Letters to, from and relating to:
Rev Capt Cuthbert Helsham Heath-Caldwell
DSC RN
The following is a selection of letters to, from or relating to Cuthbert Helsham Heath-Caldwell. This is part of a large family archive of letters and I hope to add more letters to this list as time permits.
RA Mess
Rollestone Camp
Amesbury
Thursday Evening, May 13 1914?
My Dear C [Cuthbert Heath-Caldwell]
I always seem to leave my scribble to you till the last moment, in fact, I expect this will be too late to catch the last post. We finished our practice today with a "brigade day" The . . . was very pleased with the . . . performance on Tuesday & I think the Brigade did pretty well today. The weather had been bloody, but then we had such a splendid week to begin with that we cannot well complain. Tomorrow one of the batteries of the 5th brigade are . . . to troop off for the purpose of experimenting as to the observation of fire by aeroplanes - so I think we shall have a fairly slack day. Lately life has been a bit strenuous. We start trekking back on Saturday, staying at Trenton on Sunday - as we may not march on a Sunday. I am writing after dinner. It is very cosy in here - a good many people playing cards. The . . . & majors do it for action - we always have a game of poker on. However I think it is rather a mistake to play every evening as some people do. Of course it is possible to be a little expensive - though one usually seems to keep about even on the whole. The first night I was roped in at Aldershot I ended up about 11 shillings down, but have since recovered it! I & John Tucker mobiked over to Portsmouth last Saturday. Awfully pretty run then by Salisbury, Romsey, and Botely. Found a host of cousins there, all rather owlish after prolonged ball dancing. Under the "Skippency" of Phil Crofton we went for a sail on Spithead on Sunday afternoon. John Tucker was violently ill which rather cast a gloom on the proceedings, & his bad example had a deteriorating effect on me & I didn't feel very happy coming back. We had some adventures coming back here at night. I . . . missed the hindquarters of a horse which was . . . the road near here. One could not see him till right onto him. John, according to his account, went slap into the animal - though I am inclined to think the bank, as the horse was not hurt. Anyhow there was a crash and I hailed a passing car & put him into it & hid the bike behind the hedge where it was recovered by his servant next morning & having cursed the orderly on the horse proceeded without further incident. Of course the silly ass with a shying horse ought never to have been riding along the road at night. He could have easily rode along the fields at the side. John was all right next morning . . . shaken rather & his knee knocked. I am brigade orderly officer today & my first job is to go around the horses & turn out the guard sometime during the night. The . . . no pleasant job on a wet night. It took me an hour last time.
So no more now.
Yours etc
H. M. S. Dalhousie
11th Oct: 1914
All officers to see
Although I do not think it likely yet it is within the
bounds of possibility that the Forts at Fao may offer
fire on the ship as she passes.
Our policy is not to pick a quarrel with the Turks
in their forts-
All guns are to be ready for action as usual & gun
crews ready to close up at a moments notice but at the
same time no indication is to be given to observers
on shore that the ship is in readiness to return any
attack-
All orders about closing ??? & firing will of course
come from the Fore bridge -
Should the ship be fired on by an irresponsible
soldier who may act without orders. fire will not [underlined twice] be
returned.
The Odin has orders to assist us in the event of an
organized attack - As the Dalhousie was requested to leave the
river some days ago it is expected the Turks will be rather pleased to
see the ship leave -
E M. Palmer. Act Comdr.
Oct 19th 1915.
THE HILL CLUB,
NUWARA ELIYA
My dear Mother
We have had
another mail after a lapse
of three weeks.
Really even the gulf
mails are more regular
than this.
As you see I have
come up here for a few
days, & am very glad.
I have as it seems
a top hole place.
I didn't intend to play golf,
but as soon as I saw
the course decided to have
a shot at it.
Nuwara Eliya is very empty
just now, consequently
one can go round at
ones leisure without worrying
about keeping other people
back, and without being
watched by experts.
I have been having a few
lessons from the pro,
and have actually found a fellow
her (a politician) whom I
can beat.
This is a very comfortable
little club, though some of
the old birds here seem
to put away a good deal,
and sit for hours lettering
long winded yarns.
I have managed to borrow
a pony for an occasional
ride before breakfast.
We are having a dance on
at Diyalalawa on Friday.
Somehow those sort of shows
don't appeal very much to me
nowadays, but I dare say lots
of people will enjoy it, and
it isn't often that we get
a chance to return hospitality.
You will have seen the
second to honours list for
Mesopotamia. I think we
were all rather lucky to
get anything at all.
After all that sort of thing is
almost entirely luck. I don't
attach a great deal of
importance to those sort of
shows. The great thing to
do is win the war, and
win it quickly, nothing
else matters. Afterwards I
hope we shall hang a
few politicians.
By the time you get this
we shall probably be
back in the happy land.
For another year I suppose.
Now I must really go to
bed.
Your very affectionate son
Cuthbert.
17th Oct. 1915
THE HILL CLUB,
NUWARA ELIYA
My dear Father.
Its quite a long time
Since I have had a letter from you.
This is quite a pleasant spot, I
came up here yesterday weak, went
back to Diyalalawa on Wednesday,
and returned here yesterday. We
had quite a nice little dance
at D' lawa on Friday night.
We go back to Colombo on
Tuesday and sail this day weak.
In some ways I shall be quite
glad to get back. We have
had a very good holiday here,
but no one that I have met
here seams to realize the war
at all, and there certainly seams
to be quite a lot of able bodied
men about who might be
usefully employed elsewhere.
I have taken up golf again
since I have been here
with more success than usual,
though I seem to be just
reaching my usual stage of
getting worse instead of better.
This is a very scrappy letter,
but there is nothing very
much to write about.
Your affectionate son
Cuthbert
Thursday 21st Oct 1915
My dear Mother
Here we are again
in Colombo, rather wet and
foggy after Nuwara Eliya.
However the trip has done
us no end of good, and
I feel quite different to
the miserable creature that
arrived here about two
months ago.
We leave on Sunday and
I suppose shall get back
to the garden just about
the time you get this.
I think a zepp must
have bagged our last
mail, at all events we
got none.
In one of your letters
you said something about
Griggs having turned up
with a wife, it shows
he has the courage of
his connections anyhow,
and as there is plenty
of money knocking about,
I should think it is quite
a good thing.
I am afraid it must have
been Raymond's name I saw
in the casualties a few
days ago.
I went out & tried to
play golf this morning
but it was very hot
after a little sleep
now (one goes to bed
very late here as a rule)
I am going to try some
tennis.
The Balkan situation seems
very curious, apparently
those dirty dagoes the Greeks
have backed out again.
Best love
Your very affectionate son
Cuthbert
23rd Oct /15
My dear Mother
Our last day of
Colombo is nearly over. I
am not really sorry to be
going; we have had a jolly
good time here, with a
clear conscience, if we stayed
much longer, we should be
loafing.
There are some races
this afternoon which I
propose to visit, then dinner
at the Galle Face.
We got our mail after all
this week, only it came
two or three days late.
This morning I went out
and played golf with the
skipper, he is very bad
at it but seems to
enjoy playing.
I see a description of the
battle of Kut al Amara in
this morning's paper, it looks
very much as if we
made rather a mess of
it, and let most of the
Turks get away, but of
course one can never
trust a newspaper account
of anything.
The people who have
been up there all
the summer must be
pretty good wrecks by now.
I have just spent half a
crown on ??? [Mukers?] My
system.
I feel so fit now
that it seems a pity not
to try & keep it up.
We hear of a new C in C in the
Dardanelles.
I think it is nearly always
a good sign
when one gets
a man whose
name is
not well
known to the
public!
These "so-called"
"thrusters" often turn out
frauds.
Your very affectionate son
Cuthbert
Espiegle.
Monday 25th Oct.
My dear Mother.
We are all beginning to
cheer up now, but yesterday was
a very sad day. We left at
10 am. In this Naval life we are
always tearing up ?orts, and
one gets very sick at always
having to run away just as
one is getting to know nice
people. I am nearly always
late at the post in getting to
know them.
We gave a little dinner at
the Galle Face on Saturday
night, followed by the usual
Saturday evening dance.
The "fairest of her sex" was there,
but it is fortunate perhaps, that
I had only met her just before
going up country, only
about four times altogether.
After three years in a place
like the Gulf, one is apt
to lose one's head during
a short course of civilization
particularly when there is an
indefinite and probably lengthy
period of Gulf to follow.
We are having a good
passage so far, but one can't
help feeling the change between
the Nuwara Eliya golf links
about eight yards of
unsteady deck, or between
a comfortable room at the
Colombo club complete with fans,
and a share in a
very small foggy cabin, with
a temperature approximating to a
Turkish baker.
We are very lucky really, lucky
to have got away and had
such a jolly good time.
Mesopotamia ought to be quite
cool by the time we get there,
and our real troubles won't start
again before April, but I
won't say I dread the thought of
another hot weather up there.
Do you ever see Vera Dalton
that was. If so tell her
that an occasional letter would
be very much appreciated, I can't
write to her as I don't know
the address.
I never seem to get letters
from anyone except you &
Father & Auntie nowadays.
Have you ever read
Major [William Price] Drury's yarn
about the "Guns of Gungapore"
A ship gets lost in the
Sunderbunds and is found
about fifty years later,
a white whiskered and decrepit
old midshipman is in
command by then.
I often feel the same
about us.
Somewhere about 1950 the
home authorities will suddenly
remember that there
was once a ship called
the Espiegle in the Gulf.
The relief expedition will discover
about half a dozen survivors,
old men with one foot in
the grave, still wondering
if "we have got
half way through the commission yet."
Enough of this babble.
from your very affectionate son
Cuthbert
Bombay
30th Oct. /15
My dear Mother.
I expect you will
get three or four letters at the
same time as this one.
We found a mail waiting here,
my letters were dated Sept. 8th
and October 6th respectively.
I am living ashore here now.
One may as well be
comfortable as long as positive.
As you know I don't care
much for Bombay.
It isn't a patch on
Colombo, the famous yacht
club is really nothing more
than a pot-house.
However there is a gymkhana
here where one can get
tennis. It is typical of
Bombay which considers itself
one of the leading towns in
the East, that the
nearest golf course is 10
miles away, and by all
accounts is nothing very
startling when one gets
there.
No wonder that nobody
here seems any use
at their job. To my way
of thinking they have a totally
wrong idea of life, most of
them seem to be live like
alcoholic cabbages.
We are off on Wednesday
morning. From what
I hear in local gossip, it
appears that we are sitting
down about 40 miles from
Baghdad, and that we
are likely to have a big
scrap within two months.
I don't know of course
whether I shall be in it
but I expect there will
be the H. F's or else
a stern wheeler or something of
that sort going. I don't expect
to get my new craft for some
months yet.
I fancy our fellows who have
been up there the whole
summer are pretty well
played out. I have heard
of one or two cases of
beri beri. (No doubt the
result of the "ice"
"electric fans" & other
comforts which some
humourist got up & talked
about the other day in
the House of Commons).
I see they have whacked out
a few "baubles" to
our unfortunate troops, most
of them of course are well
earned, but there are
some unaccountable omissions.
Two KCB's one of which will
be thoroughly popular.
It's nearly eleven & as I have
had two latish nights I
think its bed time for
Your very affectionate son
Cuthbert
Royal Bombay Yacht Club
2nd Nov 1915
My dear Mother.
Mails of Oct 8th arrived
yesterday, including a letter
Father included describing his experiences
of a zeppelin raid.
We leave tomorrow, without any
regrets as far as I am
concerned. I have not met
anyone in Bombay, whom I
ever wish to see again.
Four of us went out to Bandra
the other day. This is the
one and only golf course near
here. We went out the ten
miles in a taxi; quite the
worst course I have ever seen,
all the holes blind, quite a lot
of them only about fifty yards,
and the ground as hard as iron.
There is a gymkhana here where
one can play tennis of a
sort, but it is altogether a
very fifth rate affair after
Ceylon.
I had a letter from
a Home Fleet last week.
Apparently popular opinion puts
down the end of the war
somewhere about 1918.
There won't be many of us
left by then!
I have weighed in on
"Ordeal by Battle" seems
quite a good book.
They seem to have a pretty
sad time in the Home Fleet.
I have quite lost any wish
to join it before the end
of the war.
Mesopotamia may not be ideal
but if one can only get
away for 6 weeks or so
every summer, I see know [no]
reason why one shouldn't go
on for years! I have seen
a good many people out of
the gulf already, in fact
I think I am the oldest
inhabitant, bar the Australians
and one or two RI.M. people.
You must expect to
be one or two weeks
without a letter as when we
leave we shall be going away
from the mail.
Your best way of addressing
my letters is c/o S.N.O.
Mesopotamia, as I don't
really know how long I shall
stay in the river, not more
than two or three months I
should think anyway.
love from your very affectionate son
Cuthbert
2.0 am 7 Nov. 1915
C jask NW 230°
My dear Father
We have been at sea since
3Wednesday, and so far have had an
excellent passage. It is a nice clear
night without a cloud in the sky, and
the sea is in a flat calm, the temperature
is just right, and we have a clear
ocean all round us, no submarines or
anything like that to worry about, and
I dare say it would take us quite
half an hour to fire a gun.
Under these conditions a middle watch
becomes a pleasure. I am
thoroughly enjoying this trip, just enough
watch to keep to prevent one getting
bored. Every evening I come up and
do "Muller" for half an hour, and
skip, (there isn't enough deck to run
round) and that keeps one fairly fit.
It is about 10 pm with you, so I suppose
you are just returning from you daily
exercise..Do you know "Mullers My System"
"half at all bookstores", I should
think it would be not the thing for
your present existence. By this time
tomorrow we shall be back in the
gulf, my third whack of it. I wonder
how much more there is to come?
We should reach the river about Friday.
I gather that the S.N.O. is a bit
vague about the state of affairs there,
but it is most likely that I shall
go to the Sumana or Shaitan, small
things like the Shukrur in which
I spent a fortnight earlier in the
year. They will be right up in
the thick of it, as they drank very
little water. The old Miner of course
is quite out of it nowadays.
I have been promised one of the
new gunboats, the second four
to be put together, but she is not likely
to be ready much before February or
March. I was very glad to get
clear of Bombay. I suppose there are some
nice people there, but we don't seem
to meet everyone much besides the
yacht club brigade, who spend most of
their time supporting the bar at the
club. We played a little tennis there,
and took part in one expedition to
play golf. We drove out ten miles
in a taxicab, but the results hardly
justified the expenditure. A very bad
course, as hard as bricks, fishing
nets drying all over the place, the
whole pervaded by a strong smell of
decaying fish. I think they must
have got a Bombay duck factory somewhere
near.
We haven't had much news lately, but
I don't suppose we have missed much
The papers seem to be passing through
a very pessimistic wave. I can't think
that things are really as bad as they
make out. I imagine that the
Bulgarian business has been foreseen
by the authorities.
They have just struck four bells so
my middle is half over, the only
drawback to this watch is that one
feels such a worm next day.
I can't help feeling that I have been
remarkably lucky so far. We have
seen a certain amount of war
under favourable conditions; when I
left Mesopotamia I thought I had
had enough to last me for ever.
At the same time it is rather
nice to be getting back and we
are missing a poisonous time in
the Black Sea.
Probably when the bullets begin to fly
I shall change my tune pretty
quickly. Life always seems more
precious when things begin to look
as if one had finished with it.
There are lots of things to look forward
to in this life, but if one gets one's
sailing orders a bit early, a few
years more or less don't really signify.
I think Peter Pan's sentiments are very
sound when he says "To die will be
an awfully big adventure." -------
Enough said. I am afraid this letter
which seems fairly sensible here under
the stars in the Indian Ocean will
be rather out of place in foggy
London town where it will be read.
from your very affectionate son
Cuthbert
Espiegle
20 am Wednesday 10th Nov. -1915
My dear Mother,
Another 36 hours and we shall
be back in the river. We have had a
delightful trip up. Though the gulf is
rather fuggy the sea hasn't had time
to cool down after the summer.
This is the last middle watch I shall keep
for some time, I hope to get down
to Ceylon again next year, but it is
an uncertain life, and lots of things
can happen in twelve months.
It is just three years since you saw me
off at Liverpool Street.
Of course it will be very nice to get
home, but you know I have really been
very lucky to be out here. The
Two or three years just about now would
otherwise have been spent watchkeeping in
a big ship or in some equally dull
job. In spite of the climate there is
a certain fascination in the gulf when)
one is to a great extent ones own
master. In another three or four
months I expect we shall be in
Baghdad, and once there I should
think the Turks will find it very
hard to throw us out, though doubtless
they will have a shot at it.
I suppose you are now in London for
the winter, but as I don't know
your address I will carry on writing
to Linley Wood. One advantage in
being away so long is that it will
mean a good long whack of leave at
the end of it, much more
satisfactory than a week here & a
week there. It will be a pleasant
change to know what shore life is
really like.
As a matter of fact the sea isn't
bad under our present conditions.
A small ship, and a Captain
who believes in "live & let live,"
time passes away very pleasantly
I will try and scrabble a short note when
I know for certain where I am going.
If as I expect we go to one of these
small tugs we shall probably spend most
of our time up Kut['s] way, and
mails will be very irregular.
We picked up some Reuters Telegrams last
night according them the
Bulgarians have had a bit of a knock,
one hopes it is true, but [scratched out within] our
news is whacked out with so much
of this ostrich like "optimisum" that one
never knows what to believe.
The fool who built this ship put the
bridge right aft, on the poop, with
the result that the sow gets more
than his share of stokers in the
eyes and hair etc. She is a funny little
craft and was obsolete long before she
was built. Hand steering gear, hand
capstan and other Nelsonian
appliances.
I love these middle watches, almost
the only chance, one has of getting
away from the crowd. I start off
with some ham sandwiches and cocoa
which lasts up to one oclock or
so, then a little work for half
an hour, read a little, wrote a
letter or two (though I haven't many to
write these days) and before we know
where we are eight bells strike and
ones fat headed relied falls up the
ladder. A very different thing to a
middle in a big ship in the North
sea, ????, station keeping, and
I suppose nowadays always standing
by for compulsory bathing.
Now I must write up the
log, and go to bed.
Your very affectionate son
Cuthbert
Miner
Fao.
16th Nov. 1915
My dear Mother
I have come back to the old
Miner after all, but it will only be for
a short time, in a matter of a few
weeks I hope to be in something much
better, though I won't say anything about it
until I actually get settled, but if you
go on addressing my letters to the Espiegle
they should reach me nearly as quickly.
Our present job is the "date patrol" between
Fao and Basra, not very strenuous, or
very exciting, I should say that the job
only exists to keep the politicals quiet.
I have been away shooting all today,
walked about fifteen miles, but only saw
about half a dozen partridges and a few
very wild snipe, the bag only consists
of one black partridge and a nondescript
wader of sorts, (however we will eat alright!)
If you had looked at the illustrated war
news of the 6th October, you would have seen
amongst others, a picture of my home
during the Naryarieli affair, the Masoudi ride
horseboats alongside, also my little party
sailing home to the Miner in the dhow.
Labeled as "British sailors in a captured transport"
The photographs were taken by one of our sailors.
I hope I shall remain in the Miner for a
few weeks, as it enables me to keep an
eye on my next home, and also to
pinch stores for her.
Captain Nunn has gone up to Azizya where
our troops are now, to see the
Army Commander & see how things are
going. From all accounts it isn't much
far[ther] up there from a gunboat point of view.
The river is at its lowest, and the banks
are about fifteen feet high, and everyone
spends a lot of time sitting on [scratched out gun]
sand banks, also there is apparently a
dearth of eggs and other luxuries; no place
for me I think.
I am still sleeping on the roof
but it is beginning to get rather chilly
at night and in the early morning.
I find two blankets plus my old blanket coat just about
meet the case. They have dug out a retired
commander as skipper of the Aeat, I fancy he is
a contemporary of Uncle Herbert, and he takes
quite the gloomiest view that I have heard so far.
It is certainly about time people realizes that we
have got to go all out to win; but we do
seem to be backing up a bit, and I think
the country would do still more, if the politicians
would allow them.
It looks as if some of the latter find it
impossible to get out of their old habit of looking
at everything from the "personal advancement viewpoint."
Unless they get reinforcements and stores down I think
the old Turks must be nearly finished off out
here. In the last battle they fired bags
of nails out of smooth bores, at the launches, although
they had modern guns as well.
I think that we have had a pretty good time
here all things considered; all the people
who have lately come out see to think they
are very lucky, though they may change their
tune a bit after next summer.
My patent lamp which is supposed to keep
alight in a wind is a great success.
It has a little fan inside, worked by
clockwork, & has no chimney. I am sure
it is just the sort of thing that would
delight grandpapas heart.
My other new toy, a primus stove, cannot yet be
classed amongst our successes. I sometimes try
to make coffee with it after lunch, but I
think it requires a lot of practice.
We did get it to go once, but the coffee
immediately boiled over & put it out.
It is just dinner time, also I have
run out of ideas (I suppose letter writing
will be easier when we get back to the
day of a natural death). Much love from
Your very affectionate son
Cuthbert
Miner
Shatt al Arab
25th Nov. 1915
My dear Mother
Many thanks for socks [and] stockings. With regard
to a snapshot of myself, there should be two or
three fairly recent ones among my photos which I hope
rolled up with the other things I sent home.
If they were missing, would suggest having a lap at
the insurance people about it.
Three snipe before breakfast this morning, quite good
fun, a high wind, and the birds were rather wild.
This evening, the gunner & I went ashore on a
new island. We had a most exciting hour, rather
chilly as the tide was high and we were over
our waists in water, but there were duck flying
over & round us all the time. We only got three,
two of which fell to my gun. Though I am afraid several more were
hit. The duck is a hardy bird, I fancy he
feels a bit sore for a day or two, but
soon recovers and lives quite happily with
several ounces of shot in his little body.
When we do bet him he is most excellent
eating, and as I write there comes a very
savoury smell of one who is shortly to make
his appearance for dinner.
By the way I have written to Marian and one
or two other people, & sent the letters to Linley
Wood to be forwarded, as I have forgotten the
addresses.
Ermyntrude (?) (the detachable motor) sold me a pup the
other day, broke her crankshaft when we were
five miles above Basra and we had to pull
back & against the tide. She is a working
successor to the "brumblejar."
I had a letter from Auntie last mail. It seems a
pity that she reads so many papers, as I am
sure she believes & worries a lot of things
that are not worth it.
What's the use of worrying anyway. Two excellent
catchwords for the present time. "It will all be
the same in a hundred years," and "the moving
finger writes, and having writ, not all thy sighs will
cancel half a line, or all thy tears wash out
a word of it."
Only sighs is the wrong word I know. It was
running in my head when I started to write, & now
I can't remember the correct quotation. My Omar
went home I was fool enough to send
most of my books home, though I have kept
a few, & of course am gradually collecting more.
One I always hang on to is the volume of
Tennyson which you gave me for my birthday
quite a long time ago.
I should like to be able to carry more about;
a good rummage in the D. W. library is not
the least of pleasures. I look forward to
when William & all his works shall have been
finally squashed.
The time seems to pass away very quickly, I have very
little work to do, and sometimes wonder how I shall
like the Navy with a capital N, when I do get back to
it; not over well I fancy. After this sort of thing one
feels one could never willingly go back to the housemaid
business, or the play-acting and make believe that goes on
in peace-time, and even I suppose in war time ins some
ships.
I have noticed one thing about most of our fellows
who have come out lately. They never seems to
make much effort to get out on the ship, and get
exercise, in fact they seem rather a dull lot. There are
four or five of them at Abadan, within a mile of
quite a good tennis-court, which they could use
every day if they wanted to. I suppose it is the
result of the Home Fleet. There are generally one or two
on the sick list, and I don't wonder at it. I am
certain they won't last through a hot weather out here, if
they go on like that.
I have just remembered the quotation.
The moving finger writes & having writ, moves on.
Nor all thy piety not thy wit
shall lure it back to cancel half a line
Nor all thy tears wash out a word of it.
Friday evening, Basra.
I seem to have written a good deal of utter
rot, but I suppose you would rather have that
than nothing. The wind has gone round the
North & the weather has turned rather cold.
I don't know how much will get into our
papers, but it is quite pos[s]ible the Turks will be
claiming a victory about this date. I haven't heard very
much, and for obvious reasons can't repeat the little
I do know. Am afraid our prestige w ll suffer a little
ascertain amount, but apart from that I should think
it would make very little difference in the long run.
Things don't look very bright anywhere, do they? But
the darkest part of the night comes just before
daybreak.
Have just been ashore playing tennis. Not very exciting
but it helps to pass the time.
Nearly all our fellows are up river now, it's rather
dull for those left behind, but I dare say those up
there have had enough excitement to last them for
some considerable time.
The Salsette having spent a day ashore in the Red
Sea, we shall get no English mail this week.
Love from your affectionate son,
Cuthbert
Miner
Basra.
11th Dec. 1915.
My dear Mother.
The Salsettes mail with your letter of
Nov 6th from Tile Barn [home of Arthur Helsham-Jones] arrived in a transport, four
days late. We have been running up and down between
here [word scratched out] Abadan doing coolie work, [word scratched out]
taking stores about etc., so I haven't had much of the beach.
I went shooting today but we saw very little,
and only got a snipe, a duck, a plover & a partridge,
the latter we failed to pick up.
We had plenty of fresh air exercise which is the
main thing after all.
I expect to be off up river with a different craft
in about three weeks time. It won't be nearly
as comfortable as the old Miner. If only we
could cut about six feet off of her draught she would
be an ideal old racket to go anywhere in.
At the present moment our old ex-paint drum
stove is going full blast, the most I can hope to
put in the other racket will be an oil stove & I
shall be lucky if I can raise that. They say
it is much colder higher up. Things have been
warm enough up there lately, but a
kind of warmth that most people can dispense
with. Nel Loring was wounded for his fourth
or fifth time. He has gone back to India
in a hospital ship, & I hear expressed an
opinion that he would stay there & not see
(page 44)
or hear another bullet for some time.
I hope the last battle will have been a
lesson to some people & will teach amongst
other things, the limitations of gunboats.
I have no news, or none that the censors
would pass at any rate.
Your affectionate son
Cuthbert
Miner.
18th Dec.
My dear Mother.
Last week the mail brought me no letters, this
week there is no mail at all, so we ought to have
a fairly large one next week.
I suppose the mail service has been upset by the
Balkan affair, as probably the P.T.O's have been pinched for
transport work.
We have done a good deal of running this week.
Up to Kurma on Monday, where I managed to put in
a couple of hours snipe shooting, and the three of
us got about 25 birds. (We should have had more)
Yesterday we went to sea, to the Outer Bar, & now
we are on our way back to Basra.
I really prefer having a certain amount of running
to do. None of the usual places one goes
to here are so attractive that one wants to stay
there, and the time passes quicker and more
pleasantly when we are on the move.
My departure up river looks like being
postponed again, 15th January is the date they give
now.
The gunner & I landed before daylight this morning
& paddled about in mud & water. Rather chilly work
but I managed to shoot a fine fat mallard, now
being cooked for lunch.
You will be fairly safe if you start
addressing my letters to
H.M.S. Greenfly.
Your affectionate son.
Cuthbert
Miner
Basra.
Christmas Eve 1915.
My dear Mother.
After a fortnight's interval we have a mail
with two letters from you and one from Father.
I am glad you are pleased about the D.S.C. [Distinguished Service Cross], and
of course I am too. But still these things are largely
a matter of luck, and many people have done far more
to earn them without getting any recognition of that sort.
The old Greenfly is delayed again; it may be another
month or more before she is ready. Whenever I feel
at all impatient, I say to myself that I shall
probably have quite enough of her and the upper river
into the bargain, before I have finished.
Besides in many ways they are disappointing craft.
Meanwhile we run up and down the river taking
mails & stores about, not very exciting work, and at
times it is hard to imagine that one is doing
anything useful. We went out to the bar yesterday,
and shot four duck this morning on the
way up. We shall be spending Christmas here, as
the old boiler has sprung a leak and requires
a day on the sick list.
You needn't feel at all worried about my getting
married, the Colombo affair (if it can be dignified
by the name of the affair) was quite transitory and
entirely one-sided.
The worst of this employment is that one has so
little work to do, I often feel things would go on
just the same if I wasn't here. It will probably
be much the same in the new boat, after the
first fortnight or so, when things have settled down.
So tomorrow is Christmas, I hope you won't think
I [scratched out "have"] am getting cynical when I tell you that I
shall breathe a hearty sigh of relief when it is
over.
Many thanks for the books, Blackwoods has
arrived too, so I will countermand my other
copy. love from your very affectionate son
Cuthbert
Ali Gharbi
6th Jan. 1916.
My dear Mother
We have been here a
week, and really as places in
Mesopotamia go it isn't bad.
There is a small party of
cavalry here, but nobody ever
seems to ride.
My usual day runs something
like this. I turn out
shockingly late and after a
hot bath have breakfast
somewhere between nine and ten.
After that wander up and
down the bank for half an hour
for a little fresh air, & if
I feel energetic wander round
and see what the sailors
are doing and give my
valuable opinion on any little
points that may arise.
Then I usually settle down
& try to sketch for a little
then lunch, & after that
go on with my artistic
efforts till about half past
three when I do my
daily walk down to
Ali Gharbi "wood," about three
miles there & back, admire the
view and go home to tea.
After that it gets dark, &
usually we have one or two
soldiers on board till its
time for dinner. If there is
no one to dinner we play
a hand at picquet, then
read, or write until about
half past ten or eleven
when its time for bed.
We have had a lot of rain
lately and the river has
risen about three feet in
the last 48 hours. In between the
showers the weather is perfect with
a nice healthy "bite" in the air
Ali Gharbi is the nearest the
Tigris gets to the Pasht-i-Kuh.
The summits are snow covered,
thus seeing they were a glorious
sight with great clouds
banked up high above them,
lit up by the setting sun.
We had two soldiers dining here
last night. One of them
a Gordon Highlander was quite
interesting. He was wounded
and taken prisoner at Le Calieau
after five months in a German
hospital he was exchanged as
they thought his right arm would
never be any use, but there
they made an error, so after
a winter or two in Gallipoli
he has drifted on to Mesopotamia.
Reuters have been more than
usually uninteresting lately. They are
laying such emphasis on the fact
that we will not have peace,
that I shouldn't be surprised
to wake up any morning
& hear that peace was
signed!
It is now 11:30 pm, a clear
moonlight night, have just been
outside, it must be nearly
freezing, expect we shall find
ice on the puddles tomorrow.
But love from your very affectionate son
Cuthbert
Ali Gharbi
2nd Feb. 1916.
My dear Mother
Your 53rd letter of the 11th Dec.
arrived a few days ago, and I hope
to get two more very shortly.
Since my last letter we have been to
the Arab village for a short stay, there
were two or three boats up there, and
of course there are camps, and staff
officers and all the other paraphernalia
of an army scattered about.
I was not sorry when various bits
of our engines broke, and we were
sent back here to put them together
again. It seems to me that our
part of the show up there is rather
playing at it. Down here we make
no pretense, but simply go in for our
old role, and belong to the good
old moral effect party, there is always
a horse to ride when I feel like it,
only one camp with its attendant smells
to avoid, and plenty of good open
country, while the sailors get plenty
of football, and I think are fairly
contented. Bayis & two soldiers
spent the afternoon chasing wild geese
from about 2:30 till 6, walking
most of the time, no bag, but
we all got a few shots at
birds three or four hundred yards
up, and on the way back we
all made the usual remarks
about hearing the shot hit the geese
and bounce off again. Tomorrow morning
another ride and so on. If fortune
is kind to me, my relief should
be appointed shortly, as my
application must be home by now.
In tonight's Reuters the Germans say
they have decided to sink our
hospital ships! I can't see that it
will make very much difference to us,
but I suppose it will put the
Yanks in an awkward position, as
it will require some expenditure of
brain-power to hit on a really
convincing reason for keeping out of it.
On the whole I think it is
good news, as it sounds as if
the Germans have lost their heads.
You will have seen the Mesopotamian
Communiques, so you know as much
about this bit of the war as I
do. With best love from you
very affectionate son
Cuthbert.
3rd December 1916.
H.M.S. Odin,
EAST INDIES.
My dear Mother,
Grayfly is having a few
alterations, which entail pulling my
cabin to bits, with a vast
amount of hammering, so I have
come up here for a few days
rest-cure. My application to be
sent home has gone in and
if approved should get home in
a couple of months, it remains
to be seen whether I get any
more change than I did two
years ago. I can't expect
much leave anyway. The
cold at home with be rather
trying.
We are getting mails
anyhow now, I think the
people who sort them at
home must be pretty slack,
I have had no letters for
two mails now.
No news.
Your affectionate son
Cuthbert.
7th Dec. 1916.
My dear Mother
Have just returned to find
everything finished, so shall go back
to Basra tomorrow. This is the
most successful refit we have had.
The three or four days in Basra
living in a comparatively comfortable
ship has done me a lot of
good as I was feeling a
trifle reedy to start with.
Everyone seems the same, I
think the beginning of the cold
weather shakes one up.
Did I tell you that the
Admirality back stopped our
hard-lying money, not only that
but we have got to refund all
we have had, is for two years
in many cases. I don't mind
so much for myself, but think
it is extremely hard on the
sailors, no one can say that
they are overpaid, and to
have to pay back £20
or will severely strain
their resources, especially
those with families to keep.
I expect we shall be going down to
Basra soon, it is a long way
to go, over 600 miles, and a
beastly place when you get there.
Well I hope the war is nearly
over, but fully expect we
shall have another eighteen
months of it.
Your affectionate son
Cuthbert.
Basra to
Amara.
15th Dec.
My dear Mother
We have been rushed off at
short notice, one of the results being
that I have missed the mail.
I suppose we are going up to
Amara on account of the "push"
that commenced yesterday, we have
been told that the operations have
been completely successful so far,
but I am quite ignorant as to
their nature.
I expect we shall go and sit at
Amara for a week or so.
We left our sole
surviving native servant behind in
Basra, which is a nuisance,
but I hope to get him
back. We now have to do
the best we can with one of
the sailors, I have chosen the
biggest fool of the lot, so as
to make as little difference
as possible to the work of
the ship.
Yesterday forenoon I had two
hours snipe shooting, four guns
16 couple of snipe and three duck;
personally I contributed very little to
the bag as I was shooting
worse than usual, which is saying
a good deal.
In the evening I attended at sing song
in the Dalhousie, given by some
soldiers from one of the depôts,
and a very excellent show too.
They have been sending these troupes
all around the country to amuse
the soldiers, a great improvement
on the old days.
People lately from Bombay say India
is just the same as usual, and
that no one realises that there is
a war on.
later:
We have anchored at Kurna
for the night, shall go on up
river early tomorrow. love from
Your very affectionate son
Cuthbert.
Amara.
21st. Dec. 1916
My dear Mother
As usual I have to
apologise for any slackness in my writing.
We arrived here on Sunday, and
have been propping up the bank ever
since. Our time has not been
entirely wasted, as we are
getting time to effect various little
improvements. We have built quite
a comfortable little washroom, with
the help of a carpenter, some
timber & canvas. It packs up
in about two minutes if we have
to clear for action, and it adds
immensely to the liveableness of the
ship now that the cold weather
is upon us.
We get very little news from
up-top, except what we see in
Reuters. Anyway the gunboats up
there haven't had anything to do yet.
I gather that we have a
division or more & the cavalry
buzzying round the right bank of
the Tigris [scratched out "and"] beyond Kut,
but I don't know whether
They intend to cross or not, I suppose
it really depends on the relative
strength of ourselves & the Turks,
another point on which I am
completely ignorant. Anyhow [scratched out "the"] our
troops will be fighting under much
better conditions than they ever
have before in this country,
I believe they are getting plenty
of food, now, and they have
started a canteen thus
cutting out the infamous prices
charged by the motley crowd
of Arabs, Turks, Jews, Armenians
and other riff raff that this
delightful land harbours.
I am dining out tonight, for
my sins, but I have an
ulterior object in view,
as I hope it may lead to
a mount in a jackal
hunt in a few days.
love from your very affectionate son
Cuthbert
Amara.
Dec. 26th.
My dear Mother.
On the forenoon of the
24th we were alone here, but about
launch time gunboats began rolling in
from all directions, and there were
four of us here for Christmas which
made things much cheerier.
We have had a combined lunch on board
here, as we are the only boat
which at present possesses a
wardroom, and seven of us got in
quiet [quite] comfortably, and had a
most successful lunch, the various
turns being provided and cooked in
the different boats, not forgotten; a
couple of bottles of champagne,
share of the 10 dozen
thoughtfully provided by the Lord Curzon
for the MEF.
In the evening most of us went
to a very successful dinner given
by the Political officer, with an
excellent band in attendance, at
which a few nurses were present,
it was a little sticky at first
but soon warmed up & became
a most cheerful and successful
evening. In the afternoon the
sailors played football, though it
was rather too much for some
Of them, & towards the end quite
a lot were overcome & had to
stand easy for a bit.
Altogether we have had a most
successful Christmas, with no
tragedies, one is always rather
afraid of some too - Christmasy
sailors getting drowned or
making a nuisance of himself somehow
or other.
I breathe a sigh of relief when
it is all over, & am thankful
that after all it only happens
once a year.
Another boat turned up today, &
now we are all waiting for
orders. I am hoping that we
shall go upstream when we are
restaffed, as a week
is quite enough in any one
place. Ali Gharbi & Sheikh Saud[?]
are neither of them the place one
would choose to visit for long,
but the great thing is to
keep on the move as much
as possible.
We have had three or four
hours rain this evening &
the wardroom stood the
strain very well, no leaks to
speak of. My cabin as usual
wept a bit, but I think
I have defeated all the leaks now.
I expect the soldiers are having
an unpleasant night, unless they
have changed their habits, they
never seem to look ahead very
much.
A mail arrived today & I
received the two letters brought
out by Vane-Tempest. I am
not the only one after them,
as he has let other people
down as well. I think he
is a good fellow really
but possibly a trifle casual.
One wouldn't expect too much
from a volunteer, as they
have not had the benefit of
being brought up in the gun-room.
One of our fellows here has
been fool enough to get engaged
to a hospital nurse, he is
a good fellow & I hope it
will blow over. I am
expecting to see his "pa" out
when he hears, as he is
a retired Admiral of a
very strong (not to say obstinate)
turn of mind.
Best from your very affectionate son
Cuthbert.
Ali Gharbi
1.1.17.
My dear Mother
Another mail at last
and two letters from you of 13th
& 19th November. We arrived here two
or three days ago, and I suppose
may expect to remain for three
weeks at least; for some reason
they always seem to forget the
boat here; at the end of
three weeks or so I shall
probably send a wire or two
& we may get shifted. But it
doesn't make much difference where
we are. I think I like this
better than Amara as it is
quite a small place.
There doesn't seem much to do
we have not succeeded
so far in getting anything to
ride, and although I carried
a gun for two hours
yesterday afternoon the only
living animals I saw were
eight jackals, a few sparrows
& some hawks, nothing
edible or shootable.
Our galley is playing the fool &
we have a rotten cook but
both efforts may be partly traced
to the festive (!) season, which
(thank Heaven) is now over &
we have three hundred and
fifty eight peaceful days ahead of
us.
There is a great change here
since this time last year, when
they were just starting their
famous advance from Ali
Gharbi and the reign of muddle
and general incompetence was at its
zenith. Now all is as peaceful
as can be, no sniping even.
The fact is the wily Arab
knows when he is well off,
money is flowing like water,
he is making several hundred
percent on his sheep & his
cattle, & he isn't such a
fool as to kill the goose
which provides such golden eggs,
he is beginning to realize
that he can't expect to
find such another crowd of
mugs in this world.
Today was celebrated by "regimental
sports," mostly Indians too. We
entered two tug-o-war teams against
some local British details, but they
were double our weight, & pulled
us over the line with a minimum
amount of trouble. I often wish I
had the crew I left in the
Miner at the beginning of the
war, simply streets ahead of
my present push, although I
think even they are quite up
to the average of the gunboat crews.
As we never have anything to do
I suppose it doesn't matter. Please
don't think I am grousing as I
fully realize that one gets tired
of the blood & thunder stunt very
very soon.
We have had a fine day &
the ground has dried up a bit,
so hastily they will carry
on with their push, I speak
in ignorance but I don't think
they have achieved very much
so far. and now to bed.
Love from your very affectionate son
Cuthbert
Ali Gharbi.
9th January 1917.
My dear Mother.
We have just got
orders to go down to Amara to go get
the mails; they have been getting
very slack about them lately, with
the result that we have only had
two in the last month.
The river has risen ten foot in
the last three for [or] four days, &
is now within two or three feet
of the top of the bank.
It makes going down stream pleasant
as it gives us an extra three or
four knots, but it makes plodding
up again very wearisome.
We spent the forenoon paddling
about in a swamp two or
three miles away on the
opposite bank, but though there
were a fair number of
ducks and geese there we
couldn't get near them, as
there was no cover.
I am dining in the camp
tonight, for my sins, so am
taking the opportunity of
scribbling a line or two now, I
am not likely to have much
time tomorrow. The weather is
very damp and raw, and I
think I have a slight touch
of fever coming on. love from
Your very affectionate son
Cuthbert
Ali Gharbi
18th January 1917.
My dear Father.
The war doesn't look much
like ending, and I am beginning
to wonder whether I shall spend
the remaining years of my life in
command of the Grayfly. If they are
really hard up for officers and men, I
suppose they are quite justified in
keeping us out here for ever.
I hear that they are sending out
some very elderly gentlemen to
some of the new boats, the
sort of people who were sent
to the Baltic fleet in peace time,
to get courtmartialed or drink themselves
to death.
I have another reason for wishing to
get away from this, as our
part of the show is getting too
slack altogether, we never by any
chance have a job nowadays,
and although a quiet life is
very desirable for a time, I don't
think it is very good for one.
Except for three days last week
when we went to Amara for meals,
we have been here for three
weeks. There is a small post
here, but the regiment isn't a
very exciting one, and they never
seem to move outside [of] that
perimeter. We have been out
three or four times after some wild
geese who come and feed near here
and were lucky enough to get one
a few days ago, but No 3 shot
doesn't worry them very much unless
you hit them in the head or
wing. The day before yesterday
we sighted one swimming down
the middle of the river, gave
chase in the dinghy and finally
caught him, when we discovered
that his wings were clipped;
however that made no difference
to his "eating".
Apparently operations have been
going on for some time, but
I didn't think there is very
much result either way, except that
a small party of Turks are
holding up a much larger force of
ours, and money seems to be
spent very freely; in fact they
seem to have jumped from one
extreme to the other, I should think
a great deal of it might as
well be dumped into the sea for
all the use it is.
We have been for our first ride
this evening since we have been
here, & had quite a good
gallop, though my animal seemed
a bit weak in the wind.
I hope to be able to get a horse
regularly now.
This is rather a pessimistic letter
which must cease now as I
have to go out to dinner, nearly always
a very poor way of spending the
time.
Your affectionate son
Cuthbert.
Sheikh Saad.
23rd Jan. 1917.
My dear Mother.
Your letters of 8th & 28th
November are the last two received.
We drank your health last night
the champagne having arrived intact,
and was much appreciated.
No news of the gramophone yet,
but possibly it may arrive shortly.
We came here yesterday from
Ali Gharbi, much to my sorrow,
as we were having quite a
pleasant time there. On Sunday
morning I rode a regular hairy headed
horse, who commenced by
bucking & pitched me off.
However he only managed to get
me off once, though he made
several further attempts.
You seem very anxious to
send me warm clothes, but I
don't think it is much use
thinking seriously about coming home
until I hear something
about my relief, and so far
there is no news.
The weather continues cool & we had
lots of rain last night, which however
we can now afford to laugh at, very
different from this time last year.
We have just got orders to go on
to the Arab village, I hope we
shall not stay there very long.
love from your very affectionate son
Cuthbert.
24th January 1917.
Arab Village.
My dear Mother.
Once more we are up
at the front, or rather about four
miles from the nearest Turkish trench,
as close as we are ever likely to get,
but not too far to put an occasional
bullet over their way, on the other
hand we hope it is too far for
them to send bullets our way.
I have had a solitary dinner this
evening, and have rather enjoyed
it. The time is now a quarter
to eleven, and I cam in here
shortly after dinner intending to
write letters, but have been sitting
over a sketch, and indulging in very
pleasant dreams of the past, for
some reason my thoughts have harked
back to that very excellent
fortnight in Switzerland, eight years
ago, it seems a different world now,
I can hear the Lewis guns rattling
away in the trenches, and every
now and then the boom of a gun.
Possibly in another eight years,
I shall be dreaming of this!
It isn't such a bad life in
spite of it all, I think its a
great privilege to have leisure to
dream about anything but the
present. I may be having a
pretty good loaf (in fact I am
there is no doubt about it) but the
great beauty of it is, "my lords"
are to blame, and as along as
they are generous enough to go on
paying me so handsomely, who am
I to go worry about it.
Tomorrow we shall probably fire
a few rounds, also there will
be one or two aeroplane scares,
but master Firtry gives us a
wide berth, as we
now have the means of giving
him a reception by no means
to his taste.
And now I really must go to bed,
I wish you could have as
pleasant a time as I, this
life really suits me.
love from your very affectionate son
Cuthbert.
Basra.
2nd Feb.
We have just got orders to go on
up to the front.
I expect it is all over by
now, the pursuit certainly is.
Anyhow its better than staying here.
It will take us about 58 hours
steaming day & night [to] get up
in haste.
Your very affectionate son
Cuthbert.
6th Feb.
Palmer who has been out
here for some time is just
off. If he remembers
(which is doubtful) he
will give you this.
I hope to hear about
my relief any
time
Your affectionate son
Cuthbert.
Ali Gharbi.
8th Feb. 1917.
My dear Mother.
Your letter of 26th Dec. arrived
this afternoon. I think you had better
stop sending papers when you get this,
as my relief is almost certain to be
on his way out by then.
We had a great hunt with the
Ali Gharbi "howdy" this morning..
We killed almost
immediately, I think he must have
been a cub, as he gave us
practically no run and took very
little interest in the proceedings.
After that we had two quite good
little rabbits, both jacks going to ground
under the noses of the pack.
By that time both horses and hounds
were thoroughly blown, none of
them being in very good condition,
and the last jack gave us a long
run and eventually got away, and
we all came home to breakfast.
The pack consists of a about
half a dozen "slugis [Salukis]," a local type
of greyhound. They are much faster
than the average jackal, but are
not too good at tackling him
when they do catch him.
They are not small dogs of course
but depend entirely on their
eye sight.
The rest of the day has been much
as usual. I spent most of the time
trying to paint a picture. The "gallery"
is steadily increasing, I now have
half a dozen efforts in
watercolours, about three of which would
do to frame and hang up in a
dark corner of my cabin, though of
course they are all dreadfully? amateur.
The great thing is that it provides
a splendid occupation and keeps ones
mind off the war and other
unpleasant subjects, as I expect
I shall have quite enough of
that when I get home.
It does sometimes occur to me that
I am not doing much to
win the war, but after all that's
the fault of the people who keep
us here, a very comforting thought,
we had quite enough in the
early days anyway.
Now I think I will try and do
a little work before going to bed.
love from your very affectionate son
Cuthbert
Ali Gharbi
11th Feb.
My dear Mother,
Have just time to scratch off
a short letter, as mail goes tomorrow.
We seem to be a fixture here,
but it is quite one of the best
places on the river from my point
of view. It has been blowing
hard from the SE for the last three
days, and most of the field
fr[??]ked? hunting this morning.
They are not much of a crowd
in the camp here, but three or
four really good fellows quite
make up for the rest being useless.
We had a great run this morning,
it must have been five or six
miles, ending with a kill. The
weak point about the pack is
that they funk tackling a
jack & need a deal of
encouragement.
We have a new kitten.
Polonius is his name & he is
very lively and has a fine
healthy appetite, although we
have only had him for 48 hours he
is quite tame. His mother is a
black cat, and his father a
wild one, & in appearance he
actually takes after his pa.
A lot of hot air in Reuters tonight
about Mesopotamia.
Your very affectionate son
Cuthbert.
The geese are making a
great noise flying across.
They take jolly good care
not to come this way in
daylight.
The above letters are up to 17 February 1917. There are more letters yet to be typed out and I hope to get these up onto the website as time becomes available.
Cuthbert's diary for 1911-1914 can also be viewed on this website.
If you have any information to add to what is listed please contact me on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.