Report of Drifters off Cape Helles 21 January 1919

S.O. 9^th Div of Drifters

D “Northesk” II

Cape Helles.

Jan 21/19

S.N.O. (H)

H.M.S. “Pelorus”

Submitted,

It is suggested that under the new escorting arrangements whereby more escorting vessels are available; it may now be possible for each vessel in turn to proceed to Chanak for a spell of 48 hours; the first day to be devoted to completing with coal & water & the remainder of the time to attending to small engine defects and also to enable the crews to go ashore for liberty.

Defects in the Drifters under my command are rapidly becoming more numerous owing to the fact that they have been without an opportunity to do these defects since Sept 4^th & have been working continuously since Oct 25^th with the exception of “Ten” & “Victoria II” who have been to Mudros for boiler cleaning & defects.

It is further suggested that arrangements may be made for the following vessels to Boiler clean at the earliest possible moment observing that the rule is that all Drifters should boiler clean every 6 weeks.

The dates given here indicate when last blown down & the weeks overdue.

91 “Northesk II” last boiler cleaning Oct 25 overdue 7 weeks.

93 “Prime”                  “           “          Sept 24      “     11     “

95 “Hopeful”              “          “          Oct 25       “       7     “

97 “Ebenezer”             “          “           Oct 25       “       7     “

The last named vessel (under the N.T.O.) is most serious of all as she has no fresh water boiler tank & has run completely on salt water since Oct 25.

R.H. Palmer.

Lieut. R.N.V.R.

S.O. of Div.

Report of Drifters off Cape Helles 21 January 1919

S.O. 9^th Div of Drifters

D “Northesk” II

Cape Helles.

Jan 21/19

S.N.O. (H)

H.M.S. “Pelorus”

Submitted,

Enclosed I send detailed list of escorting vessels and the quantities of Fresh Meat desired twice weekly.

If these quantities could be sent down by a Drifter leaving Chanak – each quantity labelled – I would see they were at once delivered to each vessel.

At present Trawler “Farraday” is at Mudros but all other vessels are escorting.

Fresh vegetables – such as potatoes would be welcome when available.

One basket (140 lbs) would last a Drifter a fortnight & a Trawler approximately 9 days.

R.H. Palmer.

Lieut. R.N.V.R.

S.O. of Drifters.

Report of Drifters off Cape Helles 21 January 1919

S.O. 9^th Div of Drifters

D “Northesk” II

Cape Helles.

Jan 21/19

Mail Officer

H.M.S. “Europa”

It is requested that mails for the following vessels in my Division may be sent to Chanak (c/o S.N.O. (H) H.M.S. “Pelorus” Chanak) until further orders.

No mails have been received for one month.

H.M.D. “Northesk II” No. 2022.

“     “Northern Scot” No. 2425.

“     “Prime” No. 2289.

“    “Ten” No. 1052.

“    “Hopeful” No. 2386.

“     “Comely” No. 2387.

“     “Ebenezer” No.2294.

“     “Victoria II” No. 766.

There are two or three parcels & registered letters adrift since Nov. last addressed to Lieut. R.H. Palmer R.N.V.R. Have you any trace of them.

R.H. Palmer.

Lieut. R.N.V.R.

S.O. of Div.

Report of Drifters off Cape Helles 20 January 1919

S.O. 9^th Div of Drifters

D “Northesk” II

Cape Helles.

Jan 20^th 1919

Captain (K)

H.M.Y. “Paulina”

Sir,

I have the honour to forward for your favourable considerable details of an application for immediate relief (due to private affairs) from one of the enginemen in my Division.

On receipt of the enclosed request from the Skipper of H.M.D. “Prime” No 2289 I sent for the man and interviewed him.

The man – John B. Thompson, 2^nd Engineerman – received a letter from his wife notifying him that she had met a previous lover and has decided to live with him and furthermore has threatened to take his home with her.

It is natural that Thompson should feel this intensely but he appears to be completely stricken by the shock, so much so that he hasn’t slept for several nights but paces the deck; is eating nothing & the Skipper is afraid it is affecting his mind.

Thompson has asked me if I could possibly arrange for him to go home at once before it is too late to attempt to remedy the sad affair; he points out that his home took him 7 years hard working to get together.

Unfortunately he has only been on Foreign Service 6 months, but I am able to report him as being a conscientious & zealous worker & apparently of very temperate habits.

I have the honour to be

Sir

Your obedient servant

Reginald H. Palmer.

Lieut. R.N.V.R.

S.O. of Div.

Report of Drifters off Cape Helles 30 January 1919

Lieut. R.H. Palmer. R.N.V.R.

D “Northesk” II No 2022

Cape Helles.

Jan 30 1919

Captain of Base.

H.M.S. “Europa”

Sir,

I have the honour to request that I may be paid command money as Lieut in Command, observing that I have been in command of Drifters since April 10^th 1918 & have not yet received command money.

Previous to April 10^th 1918 I had the honour to command H.M. Motor Launch 198 and volunteered for Drifters after being assured I would receive the same command money.

From April 10^th until July 8^th 1918 I was in command of H.M.D. “Kilmany” (in which vessel was no Skipper) and was also sub-divisional leader of three vessels.

From July 8^th 1918 I have been Divisional Leader of “W” Division of Drifters (now 9^th Division), a Division composed of 8 Drifters commanded by Skippers.

Request that I may be paid back command money since April 10^th 1918.

I have the honour to be

Sir

Your obedient servant

Reginald H. Palmer.

Lieut. R.N.V.R.

S.O. of Div.

The necessary examination was passed by me on July 8^th 1918.

War Diary of AA Laporte Payne 15 January 1919

EXTRACTED FROM.

Brigade Diary, Personal Diary, Operation Orders, Note Books, Memoranda

Correspondence

—————–

January 15, 1919

Harfleur

Everything here is in chaos. I have 1200 men in the wing which I have to look after.  The returns are enough to frighten a whole division.  My best sergeant-major has gone to England which is annoying.  The demobilisation question is a hard nut.  You can imagine the conditions in a base camp like this.  We shall be broken up soon I hope.  Then I may get up the line.

Report of Drifters off Cape Helles 14 January 1919

S.O. 9^th Div of Drifters

D “Northesk” II

Cape Helles.

Jan 14 1919

Commanding Officer.

H.M.S. “Europa”

Sir,

I have the honour to report the following mines sunk by vessels in my Division during passage from Mudros to Chanak.

H.M.D. “Northesk II” No. 2022. (local No 91).

Date: – Dec 22^nd 1918.

Position: – 39⁰ 49’ 00” N.  25⁰ 28’ 00” E.

Depth of Water: – 51 fthms.

Description: – Floating mine (French) bottoms upward, spherical with lever             running down one side.

Name of Mine: – French Mine “B” (Fig 61. Book of Mines).

How sunk Rifle Fire (Mark VII).

——————————————————————————————————-

H.M.D. “Ten” No 1052. (local No 94).

Date: – Dec 28^th 1918.

Position: – 39⁰ 57’ 00” N 25⁰ 31’ 00” E.

Depth of Water: – 12 fthms.

Description: – Floating mine, (British) spherical bottom upwards with bar    across.

Name of Mine: – British Elia (Fig 36 Book of Mines).

How sunk: – Rifle Fire (Mark VII).

I have the honour to be

Sir

Your obedient servant

Reginald H. Palmer

Lt. R.N.V.R.

Report of Drifters off Cape Helles 14 January 1919

S.O. 9^th Div of Drifters

D “Northesk” II

Cape Helles.

Jan 14 1919

Staff Paymr (V)

H.M.S. “Europa”

Sir,

Enclosed I send receipts for slops supplied to vessels in my Division.

* The receipt from M.L. 508 has not been returned to me but possibly the C.O. is sending it direct.*

Regarding the slops for my vessels everything was correct with the exception of 1 Razor, 1 Hat ribbon & 1 pair of braces short.

The shortage of the braces I have discovered, as on checking your “Summary” sheet I find the pair for H.M.D. “Prime” was not included, although it was on Prime’s sheet.

The other two items I cannot trace.

Your obedient servant

R.H. Palmer

Lieut R.N.V.R.

*Receipt from M.L. 508 just to hand so is enclosed.

Report of Drifters off Cape Helles 14 January 1919

S.O. 9^th Div of Drifters

D “Northesk” II No 2022

Cape Helles.

Jan 14^th 1919

Commanding Officer

H.M.S. “Caesar”

Sir,

I have the honour to report the following changes in the personnel of the crews in vessels under my command.

——————————————————————————————————-

H.M.D. “Hopeful” No. 2386.

Stephen Bryan, Deck Hand, Off No.21753.

James H. Mears, Trimmer, Off No. TS.6615

reported for duty A.M. Dec 29^th 1918.

——————————————————————————————————-

H.M.D. “Ebenezer” No. 2294.

William Woods, 2^nd Hand, Off No. 1679

reported for duty A.M. Dec 29^th 1918.

——————————————————————————————————-

H.M.D. “Northern Scot” No 2425.

1. Thomas, Trimmer,

reported for duty A.M. Dec 29^th 1918.

I have the honour to be

Sir

Your Obedient Servant

R.H. Palmer

Lieut. R.N.V.R.

George Ryan’s letter home dated 14 Jan 15

Victoria Barracks

Dinapore

Behar

India.

14 Jan 1915

Dear May,

Just a few words to let you know I received no letter this week. I suppose mother didn’t get my letter from Aden, or I should have had an answer to it this week.

However, they expect the mail boat in a bit earlier this week; it’s supposed to reach Bombay some time to-day, so we might get our letters Sat night.  It will be quite a change, as it’s been Mon or Tues the last 3 or 4 weeks, before we’ve got any letters.

I fired ball-cartridge for the first time yesterday. I got on very well; it was only on the 30 yards range though.  It was only to get us used to our rifles – those that had not fired ball before.  We shall start firing our “course”, next week I expect.  It takes two or three weeks, as we have various kinds of targets, at different ranges, both rapid & deliberate (take your time) firing.  We can earn extra pay for firing, I think.  A first-class shot gets 6^d a day extra a second class gets 3^d & a 3^rd class shot gets nothing extra.  Of course, you have to be very good at it to get anything extra.  The Army doesn’t give anything away.  These payments are what the Regulars get, but we don’t know yet whether we shall get them.  Of course, we are acting as Regulars out here, but when it comes to a matter of pay we are only Territorials.

Well the rumour that we should leave here in March has been buried. We’ve had another one since then & that was that we were here for 3 years but that’s also been buried.  The one alive at present is that the war will be over by October & that we shall spend next Christmas at home.  I hope this last one is right.  After all “there’s no place like London”.

Hoping you are all well & jogging along alright.

Love to all,

Yr loving brother

George