Cadet R.W. Moss, Hut 6, No. 3 Officer’s Cadet Battalion, Bisley
Dear Mother,
I arrived here at 4pm today, and had dinner in London. Three of us left Belton together, so that I did not lack companionship amidst my new surroundings. Also, when I arrived here I ran into a Sgt. I met at the M.G. School in G(?)amiers. Even had I been alone the chaps here are the sort one can easily be on good terms with, already we new ones have learnt quite a lot of what we should not do. We were too late for tea, but had late dinner at 7:30, the nicest part of this was the fact that we were waited on, also that we had no greasy plate, knife, and fork to wash up after the meal. Altogether Mother, I’m quite sure that I’m going to have a nice time here, plenty of work, but congenial work, and if I shall only get a bob a day, I shall not need to spend two bob a day on food. This is only to tell you that I have at last reached Bisley. Love to Maud, Alice, and Margaret.
Bob
Letter from Wilf enclosed.
Hut 8, No. 3 Corps, No. 1 Officer’s Cadet Battalion, Bisley
Dear Mother,
Will you please forward to this address the remainder of the clothing procured for me? £8 will be deducted from my kit allowance for officer’s serge, breeches, puttees, cap, collars, and ties, and in addition I must obtain a good pair of brown boots myself. Military tailors from the City will arrive and take our measurements for the articles the Government will get. I shall go either to Woking or Aldershot and buy my boots, in addition I need a suitcase and Burberry but these must wait until I’m a little more settled. After two months the whole company shuts down for four days leave, so it won’t be so very long before I see you again. Cadets look very nice in their 1st class service dress, excepting for the white band around the cap and the absence of pips, they’re dressed just like officers. I can’t explain how happy I’m going to be here. I’m a very lucky chap and very grateful to you all who have been instrumental in getting my papers through. It is fine to get amongst a decent class of fellows, to be able to eat decently, and leave one’s kit in the hut assured that nothing will be missing when one returns. It appears that if one be smart on parade, and not altogether a dullard theoretically, one can get through the course pretty comfortably. Discipline is the subject which counts most, and I only need to walk warily in this, of course one must first discipline oneself etc. We commenced work this morning, right turn by numbers etc. One must click one’s heels together smartly, or the instructor is not long in recommending one for the Chelsea Pensioners. I forgot to mention the fact that I should like you to send me two decent towels, that will be sufficient for one parcel, the pyjamas can wait a day or so. No more now, love for all.
Your aff. son,
Bob
Must learn to ride here, five barred gates etc.
Hut 8, 3 Corps, Bisley
Dear Mother,
I’ve been writing up notes on the subject of “Interior Economy” all day, I’m fed up with it. Thanks very much for the parcel received last Friday, now I’m fixed up so far as underclothing is concerned. I think everything is A1 and commend your taste. I should appreciate a letter from home and wonder if you have written. I have had a letter from Edgar, but none from Fisher Rd. Sorry I shall not be able to send home my washing, discipline is very strict here and I must comply with orders, which say that washing must be sent through the Corps I.M.S. However, as you have been good enough to mark each article, and to send a bag, I don’t think I’ll lose anything. We’re having another riding lesson tomorrow morning, I didn’t do so badly in my first lesson, managed to stick on, anyhow, I’ll be alright after a few lessons. I went to Church this morning and liked the service immensely. It was quite a different thing to go to Church with people who enjoy doing so, than to go with men who only do so because authority bids them.
Interior Economy has left me dry as dust, I’m hanged if I can write tonight. Oh, we had a small exam last week. The four questions were:- 1) “How would you commence to train a squad of recruits in visual training?”; 2) “Write an essay on “Discipline and Esprit de Corps””; 3) “Enlarge on the benefits derived from Physical Training.”; 4) “Give four qualities one expects to find in an officer.”. For the last question I wrote “Discipline with fairness, moral strength, restraint, boldness”. Easy questions don’t you think? Love for all.
Your aff. son,
Bob
Bisley
Dear Margaret,
You will observe a discrepancy in the dates of this and the letter I wrote to Margaret this morning, it is nothing unusual so “Stank zee!”, as our Physical Jerks Instructor ejaculates. In spite of the imminent exam, and of the strong appeal to play Solo, I will try to atone for past offences. I feel very guilty, very selfish, and a host of conflicting things. If exams, if self-gratification, stand in the way, causing one to neglect one’s little sister, to **** with exams! Self-gratification is harder to resist, but it can be done. Perhaps Margaret would be better pleased if I passed exams, tomorrow I’ll think about it, tonight I’ll write to Margaret.
You are worried about Lawrie, I too am worried. Why? Because I’m playing hide and seek with the self that could one time have cheered you. In these moments we realise the futility, the selfishness of all ambition, excepting the ambition which brings freedom to the soul, without which no happiness exists, without which there is no power in man to comfort his sister. So tonight, Margaret, I pray: “O God, make me a perfect soldier, help me to absorb all the energy necessary for the fulfilment of my duties as a soldier into that greater energy which shall free my soul to bring happiness to my fellows. Give me the strength to make my earthly duties the handmaid of my spiritual duties.”
I shall be home the last weekend of this month, shall we have the Sunday in Derbyshire? Perhaps on the hills we might glean a thought to waft to Lawrie. Goodnight!
Your aff. brother,
Bob
Bisley
My Dear Mother,
Will you please forward the enclosed letter to Lizzie, as usual I have lost here address and I haven’t written to her for some considerable time. I hope you are all A1 at home. I shall be home about 10pm Thursday evening, If not I’ll send a telegram. Hope you have heard news of Wilfred and Walter, also that Margaret has heard from Lawrie. On Wednesday we are having night operations and are being billeted at Chobham when we get back, which will be sometime Thursday morning. We shall change into our best togs and catch the 4pm train up to London, if I’m lucky I’ll catch the 6:10pm to Sheffield, which will mean (as I said before) my being home by 10pm. Tell Maud I haven’t yet come across Winnie Muxlow’s husband. There is a Woodseat’s chap with me in this hut, his name is Russell and he lives in Harboard Rd and is sweet on Mr Beddow’s daughter. As Maud if she kens him. Will there be any chance of playing tennis this weekend? I doubt it, the seasons are very late. We have been having some terrible weather, but the last few days have been warmer and much more satisfactory. We had our photographs taken this morning, that is just our section, we shall look very nice with a bit of luck. Now I’ll just send Edgar a line. Love for the girls.
Your aff. son,
Bob
Bisley
Dear Margaret,
Thanks for the letter received last night. I am very pleased to learn that Margaret’s injury did not turn out too bad, also that you are hearing pretty frequently from Lawrie. In spite of the fact that you deserve as many letters as Lawrie can pen, I consider that he does very well to let you have them daily, it must be awfully to the mind to be properly in love! News that Wilfred has re-joined his unit does not go down so well, Mother’s worries begin again. Oh well! There are twenty million Mothers waiting anxiously today, what a tiny mite is our own worry!
So, thanks to Alan you have been able to play tennis. How did the lawn play? From what I saw of it, hours of hard rolling were necessary before anything like a true pitch could be attained. I had a nice letter from Charlie on Tuesday, eventually I did manage to write to him. He has good hopes of getting his papers through, also a certain six day’s leave, probably a month, it will be nice for Margaret if the month proves a certainty. I have still five weeks to go here and am having a pretty comfortable time now, which I don’t altogether appreciate, it’s a bit boring having to listen to stuff I’ve heard repeated over and over again. I’m altogether ignorant of what Christian Science really means, three years in the Army doesn’t give a chap much chance to read and think deeply. However, if you’ll just write to me about it I’ll find a nice quiet spot and think. Don’t you think it’s very cold? I’m shivering, I’ll just go and post this then get between the blankets. Best wishes for Mrs Wingfield, Margaret, and Bobbie.
Your aff. brother,
Bob
Bisley
My Dear Mother,
I am a bad lad! Is that not so? I thought as how I should have an easy time on the gun, and now I’m lamenting a misspent youth because I don’t know nuffink. Every bit of today I’ve been struggling with minus quantities, wondering how the Dickens two minuses can make a plus, and all such rot, which hitherto I had treated casually as having no place in my composition. However, I have decided to leave such dry subjects till the morrow and commune with a much more interesting subject, your own dear self.
Nothing unduly exciting has happened to me since I returned from leave. Horses haven’t thrown me, nor have I fallen in love. Sometimes I’ve felt very happy, sometimes I’ve felt quite the reverse. I suppose one must be entirely good to be entirely happy, and that explains why I am not always happy, that also explains lots of things very simply. Last week my name etc. was required in the Orderly Room, it seems I’m to be presented with my medal. Our Sergt. Major informed me that I’m to go to Buckingham Palace for it, since when I’ve heard unofficially that I’m to get it here, presented by the G.O.C.
I’ve had letters from Mrs Wingfield (Kitty), Nance, and Alan during the past week. I’m sure they’re very delightful and original folk, and will do much to brighten your present loneliness on their occasional visits. Edgar informs me Kitty is a brilliant tennis player, I’ve almost forgotten the rules of the game, so have poor hopes of upholding the esprit de family. I will let you know later whether the King is to pin on my medal, or whether the G.O.C. will do it here. If the former be the case it would be very nice if you could come to London. Have you heard from to write to him, also I’ll write to Walter if you’ll send his address too. How is Maud? Perhaps you could both come to town, and I could meet you, anyhow I’ll ascertain whether Buckingham Palace is a certainty during the coming week. Love for all.
Your loving son,
Bob
Bisley
My Dear Mother,
About the investiture which the King is holding next Saturday, June 2nd. It is to take place in Hyde Park. I wrote to Lizzie about the possibility of your coming down, and asked her to let me know if she could come too. I hope to get from Friday evening to Thursday morning off. If you stay one night in London, say if you caught the 6:10pm train Friday and stayed that night, Lizzie and I could meet you at Marylebone, and I’d have an opportunity to get you seats in the enclosure. There’s almost sure to be a big crowd there, and you couldn’t possibly stand about in a crowd, especially if the day be hot, waiting perhaps an hour or so until my turn came. Of course, if you think the rush and excitement would knock you up, don’t come. Perhaps it isn’t really worthwhile, and in any case I’ll send you the medal. Let me know if you decide to come.
Your aff. son,
Bob
Wish I was home tomorrow, will you send my tennis racket please? We’ve got a court at last.
Bisley
My Dear Mother,
I’ll be home, all being well, on Wednesday 27th. I shall be staying two days in London with Beth and shall arrive home about 10pm Wednesday. Margaret suggested that you should come to London, and if you think it worthwhile and would enjoy it, well, come! Still, considering the rush and the expense, also the fact that for an elderly lady London isn’t really a very desirable place in this hot weather, candidly and without prejudice I don’t think it’s worthwhile.
We had two more exams thrown at us last week, I got through alright but had to work overtime, although about fifty men have been returned to their unit or Infantry Cadet Battalions. I am awfully proud to know of Walter’s honour. It’s a fine thing to save life at the risk of one’s own, and I’m sure you’re very bucked about it too. Now Wilf’s to get a V.C., and then we’ll have put up a record and perhaps they’ll decorate you too. I’ve been measured for my uniform and have arranged for same to be sent home, along with a valise and sleeping bag, these are from the same firm which made my cadet uniform. I expect to get about a fortnight at home. We’re sleeping out on Thursday night, having another tactless scream! Goodnight, heaps of love!
Your aff. son,
Bob
23rd Depot Corps, No. 4 Battn. M.G.C., Chipstone Camp, Notts
My Dear Mother,
I’m very comfy here, am coming home on Saturday, so will tell you about it then. I’m glad Elsie came up to see you. I wrote to you on Tuesday and posted the letter in the Mess. Well, the same night the Mess was burnt down!
Your aff. son,
Bob
Alexander Pavilion for Officers, 52, Grosvenor Gardens
Dear Mother,
You see where I am! Well, I’d like to stop here a long time, that’s if Elsie were here too, but she isn’t, so I’ll just trip across to France ‘cos they want me, Wilfred, and the rest. There I’ll be happy and you, my dear Mother, ‘l be happy n’ole. That’s if I write a lot. Elsie’s asked me to do that. In the best way, Mother, you’ll be happy, because you’re giving… I can’t measure what you’re giving. He knows – so you’ll knit and knit, n’ Elsie ‘l come n’ make it sunnier. Maud and Margaret too, you’ll talk of happy days in store, you’ll mind that He who gave may also take away.
Act 2: Lets write it on a bigger scale than the first and simply trust in God.
Your aff. son,
Bob
I’m leaving here (Victoria) at 7:35 am. I’ll let you know quickly when I’m safe in France.