Michael D.Heath-Caldwell M.Arch.

1915

General Frederick Heath-Caldwell CB aged 56/57

Constance M.H. Heath-Caldwell aged 44/45

Cuthbert Eden Heath OBE aged 55/56

Sarah Heath aged 55/56

Admiral Sir Herbert Heath KCB, MVO, etc aged 53/54

General Sir Gerard M. Heath KCMG, 51/52

Lt Cmdr Cuthert H. Heath-Caldwell DSO aged 25/26

2^nd Lt. Martin F. Heath-Caldwell RHA aged 22 - shot 16th May

Leopold C. Heath (Griggs) aged 20/21

Genesta M. Heath – aged 15/16

Madeline Marion de Salis (ne Heath) aged 21/22

Rosamond Heath (Posy) aged 20/21

Letter

from 2^nd Lt Martin Heath-Caldwell  (aged 22)

to his mother Constance M.H. Heath-Caldwell

7p.m. Wednesday 20^th January 1915
My dear Mother
Your letters of 11th & 12th came today.  I have yet no orders, it really is most aggravating.  I must be patient.  I am longing to be off. 

A new major has turned up.  I say this quite often don't I?  He seems a good sort, a "dug out" though, and doesn't know much about this sort of warfare I expect.  Fanshaw said yesterday he had sent a note to Ken Lindsay & done something else so I thanked him profusely, so I hope everything will be all right. 

I spent a comfortable night at the observation station last night, got out of my flea by about 9.30a.m.!  I then drew a most beautiful panorama, so that we can show the &ldots; when he comes in next, in fact, a piece of "eye wash".  It is I think useful too as he can mark targets on it to which we have found the range and switch. 

I am writing after dinner.  The major is a great spinner of yarns, has already spun about a dozen, mostly not repeatable in the drawing room!  He is now busy occupied in drafting a letter to Harrods who have been sending us stuff for the men over & above the value of the original deposit we paid out of Battery fund.  However we are so casual about these things that I am afraid we can hope to do little but "twist their tales".
Well no more now.
Your very affectionate son
Martin.

Civil and Military Gazette (Lahore)

Thursday 4 February 1915

The undermentioned temporary appointments are made at the War Office:-Director - Dated Dec. 1: Major-General Frederick C. Heath-Caldwell C.B.- - - (continues) - - - 

Genesta Heath's diary

Wednesday 20^th February 1915

At Anstie the Civil Service of London Rifles, Prince of Wales’s own, come and drill in the grounds and shoot at the rifle range.

In London the men drill in the Park, and the other day they were all charging. In fact they charged my cousin Muni Sneyd and me, who were waking up a path. But as they were rather far apart we walked on between two men and escaped capture.

We were going to have troops billeted on us at Anstie, but for the second time it has been stopped.

Essex Newsman

Saturday 24 April 1915

Will and Gentleman recommend a GARDENER-CHAUFFEUR, or CHAUFFEUR, willing to work in garden, who understands electric light installations, or willing to learn? married; wife willing to help in house when required; for country, Staffordshire; cottage and coal. Address Major-General F.C. Heath-Caldwell C.B., 30 Victoria Rd, Kensington, London W. 

Diary of Genesta Heath continues...

Wednesday 28^th April 1915

Uncle Herbert (Admiral Sir Herbert Heath, just now C-in-C Portsmouth, and future Second Sea Lord) has asked us to Portsmouth to see the launch of a new battleship. We drove from Anstie and arrived in the late afternoon. After tea, Uncle Herbert took us all over the dockyard. We saw the old docks, where wooden ships were built long ago, and we looked at this new super dreadnought. She is the same size as the , who has been doing such good work in the Dardanelles. They had tied a sham bottle onto the stern and first Mother, then I, ‘broke’ it. She will be christened the ‘Royal Sovereign.’ She is not a sister ship of the ‘Lizzie,’ not nearly so expensive or so fast, but built on rather elaborate lines – I mean for the men, each of whom has a ‘den’ to himself.

Thursday 29^th April 1915

Uncle Herbert, Aunt Bessie, Father, Mother, my cousins Madeline, Posey and I started off in two cars to see the launching. The yard was full of the men who have built the ship, and there was a guard of honour of sailors. Behind the ship a small platform had been erected, on which we all stood.

When Lady Dalmeny arrived, she inspected the guard of honour. She was very plainly dressed in dark blue, with a big fur and a small hat. The religious ceremony came first. It was short and imposing. Then the constructor ordered the men to take away the blocks which held the ship. The order came, ‘Clear away!’ and the men scrambled off and swarmed ashore. Lady Dalmeny said, ‘Good luck to the Royal Sovereign.’ The ship kept quite still for a second, then came a little grating noise; she quivered from bow to stern and glided down the dock. A loud cheer came from the men and a second one as she slid gracefully into the water. The launch was over. She dropped anchor in the harbour and a tug came and pulled her into a floating dock.

There was a garden party at Admiralty House before lunch, after which Uncle Herbert took us all out in his barge. We went to see Royal Sovereign in her floating dock where she will be worked at for nine more months, having her engines, guns and armour fitted.

We saw the two forts in the harbour; the soldiers waved at us but of course we took no notice, being in the admiral’s barge. We were shown the fortifications: iron posts, which submarines cannot get through, driven into the bottom of the harbour. Coming home I steered and the old sailor, Mills, was so nice.

Letter to General Frederick C. Heath-Caldwell

c/o 140th Brigade Field Post Office

47th London Division

BEF

May 18th 1915,

Dear Sir,

You will have heard from his Commanding Officer of your son's death on Sunday.

As I happened to be on the spot, I took the Burial Service.

The grave is in Bethune Cemetery - No.2 grave in the 3rd row in the officer plot in the new part of the cemetery.

The fact that he died during a successful action will be a consolation to you. I venture to express to you my sympathy with you in being called upon to bear this private sorrow in addition to your great public responsibility.

Yours very truly, 

H.C.Pasle(?)

(GTF?)

Letter 

War Office

Whitehall S.W.

9th June 1915.

The Military Secretary presents his compliments to Brigadier-General F.C. Heath-Caldwell, and begs to inform him that a report has just been received from Army Head Quarters in the Field which states that the late Second Lieutenant M.F. Heath-Caldwell was buried in Bethune Cemetery.

The Grave is numbered 2 in Row 3.

The Military Secretary ventures to send this information now, as Brigadier-General F.C. Heath-Caldwell may not have previously received it.

Diary of Genesta Heath continues...

Sunday 20^th June 1915

Today we went to a hospital at Heathyfield; on the way we had tea with Dot. While she and Mother were talking, I went round the ward and talked to a man named O’Brien, who has been all through it and finally lost a leg. He said that at Neuve Chapelle the German losses were tremendous, and at one place they found eighty English and two hundred Germans, all dead. It just shows how we can fight – eighty killing two hundred!

He told me many interesting things. He said they saw a crucifix standing in front of a wall; shells had riddled the wall, but the crucifix was not touched. Then again, a shell exploded near another crucifix and blew it into the air, and when the figure came to earth again it was not broken.

Some people have seen strange visions of men in armour on the battlefield; once a Neuve Chapelle and once at Mons. Whenever we are in real trouble, the Germans suddenly stop firing, saying that they cannot fire at what is between the armies. I asked O’Brien if he has seen the, and he said no. But he said extraordinary fancies came to one on the battlefield such as one had never thought of before. Dot said that they had had two ‘vision men’, but they were gone.

The men make many things as part of their therapy: mats, belts, babies’ bonnets, trays, etc. there are two Canadians there. One has only one arm, and he works his things on a sort of frame. They have also got a man the top of whose head was blown off, who draws very well. He only started drawing since coming to the hospital.

Letter

from Lt Col. A.E. Wardrop

to General F.C. Heath-CAdlwell regarding death of his son Martin F Heath-Caldwell

16^th May 1915

(Copy)

His watch, papers contents of pockets, kit & sword will be sent to you.

The Chestnut Troop

1^st Indian Cav Div” (?)

16/5/15

My dear General Heath-Caldwell

I write with very great sadness to inform you of the death of your son in action. He was, as you know, a subaltern of mine. We were part of the force attacking the Germans this morning. We broke the enemy front line. I was ordered to try and push a section of guns forward. I sent your son to reconnoitre. His orders were not to run into danger and to go only where he could reckon on putting his guns.

I had only two subalterns at this time available for detached work. Stavely and your son. I had to detail one of them to go forward with the infantry. As this was the most dangerous task, I drew lots. It fell to Stavely who went forward. Later came the orders which sent your son forward.

Your son went through the broken trenches and on to the advanced infantry where he saw Stavely. He decided that owing to the roads and cover being both bad, there was no place for guns on the German side of their trenches.

He left Stavely and came back to bring his guns into action on our side. He telephoned to me what he had done, fire at the time was not hot. Later as he did not return I had a search made for him. Stavely found him lying dead about 20 yards from the German trench and about 200 yards from where they parted.

A rifle bullet fired, so the surgeon tells me, at extreme range had hit him behind the shoulder blades and went through his heart. Death was instantaneous. I have just seen him quite peaceful as if he slept. I enclose a lock of his hair, I thought you might like it.

Stavely and I are taking him into Bethune. He will be buried in the cemetery there. We have got a motor. A Clergyman meets us at 8.30pm at the cemetery.

Your son was killed at about 9.30am. More of us can not go to the funeral as we are in action and firing hard.

I can only offer you my deepest, my most sincere sympathy in your loss. I was awfully fond or your son. We were together from the Aisne, first in the 117 Battery and then in this. His hair breadth escapes were the talk of the 1^st Div’n. I do not say this (ingenuously – to gunstively?).  He was clever and reliable and had the makings of an exceptionally good soldier. Young though he was, I always asked his opinion on coming in to action and in any military situation. In the severe fighting at Ypres on the 31^st October in the 117^th we had to withdraw our guns one by one. They collected at the foot of a hill behind us and your son had to lead them through difficult (gound?) roads under very heavy shell fore into their new position. It was not my fault he did not get a DSO.

You son was, I am proud to think, a pal of mine. We all loved him. He was a thorough little English gentleman.

I say no more. Perhaps I have said too much.

I am yours very sincerely,

A.E. Wardwrop

Lt Col. RHA

(called?) The Chestnut Troop.   

Western Mail   (also Newcastle Journal)

Monday 24 May 1915

Expeditionary Force - Reported from General Headquarters May 16, 17 and other dates:-Killed - - - - (continues) - - - -  Heath-Caldwell, Sec.Lt. M.F., R.H.A.

Diary of Genesta Heath continues...

Sunday 20^th June 1915 – Diary of Genesta Heath – aged 16

Today we went to a hospital at Heathyfield; on the way we had tea with Dot. While she and Mother were talking, I went round the ward and talked to a man named O’Brien, who has been all through it and finally lost a leg. He said that at Neuve Chapelle the German losses were tremendous, and at one place they found eighty English and two hundred Germans, all dead. It just shows how we can fight – eighty killing two hundred!

He told me many interesting things. He said they saw a crucifix standing in front of a wall; shells had riddled the wall, but the crucifix was not touched. Then again, a shell exploded near another crucifix and blew it into the air, and when the figure came to earth again it was not broken.

Some people have seen strange visions of men in armour on the battlefield; once a Neuve Chapelle and once at Mons. Whenever we are in real trouble, the Germans suddenly stop firing, saying that they cannot fire at what is between the armies. I asked O’Brien if he has seen the, and he said no. But he said extraordinary fancies came to one on the battlefield such as one had never thought of before. Dot said that they had had two ‘vision men’, but they were gone.

The men make many things as part of their therapy: mats, belts, babies’ bonnets, trays, etc. there are two Canadians there. One has only one arm, and he works his things on a sort of frame. They have also got a man the top of whose head was blown off, who draws very well. He only started drawing since coming to the hospital. 

 Civil & Military Gazette (Lahore)

Thursday 1 July 1915

Naval Operation

Report from Captain W.Nunn, Royal Navy, Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf Division, to the General Officer Commanding, Indian Expeditionary Force "D," dated Quranah, 21 January 1915.

I have the honour to forward the following report on the Naval operations in the Shatt-al-Arab on the 20th January:-At 6.50 am. H.M.S. Espiegle (Captain W.Nunn R.N. Senior Naval Officer) followed by H.M. Armed Launch Miner (Lieutenant-in-Command C.H. Heath-Caldwell) and Madijeh having on board two 18-pr.Royal Field Artillery guns, proceeded up the river from anchorage off Tigris Camp.

At 7.30 the ships came under fire of the enemy's guns posted on south side of Rotah village, and at 7.58 am. Espiegle anchored in reach of Tigris beyond Bahran village heading E.N.E. in a position in which her whole broadside bore on enemy's guns. - - - (continues) - - -

Miner achored off Bahran village and was attacked by twenty armed Arabs who ran out from the village. Miner drove them away with well directed fire and then continued to engage parties of armed Arabs and cavalry on the right bank of Tigris. - - - (continues) - - - About 10.15am. the signal arrived that our forces were retiring to camp, so Espiegle shelled the trenches vigorously and ordered Miner and Medijech to drop down river firing as they went.- - - (continues) - - - 

At noon Miner was ordered to set Bahran village on fire, which she did not, and took two Arabs in Turkish uniform prisoners who were fighting for the Turks;at the same time the Royal Engineers were destroying Halia village. At 12.10pm Espiegle weighed and followed the others down river, the enemy keeping up gun and rifle fire as we left.

The Army and Navy Gazette

Saturday July 10 1915

Mentioned in Despatches- - - - Royal Horse Artillery

2nd Lieuts. C.H. Cameron (killed), M.F. Heath-Caldwell, A.R. Lucas, W.S. Wingate-Gray. - - -continues - - -

Diary of Genesta Heath continues...

5^th September 1915

We heard today that Griggs had married Alesta Alexandra MaAuslane on 28^th August at Westbrook. This was a fearful shock to us: apparently he was billeted on the family and they got him to marry this person. Father and Mother were thunderstruck and horrified. In the army you must ask your colonel’s permission to marry, but Griggs had not done so.

22^nd September 1915

We started in the car en route for Mrs Hervey’s at Northiam. When we reached Rye we went to the old fortress, dating from 1135, which was used first as a stronghold and then as a prison. The cells are small and very dark but the ones above are better, they have at least got windows.

23 September 1915

This morning we heard gunfire.

Friends told us that, while they were watching some Canadians marching towards the harbour on the way to the front, one of them broke ranks and held out his hand, saying ‘Wish me good luck,” So all along the lines they were shaking hands with these men and wishing them good luck. One Canadian suddenly said, “Will nobody kiss me before I go?” A girl held up her hand and said she would, but the man kissed two others. The girl, however, was not to be defrauded of her kiss and held up her hand again, so he kissed her too.

27^th September 1915

We got a wire from Father saying poor Raymond (Uncle Arthur’s son) had been killed in this last fighting. He is the second of my Heath cousins to be killed – Martin was killed on 18^th May this year.

13^th October 1915

Back in London we had an air raid, which shook our two-hundred-year-old house. You could hear plaster falling inside the walls. We saw the Zeppelin illuminated by our shrapnel, which was bursting around it.

We went down Oxford St  and stopped to speak to a policeman, who said that he had seen the Zeppelin go west a short way, then do a big dive and, turning round, go away eastward.

We took a bus and went to the City, passing a fire just outside the Lyceum Theatre. We went on to St Paul’s. there was nothing to be seen there so, while we were waiting for another bus, an army friend called Gerry crossed to speak to some special constables who were on duty. When he came back he said: ‘They’ve dropped three bombs : one just outside the Lyceum, one in the Strand and one in Piccadilly. Several people were killed.’

Of course, I knew there must be casualties but Gerry’s words brought it home to me and I began to realize the nearness of war.

At the fire there was a fairly big crowd but on one was allowed near it. So we moved on a bit, but were stopped by policemen looking for a spy. When we had passed, we saw a bright light in one of the top windows of the Hotel Cecil. The crowd outside the hotel grew larger every minute. Gerry went to see what was happening. When he came back he told us there was trouble inside the hotel, where angry Canadian officers were fighting foreign waiters. He heard someone say they were sending for the Guards, so he thought we had better go home in case there was a riot. I should have loved to stay to the end, but I had to go with my parents.

Letter

from Lt Cdr Cuthbert Helsham Heath-Caldwell

to his mother Constance M.H. Heath-Caldwell

19 October 1915.

THE HILL CLUB,

NUWARA ELIYA

My dear Mother

We have had another mail after a lapse of three weeks. Really even the gulf mails are more regular than this. As you see I have come up here for a few days, & am very glad. I have as it seems a top hole place. I didn't intend to play golf, but as soon as I saw the course decided to have a shot at it.

Nuwara Eliya is very empty just now, consequently one can go round at ones leisure without worrying about keeping other people back, and without being watched by experts. I have been having a few lessons from the pro, and have actually found a fellow (?)her (a politician) whom I can beat. This is a very comfortable little club, though some ofthe old birds here seem to put away a good deal, and sit for hours lettering long winded yarns.I have managed to borrow a pony for an occasional ride before breakfast.

We are having a dance on at Diyalalawa on Friday. Somehow those sort of shows don't appeal very much to me nowadays, but I dare say lots of people will enjoy it, and it isn't often that we get a chance to return hospitality. You will have seen the second to honours list for Mesopotamia. I think we  were all rather lucky to get anything at all. After all that sort of thing is almost entirely luck. I don't attach a great deal of importance to those sort of shows.

The great thing to do is win the war, and win it quickly, nothing else matters. Afterwards I hope we shall hang a few politicians. By the time you get this we shall probably be back in the happy land for another year I suppose. Now I must really go to bed.

Your very affectionate son

Cuthbert.

Letters

from Lt Cdr Cuthbert Helsham Heath-Caldwell

to his mother Constance M.H. Heath-Caldwell

17th October 1915

THE HILL CLUB,

NUWARA ELIYA

My dear Father.

Its quite a long time since I have had a letter from you. This is quite a pleasant spot, I came up here yesterday weak, went back to Diyalalawa on Wednesday, and returned here yesterday. We had quite a nice little dance at D' lawa on Friday night. We go back to Colombo on Tuesday and sail this day week. In some ways I shall be quite glad to get back. We have had a very good holiday here, but no one that I have met here seems to realize the war at all, and there certainly seems to be quite a lot of able bodied men about who might be

usefully employed elsewhere. I have taken up golf again since I have been here with more success than usual, though I seem to be just reaching my usual stage of getting worse instead of better.

This is a very scrappy letter, but there is nothing very much to write about.

Your affectionate son

Cuthbert

Letter

from Lt Cdr Cuthbert Helsham Heath-Caldwell

to his mother Constance M.H. Heath-Caldwell

Thursday 21st Oct 1915

My dear Mother

Here we are again in Colombo, rather wet and foggy after Nuwara Eliya. However the trip has done us no end of good, and I feel quite different to the miserable creature that arrived here about two months ago. We leave on Sunday and I suppose shall get back to the garden just about the time you get this. I think a zepp must have bagged our last mail, at all events we got none.

In one of your letters you said something about Griggs having turned up with a wife, it shows

he has the courage of his connections anyhow, and as there is plenty of money knocking about, I should think it is quite a good thing. I am afraid it must have been Raymond's name I saw in the casualties a few days ago. I went out & tried to play golf this morning but it was very hot after a little sleep now (one goes to bed very late here as a rule) I am going to try some tennis.

The Balkan situation seems very curious, apparently those dirty dagoes the Greeks have backed out again.

Best love

Your very affectionate son

Cuthbert

Letter

from Lt Cdr Cuthbert Helsham Heath-Caldwell

to his mother Constance M.H. Heath-Caldwell

23rd October 1915

My dear Mother

Our last day of Colombo is nearly over. I am not really sorry to be going; we have had a jolly

good time here, with a clear conscience, if we stayed much longer, we should be loafing.

There are some races this afternoon which I propose to visit, then dinner at the Galle Face. We got our mail after all this week, only it came two or three days late.

This morning I went out and played golf with the skipper, he is very bad at it but seems to enjoy playing. I see a description of the battle of Kut al Amara in this morning's paper, it looks very much as if we

made rather a mess of it, and let most of the Turks get away, but of course one can never

trust a newspaper account of anything. The people who have been up there all the summer must be pretty good wrecks by now.

I have just spent half a crown on ??? [Mukers?] My system. I feel so fit now that it seems a pity not to try & keep it up. We hear of a new C in C in the Dardanelles. I think it is nearly always a good sign when one gets a man whose name is not well known to the public! These "so-called" "thrusters" often turn out frauds.

Your very affectionate son

Cuthbert

Letter

from Lt Cdr Cuthbert Helsham Heath-Caldwell

to his mother Constance M.H. Heath-Caldwell  

HMS Espiegle.

Monday 25th October 1915

My dear Mother.

We are all beginning to cheer up now, but yesterday was a very sad day. We left at 10 am. In this Naval life we are always tearing up ?orts, and one gets very sick at always having to run away just as one is getting to know nice people. I am nearly always late at the post in getting to know them. We gave a little dinner at the Galle Face on Saturday night, followed by the usual Saturday evening dance. The "fairest of her sex" was there, but it is fortunate perhaps, that I had only met her just before going up country, only about four times altogether.

After three years in a place like the Gulf, one is apt to lose one's head during a short course of civilization particularly when there is an indefinite and probably lengthy period of Gulf to follow. We are having a good passage so far, but one can't help feeling the change between the Nuwara Eliya golf links about eight yards of unsteady deck, or between a comfortable room at the Colombo club complete with fans, and a share in a very small foggy cabin, with a temperature approximating to a Turkish baker.

We are very lucky really, lucky to have got away and had such a jolly good time. Mesopotamia ought to be quite cool by the time we get there, and our real troubles won't start again before April, but Iwon't say I dread the thought of another hot weather up there.

Do you ever see Vera Dalton that was. If so tell her that an occasional letter would be very much appreciated, I can't write to her as I don't know the address. I never seem to get letters from anyone except you & Father & Auntie nowadays.

Have you ever read Major [William Price] Drury's yarn about the "Guns of Gungapore. A ship gets lost in the Sunderbunds and is found about fifty years later, a white whiskered and decrepit old midshipman is in command by then. I often feel the same about us.

Somewhere about 1950 the home authorities will suddenly remember that there was once a ship called the Espiegle in the Gulf. The relief expedition will discover about half a dozen survivors, old men with one foot in the grave, still wondering if "we have got half way through the commission yet."

Enough of this babble.

from your very affectionate son

Cuthbert

Letter

from Lt Cdr Cuthbert Helsham Heath-Caldwell

to his mother Constance M.H. Heath-Caldwell 

Bombay

30th October 1915

My dear Mother.

I expect you will get three or four letters at the same time as this one. We found a mail waiting here, my letters were dated Sept. 8^th and October 6th respectively. I am living ashore here now. One may as well be comfortable as long as positive.

As you know I don't care much for Bombay.It isn't a patch on Colombo, the famous yacht club is really nothing more than a pot-house. However there is a gymkhana here where one can get tennis. It is typical of Bombay which considers itself one of the leading towns in the East, that the nearest golf course is 10 miles away, and by all accounts is nothing very startling when one gets there. No wonder that nobody here seems any use at their job. To my way of thinking they have a totally wrong idea of life, most of them seem to be live like alcoholic cabbages.

We are off on Wednesday morning.  From what I hear in local gossip, it appears that we are sitting down about 40 miles from Baghdad, and that we are likely to have a big scrap within two months. I don't know of course whether I shall be in it but I expect there will be the H. F's or else a stern wheeler or something of that sort going. I don't expect to get my new craft for some months yet. I fancy our fellows who have been up there the whole summer are pretty well played out.

I have heard of one or two cases of beri beri. (No doubt the result of the "ice" "electric fans" & other comforts which some humourist got up & talked about the other day in the House of Commons).

I see they have whacked out a few "baubles" to our unfortunate troops, most of them of course are well earned, but there are some unaccountable omissions. Two KCB's one of which will be thoroughly popular. It's nearly eleven & as I have had two latish nights I think its bed time for

Your very affectionate son Cuthbert

Letter

from Lt Cdr Cuthbert Helsham Heath-Caldwell

to his mother Constance M.H. Heath-Caldwell

Royal Bombay Yacht Club

2nd November 1915

My dear Mother.

Mails of Oct 8th arrived yesterday, including a letter Father included describing his experiences of a zeppelin raid. We leave tomorrow, without any regrets as far as I am concerned. I have not met anyone in Bombay, whom I ever wish to see again.

Four of us went out to Bandra the other day. This is the one and only golf course near here. We went out the ten miles in a taxi; quite the worst course I have ever seen, all the holes blind, quite a lot of them only about fifty yards, and the ground as hard as iron. There is a gymkhana here where one can play tennis of a sort, but it is altogether a very fifth rate affair after Ceylon.

I had a letter from a Home Fleet last week. Apparently popular opinion puts down the end of the war somewhere about 1918. There won't be many of us left by then!

I have weighed in on "Ordeal by Battle" seems quite a good book. They seem to have a pretty sad time in the Home Fleet. I have quite lost any wish to join it before the end of the war. Mesopotamia may not be ideal but if one can only get away for 6 weeks or so every summer, I see know [no] reason why one shouldn't go on for years! I have seen a good many people out of the gulf already, in fact I think I am the oldest inhabitant, bar the Australians and one or two RI.M. people.

You must expect to be one or two weeks without a letter as when we leave we shall be going away from the mail. Your best way of addressing my letters is c/o S.N.O. Mesopotamia, as I don't really know how long I shall stay in the river, not more than two or three months I should think anyway.

love from your very affectionate son

Cuthbert

Army and Navy Gazette

Saturday 6 November 1915

Mesopotamia Qurnah Operations -

The following British warships were engaged in the operations which resulted in the capture of Qurnah in December last.

The list is taken from the official despatches in the Indian Gazette, issued as a Parliamentary paper on Oct.22:-Espiegle, Com. W. Nunn R.N.Odin, Com. C.R. Wason R.N.Lawrence, Com. R.N. Suter, R.N.Armed Launches - Lewis Pelly, Lieut. J.F.B. Carslake R.N.; Miner, Lieut. C.H.Heath-Caldwell R.N. ; Shaitan, Lieut.-Com F.G. Elkes R.N.R. (killed).

Letter

from Lt Cdr Cuthbert Helsham Heath-Caldwell

to his father, Gen Fredrick C. Heath-Caldwell CB

2.0 am 7 November 1915

C jask NW 230°

My dear Father

We have been at sea since Wednesday, and so far have had an excellent passage.  It is a nice clear night without a cloud in the sky, and the sea is in a flat calm, the temperature is just right, and we have a clear ocean all round us, no submarines or anything like that to worry about, and I dare say it would take us quite half an hour to fire a gun.

Under these conditions a middle watch becomes a pleasure.  I am thoroughly enjoying this trip, just enough watch to keep to prevent one getting bored.  Every evening I come up and do "Muller" for half an hour, and skip, (there isn't enough deck to run round) and that keeps one fairly fit.

It is about 10 pm with you, so I suppose you are just returning from you daily exercise. Do you know "Mullers My System" "half at all bookstores", I should think it would be not the thing for your present existence.

By this time tomorrow we shall be back in the Gulf, my third whack of it.  I wonder how much more there is to come? We should reach the river about Friday. I gather that the S.N.O. is a bit vague about the state of affairs there, but it is most likely that I shall go to the Sumana or Shaitan, small things like the Shukrur in which I spent a fortnight earlier in the year. They will be right up in the thick of it, as they drank very little water.

The old Miner of course is quite out of it nowadays. I have been promised one of the new gunboats, the second four to be put together, but she is not likely to be ready much before February or March. I was very glad to get clear of Bombay. I suppose there are some nice people there, but we don't seem to meet everyone much besides the yacht club brigade, who spend most of their time supporting the bar at the club. We played a little tennis there, and took part in one expedition to play golf. We drove out ten miles in a taxicab, but the results hardly justified the expenditure. A very bad course, as hard as bricks, fishing nets drying all over the place, the whole pervaded by a strong smell of decaying fish. I think they must have got a Bombay duck factory somewhere near.

We haven't had much news lately, but I don't suppose we have missed much. The papers seem to be passing through a very pessimistic wave. I can't think that things are really as bad as they make out. I imagine that the Bulgarian business has been foreseen by the authorities.

They have just struck four bells so my middle is half over, the only drawback to this watch is that one feels such a worm next day. I can't help feeling that I have been remarkably lucky so far. We have seen a certain amount of war under favourable conditions; when I left Mesopotamia I thought I had had enough to last me for ever. At the same time it is rather nice to be getting back and we are missing a poisonous time in the Black Sea.

Probably when the bullets begin to fly I shall change my tune pretty quickly. Life always seems more precious when things begin to look as if one had finished with it.

There are lots of things to look forward to in this life, but if one gets one's sailing orders a bit early, a few years more or less don't really signify. I think Peter Pan's sentiments are very sound when he says "To die will be an awfully big adventure." -------

Enough said. I am afraid this letter which seems fairly sensible here under the stars in the Indian Ocean will be rather out of place in foggy London town where it will be read.

from your very affectionate son

Cuthbert

Letter

from Lt Cdr Cuthbert Helsham Heath-Caldwell

to his mother Constance M.H. Heath-Caldwell  

HMS Espiegle

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Espiegle_(1880)

20 am Wednesday 10th November 1915

My dear Mother,

Another 36 hours and we shall be back in the river. We have had a delightful trip up. Though the gulf is rather fuggy the sea hasn't had time to cool down after the summer. This is the last middle watch I shall keep for some time, I hope to get down to Ceylon again next year, but it is an uncertain life, and lots of things can happen in twelve months.

It is just three years since you saw me off at Liverpool Street. Of course it will be very nice to get home, but you know I have really been very lucky to be out here. The Two or three years just about now would otherwise have been spent watchkeeping in a big ship or in some equally dull job.

In spite of the climate there is a certain fascination in the gulf when one is to a great extent ones own master. In another three or four months I expect we shall be in Baghdad, and once there I should think the Turks will find it very hard to throw us out, though doubtless they will have a shot at it.

I suppose you are now in London for the winter, but as I don't know your address I will carry on writing to Linley Wood. One advantage in being away so long is that it will mean a good long whack of leave at the end of it, much more satisfactory than a week here & a week there.

It will be a pleasant change to know what shore life is really like. As a matter of fact the sea isn't bad under our present conditions. A small ship, and a Captain who believes in "live & let live," time passes away very pleasantly.

I will try and scrabble a short note when I know for certain where I am going. If as I expect we go to one of these small tugs we shall probably spend most of our time up Kut['s] way, and mails will be very irregular.

We picked up some Reuters Telegrams last night according them the Bulgarians have had a bit of a knock, one hopes it is true, but [scratched out within] our news is whacked out with so much of this ostrich like "optimisum" that one never knows what to believe.

The fool who built this ship put the bridge right aft, on the poop, with the result that the sow gets more than his share of stokers in the eyes and hair etc.  She is a funny little craft and was obsolete long before she was built. Hand steering gear, hand capstan and other Nelsonian  appliances.

I love these middle watches, almost the only chance, one has of getting away from the crowd. I start off with some ham sandwiches and cocoa which lasts up to one oclock or so, then a little work for half an hour, read a little, wrote a letter or two (though I haven't many to write these days) and before we know where we are eight bells strike and ones fat headed relied falls up the ladder. A very different thing to a middle in a big ship in the North sea, ????, station keeping, and I suppose nowadays always standing by for compulsory bathing.

Now I must write up the log, and go to bed.

Your very affectionate son

Cuthbert

Letter

from Lt Cdr Cuthbert Helsham Heath-Caldwell 

to his mother Constance M.H. Heath-Caldwell

HMS Miner

Fao.

16th November 1915

My dear Mother

I have come back to the old Miner after all, but it will only be for a short time, in a matter of a few weeks I hope to be in something much better, though I won't say anything about it until I actually get settled, but if you go on addressing my letters to the Espiegle they should reach me nearly as quickly.

Our present job is the "date patrol" between Fao and Basra, not very strenuous, or very exciting, I should say that the job only exists to keep the politicals quiet.

I have been away shooting all today, walked about fifteen miles, but only saw about half a dozen partridges and a few very wild snipe, the bag only consists of one black partridge and a nondescript wader of sorts, (however we will eat alright!)

If you had looked at the illustrated war news of the 6th October, you would have seen amongst others, a picture of my home during the Naryarieli affair, the Masoudi ride horseboats alongside, also my little party sailing home to the Miner in the dhow. Labeled as "British sailors in a captured transport." The photographs were taken by one of our sailors.

I hope I shall remain in the Miner for a few weeks, as it enables me to keep an eye on my next home, and also to pinch stores for her. Captain Nunn has gone up to Azizya where our troops are now, to see the Army Commander & see how things are going. From all accounts it isn't much far[ther] up there from a gunboat point of view. The river is at its lowest, and the banks are about fifteen feet high, and everyone spends a lot of time sitting on [scratched out gun] sand banks, also there is apparently a dearth of eggs and other luxuries; no place for me I think.

I am still sleeping on the roof but it is beginning to get rather chilly at night and in the early morning. I find two blankets plus my old blanket coat just about meet the case.

They have dug out a retired commander as skipper of the Aeat, I fancy he is a contemporary of Uncle Herbert, and he takes quite the gloomiest view that I have heard so far. It is certainly about time people realizes that we have got to go all out to win; but we do seem to be backing up a bit, and I think the country would do still more, if the politicians would allow them. It looks as if some of the latter find it impossible to get out of their old habit of looking at everything from the "personal advancement viewpoint." Unless they get reinforcements and stores down I think the old Turks must be nearly finished off out here.

In the last battle they fired bags of nails out of smooth bores, at the launches, although they had modern guns as well. I think that we have had a pretty good time here all things considered; all the people who have lately come out seem to think they are very lucky, though they may change their tune a bit after next summer.

My patent lamp which is supposed to keep alight in a wind is a great success. It has a little fan inside, worked by clockwork, & has no chimney. I am sure it is just the sort of thing that would delight grandpapas heart.

My other new toy, a primus stove, cannot yet be classed amongst our successes. I sometimes try to make coffee with it after lunch, but I think it requires a lot of practice. We did get it to go once, but the coffee immediately boiled over & put it out.

It is just dinner time, also I have run out of ideas (I suppose letter writing will be easier when we get back to the day of a natural death).

Much love from

Your very affectionate son

Cuthbert

The Tatler

Wednesday 17 November 1915

Of double military interest is the engagement of Captain J.D. MacNeece R.F.A., the second son of Colonel T. MacNeece R.A.M.C., and Mrs MacNeece of Castle Cary, co. Donegal, as his fiancee, Miss Mary M.M. Heath is the only daughter of Brigadier General Gerard Heath D.S.O., and Mrs Heath.

 Army and Navy Gazette

19 November 1915

 Royal NavyDistinguished Service Cross

Lieuts. G.C. Parsons R.N., C.E. Hamond, C.H. Heath-Caldwell R.N., F.Millar R.N., H.F. Curry. 

The Scotsman   (and Hartlepool Northern Daily Mail)

Saturday 20 November 1915

Naval Honours - Distinguished Service Orders. - A supplement to the London Gazette, dated Friday 19 November, contained the folloowing - - - - (continues) - - - 

Lt. C.H. Heath-Caldwell R.N.For services during the operations in Mesopotamia Lt. Heath-Caldwell has been in command of the armed launch Miner, and has handled his ship with skill when under fire on many occasions.- - - (continues) - - - 

Broad Arrow

Friday 26 November 1915

Distinguished Services Cross

Lieut. C.H.Heath-Caldwell R.N. - For services during the operations in Mesopotamia. Lieut. Heath-Caldwell has been in command of the armed launch Miner, and has handled his ship with skill when under fire on many occasions.

Letter

from Lt Cdr Cuthbert Helsham Heath-Caldwell

to his mother Constance M.H. Heath-Caldwell 

HMS Miner

Shatt al Arab

25th November 1915

My dear Mother

Many thanks for socks [and] stockings. With regard to a snapshot of myself, there should be two or three fairly recent ones among my photos which I hope rolled up with the other things I sent home. If they were missing, would suggest having a lap at the insurance people about it.

Three snipe before breakfast this morning, quite good fun, a high wind, and the birds were rather wild. This evening, the gunner & I went ashore on a new island. We had a most exciting hour, rather chilly as the tide was high and we were over our waists in water, but there were duck flying over & round us all the time. We only got three, two of which fell to my gun.  Though I am afraid several more were hit.

The duck is a hardy bird, I fancy he feels a bit sore for a day or two, but soon recovers and lives quite happily with several ounces of shot in his little body. When we do gtet him he is most excellent eating, and as I write there comes a very savoury smell of one who is shortly to make his appearance for dinner.

By the way I have written to Marian and one or two other people, & sent the letters to Linley Wood to be forwarded, as I have forgotten the addresses.

Ermyntrude (?) (the detachable motor) sold me a pup the other day, broke her crankshaft when we were five miles above Basra and we had to pull back & against the tide. She is a working successor to the "brumblejar."

I had a letter from Auntie last mail. It seems a pity that she reads so many papers, as I am sure she believes & worries a lot of things that are not worth it. What's the use of worrying anyway. Two excellent catchwords for the present time. "It will all be the same in a hundred years," and "the moving finger writes, and having writ, not all thy sighs will cancel half a line, or all thy tears wash out a word of it."

Only sighs is the wrong word I know. It was running in my head when I started to write, & now I can't remember the correct quotation.

My Omar went home I was fool enough to send most of my books home, though I have kept a few, & of course am gradually collecting more. One I always hang on to is the volume of Tennyson which you gave me for my birthday quite a long time ago. I should like to be able to carry more about; a good rummage in the L. W. library is not the least of pleasures. I look forward to when William & all his works shall have been finally squashed.

The time seems to pass away very quickly, I have very little work to do, and sometimes wonder how I shall like the Navy with a capital N, when I do get back to it; not over well I fancy. After this sort of thing one feels one could never willingly go back to the housemaid business, or the play-acting and make believe that goes on in peace-time, and even I suppose in war time in some ships.

I have noticed one thing about most of our fellows who have come out lately. They never seems to make much effort to get out on the ship, and get exercise, in fact they seem rather a dull lot. There are four or five of them at Abadan, within a mile of quite a good tennis-court, which they could use every day if they wanted to. I suppose it is the result of the Home Fleet. There are generally one or two on the sick list, and I don't wonder at it. I am certain they won't last through a hot weather out here, if they go on like that.

I have just remembered the quotation.

The moving finger writes & having writ, moves on.

Nor all thy piety not thy wit

shall lure it back to cancel half a line

Nor all thy tears wash out a word of it.

Friday evening, Basra.

I seem to have written a good deal of utter rot, but I suppose you would rather have that than nothing. The wind has gone round the North & the weather has turned rather cold. I don't know how much will get into our papers, but it is quite pos[s]ible the Turks will be claiming a victory about this date.

I haven't heard very much, and for obvious reasons can't repeat the little I do know. Am afraid our prestige will suffer a little a certain amount, but apart from that I should think it would make very little difference in the long run.

Things don't look very bright anywhere, do they? But the darkest part of the night comes just before daybreak.

Have just been ashore playing tennis. Not very exciting but it helps to pass the time. Nearly all our fellows are up river now, it's rather dull for those left behind, but I dare say those up there have had enough excitement to last them for some considerable time.

The Salsette having spent a day ashore in the Red Sea, we shall get no English mail this week.

Love from your affectionate son,

Cuthbert

Letter

from Lt Cdr Cuthbert Helsham Heath-Caldwell

to his mother Constance M.H. Heath-Caldwell 

HMS Miner

Basra.

11th December 1915.

My dear Mother.

The Salsettes mail with your letter of Nov 6th from Tile Barn [home of Arthur Helsham-Jones] arrived in a transport, four days late. We have been running up and down between here [word scratched out] Abadan doing coolie work, [word scratched out] taking stores about etc., so I haven't had much of the beach.

I went shooting today but we saw very little, and only got a snipe, a duck, a plover & a partridge, the latter we failed to pick up. We had plenty of fresh air exercise which is the main thing after all.

I expect to be off up river with a different craft in about three weeks time. It won't be nearly as comfortable as the old Miner. If only we could cut about six feet off of her draught she would be an ideal old racket to go anywhere in.

At the present moment our old ex-paint drum stove is going full blast, the most I can hope to put in the other racket will be an oil stove & I shall be lucky if I can raise that. They say it is much colder higher up. Things have been warm enough up there lately, but a kind of warmth that most people can dispense with.

Nel Loring was wounded for his fourth or fifth time. He has gone back to India in a hospital ship, & I hear expressed an opinion that he would stay there & not see or hear another bullet for some time.

I hope the last battle will have been a lesson to some people & will teach amongst other things, the limitations of gunboats.

I have no news, or none that the censors would pass at any rate.

Your affectionate son

Cuthbert

Letter

from Lt Cdr Cuthbert Helsham Heath-Caldwell

to his mother Constance M.H. Heath-Caldwell 

hMS Miner.

18th December 1915

My dear Mother.

Last week the mail brought me no letters, this week there is no mail at all, so we ought to have a fairly large one next week. I suppose the mail service has been upset by the Balkan affair, as probably the P.T.O's have been pinched for transport work.

We have done a good deal of running this week. Up to Kurma on Monday, where I managed to put in a couple of hours snipe shooting, and the three of us got about 25 birds. (We should have had more)

Yesterday we went to sea, to the Outer Bar, & now we are on our way back to Basra. I really prefer having a certain amount of running to do. None of the usual places one goes to here are so attractive that one wants to stay there, and the time passes quicker and more pleasantly when we are on the move.

My departure up river looks like being postponed again, 15th January is the date they give now.

The gunner & I landed before daylight this morning & paddled about in mud & water. Rather chilly work but I managed to shoot a fine fat mallard, now being cooked for lunch.

You will be fairly safe if you start addressing my letters to

H.M.S. Greenfly.

Your affectionate son.

Cuthbert

Letter

from Lt Cdr Cuthbert Helsham Heath-Caldwell

to his mother Constance M.H. Heath-Caldwell 

HMS Miner

Basra.

Christmas Eve 1915.

My dear Mother.

After a fortnight's interval we have a mail with two letters from you and one from Father. I am glad you are pleased about the D.S.C. [Distinguished Service Cross], and of course I am too. But still these things are largely a matter of luck, and many people have done far more to earn them without getting any recognition of that sort.

The old Greenfly is delayed again; it may be another month or more before she is ready. Whenever I feel at all impatient, I say to myself that I shall probably have quite enough of her and the upper river into the bargain, before I have finished. Besides in many ways they are disappointing craft.

Meanwhile we run up and down the river taking mails & stores about, not very exciting work, and at times it is hard to imagine that one is doing anything useful. We went out to the bar yesterday, and shot four duck this morning on the way up. We shall be spending Christmas here, as the old boiler has sprung a leak and requires a day on the sick list.

You needn't feel at all worried about my getting married, the Colombo affair (if it can be dignified by the name of the affair) was quite transitory and entirely one-sided. The worst of this employment is that one has so little work to do, I often feel things would go on just the same if I wasn't here. It will probably be much the same in the new boat, after the first fortnight or so, when things have settled down.

So tomorrow is Christmas, I hope you won't think I [scratched out "have"] am getting cynical when I tell you that I shall breathe a hearty sigh of relief when it is over.

Many thanks for the books, Blackwoods has arrived too, so I will countermand my other copy.

love from your very affectionate son

Cuthbert