Mixed papers relating to the service of James William Albert Simpson - Part 12

4
I shall take you both into my arms for good. I am very
glad to know that you got the little presents from
Fremantle. Sanko Scott came in to see me one
evening this week – he is just the same as ever.
Major Cook-Russel is with our Brigade – he often
speaks of Mids and even called me Major Middleton
today. The big Alfie Woods is a Lieut Col with
the Victorians. Vera will be interested to know
this. I often wonder when Billy and a few others
are going to make a move. Fitz did get the D.S.O. 

he will be some swank now. Antill of course is
quite safe in Egypt. Major White and I are still
good cobbers but Rory does not speak yet. It is hard
for Major White and I to get away together now
as we are both senior officers. I am going for a
bit of a trip in a car tomorrow evening
perhaps to the coast. We have to pay for our
cars now as the little car has been taken
by the military people. We cannot use it on
any work except military duty, and petrol
cannot be purchased for love nor money. That
has nipped all our little drives in the bud
I am not looking forward with any relish to
tomorrow's church parade – they are a
perfect curse to the men with the padre 

5
we have got. General Monash was around the
battalion again on Friday and I was in charge.
I am right on with him. Well Gra I shall
leave this for a day or two and shall try to
tell you about my drive tomorrow evening
Good night dear – one of those good old
Saturday night ones we loved so much.
Monday Night: 10. p.m. Lights out has just gone and
I have only dismissed the N.C.Os from their lecture.
Since I finished off the first part of your letter
a great deal has happened. Yesterday afternoon
Armstrong and I got a car and drove to

Southampton. I saw the spot where I first 

landed in England a year ago. On the return

journey I visited Salisbury Cathedral and saw

some of the most beautiful architecture in

England. I have a post card of it and shall

send it along. When I returned the Colonel had

received news that his brother had been killed

in France - it was a great blow to him, but

one has to be ready for these things nowadays.

Today I had second command of the

Battalion as Major Moscis is still in hospital.

General Monash came around and he

6
called me aside. He said, "How do you feel

like taking a Battalion Simpson"? . I was

hardly ready for that, but he told me to

be prepared for a new job any time. I hope

next week to be able to let you know that

the job has fallen to me. I think I am

in his good books as he always has a

yarn to me when he comes around. I talk

to him just like to any officer, whilst

General Jobson and Colonel Morshead sit

back and look like statues. Well Gra 

you will be wondering about my new job

but if it comes you will get a cable. Best

love and kisses for dear little Diddy

and your own dear self from your

loving husband

Jim

I am just looking forward each day for

a letter from you it ought to be mail

day tomorrow

J.S

Grosvenor Hotel

London

S.W.

TELEPHONE:- 9061 GERRARD (12 LINES,)

TELEGRAMS:-"GROSVENOR HOTEL, LONDON".

9.9.16.

My dear old Gay.

How I wish that I had

you and Bid here with me right

now. I got a week-end off and

came on to London this afternoon.

Only and hour have I been here

and I am full up already — it

was chiefly to get away from the

monotony of Camp Life that I 

took a spell. I just booked my

seat at the theatre and am 

going to the "Bling Boys" - 12/6

for a seat on my own - I am

going to stay in bed for the

morning until 9 o'clock. I can

2

tell you this is some hotel. I left

camp this afternoon at 12.30 and

arrived in London at 3 o'clock.

I went straight out to Wandsworth

and visited that spot I know 

so well. I saw Sisters Smith

and Gerady but only stayed for

a few minutes as the place is

packed with patients. They both

thought my appearance was

wonderful from the time I

was in there and they could

hardly appreciate I had got

well so quickly. I can tell

you it made me long for home

all the more when I was

standing in the hospital. I

cannot say that I want another

long spell in Wandsworth.

I immediately went from Wandsworth

to this pub and here I am 

camped till tomorrow afternoon.

when I return to Camp — I shall

go out to Moreton Gardens in the

morning and shall probably go

Church — I don't think — it is

the loneliest feeling imaginable

to be alone in London and one

is always glad to get away from

it. Major White would have

taken his week-end with me

but he has been away at a

School and could not get away.

180 of our men went out to the

front this morning as a draft

of reinforcements - poor beggars

I felt sorry for them leaving all

their mates. I shall finish this

another time as I am going

in to dinner now - It would

be all complete now if you

were here for the night and

I had a suit of mufti on

instead of a uniform.

Mid-day Sunday: Dear old Gay. I have 

just returned from Moreton Gardens

after having spent an hour out in

that familiar haunt of mine. I

refused to go and see the room

I spent my last two weeks in and

I apologised to Miss Popplewell

for all the things cruel and otherwise

I said whilst caged there.

When going in the front door the

picture came before me of the last

time I left its portals — Mrs

Popplewell was delighted to see

me and would hardly believe

that such a change could come

over any person — she said I 

looked ten years younger than

when there last. There was a

great deal to talk about old

times — my trip to Australia

and my homecoming. When

leaving the front door they

said to be remembered very

Grosvenor Hotel

London

S.W.

TELEPHONE:- 9061 GERRARD (12 LINES,)

TELEGRAMS:-"GROSVENOR HOTEL, LONDON".

5

kindly to you and dear little

Diddy and I wish then from

the bottom of my heart that I

was conveying those remembrances

personally instead of in this

letter. There is only one Nurse

there who was there in my time

all the rest are scattered to the

four corners of the earth. Matron

Pratt is at Marefield and has

just received the Royal Red

Cross medal for distinguished

service. Mrs Poppelwell was

extremely nice and invited me

to come and stay at her home

any time that I was in London —

they also wanted to take me

6

for a drive in the car but I had

promised to go to Virginia Waters

this afternoon, and I have to

catch a train back at 7 o'clock.

Linklater is going back with me.

I received four letters from you this

week and I was very glad to know

that dear little Diddy was better

also to learn that you were keeping

so well yourself. I shall write

more about those letters next

week when I have them beside

me. Last night I went to the

theatre on my lonesome — it

was a good show and I shall

send you the programme during

the week. I lobbed home here

at midnight and turned into a

real bed a double one at that 

but there was nobody with me. I

slept the sleep of the just until

eight o'clock with no reveille

to wake me — no nothing to 

7

to think about. We have had another

strenuous week spending one night

out in the trenches. The men are

getting plenty of those hard and long

marches we had in Egypt but the

conditions are much more favourable

and all the roads and lanes of

England are much prettier than

the inevitable sand, sand, sand.

I have not received the parcel you

sent yet but expect it to come

some time next week. Although

my name was sent on to France

to General Birdwood for promotion

there has been no reply as yet. I

am afraid it will come to nothing

now, especially as the Brigadier

keeps out of my way. It is nearly

time to go into lunch so I shall

have to close for this time, Best

of love to my dear little Diddy

8

and your own dear self. I

do wish you were here to share

these few hours of respite with

me — my cup would be filled

to overflowing then. Big kisses

of for Did and yourself from

Your loving husband

Jim

Remember me kindly to Sir - I

have not had a letter from

him yet.

J.S

33^rd 36^th BATTALION

AUSTRALIAN IMPERIAL FORCE.

31^st, 10.16

My dear little Gay,

It is over a week since I wrote to you but

there have been no mails to Australia - one is due to

go the day after tomorrow, and another one via America

the next day. I shall write all the news for one letter

and trust to Providence that you get it - the mails are

simply rotten just at present but one has to put up with

it - we are lucky to be getting letters at all. I have posted

a letter to Salisbury 12 miles away on a Thursday and it has

not been delivered until Saturday. For the past week I

have had many varied experiences - both in pleasure and

in work. First and foremost I must thank you ever so

much for your dear old budgets which arrived just before

and just after my birthday. If ever I long to be home it is

when I read all about dear little Did and your own

dear self. I received the packet of cigarette papers, cigarettes

and tobacco and it made me think of home when you

told me about the Show - G.Connor's Company and the various

things of interest in Albury. To go right back to last Saturday

week seems a long while Gay but there has been a host

of things crowded into those days, that if I had time I could