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The Genealogy of the Story Family
Francis Edward Story
1899 - 1988 (88 years)
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Francis Edward Story - Letters 1918
January 1918
Cadet CollegeQuettaIndia22/1/18My dear Aunt Florie
Thanks very much for your nice long letter which arrived about a week ago from Hookwood. It was the only one which I received by that mail but it was as good as two. We only get a mail about once a month so any letter is very acceptable & much excitement prevails when the mail comes in.
I am enjoying it very much out here, hard-worked but plenty to eat! I often wish I could send some sugar & tea back to mummy from here as I believe they are very short in Blightly. The voyage out was quite nice especially at Durban where the people were very kind. One man used to have another fellow & myself out nearly every night & I used to take his daughter to the cinema!
We do all sorts of military subjects from Urdu to trench-digging. The latter is pretty awful as the ground is very hard & stoney & last time I got a rap on the knuckles with the next fellow's pick which made me sit up a bit. The riding is the best of the lot. Sometimes at the schools the horses are a bit frisky & fellows drop off like flies. No one has been hurt so far. I have been out hunting three times with the Quetta Hounds & had a rare old time. The jackal gives us a good run for our money but we catch him in the end. The horse fell with me last Monday & I landed with my head & shoulders in a nullah. I was not a bit hurt & soon caught the rest up & was in at the kill.
I played in a game of Rugby Football today. They had flooded the ground beforehand so it was like a bog. We won fairly easily & yours truly scored a try. Hockey seems to be the game out here as there are grounds all over the place & you see little Ghurkas armed with sticks making wild swipes at the ball & generally managing to hit each other. I believe the Ghurkas are rather good at soccer.
It is good to hear the Uncle Oswald is coming home after all these years. I think I have seen him but I don't remember him at all. I suppose he has not tols exactly what his job will be.
I am afraid this is a very short letter, but I am very tired & lights out goes in about half a minute & I must catch the mail tomorrow morning.
Much love to Grannie & Aunt Charlie.
Your affectionate nephew
F.E. Story
F.E. Story
,
Cadet CollegeQuettaIndia22/1/18My dear Daddy,It seems a long time since I last wrote but I think it is our only a week. It is still beastly cold here but I think it is warming up gradually.
Everything is in full swing now & we are getting settled down. The course has now been altered to nine months & we are supposed to stay here until Sept. 1st, but they will probably let us go before that. They are taking a certain number of volunteers for Cavalry in France. I don't think I shall volunteer as I believe there cavalry job there is mostly 'pinching drunks'as an Australian put it, & it does not sound very exciting. At any rate I must get cavalry as the more riding I do the more I like it.
I have been out hunting three times & enjoyed it immensely. I had my first fall last Monday. The hoss stepped into a hole & fell, of course I went for a six over its head & ploughed up about 4 yards of good Quetta mud with my right shoulder & finished up with my head & shoulders in a nullah! The nullah was cold and very wet! However I was not hurt & so went on & soon caught the rest up. We are going out again tomorrow.
We are getting a piano in a bungalow & expect it to tonight. It costs Rs17 the first month &Rs3 after so between us we ought to do it easily. It is going to be put near the fire in my room & will give quite a homely appearance to the shack.
We had some topping rags here last week. There are two messes, one large & one small. One night some of our mess, the big one, went down to the bungalow of a small mess man & ragged him. The next night we heard that they were coming for us, so some of our mess forestalled of them & went & made hay of three or four of their bungalows. We were all non combatants in a bungalow. That same night, about 1.30 AM, a horde of chota mess people broke into my room & made absolute hay of it. I found most of my bedclothes out in the road! However on the next night we had a real organized raid with scouts, rearguard etc. & attacked several chota mess bungalows. There were about 70 of us all together. We got into two or three & were going strong when one of the platoon commanders suddenly walked in! He got the names of two or three but I made for home & got there safely after being chased down the road by the officer on a bike. The next day we all got a jaw & were told that if we wanted to rag we must do it after lights out. The next time we do it we're going to have a pitched battle on the PT ground with loaded stockings.
They give us plenty of urdu here & I am trying to learn a little, but it is awful language. We are divided into classes of four or five under munchies. The munshi is a priceless old bird but he speaks English jolly well & even rides English poetry. Here is the latest version of "Jack & Jill" which you can tell Lailah -
" Jack & Jill went up a hillTo fetch a pail of [squiggle]Jack fell down & broke his crown& Jill said, [squiggle]
Or as we contract it - "kuch parwani"We had a test the other day but it was not marked.
I enclose a few photos taken with the camera you gave me. As you see they're not a great success as the light got in also the negatives were bad. There are two of part of the stables & one of the Coll. itself.Very tired, must go to bed.Love to all.
It seems a long time since I last wrote but I think it is our only a week. It is still beastly cold here but I think it is warming up gradually.
Everything is in full swing now & we are getting settled down. The course has now been altered to nine months & we are supposed to stay here until Sept. 1st, but they will probably let us go before that. They are taking a certain number of volunteers for Cavalry in France. I don't think I shall volunteer as I believe there cavalry job there is mostly 'pinching drunks'as an Australian put it, & it does not sound very exciting. At any rate I must get cavalry as the more riding I do the more I like it.
I have been out hunting three times & enjoyed it immensely. I had my first fall last Monday. The hoss stepped into a hole & fell, of course I went for a six over its head & ploughed up about 4 yards of good Quetta mud with my right shoulder & finished up with my head & shoulders in a nullah! The nullah was cold and very wet! However I was not hurt & so went on & soon caught the rest up. We are going out again tomorrow.
We are getting a piano in a bungalow & expect it to tonight. It costs Rs17 the first month &Rs3 after so between us we ought to do it easily. It is going to be put near the fire in my room & will give quite a homely appearance to the shack.
We had some topping rags here last week. There are two messes, one large & one small. One night some of our mess, the big one, went down to the bungalow of a small mess man & ragged him. The next night we heard that they were coming for us, so some of our mess forestalled of them & went & made hay of three or four of their bungalows. We were all non combatants in a bungalow. That same night, about 1.30 AM, a horde of chota mess people broke into my room & made absolute hay of it. I found most of my bedclothes out in the road! However on the next night we had a real organized raid with scouts, rearguard etc. & attacked several chota mess bungalows. There were about 70 of us all together. We got into two or three & were going strong when one of the platoon commanders suddenly walked in! He got the names of two or three but I made for home & got there safely after being chased down the road by the officer on a bike. The next day we all got a jaw & were told that if we wanted to rag we must do it after lights out. The next time we do it we're going to have a pitched battle on the PT ground with loaded stockings.
They give us plenty of urdu here & I am trying to learn a little, but it is awful language. We are divided into classes of four or five under munchies. The munshi is a priceless old bird but he speaks English jolly well & even rides English poetry. Here is the latest version of "Jack & Jill" which you can tell Lailah -
" Jack & Jill went up a hill
To fetch a pail of [squiggle]
Jack fell down & broke his crown
& Jill said, [squiggle]
Or as we contract it - "kuch parwani"
We had a test the other day but it was not marked.
I enclose a few photos taken with the camera you gave me. As you see they're not a great success as the light got in also the negatives were bad. There are two of part of the stables & one of the Coll. itself.
Very tired, must go to bed.
Love to all.
Your affectionate son
Teddy
Teddy
September 1918
Depotx.x. Deccan HouseNumuch C.P.India15/9/18My dear Daddy,I arrived here last Friday after rotten journey. We came by sea from Karachi to Bombay & from there Wardle & myself came straight up here. The heat at Uach & Sibi was awful; I don't think I have ever been so hot in my life, however it was better at Karachi. We had lunch at the Taj Mahal Hotel, & a jolly good lunch too. We arrived here at about 9.00 PM in the evening & went straight to the Mess and were introduced all round. The Depot is commanded by Major A.E.H Ley & there are several other officers not counting Wardle & myself. We don't begin any work until Wednesday as the Major wants us to settle down first. The other officers are a very nice lot but they will want us to play the Bridge. They seem are a very temperature lot & they only seem to drink soda. Yesterday, Brig. Gen. Sir Kemball inspected the depot. Wardle & I were told to keep out of the way & we only met him at the Office & at dinner last night. Of course everybody was all of a twitter over their work, but the old bird seemed quite pleased. We had a jolly good dinner for him with ices & chocolates etc. & you can bet that I enjoyed it.
This is a very quiet spot & the town is very small, no big shops like Quetta & I shall have to send to Bombay for my outfit. There is a small Club with two tennis courts. I am going to play there this afternoon. The Bungalows are very old, were built before the mutiny & are round in shape with verandahs running right round them. There are a lot of snakes about & the Major has twice found one in his bathroom.
I have an urdu to lessen this afternoon with the Regimental Munshi; he is a curious old bird & rather slow. He says I ought to be able to pass the colloquial in two months; after that I shall try for Lower Standard.
I am glad to say that you can live on your pay in Numuch. The bearer's pay is Rs20 per month & Rs10 for contract; that is, he buys his own cleaning materials. The orderly gets Rs5 & there is something more for dhobi & sweeper. I must also try a & save a bit as I shall probably be sent on a course before very long & may go to a more expensive place.
On Wednesday we shall begin work, ordinary stuff in the schools, something like what we were doing in Quetta. When the Major thinks we are good enough he will push us on a bit until we begin to be of some use in the Regiment.
I arrived here last Friday after rotten journey. We came by sea from Karachi to Bombay & from there Wardle & myself came straight up here. The heat at Uach & Sibi was awful; I don't think I have ever been so hot in my life, however it was better at Karachi. We had lunch at the Taj Mahal Hotel, & a jolly good lunch too. We arrived here at about 9.00 PM in the evening & went straight to the Mess and were introduced all round. The Depot is commanded by Major A.E.H Ley & there are several other officers not counting Wardle & myself. We don't begin any work until Wednesday as the Major wants us to settle down first. The other officers are a very nice lot but they will want us to play the Bridge. They seem are a very temperature lot & they only seem to drink soda. Yesterday, Brig. Gen. Sir Kemball inspected the depot. Wardle & I were told to keep out of the way & we only met him at the Office & at dinner last night. Of course everybody was all of a twitter over their work, but the old bird seemed quite pleased. We had a jolly good dinner for him with ices & chocolates etc. & you can bet that I enjoyed it.
This is a very quiet spot & the town is very small, no big shops like Quetta & I shall have to send to Bombay for my outfit. There is a small Club with two tennis courts. I am going to play there this afternoon. The Bungalows are very old, were built before the mutiny & are round in shape with verandahs running right round them. There are a lot of snakes about & the Major has twice found one in his bathroom.
I have an urdu to lessen this afternoon with the Regimental Munshi; he is a curious old bird & rather slow. He says I ought to be able to pass the colloquial in two months; after that I shall try for Lower Standard.
I am glad to say that you can live on your pay in Numuch. The bearer's pay is Rs20 per month & Rs10 for contract; that is, he buys his own cleaning materials. The orderly gets Rs5 & there is something more for dhobi & sweeper. I must also try a & save a bit as I shall probably be sent on a course before very long & may go to a more expensive place.
On Wednesday we shall begin work, ordinary stuff in the schools, something like what we were doing in Quetta. When the Major thinks we are good enough he will push us on a bit until we begin to be of some use in the Regiment.
Your affectionate son
Teddy
PS, I met Col. Featherstonhaugh in Quetta & he said that if I wanted it he could get me a transfer to the 8th. He also sent his respects to you.
Teddy
November 1918
x.x. Deccan HouseNumuchCentral IndiaNov 25th 1918My dear Daddy,The jolly old war is over at last & I have not had my share in it. It is a great pity I was not a year older as I should have been sent out to Palestine to the regiment, as it is I suppose I shall have to sit here until it comes back. India may have to do police work in Persia or some of these places so I may get out yet.
Since I last wrote to you I have passed my Hindustani Colloquial Exam. It was held at Uhow the HQ of this division. It was very easy & I was finished in less than 10 minutes. The examiners were a sporting old colonel & a a Major & they didn't seem to know much about the language themselves. It made a very pleasant little trip & I met some of the old Quetta lot & had a long talk at the club. Uhow is chock full of troops & they suffered greatly from the 'flu'. On the day of the exam we heard the news of the Armistice but as I had to come away that night I could not join in the celebrations.
We are having a 'tamasha' here on Wednesday to celebrate peace. We have been practicing tent-pegging for it every evening. I managed to take five pegs out of six runs yesterday & and doing it again at this evening. Some of the Indian Officers & older NCOs are wonderful at it. They can take a peg turned sideways every time. I saw a nasty accident yesterday, though luckily the man was unhurt. One of the old sikh daffadans was going down with a sword in his teeth & a lance in his right hand. He took his first peg with his lance & just as he had taken it his horse stumbled and fell with the man with the sword in his mouth. Luckily both weapons fell clear and neither man or horse were hurt.
The Government has proclaimed 10 days' holiday to all regiments & depots, so we are having a good time with no work to do. They're going to have a dance on Wednesday night but that is washed out on account of the flu. A lady here has been teaching me all about the latest dances so I shall soon be able to 'foot the flure' with the best of them.
I wonder what Pat & Ralph will do now that the war is over. Thank goodness I am pukka!
Your affectionate son
Teddy
PS. Thanks for the Cavan paper. I'm glad to see that the filly won a prize.
The jolly old war is over at last & I have not had my share in it. It is a great pity I was not a year older as I should have been sent out to Palestine to the regiment, as it is I suppose I shall have to sit here until it comes back. India may have to do police work in Persia or some of these places so I may get out yet.
Since I last wrote to you I have passed my Hindustani Colloquial Exam. It was held at Uhow the HQ of this division. It was very easy & I was finished in less than 10 minutes. The examiners were a sporting old colonel & a a Major & they didn't seem to know much about the language themselves. It made a very pleasant little trip & I met some of the old Quetta lot & had a long talk at the club. Uhow is chock full of troops & they suffered greatly from the 'flu'. On the day of the exam we heard the news of the Armistice but as I had to come away that night I could not join in the celebrations.
We are having a 'tamasha' here on Wednesday to celebrate peace. We have been practicing tent-pegging for it every evening. I managed to take five pegs out of six runs yesterday & and doing it again at this evening. Some of the Indian Officers & older NCOs are wonderful at it. They can take a peg turned sideways every time. I saw a nasty accident yesterday, though luckily the man was unhurt. One of the old sikh daffadans was going down with a sword in his teeth & a lance in his right hand. He took his first peg with his lance & just as he had taken it his horse stumbled and fell with the man with the sword in his mouth. Luckily both weapons fell clear and neither man or horse were hurt.
The Government has proclaimed 10 days' holiday to all regiments & depots, so we are having a good time with no work to do. They're going to have a dance on Wednesday night but that is washed out on account of the flu. A lady here has been teaching me all about the latest dances so I shall soon be able to 'foot the flure' with the best of them.
I wonder what Pat & Ralph will do now that the war is over. Thank goodness I am pukka!
Your affectionate son
PS. Thanks for the Cavan paper. I'm glad to see that the filly won a prize.Teddy
December 1918
x.x. Deccan House
Numuch
Central India
December 25th 1918
My dear Daddy,
I am writing to wish you & all at Bingfield a happy Xmas & New Year. I am afraid this letter will arrive a bit late but it is written on the right day.
I enclose the Munchie's a attempt at translating that piece of Persian. If you can understand it you must be wonderfully clever, but as you say there must be some hidden meaning in it. The Munshi has sent the original down to Bombay & I will send you what he gives me. There is nobody close in the station who can translate it & the other fellows here cannot be bothered with it. As for the Hindustani you write in your letter, I'm afraid it is not much use to me as I cannot read it. I find it hard enough to read print.
I will see what I can do in the way of cantonment papers. If you had asked me a month ago I could have got them easily enough as I know that cantonment magistrate well. He has gone two Indore now & the new man seems rather an outsider.
As this is Christmas day I have been besieged by a whole squadrons of the various people wanting the inevitable baksheeh. The town band turned up disguised in red coats & made the most ear splitting noise I ever heard! It would have given you a toothache to hear the cornet player. However we sent them away with a couple of chips.
We had quite a good hunt this morning instead of going to church. There were five of us out with three long dogs & a couple of terriers. We killed a couple of jack after a good run. The other day we killed a couple of hares & a wild cat. The cat got one of the terriers by the nose & made him yelp.
I strained something in my ankle the other day at hockey & so I am off riding lately. It is almost 'thik' now although I get more 'taklif' the pulling on my boat.
One of the results of this war and is that they are giving pukka commissions to Indians. Of course all the old regulars here are very much against it & I am inclined to agree with them. I am sure there will be a lot of ill-feeling about it later on when these men get to high rank. I was talking to Col. Spence the other day & he says that the lack of respect from the Indian to the sahib is getting more marked every day. He has been out here 33 years & he says that he has noticed it creeping in more & more. It is all the doings of the beastly socialist people who blow in here from time to time. I suppose in your day the Indian lowered his umbrella when passing you, now he does not do that, if he is wearing English pattern shoes he does not take them off before going into your house. These in themselves are only small things but I think they points which way the wind blows.
I think I told you all I know about the regiment in one of my previous letters. Its composition is 1 sqdn. of sikhs, 1 of Jats, 1 of Rajputs & 1 of Deccani Mohammedans & the colours are rifle-green & white. At present it is known as one of the best polo playing regiments in India. One of the daffadars in the depot there's a +6 man & the present OC depot is +8.
Please give my best salaams all round
Your affectionate son
Teddy
| Date | 1918 |
| Linked to | Francis Edward Story |
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