Douglas LG beginning to despair: 28 February 1918

The last day of another month and Holland appears to be no nearer and the end of the war further away. What a life! My leg is still bad and will be until I can get plenty of vegetables.

Ralph’s Death Finally Confirmed: 21 February 1918

Dreghorn Castle, Colinton, Midlothian

21/2/18

My dear wee Nancy,

I have just received bad news from Lennie’s father. He has been told unofficially that a message has come through Copenhagen stating that a Captain Erskine and another RFC officer (whose name is illegible) were killed and buried together.

I know you will be deeply grieved – what can we do or say.

My heart us sold for Lennie and for you (who both loved him so dearly). I hope you will be able to comfort each other from the depth of your great sorrow. For me – ‘the rest is silence’.

Your always loving

Daddy

Dreghorn Castle was a 17th century mansion just south of Edinburgh which had been acquired by the War Office in 1893. In 1955 it was demolished and is now the site of the modern Dreghorn Barracks.

Letter from Ralph Erskine – A Visit from Uncle Tom Couper: November 1914

This is the last letter is written from Rushmoor Camp, just before Ralph went to Bramshott

7th (Service) Batt Royal Scots Fusiliers

Dear Daddy,

I am just snatching a few minutes before going out on afternoon parade.

Yesterday afternoon I had a visit from Uncle Tom Couper. He was in London and came down to see us. I was very pleased indeed. I am sending my watch to be cleaned and put right.

We go into huts on Monday and it will be much better. It has been bitterly cold here these last two days but very healthy indeed.

When I get to Bramshott I would like you to send me a bottle of brown polish, medium colour. I like to keep up appearances here and everybody envies me my shoes.

I think my uniform is about the best out of the whole lot and yet some of them have paid more than double. I think I shall get my next winter tunic in Mosses. They have great stocks ready made. But we shall see.

Write soon and tell me how things are going. The slippers are very cumphy (sic)

I often read over that poem by R Kipling, it is really splendid. I just keep it up my sleeve, so to speak.

This morning we had a splendid route march and of course our intelligent captain & major led us all wrong.

Well I must away Daddy dear.

The news isn’t so good this morning

Your loving boy

Ralph

Thomas Couper (1875-1938) was married to Ralph’s aunt Annie Nicol Barrie. My parents knew their son James (‘Jim’) Couper, and he and his wife Greta attended my 21st birthday party in 1965. 

 

 

 

Ralph considers volunteering as an Aircraft Observer: November 1914

7th RSF, Rushmoor Camp, Aldershot

Tuesday

Dear Daddy,

I was up at London for the weekend and lived at Kensington with Hay. I enjoyed it immensely and had a very nice time. I didn’t get time to go to McDougall’s although I should have liked to very much.

When we came back we were told that names had been taken for those who wished to volunteer as aircraft observers. Three men gave their names. If there is another chance I should very much like to put my name in. What do you think? It would mean that we’d get to France much sooner than otherwise. I got letters from George Barrie and Lucy Herring today. Thanks very much for the nice boots. They are just the thing. We move to huts on Saturday. Bramshott is the name of the place.

Lucy Herring says you were very well when you visited them. I’m very glad to hear that. Write and tell me what you intend doing etc.

Well daddy dear I’m very tired so good night and write soon. Has Nancy returned these letters yet? I told her to.

Your loving son,

Ralph

When we go into huts I should like you to send me some of my photos, snaps etc & Lennie’s.

Letter from Charles Higgins to Nancy: 17 January 1918

Another letter just found written when Ralph’s fate was still unconfirmed. 

c/o D.R.E

A.P.O S10

B.A. France

17th January 1918

Nancy dearest child,

The suspense which you must be in just now about Ralph must indeed be great and I can only try to imagine it by what I feel myself. Somehow I have a knowledge though that he is not dead and that he could not be, but we have just to wait and fight against the doubts that keep coming with moments of depression. Lennie, I believe is wonderfully cheery and hopeful which is well for her at this time when she has so much to occupy her. Nancy I loved Ralph more than any man or woman in this world; I would not tell that to many and I am sure he will come through.

Aye,

Chas S.H.

In fact Lennie had given birth the day before but the news had not reached Charles in France.

Alas Charles’s hopes were not realised. 

 

Letter from Arch to Nancy: 25 February 1918

By late February Ralph’s death must have been confirmed. 

My dear Nance,

I have just dropped a line to Lennie & to Daddy. Words seem so futile when thinking about what has happened.

What can one say to comfort – smash, smash & smash again & yet the last loss is terrible to think of. One cannot surely feeling these hurts for ever. Here in an immediate family are gone four of the very best that are fashioned, and the young ones wading in. It makes me almost a coward.

You were great pals & I know you have some fine memories of that fine lad. Be as happy as you can in your memories. I wish you were with us again so that we could do a little bit to help

Kiss the nipper* for me & give my love to his dear mother.

Yours

Arch

*My father will have just had his first birthday. 

 

 

Letter to Tommy – A Gruesome Accident : 6 November 1914

A week later Ralph referees a boxing match and witnesses a gruesome accident. 

7th R.S.F. Rushmoor Camp, Aldershot

Friday night

Dear Tommy,

I am trying to get my correspondence so am snatching all sorts of odd minutes. I have just washed my feet in nice hot water and will soon go into dinner. This passing system does make the letters accumulate doesn’t it. Still it is all the better for that. Your long letter was very interesting and instructive in fact I used your hints on discipline in a lecture and they were very useful. I shall get these books of which you speak.

Two weeks ago I refereed a fight Jock Clyde of ‘C’ Co and a man in ‘D’ Co. It was a needle contest for their week’s pay and all the officers and colonel were there. Clyde has quite a fair idea of the game but the other man was younger and Clyde, after winning the first and second rounds, gave in in the third. I collected 9/- for him from the officers and he was very pleased. Of course he is about 40 years of age.

Last night a terrible thing happened. When we were at tea, word came in that an aeroplane had caught fire and was sinking. I rushed out and in that time it had dropped like a wounded bird some two miles away. There was a general exodus from camp and, of course, I was among the first to get there, by which time hundreds of troops from neighbouring camps had gathered at a distance of about 200 yds from the flaming pile. Only officers and doctors were allowed near and when I got near I saw a human head, charred and black and hairless, sticking out of the flames. Oh Tommy, it was the most awful sight I have ever seen. Before we could extricate him we had to break the burning mass from above him. Both his legs were smashed to bits. Seemingly, from those who had seen him in the air, he had controlled the machine for about two miles after it had caught fire and then, overcome, he and the machine plunged to earth. Of course he was dead long before he reached earth. His name was Busk and he had been at it for 4 years. He was an expert tester.

Things are going alright here, but we are rather unhappy in the company. Our major and captain are greatly disliked and incompetent. Still we must make the most of it. In the mess we don’t have to pay £5 sub, it stands for our mess bill to give them some money to start with. I don’t have anything to do with conduct sheets.

If you have not got a muffler, I got one sent from Ella Ferguson which you can have.

Write soon,

Love Ralph

Busk is an unusual name so it was easy to trace the unfortunate victim. His name was Edward Teshmaker Busk and he was a distinguished designer and test pilot with an entry in Wikipedia. 

The fatal accident occurred on 5 November 1914 (which is how I’ve been able to date the letter) and he is buried at Aldershot Military Cemetery.

This is the BE2 Aircraft which he co-designed with Geoffrey de Havilland. Before …..

…and, grimly,  after.  

Letter from Ralph Erskine to his father: Aldershot 30 October 1914

There are more of Ralph’s letters yet to be published They have been in several places and I am engaged in sorting them and I will publish them in date order (including re-posting a few already posted), beginning with those from 1914.

Ralph had been was on a hiking holiday on the Isle of Arran with his friend (and future brother-in-law) Charles Higgins when the war broke out and they both immediately headed home to join up.

Ralph joined the 7th (Service) Battalion of the Royal Scots Fusiliers which was formed at Ayr in September 1914. Their first training base was at Aldershot. The first letter is to his father dated 30th October

Rushmoor Camp, Aldershot.

30th October 1914

My dear Daddy,

I have just a few minutes before I go out to forenoon parade so I shall at least commence a letter. I am much better and livelier now since the days have been colder and clearer. I’m feeling more like myself.

Tonight we start our own mess, and we are all very much pleased. The other was much too large and dinner, consequently, was a very lengthy drawn-out procedure.

Things are going all right here, only our officers are very incompetent, the company major and captain know next to nothing about the work and of course it doesn’t have the effect of inspiring confidence in us & in the men.

6.40 pm

It is now raining hard and just like a real Scotch mist. There have been great changes since I started writing. Some tent boards arrived today and now we have a solid floor, which is a great comfort.

We have had a fairly slack afternoon, it being payday and a rest after a very hard day yesterday. I have spent most of the afternoon with one of our Lieuts, an Irishman and a parson whose father was commander of this battalion in the past. He is a very eccentric man but very learned. He is of a very old Irish family and is related to Lords etc. He was tutor to the King’s three sons and knows intimately all the bishops etc. He had a very successful career at Oxford. We are great friends but he undoubtedly is very eccentric. He is quite sure he will be killed. He didn’t want to go as a parson, he wants to be in the firing line. Well the inauguration of our new mess will soon have been performed and we are all very pleased too.

A huge box has arrived for Shaw, with a most beautiful cake so we shall place it on the table at mess.

I haven’t heard from Tommy for some time. Your p.c. arrived this evening.

The only hitch is our two Co. commanding officers. Oh for a Major Simpson! I’d give anything to serve under him.

I am going to write to Granny, so good night Daddy dear

Your loving

Ralph.

Letter from James Erskine to Nancy: 21 December 1915

Nancy’s father joined up in 1915 and is training in Ripon. 

South Camp, Ripon, Yorks 21/12/15

My dear wee Nancy,

I have been so busy that I have never been able to find time to write you. I have been to a Grenade School: and have got my certificate as Bombing Instructor. Since then I have been attached to the Black watch as Instructor; but they have left here today so I am going back to my own regiment. I have been to Manchester for the weekend and had a nice time. Uncle John met with a serious accident a fortnight ago; but is getting on all right now. I am getting my holidays on the 28th and will spend part of them (if not all) at Manchester. Minnie* would like if you could go too for a little. Will you let us know? I have £1 to send you; but am not enclosing it lest you may have left college, and so not receive this letter. I shall send it when i hear from you. I had a note from Ralph last night. He is safe and well and has gone back for a month’s rest. Betty has been very ill. Write to me by return if possible.

In haste. Your very loving

Daddy.

Minnie Erskine was the daughter of James’s brother John, ie Nancy’s cousin. She was two years older than Nancy. 

 

Douglas LG at Holmzinden: 16 February 1918

…I refereed a Rugger match under the old Schwarmstedt rules – Infantry v The World. The former won after a very good game…