Mixed papers relating to the service of James William Albert Simpson - Part 8

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P. & O. S N. Co.
S. S.
had my pyjamas on and just strolled on to the men's deck
to smoke a cigarette. Whilst sitting there alone the Matron
case along and saw me. She at once snapped out, "Have
I not told you men never to come on deck without your
blues?" Get down and get them". I said "All right Matron"
but still sat there for a moment. She came back a few
seconds afterwards and repeated the order more violently
"Go down below immediately and get on your blue suit."
I calmly walked below in order to keep up the joke. I
told the sister all about it and she laughed very much, and
eventually told the matron who she had bossed about. The
matron came and apologised most profusely and the joke
was up against the Matron during all the trip - even the
Captain of the ship got to hear of it, and combined with my
Military Cross, I was a notorious person on board for
the rest of the voyage. Matron's last words to me were
"Do not forget to wear your blues in the next Hospital."
These blue suits are issued to the Tommies as soon as
they go into hospital and the Matron who did not
know me thought I must be a Tommy as I was
on their deck. Most of the English officers were very
excited at getting back home to the "old village" as we
called London. I met quite a number of fine fellows and
one especially who was Sgt Major Hammonds instructor in

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gunnery when he was in England. I told him a yarn about
an accident that happened to Hammond in England and
be remembered it quite well. He had spent seven months in
France and had then gone out to the Dardanelles, only
to be shot through the lung. He was returning to England
for a fortnight and then expected to be right for France
again. The Doctor on my discharge ordered we to England
for three months so goodness knows where I shall
end up. One poor devil from New Zealand who had been
bombed on Quinn's post the night after I cracked up had
a great show of wounds. Half his cheek was blown off,
part of the back of his shoulder also - his upper arm
broken when he fell into a Turkish trench, and a bullet
hole through the opposite wrist - yet he is very jolly and
sends messages from his ward to mine. It was four
o'clock last Saturday morning when we entered the
harbour of Southampton - Well Gra,  when I saw the shores
of England it seemed almost impossible for me to realise
it. I can tell you I felt sad - sad at the thought of
being so far from home, and the loneliness of it all
made me very depressed. I could look about me and
my knowledge of Geography gave me a fair idea of what
the places were - but it was altogether different to what
I had pictured. Portsmouth is on the starboard side -
with huge factories and dockyards. Isle of Wight with its
beautiful parks and mansions was on our left. The
gardens and lawns are indescribable, and I saw for
the first time one of those scenes we see in pictures
in the Windsor of Magazine and other such papers.
As we drew up to the wharf it began to rain heavily

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and when we reached our destination we walked down a
covered gangway on to a Hospital train - fitted up with beds.
Here we were attended to by more nurses and doctors who
gave us soup and slops. There were very few people on
the station - only a few Military men and Nurses. We
moved off almost immediately and I was soon on my
way to London. Well Gra I looked out the window and
gazed on scenes never to be forgotten - One only now
realised how England was working in war time - Camp
after camp was passed and soldiers were doing sentry duty
all along the lines. Train on main passed us loaded with
troops, houses and artillery. The country we passed
through was beautiful beyond description. Fields of flowers,
crop, fruit trees all surrounded by beautiful and well
kept gardens hedges. Then away among some beautiful
parts one could see the home of some squire it -
was all like a story book or novel. After a two
hours run we arrived at Clapham Junction and here
again was the usual procession of doctors, Nurses and
orderlies - We were put in beautiful motor cars and
driven through crowds of cheering kids and staring
women - hardly any men except those in uniform. On
going into our ward the first person I saw was Colonel
McNicol - he was just getting over the effects of an unsuccessful
operation - I spoke to him but he hardly knew
me fact he seemed to be very bad. After a while
we were shifted into this ward where we are now. Lieut
Leslie 5th Victorian) Battalion, Lieut McIntyre New Zealand
Mounted Rifles, Captain Bennet Princess Patricia’s (Canadian)

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Infantry and self. The last named is a terrible case of
Enteric fever - he has been in hospital in France for
five months - having spent 5 months on the French frontier.
You have already read of the wonderful deeds of his regiment.
Lieut Leslie had plenty of relations in London and he has
his aunts and uncles to see him every day. Some New
Zealanders have look up McIntyre while poor old
Simmy knows not a soul. The first day Leslie's Aunt
came to see him she leant over him - kissed him -
then again - and said one from Mother. It was too
much for me Gra and I broke up - Later on she came
over to me and was exceptionally nice. It was only then
I realised fully the loneliness of London - Mrs Hooper asked for
your address and is going to write to you and will tell you
all about her visit - I look for her visits every day - not
usually like me Gra as I thought I could stand being
alone but illness must have cracked me up - Her brother
Mr Leslie came in and he is also going to write so you will
see after all I am not alone in England. McIntyre's friend
was a partner of Cunningham of Willigobung, Christie's old
boss- he is not retired in England. He has promised to
bring in the Australasian, the Bulletin and a Sydney Paper.
The nights get me beaten as I cannot sleep well and as
we are in London lights have to be screened on out. In
the day time I gaze out of the window from my bed a see
the soldiers and officers being wheeled about the park some
also with legs off, arms in slings and others maimed in
various ways for life and I feel thankful my lot is

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of so hard after all. The Tommies
have concerts in the great hall every
afternoon and all the leading
artist some along to sing and
play for them. I should like to get
well for a trip out to St Paul’s
next week when there is to be a
big Intercession service. Wounded
Officers and men are to be invited
and seats reserved for them. The King
and Queen are to be there and the
Archbishop of London is to preach - I
hardly think my chances are too good.
All our orderlies here are the
artists and sculptors of England
who are doing their little bit to the
war. Our orderly is Fagan the
great English sculptor who has some
of his work in St Pauls. Another
identity is Tom Roberts the old
Australian bush painter who has
painted scenes along the Murray

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between Corowa and Albury. He knows
Knocklesley and Rutherglan well and
speaks well of Mal Waugh. These
fellows are too old for active
service but do their little bit.
As a great many of the policemen
here enlisted, special constables
consisting of business men do their
duty. It is now nearly eleven Gra
and if there is anything that I
think of tomorrow I shall add
it as a post script. Good-night
my dear little girl - Best love
and kisses for Diddy and your
own dear self from your loving husband
Jim
Thursday Dear Gra: still in bed in
lonely London - I shall send you
a Cable tomorrow giving you
my address - I shall not receive
any papers if you address
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them to 13th Battalion – my letters may
find me some day. The papers will
be eagerly read by our lads in
the trenches. I would very much
like to see the account of our landing
and the photos of casualties. We had
a New Zealand paper with the
account of our landing but it
mostly mentioned New Zealanders. I
had the Swedish masseur on me
this morning - he is one of London's
best, so I hope to be soon on the
move. I had a letter from Colonel
Burnage today and he is coming
to see me tomorrow. I shall be
glad to hear some late news
and to see some papers and
he will very likely have some.
Lady Jane Hamilton has just
been here and has invited all
Officers from the Dardanelles
to her place neat Tuesday

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but of course I shall be scratched
for the engagement. Next week
D.V. I shall send you a piece of
my M.C. ribbon. I have to wait
the pleasure of the King before the
Medal is given to me but expect
to receive it before I leave England.
Well Gra afternoon tea is just
coming so I shall finish up for
this week. Once again Good- bye
dear old Gra - I would love
to have you here - Best love
and kisses for you both
from your loving husband
Jim
 

No 1 Moulton Gardens
The Boltons
Sth Kensington
22.8.15.
My dear little Gra,
I am lying in bed and I thought I would
make a start with your weeks letter. Two days and I have been
feeling much better then down again tonight - the Colonel wrote
me rather a depressing letter - the first time I have ever known
him to be down. It was on account of our terrible losses again
in the Dardanelles- All our officers are gone now - the last
four of the 13^th Battalion were wiped out in the last scrap
One was killed the other three wounded – the officer who
took my place as acting Adjutant was amongst the wounded.
Wait until you get the causalities of that last scrap. The first and
fourth Brigades of Infantry and the third Regiment of Light Horse
effected another landing at a new place. I was sorry to be out
of that enterprise in one way because the 13^th have had the
honour to be in every fight so far. Well Gra first and foremost
a grand mail has arrived for me from you - four letters
written just after our landing and one about my receiving
the Cross - How I would like to see my dear little Diddy
and take him once again into my arms - and my dear
old Gra  not forgetting yourself. I was so glad to hear
all about the dear little chap's Birthday - may he spend
many, many more and may his buddy be there with him
 

 I was also glad to get the cuttings out of the paper - just to
show one or two of the other officers. You will have quite a
collection of cuttings one way or the other - most of them are lies
though. I went into the Colonial Institute and saw all the
Australian Papers - even to the Geelong News of the Week, and
the Geelong Advertiser. Mrs Simpson is some class these days -
so she ought to be. By the time we arrive home Gra all the
deeds the Australians did will be forgotten - and what is
more there will be none of the original battalions left.
Fellows like Fitz who make all the show about going to
the front but who have hung back for twelve months
will get all the honour and glory of the show. You have
not in your letter mentioned many who have come along
from Albury - where are all those flash tennis, football
and cricket friends? They still seem to be playing the
game in Australia of staying behind. I am sure now Gra
that you would not have had me wait behind. I should
have come in the long run and would have missed the
most important part of the business - the landing. I am
jolly glad to hear Edgar has enlisted. I thought he would
have been into it before. When conscription comes along a
few of the shirkers will be sent away - the lovely Cadet
and Militia Officers of Albury. Well Gra”

Lights out” was
turned on last night so I had to leave this letter until
today. I do not feel much inclined to write these
days and I am inundated with Mail- on an average

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four letters a day - not too many from Australia - you and
Pop and one from Sir that is all. The letters I receive here
are from comparative strangers, invitations to this place and
that place but I have to refuse them all. Two letters
I night mention specially. One was from Ian Balfour’s
aunt in Dundee - Miss Henderson. she also sent a box
of peaches and grapes to me and said they were from
Ian, I shall try and write to him by this mail.
Another one was from Sir – It was a beautiful letter
I have showed all the first part of it to the Matron.
I must try and keep it always - he does seem to think
a lot of Diddy, Nurse Thomson who went through to
Scotland last week sent me a box containing home
made short bread, scotch scones, a bunch of heather and
some pure scotch chocolates. I just opened the box but
would not touch any of its contents. I eat to live only.
Nothing hardly seems to tempt me. Some Royalty is
here this afternoon visiting us and I expect them in
every minute I can hear the talk. I have now passed
through the ordeal and listened to the same yarn. “You
Australians do not know how much we really think of you
for your great bravery” - I take it all in and smile to myself
for I am getting sick of hearing it. I shall have to leave
this letter again as we are going for a bit of a run in
the car. The car has the usual Red Cross on it - all
the kids in the street cheer as we drive along - the girls