June 22nd 1916

Chaubattia
Almora  U. P.

My dear Aunts,

The cheese arrived in absolutely perfect condition, not a spot on it. So very, very, many thanks to you for such a lovely present, & the other occupants of my Bungalow also ask me to thank you.

We are in the middle to the large, or “Bara” Monsoon & it pours with rain day & night but we have plenty of firewood (pine trees) which burns very readily & keeps the place tolerably dry.

I am glad that Lloyd George is to succeed Kitchener, for whatever he was before the War he has turned out trumps now & generally makes a success of anything he undertakes doesn’t he?

The War doesn’t seem like ending yet does it, but apparently the Russians have done very well the last few weeks.

I am enclosing you 4 photos and I have written on the backs of them what they are.

When next you are at Lavington no doubt you will see a little set of photos taken on the way out here from England, they are quite a decent lot.

What a busy time you are having with music pupils – Its time you (Aunt Sal) began taking a few of them, guess you & I together would knock some music into (or perhaps out of) them don’t you?

I am glad Wilf is getting on alright but I haven’t much respect for men who didn’t join the Service until forced to.

So very many thanks & best love to you both.

Hoping you are now in the best of health “as it leaves me at present”

Ever your loving

xx   Jack   xx

June 15th 1916

Chaubattia
Almora

My dear Mum & Dad,

The Mail has arrived just in time for me to acknowledge your letters, both this and last weeks & so many thanks also for 10/- note enclosed.

I am glad Joe Raini & Co have arrived safely in England – looks as though he has struck another “cushy” job doesn’t it?

Many thanks for Black Cats’ photo with the wagging tail, which arrived quite safely without any damage.

It is raining like blazes thundering & lightning now so it’s a good job it isnt many yards to the Post Office.

Best love to you both

Ever your loving

xxx   Jack

June 1st 1916

Chaubattia
Almora  U. P.
India

My dear Mum & Dad

Very many thanks for your letter of May 4th and the one of a fortnight previous (which as I told you had gone astray) which arrived by the same Mail.

I am writing your letter early this week because I shall not hear from you again until the Mail leaves, the postal arrangements seem just anyhow & for the last 6 or 8 weeks we have had two Mails within a day or two of each other & then none for a fortnight.

We have now got into some very decent quarters, with a nice bit of garden which S. Mjr Thorne (who has been here since we came to Chaubattia) had planted with peas, sweet peas, raddishes, & African Marigolds. I hope that we shall have a few months up here now that we are settled down.

The Bungalows here are much better than Kailana, but this isn’t such a nice Station & no interesting walks anywhere near like Kailana Waterfall & Mount Deoban, & for a Hill Station it is pretty hot here, and a walk during the afternoon makes you very sweaty. I expect it will be much cooler here when we have had some rain.

As regards any immediate move to Mesopotamia I think that things have now “blown over” for the time-being. Last week it looked as though we hadn’t many more days up here but the Colonel had a letter from Simla which evidently altered the situation a bit.

Poor old Bill Apps must be having a time of it cleaning dixies &c – what a change for him, but amongst the sample who join up now I dont expect it will take a smart fellow very long to get an Acting-Bombardier’s stripe, which of course will get him out of any dirty work.

Charlie & Mr Street didn’t have much luck at Weymouth did they, but, as you say, I expect it is awfully difficult to find anywhere there where you are allowed a free hand.

Dick Drury is pretty rough again. He ought to have reported “sick” several days ago, but I think he has gone up to the Hospital this morning.  I went down see him last night and he seems to have a good deal of fever about him with Ague as well. India is no place for a white man although it agrees with me very well. I rather wish that Dick had gone home “time-ex” for he hasn’t been very fit since we left Delhi.

Our little “Mess” is going fine, & we have bacon for breakfast every morning. We each pay one Rupee a week extra & have a hot supper every evening at 6.45 – when I lived with the Company I used to spend more money than that on Breakfast alone.

I daresay by the time this reaches you, we may have had a bit of better War news, for I am afraid that the last few days hasn’t been very grand. To hear of the Austrians forcing the Italians back so much must have been a great surprise & disappointment to everyone for nobody thought that Germany had enough reserve troops to relieve such a large number of Austrians on the Eastern Front. The Huns are a fearful barbarous lot, with no respect for the rules of Modern Warfare, but they must have most wonderful organization mustn’t they?

It is a jolly good thing that we have now quieted the Irish. They must be an awful lot to rise against us at a time when we are in the middle of a job like the present one and our casualties close on to a million, or perhaps just over it.

I hope both cats are in perfect health, please give them each a kiss from me.

How is it that Henry Pinniger is unfit for service. When he told me that he had attested he said he didn’t pass the Dr. but didn’t say what was wrong with him. Considering the poor old crocks of which the Garrison Battalions are formed I should think they are sure to call him up for some service or other.

Is Charlie likely to be called up? If so I do hope he will be able to get into a decent crowd. From what I have seen the last 3 months I am jolly glad that I am in a Battalion which was formed before the War. The only prisoners we ever have are men of the Draft but it won’t take long to break their hearts. Ten days pack-drill for cheeking a N.C.O. & comparatively small offences, will I should imagine teach them that they are not still in billets at Bournemouth.

The Draft Officers, too, are pretty slack and one of our Corporals told me this morning that he is reporting a Lieut. for not returning his salute.

If Dick had been well I was going to have his camera this morning & take the Battallion in Column of Platoon on Church Parade, but must postpone than [sic] until next Sunday.

Very best love to you both & hoping you & the Apps family are in the best of health.

Ever your loving.

Jack

xxxxx xxxx

Herbert  xxx

Black Cat  xxx

May 24th 1916

Empire Day
Chaubattia
Almora

India

My dear Mum & Dad,

Last week’s mail arrived safely & brought yours of April 27th, but yours of April 20th is evidently lost.

We have another Mail in tomorrow, bringing those posted about May 4th.

I am glad to hear you are both well. In your letter you said Doff was busy writing to me, but I didn’t get her letter.

What thieves the two “Bee-lees” are, they seem awfully clever at the job don’t they & being such chums evidently work the job together.

We have been very busy the last few days with Mobilization Stores, evidently on account of some confidential letter the Colonel has had from Simla. The idea is that about 800 of us are making a move. If we do so it would I should imagine be for Mesopotamia though the general idea is that it will be German East Africa though considering Mesopotamia is under Indian Govt. & Africa under British I expect it is more likely to be the former. I should very much like to go to East Africa but am afraid there isnt much chance of it, & Army orders are so soon altered that it is likely enough we shall remain here until the Autumn.

The Draft are now mixed with us & parade with their Companies – except of course the recruits of whom we have about 136. I don’t think we are likely to have any more Small-pox as since the second man went in with it there hasn’t been another case & all the German measles patients, (16 in number) were discharged from Hospital yesterday which again brings our number in dock to a much more respectable figure viz – 28: at one time a few weeks ago the number was 55 though of course more than half of these belonged to the Draft.

I expect there will be a bit of “scrapping” for a week or two between the Draft & the old hands. One of them on Sunday, got a bit talkative after having a few pints of beer & told one of the original 4th Wilts that “he came to India to get away from the War” – he didn’t half get a “hiding” too which was a very good thing because I think most of them now realise that if they get quarrelsome & cant keep their mouths shut, someone or other’s fist will soon do it for them.

What a poor sample the men recruited during the past 6 months are, and they have poor ideas of Military Discipline. Often until their arrival I have gone a couple of months without hearing the “Defaulter” call but now it goes half-hourly every evening from Retreat to Tatoo.

The next Invaliding Board consists of Sergt. Leppard and 5 of the Draft. They were not examined before leaving England & one who is going Home hasn’t got a chest bone & not many ribs, owing to operations for some disease or other, & yet the poor chap joined up voluntarily & without Medical Inspection was sent out here. I am sorry for Capt. Waylen as he must be having “the time of his life.”

I have moved (just for a day) to No. 46 Bungalow & tomorrow the 11 of us are going into our proper Quarters up by the Duftar, or rather Orderly Room. Our 11 is a nice sociable little party, comprising 4 Orderly Room Staff, 1 Orderly Room Orderly, 2 Storeman & 4  QM’s clerks, being 1 from “A” Company, 5 from “B”, 3 from “C” & 2 from “D.”

I should think that our troops joining up with the Russians in Mesopotamia will now hurry things up a bit wont it, & I shouldn’t be at all surprised if we take Baghdad before many months. The news on the West Front isnt so bad is it for although we can’t make much progress, the Germans can’t either.

The “Garrison Battalions” they are sending out here are a rum lot & no mistake & I guess the 1st G. B. Royal Irish Rifles take the cake. They are made up of all sorts of Regiments. I asked one man where he was before he came to Ranikhet & he replied “We came from India” & was quite surprised to learn that he was still in India. When I asked him what his last station was he hailed a passing Sergt. of his Batt. who informed him that it was Cawnpore. He said he thought he had been in India “a main long time” which proved to be 3 weeks & 4 days, he had had 3 weeks at Cawnpore & just come to Ranikhet & was evidently quite “soft on the cranium”, Dick offered him a cigarette & he said “Thanks so much, if you don’t mind me taking two, one will do for tomorrow morning. I met another Private who left India & went on the Reserve in 1886, he must have been 64 or 65 years old & looked it too.

Our last 3 men arrived from Delhi last week & Capt. Morrison who is Station Staff Officer there, is now the only one of our Battallion now left there. The 3 last to leave were Hospital Orderlies & they have been pretty hard worked.

Please kiss the cats for me & tell them that the day I come back they can steal anything of mine that they like as long as they “keep purring” without a “meow”. I think a cat’s purr is an awfully “comfy” sound don’t you? The Forests abound with their larger brothers & sisters but I would just as soon keep out of the sound of their purrs.

As you say, Weymouth must be pretty rotten for fishing now that the War is on. We must have a bit of good sport together when the War is over somehow or other.

I enclose you a couple of photos. This is a pretty place (for India) but at dinner time when we were discussing the prettiest places we had yet come across the names included Bratton, Erlestoke, Castle Combe & many others though the only place mentioned outside Wiltshire was Pangbourne. Of course no place can look nice without green grass, & there is none of that here: like the niggers themselves it is all brown & shriveled up.

Best of love to you both & kindest regards to all Lavington friends.

Ever your loving

xxxx  Jack  xxxx

xxx

22.5.16

Chaubattia
Almora
My dear Tommy
Last week’s Mail is awfully late & hasn’t got here yet, so I expect we shall have two Mails together, or only a day apart. Not having heard from you there isn’t much to write about but I expect you will like to have a few lines.
The quality of the writing paper is getting awful – like blotting paper, so kindly excuse this writing.
I very much hope that all three of you are in the best of health. Please give my love to Baby, I shall be so pleased when I can see him for the first time.
The Drafts of A, B & C Companies are now mixed with the original Batt. but “D” has another case of small-pox so will be isolated for a few more weeks.
It seems from the latest news, that the War is going on a good deal better, I do hope that this year may see the end of it don’t you?
There are heaps of panthers & cheetas all round Chaubattia so I expect our officers will be having some good sport later on.
The Aunts seemed awfully pleased with “Jackie Wee” didn’t they, their letters have been full of his praise.
Best love & kisses to you all & hoping that even yet we may have a chance of meeting during 1916.
Ever your loving
xxx Jack

May 17th 1916

Chaubattia
Almora
India

My dear Mum & Dad,

I am sorry to say that your last letter has gone astray somewhere or other though I may possibly receive two by next Mail. I think that the Lavington letters must have got delayed in England as I didn’t receive my papers either.

I trust that you are both in the very best of health & that the two cats are also as well as they are good.

From today’s telegram I see that General Compulsion is now in force from next week – at least 22 months behind-hand isn’t it. That Irish job was rather serious wasn’t it, I see that a large number of the rebels are still awaiting trial & I hope the whole darned lot will be shot.

There is some idea of our going to Aden about August to relieve the 1/4th Cornwalls who will then have done their 6 months there. No troops stay there more than 6 months because it is so fearfully hot, Summer & Winter being just about the same there. I don’t know if there is any truth in it, but I suppose we shall move out of India in the Autumn as we and the 1/5th Somersets are the next on the list.

May 18th

We are changing Bungalows again tomorrow, as we are taking the Draft into their respective Companies, but I am leaving the Company & going with 9 others (Orderly Room & Q. M. Stores Staff) to a Bungalow up near the Church.

We have another Draft coming to us, leaving England this week but only 56 in number which brings us up to War Strength. The whole convoy of drafts for India leaving England this week number 4327 mostly recruits, but our 56 are all “trained men.”

I hope you & the cats are all quite well & now having some decent Spring Weather.

The year is getting on without our making much show against Germany isnt it, I am afraid that it will yet be a rather long job. I see in the English papers that betting is 7 to 3 against the War ending during 1916 but 5 to 1 on its ending before June 30th 1917.

I wonder how the Compulsory Service Bill is affecting the time-ex men we sent Home.  I rather expect they will be called to the Colours, bit of a “suck” isn’t it.

Only about 10 more weeks to make the 2 years since we went to Plymouth – I didn’t think when I left Weymouth that it would last one year let alone two & probably three did you.

I hope Bill Apps likes his life in the R.G.A. – if I were in that corps I should think twice before I tried for a transfer into the Rifles.  Perhaps his idea is that the Artist Rifles comprise better class men, but I’m afraid that going from R.G.A. into any Infantry is “out of the frying-pan into the fire” for the Garrison isn’t like “Horse” or “Field” where you have to answer Stables twice a day.

I don’t expect Charlie will be called up for some time (if at all) will he. I don’t know how it was that Henry Pinniger didn’t pass the Doctor some time ago when Derby’s Scheme was introduced but I expect a lot of those will now be re-examined though I much hope he wont be called up.

The Mail is late again & I expect we shall have our letters on Friday evening.

Fondest love & kisses to you both.

Ever your loving

Jack

xxx xxx

10th May 1916

Chaubattia
Almona
U. P.
India
My dear Mum & Dad,
Thanks so much for your letters, 10/- note, & photos, which reached me safely yesterday. The Mail was very late & another one follows it tomorrow night or Friday morning.
We have had torrents of rain today & yesterday with incessant thunder & lightning, which is a very good thing as we were badly in want of water, & the Forest has been on fire for 10 days. We had to turn out last Thursday & stop the fire from getting up to the Barracks, there are tons of fir combs & spines on the ground & the wood very resinous so it takes a bit of stopping.
I was awfully pleased with the photos but the O.C.’s nose isnt quite correct. “Jackie Wee” had better make the most of his opportunities of sitting on your knee whilst I am away, for that’s my place when I get back.
By the same Mail I also received Floss’ photos & she told me she was sending you one. I hope she sent you a full-face one for that is, I think, just topping of her: I think she looks very well & pretty don’t you?
We have had a telegram stating that the German Govt have approached President Wilson regarding the terms of a general Peace. I don’t know if anything is likely to come of it & hope we will give them a good “hiding” first, but it looks as though there is some chance of my spending next Xmas with you, which I hope will be the case as I am much looking forward to the time when next I see Spring Villa & sit on the hearthrug with Rajah & Herbert. Burbridge, of our Company, has a little dog very much Pott’s style but he falls backwards when he tries to “sit-up”. The Colonel has lost one of his dogs and is offering Rupees 30 for his return but I expect a panther has had him for supper by now.
There are a lot of wild animals all round here & when Dick comes up for an evening he always goes back with the Orderly Corporal at Tatoo. It is a lonely walfk through the Forest to Fitzwygram Barracks & he has had one or two frights. I don’t think there are many men in the Band & Drums who would care to go to the Latrine during the night without another man and a lantern, though it’s a nuisance for anyone who is sound asleep – I had some of that at Kailana.
I don’t know when the Draft are to mix with us but it wont be long now if they have no more cases break out.
Doesn’t the baby look well in the photo of him with Tommy, I should think it is a job to catch them smiling like that just when required.
I hope that Bert Lush is now better, Sid didn’t have a letter this week.
As you say, we were jolly glad to get away from Delhi for except in December & January it is a rotten crib. I should like you to visit it just about Christmas time for the climate then for a few weeks is quite decent & very little Malarial Fever about.
I suppose you will soon be seeing Joe Raine – I guess he will tell some fine fairy tales to those who care to listen to him.
I am enclosing you a few more photos. I haven’t troubled about getting any photographic gear as I can always get photos of anything interesting from Charlie Peapell at 1¼d. each. I also enclose photo of our Light-weight Tug-of-War team.
Very best love to both of you & also to the cats.
Ever your loving
Jack
xxxxx
xxx
Rajah xxx
Herbert xxx

May 4th

Chaubattia
Almora

My dear Mum & Dad

I have posted your letter but find I have time before the Mail goes to acknowledge the parcel which has just arrived. Everything perfect condition, so very many thanks to you both. Nothing turned off a bit, the envelopes getting stuck down from moisture in the pudding was the only defect – not a very big one was it & I have remedied them by unsticking them with water & a knife. Thanks so much also for Pears Encyclopedia. I like the Christening Card.

There ia a rumour of trouble in Ireland, if its true I hope we will punish them properly after the War.

Ever your loving

Jack xxx

Please thank Herbert for his footprint on the “News of the World”

Weds May 3rd 1916

Chaubattia
Almora
India

My dear Mum & Dad,

The English Mail is very late this week & we shant get our letters until Monday night, so I must write without hearing from you. I expect the parcel will arrive on Thursday week (May 11th), thanks so very much for sending it.

I believe that I have two old khaki tunics at Home besides my best khaki one & I should be very glad if, somtime or other you would send me a set of buttons off one of them. If they are painted it doesn’t matter as I can soon fetch it off, you need only send the 5 large ones as I have plenty of the small shoulder & pocket buttons, the set with the most brass & least copper in them is the best. I am well up for numerals & cap badges so you neednt trouble about them,  i.e. if I have any at home.

There is going to be a furlough Camp near Naina Tal, where there is a large lake with plenty of fishing bathing & boating. It is only about 18 miles from here & I expect, later on, when there isn’t much work, I shall have a week or so there, as not taking furlough last year I am entitled to two lots now.

It is a good thing that our Draft was isolated for measles &c for they now have a case of Small-pox, so we shan’t see anything of them for 10 weeks. It is a pity that troops arent vaccinated before leaving England. My vaccination is good for another 21 months & innoculation (Enteric) for over two years, which is very satisfactory isn’t it. The Native Followers (213 in number) paraded this morning & those requiring it were vaccinated.

I suppose old Major Randell is now about at Gibraltar so no doubt you will see him. If so please tell him please tell him “C” Company is alright considering the change – No 12 Platoon has been on “Defaulters”, and one of the smartest men in No. 10 is now doing 2 Days C.B. with “Pack,” otherwise there hasn’t been anything amiss.

I much hope that you both & the Apps family are in the best of health & that by the time this reaches you we may have a bit of good War news. This week with the surrender of Townsend’s Division, the loss of the Russell & also a submarine, has been darned awful hasn’t it, as have also the Zeppelin raids: Floss tells me that they have been visiting Brighton but it was in such darkness that the town itself received no damage. Doesn’t seem as though our North Sea Fleet had many patrols out last week does it to allow a cruiser Squadron to bombard us for so long & then get away safely?

I wonder what part of the West Front the Russians went to, I suppose it was either Verdun to assist in defensive or Arras with the idea of taking the Offensive.

Floss has had her photo taken & I shall receive it by the next mail.

Not having seen her for a year and a half I shall be glad to see what she is like now.

This is a jolly nice little bunk & I get on very well with the 4 men under my charge, 3 of them are from Lavington & 1 from Bromham. After tea we always go down the Khud & get out part or the whole of a tree butt & sometimes a few kit-bags full of fir-combs so can always have a fire to fry rashers, onions chips &c with. We have all our photos over the mantel-piece (my collection in the centre). Mine comprise:-

• You two & Pott
• Floss & myself
• Charlie Page
• Cecil Young
• Henry Pinniger & Doreen
• Doreen alone
• Joe Stanley (now at Basra).

I am glad that we don’t have to remove photos for Barrack Inspection up here as it is hard to get tin tacks into these walls. I haven’t a photo of either of the Appses out here but perhaps they will send one when they have one of “Charles William James.”

I attend 2 parades a week here, viz one Battalion & 1 Adjutants, & show kit on the first Saturday each month. Considering the work caused by the Draft & time-ex men it is a pity that the Orderly Room Staff parade at all as it means extra hours to make the work up. If they give us any additional parades I shall return to duty. On the whole Col. Armstrong is far better than old Radnor, who during the Winter of 1914 convinced everyone that he was a nigger-driving old pig.

Best love to you both & to Rajah & Herbert.

Ever your loving

Jack

xxx
xxx
xxx
Rajah xxx
Herbert xxx

30th April

Holiday!