John’s Letters Home
John was in India for four years – November 1924 to December 1928. If he had written once a week, there would have been 200 letters. The fact that the four letters that have come down to us span a large range of time, suggests that there were, at one time, more letters.
But when his nephew became aware of them in the 1940s, these are the only ones he can remember.
So we will have to be content with what we have. If the letters do not show the week by week actual history of John’s movements, they do show us a full picture of his open, almost simple, loving character.
His nephew is fully aware of the character of John’s older sister, Gertie (known as Pixie), his nephew’s mother, and that character was quite complex – her auburn hair suggesting a ‘fiesty’ nature. John’s other sister, Isabel, had a very sweet and loving nature and John’s nephew was largely brought up by her, together with her two daughters, Sheila (four years older) and Gillian (one year younger), as his own mother (Pixie) lived in Hong Kong for much of his young life, only returning when he was 22. This upbringing was so secure that there are no regrets at being separated from his parents.
So John’s nephew feels he can confidently interpret the character of his uncle, based on that of his beloved Auntie Isabel.
Let the letters speak for themselves…
9 Riverside
Barrackpore
16-4-26
My darling pets,
I have only just arrived back from Shillong, where I had a topping time, but quite glad to get back to work again. Burn has just informed me that he wants me to go to the Collieries for 10 days and make a report out regarding their system re, it seems to me that success leads to success, for I have not only taken Macleod’s place, but am now taking Clark’s job of the internal audit, Clarke is at present on leave. He was head of the accounts department, before he was promoted to Auditor of all the tea gardens and collieries re. his job is known as the Visiting Agent Auditor, the other fellows like Hain and Trevor are known as the Visiting Agent, although I am glad I have been asked to go and make a report on the different Coal Companies – there are three – Gopulick (?) West and East and Benjorah. I feel that it’s rather a big job to undertake, because I know nothing of these accounts, anyway I shall do my best, as you…
…know my darling sweetheart, how are you all? I do hope you are well and happy, I do so long to see you all, so that I could tell you everything, darling. I am so busy now getting Clarks previous report and taking notes of the Cash a/c, which we have here, that I am afraid my letter will be short, you see dear I am always working, and even in the train I tried to write to you but the train insisted on upsetting my writing. You always know dear I am thinking only [of] you dear, and even if my letters are short, it’s only because I am working ???? hard and in the long run to make you all happy – I am thoroughly fit and well so can quite easily tackle my work. Darling you can see I am a bit anxious over this Colliery Report, but if I work hard, I shall manage it all right. I am going back to Barrackpore in a few minutes so will try and write a little more in the train. The Rhodes were very pleased to see me back again, but how I wish I could see you all – you know how I feel dear, don’t you?
Sweetheart I am going to close this letter and write you again in the train dear.
Take great care of yourselves, won’t you, and know that I am always thinking of you all.
With all my love to my darlings,
Your affect. Son
Jack
Keep on smiling – more fun next week
Many thanks dears for all your sweet letters
present to watch the
match – great day for me.
56 Middle Road
Barrackpore
3-2-27
My darling Pets,
Many, many thanks for your sweet letter, I am so glad to hear my dear Father and Pixie are much better, and able to get about again. I am so sorry to hear Father is so lame, I do hope he will get really well again, in the meantime I will do my best as regards money my darling. I also noted very carefully you are having trouble with the rents from our Gloucester premises, bad luck, but never mind we cannot have jam on all our bread and butter. On hearing the news I cabled the £8 instead of sending a D? , because I thought my darling Pet you might be short of money. I will think over the matter regarding the rotter of a tenant. I am terrible busy today dearest, it has been more like a sale, all sorts of things to do, I feel a wee bit tired, you know healthy tired. I have such a lot to tell you, and I must before I close.
Well last Sunday we had our annual cricket match, McLeod & Co v Turner Morrison & Co, you remember last year dear I made 1 run. This year was really most exciting, and I think without boasting I did exceptionally well. We fielded first and you can guess dear how anxious I was to do well. Funnily enough the first ball I had to stop, I was fielding on the boundary, went through my fingers, much to my disappointment, but later on I excelled myself. I will explain, Campbell hit the ball very hard on the leg side towards the boundary. I was fielding some distance away, but nevertheless ran for my life, swooped down on the ball like a hawk and with one hand stopped the ball. This brought forth a lot of clapping, this bucked me up considerably. The team (Turner Morrison & Co) made 209 runs. Then we had lunch – everybody including Lagden congratulated me on my fielding.
Now comes the great event, 5 wickets were down (McLeod & Co are batting now) for 90 runs, and we all felt that we were in a bad position, anyhow Lagden was playing splendidly, and at 196 Fox was bowled, and in I had to go 8 wickets down. Do you know dear I wasn’t a wee bit nervous, I had my pads on, and went out very happy putting my batting gloves on.
Lagden was batting the other end, he just said try and keep your end up. The first ball I missed, the second I missed and the third I can remember seeing very plainly, and stepping out with my left foot, I hit hard, so hard the ball went dashing to the boundary. It was a thrilling moment, I had not only broken my duck but made four runs, the next ball I hit one run, and blow me if I didn’t hit another boundary, and in five minutes I had hit even another boundary, and McLeod & Co had won the match.
Looking at the scoring sheet I hit 5 fours and ran 10 singles, J P F Campbell who captained the Europeans against the MCC, also Cambridge Blue did most of the bowling.
Burn said, “I very much admired your fielding”, his very words.
It’s years since I have been so really excited. I can hardly believe I hit 5 boundaries, and you will see pet by the cuttings from the paper I was not out 22. I know you will be pleased dearest.
Pet I really must close as it’s getting so late.
With all my love to my darlings
Your affectionate son
Jack
Keep on smiling dears
Runs
5 fours 20 (Boundaries)
2 singles 2
22
Darling on reading over my letter I don’t explain really how thrilling the match was, and my feeling of tremendous happiness and excitement after the match. But dearest I will try and explain more fully next week. I can hardly believe I played so well. The match was played on the same ground as the MCC played on. Please write and tell me what you think of this. I know you will be delighted.
