Report of Drifters off Cape Helles 22 January 1919

S.O. 9^th Div of Drifters

D “Northesk” II

Cape Helles.

Jan 22 1919

Staff Paymr (V)

H.M.S. “Europa”

In accordance with signal received from S.N.O. (H) I have collected chits for victuals and clothing for month of February, from vessels in my Division & send same herewith.

Provision Chits are enclosed for the following vessels.

Northesk II No. 2022.

Prime No. 2289.

Ten No. 1052.

Hopeful No 2386.

Comeley No. 2387.

Victoria II No. 766.

I have not included Chits for “Northern Scot” No. 2425 or “Ebenezer” No. 2294, as I understand these two vessels are on the books of “Caesar”.

Slop Chits (Clothing, Soap & Tobacco) are also enclosed for crews of the same 6 vessels.

Those for “Northesk” & “Comely” I have made out on the proper form but had no more forms left for the other four vessels or would have done them all.

Very few men were able to obtain boots last month, so hope they can be now had as their boots are very old & many are complaining of colds through wet feet.

If any convenience to you I will arrange to come to Mudros to collect both food & clothing at the end of the month or beginning of Feb. as I did in Dec.

A signal sent to Capt. (K) asking for Drifter to be sent to collect food & clothing for 9^th Div of Drifters will no doubt be sent on to me.

R.H. Palmer.

Lieut. R.N.V.R.

S.O. of Div.

F. Hammond letter 21 January 1919

21.1.19

Ohligs Rhineld

Dear F & M

Just a line to let you know I am gogging along nicely.  I was very pleased to hear you fared so well at Xmas. Glad to say I received the parcel safely it was Tres Bien.  I am just in the middle of Binble.  Went to hear our Divl Concert party last night they were very good.  The only draw back here is this blooming Jerry language.  It gets me down and makes my headache.  However I can say good morning & evening now so if I stay here a few more years I shall be able to take over a Jerry’s job off him.  There are two picture palaces here but they are nothing great.  Sunday is great day here.  All the café’s are filled with people and the orchestras are playing in most of them.  The only thing is the beer is all substitute but palatable & the Rhine wine is rather expensive.  Still it is very fine and lively on Sundays.  There is also dancing in places.  I have not been in Cologne yet but can get a pass anytime.  They have a fine Opera House & hold all kinds of Operatic Concerts.  There is also a fine train ride down the Rhine to Bonn the University Town but I’ve got to do it yet.  We has a few phizogs taken a few days ago.  So I will enclose one.  Hoping you will be able to pick me out.  Well Cheerhio.  Hoping you are all keeping well & Jack is feeling himself again.  Fred

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.