Jack`s letter - Crich Parish

First draft Nov 2012
Letters Home
Jack Marsden-Smedley’s letters 1913–1920
The Marsden-Smedley Family c1913
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© Lea Mills Archives
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INTRODUCTION
John Bertram Aubrey Marsden-Smedley, known as Jack, joined the Royal Navy as a cadet in 1906. During
his time in the Navy he wrote home and what follows are transcriptions of some of his letters. They cover the
period from 1913 to 1920.
In his correspondence he was involved in, and describes or refers to, events of historical interest. In
particular The Shanghai Rebellion of 1913, the naval action at Zebrugge in 1917 and the Taranto uprising
of disaffected troops in 1918. These three events have been expanded on and further explained in the
APPENDICES.
The letters and reports show him to be a well-liked sportsman and an able naval officer (apart from when he
collided with and wrecked another ship!). In later life he returned to be a director of the family firm of John
Smedley at Lea Mills.
Jack had a privileged upbringing, his wartime letters contrast with those of the workforce of Lea Mills which
are recorded elsewhere.
Lea Green, home to Jack
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John Bertram Aubrey Marsden-Smedley (1893-1959)
From his Naval Record
He was born 24 September 1893 and joined the Royal Navy 15 Sept 1906.
15 Sept 1913 Acting Sub Lieutenant
15 June 1914 Sub Lieutenant
15 May 1916 Lieutenant
11/06/14 Pembroke for Lydiard
15/05/16 to 23/05/16 Lieutenant
24/05/16 to 05/12/18 Hardy (?)
06/12/18 Tilbury (Blenheim)
May 19 to 03/05/19 Tilbury on ?(Pembroke)
15/05/19 to 30/09/19 Saumarez (?)
01/10/19 to 28/11/19 Ursa (Columbine)
28/11/19 Tyrian (Victory)
November 19 to January 20 Tyrian in com.
10/03/20 to 30/03/20 Victorious for passage south
03/04/20 to 01/09/20 Vega (Columbine)
01/04/40 to 19/05/40 Victory ??? 13 March
Placed on Retired List a/o Request with gratuity 08/09/20
Promoted to Lt. Cdr (Retired) 15/05/24
Promoted Commander (Retired) 24/09/33
Permission to proceed North Coast of France for 14 days from 3/7
Remarks:
12/06/15 Application to qualify in N noted, informed must pass examination in signals
19/04/18 Application for Cd. of a Destroyer. Recommended by Capt. ?
08/07/18 Plymouth Influenza 1 week. Fit 13/07/18
Aug 1918 Court of Enquiry. Collision between Hardy and Narwhal1 Cautioned to be more careful in future
S.206 31/12/18 A very good officer and strongly recommended for command of Torpedo craft. Cdr Plouden
08/10/19 Plymouth Hospital Injured left ankle 10 days. 17/10/19 fit
S.206 Has done very well as an inventive officer. A very pleasant officer and good sportsman. Possesses tact.
With more experience should do well. Capt Kiddle
13/12/19 ? ? 8 weeks 02/02/20 Fit
1 HMS Narwhal was involved in a collision in 1919 which broke her back and she was broken up in 1920
In 1906 he went as an officer cadet to Osborne House on the Isle of Wight before transferring to Dartmouth.
[In 1903, part of the Osborne Estate, which had belonged to Queen Victoria became a junior officer training
college for the Royal Navy known as the Royal Naval College, Osborne. Initial training began at the age of
thirteen, and further studies were continued at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.]
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1901 Census: Lea Green [RG13 piece 3235 folio 48 page 2]
Marsden Smedley
Marsden Smedley
Lea
John B.A.
George F
Harold F
son
son
B in law
7
3
33
Lea
Abbott
Edith E
Mary E
wife of above 30
servant
42
Cupit
Doxy
Bustle
Botham
Webster
Nutt
Verdow
Alfred
Millicent
Alice
Sarah E
Alice
Louisa
Mathilde
servant
servant
servant
servant
servant
servant
servant
19
42
21
25
23
25
30
London
London
Hampstead
Capt Army,
Yorks Regt
Infantry
cook
housekeeper
footman
housemaid
kitchen maid
housemaid
scullery maid
housemaid
nurse
Mysore, India
Wirksworth
East Stoke
Wirksworth
Selveston, Norfolk
Wirksworth
Clowne
Leicester
Switzerland
1911 Census: Lea Green [RG14PN21012 RG78PN1253 RD436 SD6 ED10 SN7]
Marsden Smedley
John Bertram head
42
Marsden Smedley
Gertrude
Mary
Enid Futroye
Olive Truda
John Bertram
Aubrey
George
Futroye
Basil Futroye
Diana
Elizabeth
Jenny
Ethel Kate
Minnie Alice
Ruth Mary
Eva Annie
Olive
Olive
William
wife
45
Hampstead
daughter
daughter
son
20
19
17
naval cadet
Ashover
Ashover
Westminster
son
13
school
Chelsea
son
daughter
servant
nurse
servant
servant
servant
servant
servant
servant
servant
10
4
53
43
26
22
18
22
19
19
22
school
Marsden Smedley
Marsden Smedley
Marsden Smedley
Marsden Smedley
Marsden Smedley
Marsden Smedley
Guilderoy
Mitchener
James
Edwards
Towndrow
Petts
Pitts
Varley
Hill
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Hosiery
manufacturer
Stroud
Chelsea
Kensington
housekeeper
Durham
nurse
Brighton
ladies maid
Stapelhill
kitchen maid
Church Gresley
scullery maid
Ashover
head housemaid Ashley Hay
under housemaid Ashover
under housemaid Alfreton
footman
Fairford
First draft Nov 2012
The family
Back: Enid, John (father), Gertrude (mother), Basil
Front: Jack, George, Olive with Diana
Jack as Commander in the navy
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Letters from the ships
Jack’s earlier letters, dated 1913, were sent whilst he was serving aboard HMS Minotaur. At this time Minotaur
was stationed in the Far East on the China and Pacific Station. It was involved in the Shanghai Rebellion of 23
June 1913 – a result of the Xinhai Revolution of two year previous.
HMS Minotaur
HMS Minotaur
China station
Aug. 10th 1913
My dear Mother,
I don’t seem to remember having written for some time but I have just got a very nice letter from
you all about the Eton and Harrow watch. (Please excuse writing) there is a good deal going on out
here which I will try and tell you about.
About July 20th we were all in W.H.W. quite happily when one night a wireless message came
from Shanghai that the ? had rebelled again and worth threatening the settlements. Monmouth,
Hampshire and Newcastle or went down at once in fact, the message came at 10 pm one night and
they left at 3 am the next morning at full speed leaving us the only ship in W.H.W. We remained
there quiescent until about Aug. 1st when we got a spasm about 8 pm and sure enough we left next
morning at 3 am. The funny thing was that the message (in cipher of course) from the Admiral
said “Destination not to be divulged” so that as there were only 3 people in this ship who knew
where we were going. Of course we all guessed Shanghai but it was rather fun trying to pump the
Admirals clerk who had decoded the message. However we all knew by Sunday morning that it must
be Shanghai from the course we were steering. The ship was chaos because we had to provide for
two contingencies. One was landing and patrolling the settlements which meant every man must
get ready his marching order which of course is all stowed away on board and as a matter of fact
is seldom seen. I had not seen it till I came out here. The second contingency was really far more
sensitive. The rebels had taken some forts at Wusung, but I will try to draw you a rough map to
explain. We can only get up to Wusung as the river up to Shanghai is too shallow. We did not know
that the Wusung for this might not be unpleasant as we were going to anchor right opposite them
and Ward be very much in the way if they were attacked by the government cruisers from the river
so we had to be prepared to shell them. The Monmouth and Hampshire could have landed sufficient
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men but they hadn’t big enough guns to shell the forts effectively. We had heard a rumour that
they had lately poured in some new guns, but that turned out to be incorrect. So we eventually got
everything ready for the forts. However as is usually the case everything turned out very tame. We
got the second wireless message to say that a special landing party might be required of 100 men,
two lieutenants and four mids so eventually after enormous suspense I was told I was one of the
mids required. Of course I was so pleased I could hardly know what to do. However when we got to
Wusung the forts were absolutely quiet, the Captain and Gunnery Lieutenant went up to Shanghai
to see what was required of us and bought back the reply that at present there was nothing doing
but we were to stand by and that is as far as we have got and we’ve been at Wusung for a week in a
racing tide doing nothing. I went up to Shanghai yesterday. It is the busiest city in the East that I’ve
seen yet. All was perfectly quiet except that every nation had a ship of sorts up there, mostly two.
Our Admiral was in charge of operations and of course we had to have the last billet right opposite
the Band. It is most fearfully hot here, as hot as I had it anywhere. The other day the Chinese cruisers
made an attack on the forts at very long range but did no perceptible damage. The ? came close
because if they were damaged they have nowhere to repair and the action was over desultory nature.
The Herts replied but the ships were out of range of their old guns. We of course had a splendid view
of the show as we were only about 3000 yards from the forts. All hands turned out to watch, it was
really quite interesting. The forts are the only stronghold the rebels have left and the Government
don’t seem to be worrying their heads about it much. Three junk loads of rice got in the other day
so they must be provisioned for about a year. The government landed about 2000 troops just above
before yesterday so I should think another attack would take place soon and I hope they will get a
bit more excited than last time. This morning the governmenters set fire to the War Junks which are
shown on my map, there was a magnificent blaze.
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You seem to have had a pretty gay time over the Eton and Harrow match, I wish I had been there.
I’ve never been to Earls Court. You refer to the gentleman as Clement, is this what you call him,
what is his Christian name, I suppose I shall be expected to call him by it shan’t I. Yes I think I
probably shall want a new tailcoat but I say G. must have grown since I’ve been out here, I think that
coat fitted me better than any I have ever had and I have hardly grown at all and I think I must be
rather thinner than when I left home as I really don’t think I have an ounce of fat on me anywhere.
So G. has been doing gooseberry to E. and Clement how perfectly ripping I should love to have
seen it. Clement seems to do himself well belonging to the Automobile Club. Funny thing that I was
wondering how all the Pilot knew about me. The man’s name is Smyth our navigator, whom H. Hurt
must know. I was wondering how he knew about me. Please tell Henry Hurt (it will probably interest
him) that I never seen anyone so pleased in my life as Captain Smyth R.N. on the morning he got
his Gold ‘at (he’ll understand what I mean). I heard from old Tupper the other day he seems rather
bored with life and has turned into a bit of an old philosopher. He writing a most awfully good letter
but was evidently very much down in the dumps. I don’t think he is in his father’s office from what I
gathered he was studying to be a lawyer but he was a trifle vague about it himself.
So sorry about O’s knee, but I’m glad to hear about the tennis as I am very keen. Of course I play all
the year round and at W.H.W. every day but on hard mud courts but I am just about twice as good as
when I left England.
When we are at W.H.W. ? We had quite good fun as of course there was no crowd at the tennis
courts or anywhere. I went and called on the Lockharts, Sir Stewart Lockhart is the Commissioner of
W.H.W. and takes rank with an acting Governor getting a salute of 15 guns so he’s a bit of a ? Well I
was asked to tiffin there one-day and when I got there to my horror there was only one other person
there however I don’t know how I did it but I blossomed out into a brilliant conversationalist and got
on awfully well. Lady Lockhart and her daughter Betty were there. She has a son in the Navy who
from what she said must be a worse correspondent than I am and she said she wouldn’t mind if she
only got a P.C. once a week so I think must be pretty bad. When I told that my mother was always
telling me how bad I was she said I ought to be ashamed of myself and in fact talked to me like a
naughty child while Betty laughed at me it was really most amusing.
Lots of love Jack
(sorry about the writing)
NOTE: Between 1898 and 1930, the city of Weihai was a British colony known as Weihaiwei or the Weihai
Garrison and sometimes as Port Edward– hence the abbreviation of W.H.W. in Jack’s letters. Sir Stewart Lockhart
was James Haldane Stewart Lockhart KCMG LLD (1858–1937).
The ‘O’ and ‘E’ mentioned in the letter were his sisters Olive and Enid; the ‘G’ was his younger brother George.
See APPENDIX 1 for notes on the Shanghai uprising.
HMS Minotaur
China
Dec. 22nd 1913
My dear Father,
This will probably be my last letter to you before I leave on Wednesday. I have just been along to the
P & O offices to see about coming across from Marseille as we are going on leave as soon as we get
back till Feb. 14th when we join the Navigation School. I find I am afraid that it is too expensive, the
ticket is £6-15-2 of which it is possible to get back £4 but not till I get to the other end of the P & O
offices. Of course it means saving of nearly a week which makes a good bit of difference.
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If you think it is worth it will you send me the money to Marseille and I will repay you out of my
PO savings when I get home. I personally think it is worth it but if you think not well I dare say a
dusting in the bay won’t kill me. Of course it is just possible that you are out for a bit of enjoyment
and would like to come over and meet me in the gay city, that of course would be simply top hole but
I am afraid you won’t agree after my late misdemeanours. I am at present in the throes of packing so
you must excuse a very short letter. I am sending you the scheduled times of arrival of the various
places in case you have not got it
Leave
Arrive
Hong Kong
Dec 24th
Singapore Dec 29th
Columbo Jan 8th
Marseilles
Jan 26th
London Feb 4th
It takes 5 days from Port Said to Marseilles so we shall arrive there about the 20th; so you will have
time to catch me with a letter at Marseilles easily and possibly at Port Said. I am in a three berth
cabin with Crachett, we shall be appallingly mouldy as neither of us have enough money to allow
ourselves any wine bill at all or cigarettes a fact that will be extraordinarily good for both of us. We
are having a rather hectic time during these last few days everybody with any excuse is dining us,
we dined with the Admiral last night we are dining with the ward room tonight and the Gun room
tomorrow night.
A brain-wave has swept over me about the Marseille show, the fair second is only £4, I never
thought of that and so I ought not to lose at all on it, my only trouble is I can’t find any third class
fare, I suppose there isn’t one, what a pity. Of course my heavy luggage can go on round, as there will
be a good lot of it. Will you send me £6 if you think it is worth it as I foresee I shan’t have a penny
to my name when I get to Marseille. Excuse this absolute ramble of a letter but I am so appallingly
busy I am jumping up and doing a bit of packing in between whiles.
Of course I’ve got no clothes at all, I wonder if it’s necessary to have a bowler when I get to London
I’ve lost mine I suppose I shall have to get another, what a nuisance. I think I’d better stop now I am
talking too much rubbish. I don’t know about you but I’m jolly pleased with the result of those exam
is. I’ll write down exactly what everybody got it may interest you.
Seamanship Navigation Gunnery Torpedo Engineering Total no. pips
Olliver
1
1
1
1
1
10
Bevin
1
1
2
2
2
7
Evans
2
2
2
2
2
5
Crachett
2
2
2
2
3
4
M Smedley
2
1
1
2
2
7
Bury
1
3
1
2
2
6
Weir
2
2
1
2
2
6
5 pips are required to get on the scale.
Each pip over 5 means one month less as a Sub
Please give my love to every lady
Your affectionate son
Jack B. A. Marsden Smedley
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After serving on HMS Minotaur Jack went on serve aboard HMS Lydiard – between 1914 and 1915.
HMS Lydiard
H M S Lydiard
c/o G PO
Sept. 24th
My dear Mother,
This is written at sea between our first and second ports of call. It was no use writing from the first as
it would not have got you as soon as this will. We have had a splendid trip so far and most wonderful
weather particularly at this time of year. I wonder what can and happened to my whites. I waited
till last moment before writing as I made sure they would come and I suppose if they were sent to
Devonport they arrived too late as we left on Tuesday morning. We took 53 hours from there to the
next place which is pretty fair travelling, of course beating the mail easily so we shall not get a mail
until Sunday when this letter will go from the next place. I met Jack Jessop of all people yesterday,
wasn’t that extraordinary. He had been out on a job and was on his way home in a trooper. He asked
after all my people especially Enid whom he had seen at Portsmouth. I expect you will see him at
home soon. I told him to tell you that hired got this far all right.
I had a very pleasant evening at 98 the other night, I should love to see you and tell you all about it.
Mrs Fletcher started off (opened fire would be nearer) on me soon after dinner and said that you
would be very cruel to her and that you had both been friends before you were engaged and what
did I think about it all. I flatly declined to give any opinion except that all you wanted was happiness
for Joyce and I. However this is talk without profit.
Letter at second port of call
We are here safely and are just off on the last lap. The heat is terrific but we are already well. Nothing
more
Love from
Jack
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HMS Lydiard
c/o GPO
October 10, 1915
My dear Father,
This is written in a funny little place with a very strong wind blowing, we have just come in for a
short rest. I don’t know if you have been getting any letters from me because I have had none yet,
mails are very bad here so it’s no use worrying. I went after the wily partridges the other day, we
had a great time. We must have done about 23 miles under a fairly hot sun and we got one partridge
and one hare. There are said to be 12 birds in the island so that leaves 11 and one of them with a
leg down (needless to say I did it). The or something like the Frenchman only bigger and lighter in
colour range and are very long in the leg but be made “mortial good eating”. The captain and No
1 went out another day and then the Captain and Doctor went but with no success. They are most
awfully wild and you can mark them down to an inch but it’s no good when you get there they
run about a mile further on. I think there must have been several young and irresponsible officers
assure stretching their wings for them. I got some more cartridges in Malta so I am fairly well set
up for them. I wonder what has been happening to my whites I really don’t want them now, it’s been
growing steadily from the N.E. for about a week now and it’s jolly cold in the wind, of course as soon
as you get out of the way and it’s lovely and warm.
I wonder if people at home are really realising what a rapt concern this is. I certainly never did till
lately. At a certain island I should think there are upwards of 180 ships of all sorts from Aquitaneas
down to torpedo boats, it’s really a most extraordinary sight and the whole shore is a mass of camps;
rest camps, hospital camps and all sorts. Some of the natives I should think had never seen a ship
before, I wonder what they think about it. I’ve just been reading the Times on the Budget I wonder
what you think of it. I think it’s a deliberate hit at the unfortunate Naval Officer making him pay on
130 instead of 160. The Captain is very funny; he says he is going to buy 4 acres of land and a cow
after the war if he can afford it.
Things are very quiet here at present but its all very interesting seeing things that you have only read
about it in the papers before. I wonder what everyone at home thinks about Bulgaria coming in,
here we regard it as fairly serious but I don’t really know why it should be, it all depends if she has
ammunition to spare for the Turks who thank goodness are very short at present at the least so I
have reason to believe.
They have a nasty habit of sending our mails on the way home to you must it really worry if you
don’t hear for some time. We have had one mail since we have been here and a parcel mail this
morning. I met Simpson the other day, I don’t know if you remember him, at the least I went to
see him, he was down with a slight attack of dysentery, which by the way is rather prevalent. He
had been the 3 days in a certain capital and had stayed at the same Hotel and made friends with
Compton Mackenzie the author who gave him a copy of his new book “Guy and Pauline” which
I believe is the sequel to “Sinister Street” which I unfortunately never read. Simpson said he was a
smart interesting man but I’m not sure that I like his book though it is undoubtedly clever and well
written.
Love from Jack
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H.M.S. Lydiard
c/o GPO
January 23
My dear Mr Wigram
I am afraid I have been very remiss in not writing to thank you long ago for being so kind in sending
me the magazine every month. I got a most delightful present as the result of two whist drives
organised in the Parish. It was really very good of the promoters to remember me and it was all so
very welcome because little luxuries of the kind they enclosed list are absolutely unattainable out
here. I have written a line to W. Foster as the secretary of the committee and I am enclosing it with
this, will you please forward it for me as though I know Foster well enough I do not know where
to address it. We have been having a rather hectic time here as you will have seen in the papers
lately and I can assure you that the man who said “it is one thing to land an army would have very
different one to bring it off ” spoke nothing short of the truth. I am perfectly convinced that both for
the Divine gift of perfect weather for just as long as was necessary it would have been a very different
story.
Very sincerely yours,
Jack B.A. Marsden Smedley
Gerard Edmund Wigram was the vicar of Lea; an interesting man who had a Peruvian wife, Marie Isména, a
governess, nurse and several servants.
Lea Church
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Between May 1916 and December 1918 Jack was on HMS Hardy.
H M S Hardy
c/o G P O
Jan 24th 1917
My dear Father
We don’t get much money but we do see life as they say. We do if you call life looking from one
wave-top to the next, we have done quite a lot of that lately and I’m heartily wishing I was ashore.
I sent Mother a little parcel the other day I hope you realise the message it was intended to convey. I
had no time to write so I sent our steward ashore and told him to arrange for this to be sent.
Our mails are adrift again for reasons you will perceive but I hope to find them waiting for us when
we get in.
We have been getting numerous wireless reports of the Zeebrugge action which seem fairly
satisfactory but they are very vague and I am longing to get in and see the papers of that date.
Basil wrote me a wonderful epistle about the shoot of Hurt Park at Christmas I wonder if you saw it
before it went you really ought to have done it was very detailed and wonderfully descriptive.
I can’t remember whether pheasants go out February 1 or March 1 I think it is the latter. It is most
important because I don’t think I shall be able to get a shot at them before February 6 if then. I
wonder if any of the family are likely to be in town on or about February 5.
Because I should rather like to see Olive before I come down to L.G. and so I shall probably stay a
night. It does not really matter if the family are there or not - though of course it would be in nice
- because I can always get a room at the club. I paid the subscriptions to the Reg on January 4 and
I don’t think I can have a very big balance left but I have unfortunately lost the counterfoils of my
old cheque-book and so I am not quite sure where I am. I seem to be spending more money than
I ought to be lately, I don’t know how. I joined the V.S. Recreation club at the place where I saw
Mother last and now of course it’s no earthly use to me. It’s really perfectly sickening. I thought it
would be a saving as I had to pay two bob a time to play squash there and the fee for a whole year is
only thirty bob is hours and I played on every opportunity but at present I am exactly twenty eight
bob to the bad however you never can tell I may get another chance yet.
How is the substitution getting on? I suppose you work under Neville Chamberlain really though
I’m rather vague as to what he is head of but I should think he is a very fine man.
There is an extra ordinary difference in the price of food between this place and the last. Eggs have
gone down from 4/6 to 2/- a dozen.
I can’t understand how this can be as I should have thought it would have paid to send all eggs away.
Well I hope to see you about February 1st to 4th
Your loving son
Jack B A Marsden Smedley
Note: The L.G. mentioned is the family home at Lea Green
See APPENDIX 2 for notes on the Zebrugge Action
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HMS Hardy
HMS Hardy
April 6, 1917
My dear Mother,
The radiator has arrived and is perfectly ripping. It was sent c/o Gieres (?) which I did not know or
I would have got it before as it has been there some time. The chickens have also rolled up and I am
going to have one for lunch tomorrow. Dick Turbot came on board the other day when we were in
Falmouth at short notice. He came quite unannounced and it was a great and good surprise to see
his ugly old face again. I like him very much indeed. Apparently he’s going out again with a siege
battery I wonder what he expects to happen.
I am so sorry De has been having whooping cough but I suppose she had to have it sometime. I
hope you are better now Mother; Olive wrote to say you had a bad attack of ‘Flu’. I have seen quite
a lot of Robert Rowide (?) yesterday and today, he is in great form and says his Mother was so
pleased you and Father went in to see her. He says she loves seeing people when she has got this
rheumatism,–which apparently she gets quite frequently–.
It’s a splendid show about Henry Hurt, I’m most awfully glad. It’s quite true the Admiralty have an
idiotive prejudice about promoting retired people which really makes it all the better doesn’t it. I am
afraid all my news is the sort that can’t go in a letter in fact I don’t get much chance of picking up
any other sort of news; times are very strenuous indeed. Olive said something in a letter–which by
the way I got yesterday with yours about coming down here for Easter. Well if you come I might get
relieve to see you about one day in five, that is the best I could expect so I really don’t think it would
have been much good. I have strong hopes about the middle of next month of getting off for about 3
days. It won’t be more and it is not at all certain but still I’ve hopes. My love to all and thank E for the
chickens
Your loving son Jack
Note: Henry Albert le Fowne Hurt was the third son of Albert Hurt and was born at Alderwasley Hall. As
a naval officer he distinguished himself to such an extent that when WW1 broke out he was selected by the
Admiralty to carry out specialised duties which required the services of an exceptional man.
(Source – The Hurts of Derbyshire by Derek Wain LANDMARK 2002)
Dick Turbot was Richard Babington Turbutt, of Ogston Hall, who was a Lieutenant with the 147th Battery
Royal Field Artillery.
‘De’ is possibly his young sister Diana.
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Between April and September 1920 Jack was aboard HMS Vega in the Baltic area.
HMS Vega
HMS VEGA
Wednesday, 7 July 1920
My dear Mother,
We have just got back from our cruise and I have just got your letter of the 27th. It has been almost
impossible to write during the cruise as our sea trips have been very short and time in harbour very
fully occupied, so I think I had better begin at the beginning and go right through.
We had a fairly uneventful trip across the North Sea and picked up the Hood and Tiger at about
10.30 p.m. one night off the Skaw. We had to go ahead immediately and get out sweeps. These
sweeps of the most diabolical contrivances guaranteed to turn the 1st Lieutenant’s hair grey sooner
than any other. That particular night I was up wrestling with them from 11 o’clock to quarter to
5. We swept right up the Skager Rak and then took up positions for piloting the Hood through
the Great Belt. After that we got out sweeps again and swept up to Kioge Bay where we anchored
for the night. Kioge Bay is I think one of the dullest looking and uninteresting places I have ever
visited. Next day the destroyers went up to Copenhagen about 20 miles away and went alongside the
Langolignie. this is an ideal spot for destroyers as it saves all boat work. The only objection from a
service point of view is that it is Copenhagen disport themselves particularly when any British ships
are alongside. This is inclined to be a trifle distracting. I did not see much of Copenhagen this time
as we had to do a good deal of duty work between the big ships at Kioge Bay and Copenhagen.
There is one extraordinary place in Copenhagen, where the whole city seems to go nicely for its
diversion, called the Trivoli gardens. you can get anything there from cocoa nut shies and spot the
winner to scenic railways, government raffles and dancing, to say nothing of a very good and very
expensive dinner. We only remained there 4 days and then went down to Kioge Bay and picked up
the big ships and swept them up to Kalmar. Kalmar is a quite small (chiefly naval) port but it seems
to have lead a fairly hectic life. I believe it was once the capital of Sweden and it possesses an old
castle which has been besieged heaven knows how many times. Unfortunately it is obvious even to
my untutored eye that the castle has been barbarically restored quite lately. I only went sure there
for an hour or two the first day which I spent rumbling over this ruin. The next day a party of us
went to a very heavy lunch with the British Consul who is a Swede, reputed to be the richest man
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in Sweden and worth twelve millions. We went out to his summer residence, a most extraordinary
pretty spot and ate the biggest lunch I have ever had in my life. So much for Kalmar. Next day we
swept the big ships up to Nynas-ham which is about 25 miles by rail from Stockholm and the nearest
the big ships could get. We anchored there that night and the next day the destroyers went up to
Stockholm. We had about 60 miles run through positively the loveliest scenery I have ever seen. I
know Father has seen a good deal of this “Skargard” so I want dilate on it any further. I took a few
photographs on the way up but though I used my smallest aperture and quickest stop the light was
so strong they were all over exposed. When we got to Stockholm we were moored extraordinarily
cleverly by the local pilots right up in the town.
Stockholm struck me as far more beautiful than I remembered it but of course I do not remember
much of my first visit there. It is quite extraordinarily pro-German; German goods and German cars
everywhere. The Swedish Naval Officer does not appear to be a bad fellow at heart and they all quite
frankly owned they had backed the wrong horse during the War. Nevertheless they could not help
being pretty bitter against our Blockade. In spite of all this they gave us a jolly good time there and I
was quite sorry to leave.
We went down to Nynas-ham one afternoon and went on with the big ships next morning. This was
the longest sweeping trip we had right down to Apenrade in Schleswig. This town was originally
German of course but has voted for Denmark and is now part of it. It is a most beautiful place, the
summer resort for Copenhagen though why Copenhagen should want one with all its own bathing
places I really don’t know. A party was went ashore and picknicked there, the first day and quite by
mistake hit off the ladies bathing place. Having found our mistake we quickly shoved off and went
about a mile further up the beach. However one of the fair bathers dressed and came along to asked
us to go to a dance that night to which we went. We danced at a sort of club which had been closed
under German rule and this was their reopening night. At about midnight they cleared the floor
and hauled out tables and we sat down to drink punch and make speeches. After the usual patriotic
speeches the President of the club (in English) proposed the health of the British Navy. In the middle
of his speech to my horror I discovered that I was the senior officer present. However as only about a
dozen people present besides ourselves spoke much English it did not matter much what I said and
the reply went down very well. I had arranged a nice little party for the next night but unfortunately
we were sent to Copenhagen at 6 o’clock in the evening with important dispatches. The rest of the
Fleet did not come round until two days later.
This time at Copenhagen the Hood and Tiger came right up and anchored off Trekroner Fort
roughly about where Nelson anchored some years ago. This was a remarkably dangerous proceeding
for the Hood owing to her draught as the channel is very complicated. You will doubtless remember
Nelson’s little difficulties on the aforesaid previous occasion. This time and visit was a series of heavy
balls, dinners and dancers. The King of Denmark gave a dinner which I did not attend but I attended
the ball afterwards in borrowed plumes. We lay alongside the Langolognie again which was very
pleasant. From here we went up to Christiana. There is no doubt about it but we kept our best wine
until last. I really found my matier at Christiania as the British Consul’s wife had two charming
and delightful daughters aged 13 and 11 respectively. After I had first made their acquaintance they
were on board every afternoon with one or more friends of about the same age. I simply had the
time of my life and as their Mother and Father were exceedingly busy with all the arrangements and
Governess was on a month’s holiday and I don’t think the children were exactly bored all parties
were pleased. I attended a good many of the dances at various functions including lunch with a
Norwegian First Sea Lord. Captain Kiddle whom as you will remember married a Norwegian was
out there and seemed very pleased to see me. He was looking so much changed than when I last saw
him that I hardly recognised him. On the way home we did a full-power trial. It was really a race and
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Vega covered herself with glory being first of the boat of her class being beaten only by Heuser (?)
who is prodigiously fast.
I was so awfully sorry to hear about Bridges it clearly it is an awful tragedy. I am writing to ?
We hope to get our leave at the beginning of August and I expect to get about a fortnight.
My best love to all especially to Olive – to whom I’m going to write, and the little man
Love from Jack
Telegram on Jack’s 21st Birthday
POST OFFICE TELEGRAPHS
Leabridge 24 Sep 1914
To: Lieut. Marsden Smedley
HMS Lydia 3rd Destroyer Flotilla, Harwich
We the employees of the Lea Mills most respectfully beg to offer you this day our congratulations on
your twenty first birthday we have every confidence in our Navy and its officers and trust that you
may be spared to come amongst others at no far distant date
Secretary Lea Mills Matlock
Letters written from land
Saturday morning
My dear Mother
I shall be coming ashore at about 1.30. We are out at number 31 buoy which is just opposite
Parkeston Quay and we are at 3 hours notice so unless anything extra ordinary occurs I shall be able
to step ashore until 7 pm. If you think it worth it do wire for father as the chances are that I shall be
able to get ashore from 3.30 till 7.0 tomorrow. I am sending the egg home and hamper back by the
bearer of this letter.
Love Jack
Note: This pencilled note was undated.
Parkeston Quay is at Harwich.
One can only wonder why he was sending an egg home.
Postcard stamped 13 November
I think the trip for Mother’s health had better be exactly the same as the last one she did and also
there is a shortage of pheasants here so they might come here too. I am writing
love Jack
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The Hotel Terminus
[undated]
My Dear Mother
Well, so far so good. I am doing the journey by easy stages as you see (I hate these French pens.
Excuse pencil). As you will have seen, I stayed in Southampton waiting from Thursday until
Tuesday. I sailed a 5pm on Tuesday, managed to get a berth in the steamer (an American transport)
though there were 180 officers crossing and only 90 berths. We disembarked at 8.0 am at Havre and
my train to here went at 5pm. Havre is a beastly hole but I met a Lieutenant RN called ?Branson
whom I knew slightly so we foregathered. I got to Paris at 10.30 last night and got my heavy baggage,
all of it and heaven knows what it doesn’t weigh though for nothing. The trains are frightfully
crowded but fortunately I had booked my seat in the morning. Branson and I managed to get a
single room between us at this hotel, a very comfortable one by the way, at which I was so very
pleased because rooms here are harder to get than in London. This morning I have been walking
round, getting bread ?tickets and I have been down to the Gare de Lyon registering my baggage
again with nothing to pay but I can’t register beyond Modane, sickening I call it. I came back to
?the [or this] place which by the way is alongside Gare St Lazare by metro – (the French for tube)
with two changes, a feat I am rather proud of. Sent back a parcel from Southampton with one or
two things that were either dirty or I didn’t want. I hope you got them all right. It is unfortunately
raining this afternoon but I am going to an exhibition at the Grand Palais if it clears up at all. I leave
at 8.30 tonight and get to Modane 11.30 tomorrow morning Nobody seems to know when I can get
a connection on, but time will tell.
Love Jack.
GRAND HÔTEL ROME
21/12/18
6.0 pm
My dear Father,
Well I am having a time, I left Paris at 8.30 on Thursday and had a very comfortable though rather
crowded run to Modane where I had to re-register luggage and everything. It was snowing hard
there but not very cold. The view was unfortunately entirely spoilt. The Mt Ceris tunnel is all electric
now which I don’t think it was when we went through. The Italian trains are even dirtier now than I
remember them before. At Modane I picked up with a mother and daughter called Rockford-Boyd
who needed a pilot badly having completely lost themselves twice between Southampton and Rome.
However they (hidden text) and here now. They own a house at (hidden text) they have not been to
since 1914 and (hidden text) trying to get there now. They would (hidden text) much better to go by
sea but are both bad sailors.
We arrived here this afternoon but as non-our registered luggage arrives until tomorrow I intend to
stay the night here. Prices are perfectly stunning here Room 20 lire Dejeuner (bad) 14 lire Dinner
17.50 These are all minimum prices. I tried to get into our old friend the Continental but it was. And
this was the only place I could get a room. I have just been down to see that the Forum is still there.
It is.
Love from Jack
PS I don’t know what has come over me with all this letter writing. I must be sickening for
something.
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Athens
Dec. 28th 1918
My dear Father,
This is the third capital I have written from isn’t it. I had the choice of coming this way or by
Salonica so as I had never seen Athens I came this way. I arrived here last night and I have spent
this morning freeing up my luggage and things. I am going (at least I think I am) on the Ark Royal,
the seaplane carrier, on Monday early. I had an uneventful journey from Rome to Taranto except
that I met a man called ? Who was a Squadron Commander in the RNAP and is now in the British
Mission attached to the Greek Navy. He has proved a most useful person to know and a very
pleasant travelling companion. We arrived at Taranto on Monday afternoon and on Monday night
we shared a room at the Hotel Bologna which is the only hotel in the place. There is a gigantic camp
there with at present 10,000 black and 3000 white troops not counting RAF, ASC, hospitals etc. They
are having a lot of trouble with the black Africans and West Indians and on Christmas Day all black
and white troops were confined to barracks and the RAF had ten housea tenders mounting machine
guns and four pounders patrolling the camps as they expected an outbreak. Apparently the blacks
consider that they ought to be sent home at once instead of being kept at Taranto clearing up the
mess. On shoes D we shifted our bold to the Quen which was much more pleasant than a hotel and
so we spent Christmas morning in quite congenial surroundings. We sailed from Taranto in a small
troop transport at 3 pm. The military draft were going to Itea in the Gulf of Patras thence to Brala
by lorries and then on to Salonika. This did not sound very tempting to ? and I, so we disembarks at
Patras where we anchored for a short time on Thursday evening. We stayed that night at Patras and
came on here yesterday. It takes about ten hours by train and is an extraordinarily pretty journey.
The railway views along the edge of the Gulf right up to the Corinth canal which it crosses and then
along the edge of the Gulf of Athens.
I am staying at a flat which is occupied by four members of the British Mission one of whom is at
home so I have got his room it is very much more than a Hotel and much cheaper. I asked the price
of a room at the Hotel d’ Angleterre and was told 45 drachmas (very nearly £2) a day including
meals. They will not let a room without including meals as there is a great food shortage here.
Eggs are 1/2 each and practically unobtainable at that, butter is about 24 shillings a pound and also
practically unobtainable. The only thing that is plentiful is bread and very good bread too.
Well there is not much more news. I am very fit and thoroughly enjoying myself. Love to all. I will
try and write from the fourth capital when I get there.
Love from Jack
See APPENDIX 3 for detail about the Taranto uprising.
TARANTO UPRISING
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APPENDICES
Appendix 1: SHANGHAI REBELLION
Appendix 2: ZEBRUGGE ACTION
Appendix 3: TARANTO UPRISING
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APPENDIX 1
SHANGHAI REBELLION
In Jack’s letter dated 13th August 1913 he was stationed in Shanghai.
Sydney Morning Herald, Thursday 4 September 1913
CHINA REBELLION.
ATTACK ON AN ARSENAL.
STORY OF ‘AN EYE-WITNESS.
SHANGHAI, July 29.
Fresh history is being made in China, and
especially in Shanghai. All through the first half
of July things were stirring along the Langtszo
Valley, between Nanking and Hankow, where the
rebellious Southerners openly declared war on
the Northern Government. The reasons stated are
that Yuan Shih Kal’s methods of administration
are opposed to the general welfare of the people,
and a number of more or less Influential spirits
have raised enough men and sufficient money to
commence a second revolution, this time against
the President and the Republic, for which they
all fought so hard against the Manchus only as
far back as last year. The Southerners, headed
by Dr. Sun Yet Seu, Huang Hsing, and General
Chen Chi-mei, declare that Yuan must resign the
Presidency, but the Northerners are loyal – hence
this fresh outbreak.
For weeks the Kiangnan Arsenal, situated 3 miles
to the south of the International settlement, with
its 1500 Northern garrison, played its searchlight
from sunset to dawn, in order to prevent a surprise
attack, whilst a fleet of eight Chinese warships,
including three cruisers, was anchored In the
neighbouring waters of the Whangpoo River,
opposite the arsenal, all with searchlights and in
readiness for trouble. At first the Admiral gave
out that his naval force would remain neutral, but
it was known that his sympathies were with the
Government,
A FIERCE BOMBARDMENT.
Matters came to a head on Tuesday night, July 22,
when at about 9 o’clock the rebels commenced
a fierce bombardment of the arsenal. The attack
was confined to small field guns and rifle-fire, but
soon the big guns from the besieged compound
and the warships were heard distinctly in reply.
After five hours’ grim assault, the Southerners
were beaten off, temporarily, despite their
overwhelming numbers, officially stated at 6000;
but on Wednesday night, Thursday, and all day
Friday they returned to the attack.
For four days, but chiefly nights, the cannonade at
our very door was vicious, and the noise deafening.
Despite large numbers of desertions, the rebels
have had their ranks strengthened to 10,000,
mostly untrained coolies. These are besieging at
the very most 2000 more or less trained Northern
soldiers shut up in the arsenal, and 10,000 neutral
Europeans domiciled within three miles of the
battlefield are merely interested onlookers.
FOREIGNERS UNCONCERNED.
The unconcern of foreigners is truly wonderful.
Even the women-folk remain unperturbed, all
gleefully - climbing to elevated positions to watch
the proceedings, whilst hundreds of fellowcreatures are being mown down by 6in guns, pompoms, maxims, and every description of modern
rifle. At night, especially between the hours of 10
o’clock and 4 a.m., the roar is sufficient to terrify
even the stoutest heart, and yet, on account of not
being involved, here we are not bothering our
heads.
The position is unique. Shells are screaming, many
of them directly overhead, whilst quite a number
have burst in the foreign settlements. These have
done considerable damage to houses, gardens,
and roadways, and so far 14 foreigners have been
injured, including a Sister of the People, who was
struck by a shell fragment whilst attending to
a wounded man in one of the French hospitals.
Naturally a good many residents on the side
nearest hostilities have hurriedly shifted quarters,
but the prospect of danger to the settlement is
known to be remote, and everybody is tranquil in
mind.
INTERNATIONAL SETTLEMENT.
Of course, the international volunteers are on
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the qui vive. With the police and men from the
warships (English, American, French, German,
Austrian, and Japanese) they are guarding the
approaches to the settlement on every side,
searching all Chinese refugees and turning back
many suspects. Tens of thousands of natives are
pouring into the French Concession, and thence
through to the International, for protection.
Long processions of carriages,, rickshaws,
wheelbarrows, etc., loaded with household effects
and terrified passengers, have flocked from the
Chinese city and surrounding countryside to, the
comparative safety afforded by the Europeans.
It is pitiful to see these wretches, hunted and for
the most part poverty-stricken and half-naked.
Ten thousand is a conservative, estimate of those
who have slept in the filthy native alleys and slum
lanes without covering or shelter since Wednesday.
They have lost their all through having to abandon
their homes in the danger zone, and there is no
help for them. Whole families are destitute and
must perish on our doorsteps, since the, utmost
charity we can offer is but a mite among so many.
THE CASUALTIES.
Word has since been received from the arsenal
commander to the effect that few casualties have
been reported amongst the garrison and little
damage sustained at the works. On the other
hand, the Southerners have had over 2000 killed
and many more than that number wounded,
though many of these were non-combatants. The
Red Cross Society has accomplished splendid
work, both on the field (under fire at times) and
in the hospitals, where a small army of surgeons
of every nationality, and nurses, both trained and
volunteer, are doing everything possible for the
wounded.
The great mass of the people, both north and
south, have no politics. They do not care a rap
who rules – most of them don’t even know -– but
simply want to live and let live. They have been
stirred to strife by conspirators.
The siege of the Arsenal may not be given the
same prominence in history as Troy, Mafeking,
Ladysmith, or even Skutari; nevertheless it has
been a gallant defence against tremendous odds,
and it would be foolish for the outside world
to consider it is on Chinese comic opera lines,
in the face of the vast casualties recorded. The
one peculiarity is that nearly the whole of the
operations have been carried out after nightfall.
The discouraged rebels complain that they are illfed, and, worse still, that they have not any leaders
worthy of the name. Every squad is seemingly
expected to work on its own account – hence
confusion and disaster. Hundreds are deserting as
quickly as reinforcements come to hand, and the
end is in sight.
THE ATTACK RENEWED.
After a cessation of hostilities during Saturday
and Sunday, the rebels reopened their cannonade
on the Kiangnan Arsenal at 9 p.m. on Monday,
July 28. For seven hours, without intermission
the battle raged, and it was not until 5 o’clock this
morning that the Southerners drew off for the day.
What the result of this last attack was, cannot yet
be ascertained, but there is every indication of
another rebel reverse. Fires raged all night in the
Native City, and again today there are two huge
conflagrations to be seen with the naked eye.
From the foreigners’ point of view, the worst
feature of this last bombardment was the fact that
the Southerners deliberately turned their big guns
on the International Settlement, no doubt with the
idea of incensing the Consular authorities against
the Chinese Government, whose troops would,
they calculated, be blamed for this cowardly
breach of neutrality.
Great havoc has already been wrought amongst
the buildings, mostly wretched native quarters. In
many, of the hovels could be heard the wailings of
relatives of dead and wounded civilians numbers
of whom have not been sent to the Red Cross
Hospitals. These wretched people have all along
been right in the heart of the danger zone, and will
not abandon their homes to seek safety in flight.
Roughly, there are between 50,000 and 70,000
Chinese, mostly of the peasant class, domiciled in
this quarter.
The wonder is that tens of thousands in such a
densely-packed locality have not been slaughtered
by the five nights rain of shot and shell, instead of
a bare thousand we know of.
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The Advertiser, Adelaide, Friday 18 July 1913
CIVIL WAR II CHINA
SOUTHERN- PROVINCES REBEL.
SERIOUS FIGHTING IN PROGRESS.
JAPANESE AID THE REBELS.
PEKIN, July 17.
The frequently predicted rebellion of the southern
provinces controlled by the Nationalist Party
against the northern province, which are loyal to
the President (Yuan Shi Kai), broke out yesterday.
It is reported that the provinces of Kiangsi,
Kiangsu, Kwangsi, Fukien, Canton, Szechuan,
Hunan, and Anhui are preparing to declare their
independence; in fact, some of them have already
cautiously done so.
Many of the northern (Government) troops
have gone to Kiangsi where there has already been
indecisive fighting.
The attitude of the Japanese towards the
rebellion is bitterly commented on in Pekin. The
presence of Japanese officers beside the rebels
supports the belief that they are stirring up strife.
Moreover, Lin Tuan Hung (Foreign Minister) has
protested against the action of the commanders of
Japanese gunboats in anchoring their ships within
the fighting zones.
Advices from the south, via German sources,
state that the rebel leader, wearing a Japanese
uniform, has ascended the Yangtsze in a Japanese
gunboat. The Japanese Legation in Pekin, however,
deny that any official assistance is being given to
the rebels. ‘
The southern (rebel) army yesterday blew up
the Pukow railway bridges with dynamite about 15
miles north of the .Yangtsze, and tore up the rails
of the railway line, with the object of preventing
the transport of Government troops to the scene
of the rebellion. The north to south trains are now
only running as far as Liucheng.
A body of insurgents yesterday surrounded
the German Consulate at Nanking and made a
demonstration, because recently the Germans
extradited, at the request of the Central
Government, some revolutionaries who had
sought refuge in the German concession at
Hankow.
WAR DECLARED AGAINST THE PRESIDENT.
SHANGHAI, July 17.
The revolution is now general along the Lower
Yangtsze. The province of Kiangsu has joined the
rebels, and General Huangh Sing has declared war
in Nanking against Yuan Shi Kai. General Huangh
Sing, has been appointed commander-in-chief
of the southern army, with Chum Hsuan, the ex
Viceroy, as generalissimo. All the Government
troops in Nanking and Chinkiang have joined the
rebels. The commanders of some of the forts were
shot for refusing to join.
The New York Times
31 July 1913
NANKING ABANDONS CAUSE OF REBELS
Announcement Made That Proclamation of Independence Has Been Cancelled
MERCY FOR SUN YAT-SEN
Other Revolutionary Leaders Must Flee for Their Lives, but it is Likely That He Will Be
Pardoned.
SHANGHAI, July 30–everything was quiet here today and there was no attack on the Wu-Sung forts.
Government cruises are still in the lower Yangtze River.
The recent fires in the native city caused great destruction. One block of houses one hundred yards
long was completely destroyed.
The chamber of commerce of Nanking telegraphed today to the Military Governor of the Providence
of Kiang-Su and also to a number of high officials at Shanghai the following dispatch:
Gen. Huang-Sing , the commander-in-chief of the Southern forces, has left Nanking. The proclamation of independence
issued there has been cancelled. The city is quiet.
A naval wireless dispatch to day confirms the report of the return of Nanking to its allegiance to the
Northern Government.
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Colonist, Vol LV, Issue 13784, 26 July 1913 Page 6
The Advertiser, Adelaide, Friday 1 August 1913
THE CHINEtSE REBELLION
CHINESE UNREST
YANGTSE REBELLION
PEKIN, July 30
The authorities in Nanking have abandoned
the rebel movement and have declared their
adhesion to the Northern Republic A further
force of 4,000 northern troops have arrived in
the Yangtsze Province and they are preparing to
march on Woosung, the headquarters of revolt
ATTACK ON THE SHANGHAI ARSENAL
(received July 25, 11:20 PM)
Pekin, July 25
Further attacks on the Shanghai arsenal were
repulsed. The shells caused many fires in the city,
and damaged the French concession. A number
of foreigners were wounded.
The influx of refugees from the Yangtsze Province
is causing great anxiety in Shanghai, where the
arrival of food supplies has been interrupted and
a famine is feared. The Foreign Consuls have
protested against the action of the Admirals of
the Northern River Squadron in firing shells over
Shanghai.
HISTORICAL NOTE: Wikipdia
In July 1913 seven southern provinces rebelled
against Yuan, beginning the Second Revolution.
There were several underlying reasons for the
Second Revolution besides Yuan’s abuse of
power. First was that most Revolutionary Armies
from different provinces were disbanded after
the establishment of the Republic of China, and
many officers and soldiers felt that they were not
compensated for toppling the Qing Dynasty. These
factors gave rise to much discontent against the
new government among the military. Secondly,
many revolutionaries felt that Yuan Shikai and
Li Yuanhong were undeserving of the posts of
presidency and vice presidency, because they
acquired the posts through political manoeuvring
rather than participation in the revolutionary
movement. Lastly, Yuan’s use of violence (such
as Song’s assassination) dashed the Kuomintang’s
hope of achieving reforms and political goals
through electoral means.
However, the Second Revolution did not fare
well for the Kuomintang. The leading Kuomintang
military force of Jiangxi was defeated by Yuan’s
forces on August 1 and Nanchang was taken.
On September 1, Nanjing was taken. When the
rebellion was suppressed, Sun and other instigators
fled to Japan. In October 1913 an intimidated
parliament formally elected Yuan Shikai President
of the Republic of China, and the major powers
extended recognition to his government. Duan
Qirui and other trusted Beiyang generals were
given prominent positions in the cabinet. To
achieve international recognition, Yuan Shikai
had to agree to autonomy for Outer Mongolia and
Tibet. China was still to be suzerain, but it would
have to allow Russia a free hand in Outer Mongolia
and Tanna Tuva and Britain continuation of its
influence in Tibet.
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APPENDIX 2
ZEBRUGGE ACTION
Newspaper Report of the Naval action at Zebrugge in January 1917 referred to in Jack’s letter dated 24th
January 1917 from HMS Hardy.
The report was in the Wanganui Chronical Vol. LX Issue 16892 Page 4 dated 26 January 1917.
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The German newspaper report
Feilding Star Vol XIII Issue 3151 Page 2 Date 26
January 1917
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APPENDIX 3
TARANTO UPRISING
Jack’s letter dated 28th December 1918 refers to a troop uprising in Taranto, Italy. This was known as the
Taranto uprising by the British West India Regiment (BWIR) which started on the 6th December 1918. The
background to this is well recorded as it was the start of the Jamaican Independence Movement.
Jamaica Defence Force website http://jdfmil.org/info/press_clippings/great_war.php
At the outbreak of the First World War in August
1914, the British War Office resisted acting on the
numerous requests from men of the West Indies
and other colonies to join up. It was not until a
year later in 1915 when the casualties of trench
warfare led to a shortage of soldiers that the War
Office began to recruit heavily in the West Indies.
It had been previously thought that guns and
ammunition in the hands of black men would be
a major mistake.
The British West India Regiment (BWIR) was
known as a ‘coloured’ regiment and as such was
often the victim of racial discrimination. Eugent
Clarke, a Clarendonian BWIR veteran, who in
1999 at the age of 105 received France’s Legion
d’Honour for meritorious service in WWI,
remembered when his ship had to put in at
Halifax in Nova Scotia due to the dominance of
German ships in certain waters. Many members
of the BWLR had their first contact with snow
and frostbite. They remained clothed in tropical
lightweight khaki uniforms, denied issue of the
heavier weight uniforms of British soldiers until
half of the battalion had already died. Clarke
was one of 200 lucky survivors. The men of the
BWIR were generally restricted to carrying out
hard labour, digging trenches, carrying supplies
to men at the fronts. Some, mainly those stationed
in the Middle East, were allowed to serve as
combat troops. In the meantime all continued to
suffer from severe weather conditions, frostbite,
measles and mumps. One thousand of the over
ten thousand that left Jamaica never returned. Thousands of BWIR troops were held for close to a
year by the British War Office at a camp in Taranto,
Italy. Clarke and his fellow BWIR soldiers were
virtually kept prisoner in large barracks which still
stand, by their British Commanding Officer who,
as a result of colour prejudice, not only assigned
them hard labour but also demeaning labour
such as cleaning toilets for white troops. He also
refused to allow day passes and recreational time.
On December 6, 1918 tensions at Taranto reached
a boiling point and the soldiers of the BWIR who
did not understand why they had not been sent
home and wanted nothing more than to go home,
mutinied. They attacked their officers and severely
assaulted their unit commanders, sending shock
waves throughout the British Army. After four
days the mutineers surrendered and the entire
regiment suffered the humiliation of being
disarmed. The mutineers were severely punished,
one was shot, one executed by firing squad and
another sentenced to time in prison. When the
last of the BWIR troops were finally repatriated in
September 1919, they were accompanied by three
military cruisers in order to prevent unrest once
the ships docked at ports in Jamaica, Barbados
and Trinidad. These BWIR soldiers were not
given a heroes welcome because there was simply
great fear on behalf of colonials that these soldiers,
well-trained and now more politically aware,
could create havoc for the status quo under which
colonial life was governed.
Institute of Commonwealth Studies http://commonwealth.sas.ac.uk/libraries/caribbean/wwi.htm
Although two battalions of the BWIR were involved in fighting in Palestine and Jordan against the
Turkish army (where they sustained many casualties and honours) the War Office determined that
Black colonial troops would not fight against Europeans, consequently most members of BWIR
functioned in non-combat positions, as labour battalions. Members of the BWIR also experienced
discrimination in housing, promotion, treatment in demobilisation and even pay
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Wikipedia
Started by the 9th Regiment of the British West Indian Regiment (BWIR) 6 December 1918. This was
stimulated by the War Office refusing to allow the troops of the British West Indies Regiment receive
the extra six pence a day which had been given to British soldiers. This was explained as being because
they were “natives”. The all-white Bermuda Volunteer Rifle Corps did receive the increment. They were
also put to work as labourers for the White Italian Labour Corps. Officers were attacked and explosives
and guns were used. The Worcestershire Regiment was dispatched to quell the revolt, and they executed
one rebel by firing squad. Nevertheless, some 50 to 60 sergeants met on 17 December to form the
“Caribbean League” which had four meetings in the next few weeks. Aside from addressing various
grievances they had, pan-Caribbean sentiments were fostered, and a movement for independence in
the West Indies was discussed. This included plans to set up an office in Kingston, Jamaica, and organise
strikes. After being betrayed to the authorities, the league was disbanded. In February 1919, Army
Order No. 1, granting the wage increase, was extended to the BWIR.
Page 312 The Great War: An Imperial History by John H Morrow Jr. Psychology Press 2005
In December 1918 black soldiers of the British
West Indies Regiment revolted at their base
at Taranto, Italy, to protest against the racism
they had encountered. Relegated to loading
ammunition and cleaning the latrines of British
soldiers, who referred to them as “West Indian
‘Niggers’,” the West Indian soldiers did not receive
pay raises accorded other imperial troops because
the War Office considered them “Natives.” Their
repeated requests for transfer to European
battlefields elicited the answer that it was “against
British tradition to employ aboriginal troops
against a European enemy.” Protests against
such treatment accompanied the mutiny, which
led to the arrest of fifty men and the disarming
some eight thousand men in eight West Indian
battalions. The ringleaders went to prison and
the War Office repatriated the battalions. When
other battalions of the West Indian Regiment
arrived from the Middle East at Taranto in 1919,
they also complained about their segregation and
assignment as labourers to other units. None of
them marched among the British forces in the
1919 victory parade in Paris.
Upon return home, demobilized soldiers led
an insurrection in Belize, British Honduras, in
July 1919 and a severe strike in Port-of-Spain,
Trinidad, in December. Jamaican authorities
remained apprehensive about unrest because
non-commissioned officers from Taranto who
had formed a “Caribbean League” to press for
self-determination came from Jamaica. The
government encouraged politicised soldiers to
emigrate to Cuba, Colombia, and Venezuela.
A secret colonial memorandum in 1919
acknowledged that “nothing we can do will alter
the fact that the black man has begun to think
and feel himself as good as the white.” W.E Elkins
concluded that “The soldiers of the British West
Indies Regiment began the national liberation
struggle that eventually led to the demise of open
colonial rule in most of the British Caribbean”. In
1902 former gunner Norman Manley, who had
seen his brother blown to bits before his eyes,
would lead Jamaica to independence and become
its first prime minister.
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