Mixed papers relating to the service of James William Albert Simpson - Part 10

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but if she gets the seat in a certain

position she ships them beautifully.

Just as I write two platoons of men

got wet through and I have sent

them down to their decks. The

water all bashed against the

door of my cabin. Well Gra you

will have a little more news in this

letter than usual as we had two

glorious days ashore at Durban.

First and foremost I sent you a

letter, a postcard to dear little Diddy

a spoon each to you and Vera. I

hope they reach you safely, and

you do not have to pay duty. I also

sent a cable to you. Your collection

of spoons ought to be materially increased

after this show is over. I shall try

and get you one at Capetown. We

sighted land at daybreak on Wednesday

and it was a glorious sight to look

upon after two weeks of the sea. After

lunch I had charge of the Battalion

and marched them through the

main streets, along the Beach

 

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Esplanade to a park in the town, then

after a short spell we marched back

to the ship at 5.30. Of course in

Durban there are thousands of

coolies and kaffirs, and it was

a great sight for the men of this

battalion. The rickshaws greatly

amused them. There are some very fine

buildings in the town. The chief of which

is the Town Hall. News of Kitcheners

death had just come through as we

reached land and there was a big

service on at the Town Hall, whilst

all the shops were shut. The public

turned out in thousands to see us,

but it was a very silent crowd.

I sent you a post card of the Beach

Esplanade we marched along - the sight

was a grand one - it reminded me of

St Kilda only on a much grander

scale. I am also sending Did a post

card of a rickshaw man - the streets

are lined with these men, and

their dress is most picturesque. When

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I reached the ship Doc had arranged

for me to go over to a pub for dinner.

It was grand to once more sit down

to fresh food absolutely on our own

without stewards to wait on us.

We had a real grilled steak, and

some real bread and butter. We

returned to the ship about 9 o'clock

and gazed on the natives lumping

coal into the bunkers. When we

are coaling everything gets frightfully

dirty and our cabins have to be

locked up tightly - even then one

has painted eyebrows, etc for a

day or two. Major White and I took

a rug each and deserted our cabins

to sleep in the smoke room. The

next day there was general leave

and until two o'clock, and

Linklater, White, Douglas and

I went out in a car about

forty miles. We had a most

enjoyable morning driving through

the most picturesque scenery

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around Durban, and White often

said "Now, if we had our wives and

a billy to make tea, what a time

we should have!" We took some

interesting photographs and also paid

a visit to a South African farm. Here

we saw them growing bananas, tomatoes

and pineapples - we got the bottom of the

car full of pineapples, and we had

our photographs taken in the plantation.

We then lunched at the Royal Hotel

and got back to the ship at 1.30.

Every officer has a liquor pass

in Africa and I am going to send

mine along in the letter. I was in

charge of the ship during the afternoon

and took the band down the pier to

play off some African troops who

were sailing for German East Africa.

At five o'clock Rosy, the four sisters

and I took a car and drove all

around the aristocratic part of the

city, and came back to dinner at

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the Hotel Edward. It was the

daintiest meal I have ever tasted

and we all enjoyed it very much

after ship's food. We had seats

booked for the theatre and there

we met the Colonel, the Brigadier

the District Commandant of Natal

and Nourese the great South

African cricketer - Billy [?] will

remember him. The play was

one of Williamson's "On Trial", and

was not half bad. We returned

to the ship at about 11 p.m. after

having spent a most enjoyable

evening. At 1 o'clock we were

called out for a muster parade

and had a roll call as we were

to leave early in the morning.

Today is Sunday and we expect

to reach Capetown tomorrow

at mid-day. We are skirting

 

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the African coast and it is a treat

to see land not far away. The shore

looks high and mountainous.

Pearce did a lot of shopping ashore

for me, and it was a treat to see

him come back in a rickshaw

loaded up with goods. He visited

the market and bought about

half a case of tomatoes for 1/-, a

sack of oranges for 1/- and a

sack of mandarins for a like sum.

He is very anxious to buy Did

a little present. I have the

photograph standing on my

dresser in the cabin and he

says he often has a look at

it - once each day in fact. I

wish I had bought one more

good suit before I left - my

clothes are getting a bit

musty at present. There is no

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way of getting ironing done on

board. There is some neat sewing

to be done on my coat - too much

for Pearce to manage, and I don't

like to ask the Sisters because

they are busy with the men's

clothes. How about spending the

evening yourself on the job? - there is

no lecture tonight. Well Gra it

is just about time to come to an

end so I shall close off this

epistle. Best love and kisses to

little Dids and your own dear

self from

Your loving husband

Jim

At Sea

27.5.16.

My dear old Gra,

I have just written a

letter to Sir and told him about the

honour boards, and I want you to push

the thing for all it is worth. It will

probably cost £10 or more but I think

it is up to me to do something such

as that for the school that has done

so much for us both. I often long for

little Did to be running about this ship.

I could quite easily have looked after

him on board. We have had some very

rough weather for a couple of days and

today whilst I am writing this letter

in my cabin the stool slips backwards

and forwards whilst I sit on it.

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you will almost be able to see the

motion of the ship by following the shape

of the letters. I received your welcome wire

at Freemantle and rather look forward to

another one at our next port of call.

I am still feeling very fit and the rougher

it is the better I like it, as far as

health is concerned. The Doc and I are

still in good form but Linklater was down

to it for a couple of days. I have helped

Doc with three or four operations and

last night helped him inject anti-toxin

into a [dips?] patient. The men

cannot make me out flitting about the

hospital in a long white gown. There

is another doctor on board but he has

been very seasick, homesick, and lovesick,

so poor old Rosy had to do the

whole job. We had innoculation again

last week and I performed the job

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on Doc. He reckons he is going to get

even on me at vaccination. Next

Saturday night is little Did’s birthday and

we are going to crack a large bottle of

fizz on that occasion. Doc wishes to

be remembered to you both and so does

the Colonel. Major White is feeling

his separation very much and he often

says, "How about a run in the [[?]]”

The Doc had a patient who said he was

vomiting blind boils. The Doc could not

help laughing and asked him what he

had been eating. The man said it was

goosberries. We had a few hours ashore 

at Fremantle and I met a few men

and officers who had been with me

at Gallipoli - I sent a little souvenir

serviette ring for Bid’s birthday and sent

a spoon of Western Australia. I shall

try and get one at Durban for you. I

would like you to make an effort in

Albury to send a box of comforts for

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the "A" Company 33^rd Battalion. If you 

write to Mrs White at Saumarez she 

will make a suggestion to you. They

have a Comforts Fund for us there. You

might be able to collect a good

many things in Albury. Socks, tobacco

cigarettes, papers, literature, chocolates,

etc. I reckon you ought to get about 

£100 worth - Vera will only be too

pleased to help you. Find out whether

you can send it free on the railway

to Armidale and or whether you can

send it direct to A Coy 33^rd Battalion. 

Each month you may be able to send

us a large case. People in Albury who

are not directly interested in my

battalion could send them to you for 

me. It is nearly dinner time so I 

shall ring off till later in the week.

Now about coming around to my cabin 

this afternoon - leave Did with Sir.

Dear Gra

We have just come away from 

church parade from hearing the most

awful piffle imaginable - I have just

ordered that the padre be sent over

to our table for a couple of meals - 

we shall give him all he wants. The

occupants are White, Linklaters, the

two Docs, Douglas, Susman and

myself. Things  do hum there at times.

The four sisters sit at a table by

themselves - they have plenty to do as the

hospital is rather full at times. A

sea came overboard one day during the

week and washed a crowd of my

fellows over - three of them are in

hospital still. Another fellow broke

his leg yesterday, and one man had

his head cut open. We have had

two or three days of pleasant weather 

but up till then it was very rough.

Yesterday we had a sports meeting - 

no parade all day. I am enclosing

a programme and a list of the

events. A Company and D Company

divided most of the prizes, and the

Matron presented them at night. The

prizes consisted of most useful

articles which had been bought at

Fremantle. The men enjoyed the

day very much and there is to 

be another meeting before the end

of the trip. Friday night was

dear little Did’s Birthday and

we are going to toast his health

tonight with a large bottle of

champagne - the two Docs and

myself. I pictured him having

a really good time and I'll 

bet he got some presents.

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We are all getting tired of ship

life but there is a good stretch

yet. I can say though that our

little party knocks some fun out

of cards - poker and bridge - also 

little nocturnal visits to the various

cabins. We have had a great many

camera fiends on the ship and

a new album will be a good

institution. I shall buy one later

on and make a new collection.

Well Gra by writing ^at two different

occasions, I have been able to

make up a little more news but

it is still tight. I trust you

and Did are both well and

that I shall soon have