people in the water, & doubtless several people owe their lives to him accordingly. What happened to him I don’t know, as she went down so soon afterwards, & I know no one who saw him in the water. In any case he was the coolest and bravest of men & died as game as anyone, & I’m sure none of those drowned suffered very much. I think he must have been taken down with the ship. Poor old Lodwick, a great friend of mine whose loss I shall ever deplore, and one of the very best that ever lived, both as a soldier & a gentleman.   Best love to all yr loving son

Ted