Category Archives: 1915

George Ryan’s letter home dated 18 Feb 1915

George Ryan’s letter home dated 18 Feb 1915

1945 “D” Co

9th Middlesex

Barrackpore

Bengal.

India.

18 Feb 1915

 

Dear May,

 

Thanks very much for your letter of 21 Jan with the photo enclosed.

 

Yes. I got the parcel safely as I’ve already written.  The things were in as good condition as when they left you, thanks to the tin box.  It’s the only safe way of sending things out here.  A fellow received a parcel; or rather the remains of one, this week in a cardboard box.  The contents, what was left of them, mince-pies, cake etc, were all smashed & some cigarettes were damaged.

 

Guard here is about the same as at Dinapore, in fact they say the Magazine post is worse. I have not been on that post myself yet.  There’s a native village just behind it.  There’s generally a row going on there from 8 – 10 p.m.  After that of course the jackals & hyenas insist on giving their “concert” gratis, & there are dozens of fire-flies about, they look like small stars floating about.

 

My watch dropped off my bed the other day; it’s refused to go since. I’ve been wearing it on my wrist as I can’t wear it on a chain except in my trousers pocket & it takes about a minute to get it out from there, with my tunic & equipment on.  I shall take it to Calcutta when I go but if it’s going to cost much to put right I shall buy a proper wrist watch if I can get one at a reasonable price.

 

We’ve been digging trenches this week, a very suitable occupation in this climate. It doesn’t suit me, I’ve got a blister on each hand already.  One thing about it if I can’t get a job as clerk when I come back I might stand a chance as “Sanitary Inspector” or a Road digger or something of that sort.

 

Has the “egg hand” seen you home yet. I wish I was able to come & meet you; you would be able to say then that your brother was waiting for you.

 

Yr loving brother

George

George Ryan’s letter home dated 18 Feb 1915

George Ryan’s letter home dated 18 Feb 1915

Barrackpore

Bengal.

India.

18 Feb 1915

 

Dear Edie,

 

Thanks for your letter dated 14 Jan which I received last Friday, 12th Feb, a day after the mail had gone out.

 

We are beginning to settle down here now. It seems to get hotter every day, but we are still working hard.

 

We’ve seen a few snakes since we came here, only small ones though. Another fellow & I killed one a few days ago, it was 20” long& as thick as your finger.

 

Hope you are getting on with the piano I wish I had the chance of keeping on with it. I expect I shall have forgot nearly all I ever knew by the time I’m able to start again.

 

I have not written to you before as I don’t suppose it matters who I write to, I suppose each letter goes round the house just the same.

 

Remember me to Mr. Clark,

Yr loving brother

George

George Ryan’s letter home dated 18 Feb 1915

George Ryan’s letter home dated 18 Feb 1915
Barrackpore
Bengal.
India.
18 Feb 1915

Dear M & F,

Thanks for your letter of 14 Jan. I’ve acknowledged each one of your letters so perhaps you can tell whether I’ve received them all or not. I know I didn’t receive any for 3 weeks after Christmas but since then I’ve had one each mail either from you or May.

Yes that tale about the bullocks, or rather Buffaloes is quite right. C.S. & I were walking across from one barrack to another. It was a funny thing but just as we got near this heard of buffaloes I said to C.S. “Ump! I don’t like the look of these things.” However we kept on & just as we were passing them one of them ducked down his head & charged at us knocking C.S. over & sending me sprawling. I kept on my legs but neither of us were hurt. They are quite quiet as a rule but both of us have given them a wide berth since.

We’ve been issued out with a hair brush, 2 boot brushes, 1 button brush, clothes brush, a pair of socks, a flannel shirt, a fine sweater & another kit bag. They seem very good things too. The shirt is thinner than what you made but nice & soft & the jersey is a very good one, quite heavy. Perhaps you think it’s not much use out here, but it’s fine to put on after coming back from a route march when you’ve changed your shirt.

There’s a fine church here, much better than the one at Dinapore, better clergyman too, it’s almost like being at home the Sunday Evening service. The vicar has opened an old school-room as a reading room. There’s a good piano there so we have musical evenings. 3 or 4 young ladies sang songs the other night.

I should have thought Mr. C could have taken M. & Edie for 25/-. I asked you in one of my letters what he did about the 10/-, balance of my lessons. I suppose it was in the letter from Aden. I said I expect he kept that as I gave him no notice. I told you not to say anything about it unless he mentioned it.

Glad you are getting a few eggs now. They are cheap here. We get a couple hard-boiled now & again instead of porridge for breakfast & we can buy a couple fried at the supper bar for 6 pice (1 ½ d)

Well I think I’ve done very well this week writing to each of you & saying something different in each.

Hoping you are all well & jogging along alright.
Yr loving son
George

George Ryan’s letter home dated 11 Feb 1915

George Ryan’s letter home dated 11 Feb 1915

9th Middlesex

Barrackpore

Bengal

India.

11 Feb 1915

 

Dear M & F,

 

Thanks very much for the parcel, which I received yesterday. I didn’t expect to get it so soon.  The pudding isn’t the first I’ve tasted this year, but of course it was the best.  Both the pudding & the cake were alright, none the worse for the journey.  The cake smashed up a bit when I cut it, but that’s a sign of good quality isn’t it?  Tell May, as far as I can see, the cherries on top are intact.  The cigarettes are A1 quite a treat, the tobacco ditto repeato.  The handkerchiefs will be very useful, as one or two of my old ones are showing signs of wear, in other words split almost in two.  In fact I’m using one now as a cleaning rag.  Also tell May the piece of rag you put in will come in very handy, she seemed to think it wouldn’t be of much use.  If she would like to know all particulars I’ve torn it in half; one half I’m using as a tea cloth, (I like to wipe my knife & fork etc, myself, then I know it’s done properly) & the other half I wrap my bread in.  (We are given a pound loaf in the morning & have to keep half of it for tea).

 

I didn’t have to pay any duty on the parcel as I expected. Apparently that new order comes into force, that soldiers pay no duty.

 

Well, we got back here from Ishapore last Sunday. We had a very easy time there, I would not have minded the job for good if we had had a few things with us, as we had a chance of mixing with the English people a bit, that’s more than we can do here.  I didn’t have a chance of going over the Factories but perhaps I shall next time, if we go again.

 

We’ve been put through it slightly since we got back here; a four mile run before breakfast, drill, sham battles, etc 9 – 12. Then two afternoons a week we go for a route march at 4.0 p.m.  We went for one on Tuesday, between 7 & 8 miles.  We got back soaked, trousers, tunic & all.  It does take it out of you, it’s too much in the hot sun.

 

The barracks here are not quite so handy, there’s a second floor to them but the beds are a little more comfortable, the corrugated iron being replaced by interwoven strips of iron.

 

I forgot to tell May last week I made my first attempt at darning socks – the last week we were in Dinapore. So my socks lasted well, didn’t they.  I made a very good job of it, but I don’t think the darns looked quite so neat as yours.  I couldn’t get on with putting my hand down the sock, so I pushed a tobacco tin down & did it that way.

 

We have not got the letters here this week yet. The mail boat was 3 days late, then ours will be another day later still as they’ve got to be forwarded on from Dinapore.  It’s a nuisance keep changing our address.  I expect a few weeks after you’ve got this address we shall have shifted again.

 

Hoping this will find you all well,

Yr loving son

George

 

This is the last sheet of that lot of paper you gave me I can’t get any more till the canteen opens this afternoon. But I think you will be able to read this alright.

Letter of condolence 31 January 1915

Major Hyslop

 

I am sorry to have to tell you that your son was killed this morning in the trenches, he was orderly officer and was going his rounds of the sentries, a sentry reported to him that a party of the enemy were in sight behind their lines working at some fortifications, your son ordered rifle grenades to be fired at them and was looking over the parapet to observe the effect of the grenades when he was hit in the head and killed instantaneously. I can’t tell you how sorry I am to have lost him, he was a most promising young officer and brave almost to recklessness and though he has only been with us a short time was liked and esteemed by all his comrades.  His effects will be sent to England as soon as possible.

 

Deeply sympathising with you.

 

P.S. He will be buried this afternoon at a Farm known as Ration Farm about two miles from Armentieres near Bois Grenier which we have made into a cemetery and have a number of men buried there.

 

No Major Hyslop shown in the Feb 1915 Army List with H.A.C.

Letter to Mr. Dowsett 31 January 1915

Letter to Mr. Dowsett 31 January 1915

 

COPY.                                                                                                                     31 Jan. 1915.

 

My dear Mr Dowsett,

 

I am indeed grieved to have to tell you the saddest news you could have.  Your brave boy was shot yesterday and passed away without regaining consciousness.  I know what a terrible blow this must be to you and Mrs Dowsett and that even the knowledge that he has proved himself a man of whom we are all proud is small consolation to your sorrow.  He was always so keen, always plucky and cheerful, always to be counted upon and the conditions out here have tested all the qualities to the full and in none was he found wanting.  His Regiment has lost a fine soldier and our Company a man we can ill spare.

 

I need not tell you what a sorrow this is to me personally, or how deeply I feel for you in yours. No one knew him better than I did or can more truly appreciate his true worth.

 

He was in the Fire Trench and was shot in the head while pluckily trying to locate a sniper who was firing on the trench, and I know it will be some consolation to know that while everything possible was done he can have suffered no pain or even consciousness. His section brought him down from the trench in the evening and he was buried last night in a grave dug by four old members of his section and myself in a little cemetery we have made here in Kemmel where the other brave men lie.  The service was read by our Colonel in the presence of most of the Company and every man and officer as he departed saluted our comrade and perhaps many of us wished that when our time comes it will be with as clean a record and in as fair a fight.  We have put up a small cross inscribed, Sgt T.W. Dowsett, No 2 Company, H.A.C. Killed in action Jan 30. 1915.

 

I will see that a more permanent cross is made and that the grave is cared for and will send you a photo or sketch of the spot. Would I could do more for a one I have known so long and admired so much.  We are collecting his personal things and will send them to you and our captain is writing to his mother.  If there is anything more I can tell you or do you can count on my doing so.  At least he was ready when his country needed him and he died the finest death a man could die.  I know we all feel with you and mourn our loss today

 

With my deepest sympathy,

Yours sincerely

(sgd) H.P.G. MAULE

 

Not shown in Army List Feb 1915 but in a later List is shown as 2/Lt from 21 Feb 1915.

 

Letter of death 31 January 1915

Lieut Col Grove.

 

It is with the greatest regret that I have to tell you of the death of your son this morning. He was directing fire upon a small party of Germans he had seen, and on turning round to give an order must have exposed his head, for he was shot in the back of the head and died at once.  He cannot have suffered at all for he was dead when the men got to him.  He was a very brave fellow and was doing well.  I have had the small things from his pockets packed in a small box which will go by post to-day, and I enclose a list of the contents.  The remaining things will be sorted out and sent home to you later when we come out of the tranches.

 

Several of us were present at Nation Farm and amongst many of our men. The service was read by our padre Rev. F. Stewart.  We will have a suitable wooden cross put up to mark the grave as a temporary measure & the little cemetery is well looked after.

Letter of Sympathy 31 January 1915

Letter of Sympathy 31 January 1915

 

Chaplain.

 

I feel that I must send you a note of heartfelt sympathy. It seems but yesterday when I met your boy when he joined us here & he spoke of you wondered if it would be possible for you to come and see him.  His death has come as a shock to us all.  He died at his post of duty, faithful unto death.  We buried him this afternoon beside some of his comrades in the military cemetery near where he fell.  Several officers and men attended the service and saw his body laid reverently to rest.

 

I know I cannot enter into the depth of your sorrow but the knowledge and memory that your boy gave his life in his country’s cause, in the cause of peace, will bring comfort and strength to you. He has earned the reward of the faithful unto death and of the Peacemakers, “They shall be called the children of God.”

Letter Re Sgt TW Dowsett 31 January 1915

COPY.                                                                                                                   31st Jan. 1915.

 

Dear Mrs Dowsett,

 

It is with the greatest possible regret that I have to write and inform you of the death of your gallant son Sergt T.W. Dowsett.  He was “Killed in Action” on Saturday 30th January (yesterday) whilst in the trenches with his company.  The gallant fellow was shot through the upper portion of the head at 7-45 a.m. and although his comrades and I did everything that was possible for him he never recovered consciousness but passed peacefully away at 9-30 a.m.  We carried his body back to Kemmel the same evening and buried him in a small portion of a field set aside as a cemetery for the British troops.  He lies there side by side with some of his comrades.  The Colonel read a most impressive funeral service and he was laid to rest at 7-45 p.m. surrounded by a large number of his comrades which included many officers, and all the officers and non-commissioned officers of his Company.  We placed a small wooden cross at the head of his grave upon which Mr Maule (who is also writing to you) had written a suitable inscription.  The actual position of the grave it will be quite easy for us to indicate to you at any time.

 

I have given you all the above details because I thought you would like to know them. Any further information you may desire I shall be most willing to supply if possible.

 

The whole of his personal belongings found upon him at the time of his death was carefully taken care of and will be forwarded to you at an early date.

 

In conclusion I need only say that every member of the Regiment send to you and to all his relatives their deepest sympathy. You have lost (I know) a dear son.  We have lost a brave and gallant comrade, loved by every member of his company and particularly so by the members of his section he so cheerfully led.

 

Believe me, with deepest sympathy, to be

Yours very truly,

(sgd) ERNEST GARNSEY, Capt H.A.C.

(officer commanding No 2 Company)

 

  1. Garnsey appears in the Army List.

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 6d a day extra a second class gets 3d & a 3rd 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