By early May, Mrs Armstrong had had enough of her son being torn between his new appointment as GSO3 and the pressure that was placed on him to return to his own regiment. On 3 May 1916, she and her daughter Ione took the train to London to have it out with Charles Crichton, Commander of the 10th Hussars. For a mother to interfere in military matters on her son’s behalf may seem odd until we remember that Mrs Armstrong was extremely well connected. The niece of two Generals and a cousin to numerous other high-ranking military officers, all of whom held her in high regard, she had considerable authority and was not afraid to pull rank when her son’s best interests were under threat. Although it did not bring immediate closure to the problem, Mrs Armstrong’s meeting with Crichton proved successful. By the end of the month, no more was heard of Crichton’s demands.
Monday 1 May
Di had breakfast in bed. We had baths, & Di went away by the 11 train to Camberley. I went down to the post with a letter. Then did some mending. Then went to the Dew Drop , & we had quite a crowd. Mrs & Miss Arnoldi came there to tea with Muz. Sewed & tidied when I got back. Ione went down the town in the morning to shop. Muz & Tom went to call on the Lewises & then went to see Mrs Blake. Nicola is engaged to a Mr Bishop. She has only known him for a week!
Tuesday 2 May
Muz & Ione went down to the Rest Camp at 9, but Muz came back early as there was nothing to do. She got a horrid letter from Colonel Crichton but is going up to see him tomorrow. Went down the town & did some shopping. After lunch Muz & I went up to Moore Barracks Hospital & then had tea in Sandgate & then went in to see Kitty on the way back. Miss Phillips walked back with us. Then Muz lay down, & I read for a bit, then brought up her dinner & talked there afterwards. Went to bed at about 11. Ione shopped, she is getting her summer clothes, & goes back to Waverley on Monday. The battalions of the Dublin Revolt have surrendered, & we have got over a thousand prisoners.
I [am] longing to hear what happened at your interview with the Colonel. I hope you were able to fix things up satisfactorily. It is horrible the way they are at present. I am hoping that I will hear from you in the morning. We still find we are pretty busy here. But the weather has been perfectly glorious these last few days. A dreadful tragedy happened on Sunday. Hardress & I rode up to the line & left our horses with Standen. Soon after we had gone some shells came over and a motor bike started up at the same time & off went our horses down the road. My little chestnut mare took an awful toss broke both her knees and cut her forearm very badly. Sickening isn’t it. I had her brought in yesterday in a float & now she has got a very good vet looking after her. But she is in an awful mess. She has always been awfully unlucky. When I got her back from Fresson I said I would change her name. I used to call her Lady B but she was so unlucky that I decided to change it but never did & now it’s too late. She is rather bad poor little thing. I was awfully afraid that the joint was open but I don’t think it is now. Anyhow she will be a couple of months before she is fit to do anything. Sickening isn’t it. I have got another old horse I call the Camel as he’s so big. He is about 16.1. Not a bad old animal really. He looks like a good old “has been”. I think that Skyscraper would be a more aristocratic name for him. But he was called the Camel when he arrived so I suppose it will stick to him.
Tommy Armstrong
Fuller & Hardress went to G.H.Q. to-day. Hardress went & saw his Regt & then went & saw the Blues. They are somewhere down near the sea and are apparently very comfortable and happy. My Regt is somewhere near them. I must go and see them one day but I’d like to get all this business settled up first. Percy was awfully pleased at Tommy writing to him. He says he is going to write & tell her that his name isn’t [Mr] Wilson but Percy. He is awfully nice about her. I think she ought to send him a photo of herself. I had a long day yesterday in the trenches starting about 10 & not getting back till about 4 o’c. I have been in most of to-day as there was a good deal of work going on. I hope to get out again to-morrow. Will you send me a couple of pairs of those sort of lufa [?] inner soles for my boots. Size 9 would be about right. I haven’t been to see Algie yet & don’t know when I will be able to get away. I’ll try to pop over one day to see him. I am returning you his letter. I hope you got that letter of mine enclosing the Colonel’s letter. I asked Gen Williams to post it for me. You were asking about Harrods parcels. They are arriving very regularly now. I don’t think I have lost any by their going to Egypt. I don’t know what the Regts in G’s Brigade are. Great goings on in Dublin. But we hear it’ all over now. Devils aren’t they. Well wee Mus it’s just struck 12 o’c so it’s time for bed. Best love dear wee Mus.
Your loving Pat.
Wednesday 3 May
Ione & I went down to the Rest Camp at 8-30, & she left at 11, & I stayed till 1-30, as I was taking Mrs Battiscombe’s place. We only had a few men in early & nothing after that. Mrs Blake & I went out to see the trains come in. I sewed most of the afternoon, & then watered some of the flowers. At six I went round to the Dukes, to see the two babies. Then tidied when I came in. Muz & Ione went up to London by the 8-30 train, to go & see Colonel Crichton about Pat & the Regt. They were quite successful, but nothing really settled. She met Mrs Crichton too, but only for a few minutes. They came back by the ten train.
Letter from Pat Armstrong to Mrs Armstrong
May 3.
My dear wee Mus.
‘Giblet’ Gibbs
I got two letters from you this morning of the 1st. One telling me about the letter that G. wrote to you. I quite understand what the Colonel is at. He is annoyed because I didn’t go back last May and now thinks that I am loafing on the staff and don’t care a d for the Rgt. Brock said the day we met him “don’t you go & see the Colonel” and then laughed. As much as to say he’ll eat you. But then I thought it was a joke. […] I will write to Pokes and find out how the land lies but will send you a copy of the letter first. Of course I didn’t ask him as the Rgt was abroad at the time. I asked Shearman afterwards & he said stay where you are. No G. hasn’t got it atall. The whole crux of the thing is that I didn’t go back in May when I was wanted and that I am with the General. There you have it in a nut shell. He thinks that I am scrimshanking here and means to make himself really nasty. Then you see I have been away from the Regt a long time & he thinks that my not going back means that I have no interests in the Regt. I don’t think I will beg the question atall at present with Brock. He is in Gibbs’s Squadron, who I think is probably at the bottom of it all. As a matter of fact in some ways I would like to go back but I don’t want to be dragged back & I think I would be foolish to give up this job unless I’ve got to. I told Hardress casually that I had heard from the Colonel & that he had told me to stay where I was. But I haven’t said anything to anybody else about it. I’m rather sorry I told him now as I quite see your point about not acknowledging it. However I’m in great hopes that your interview to-day may have done good work. Dear wee Mus it was a horrible interview for you. But I think it is the only way out. Maj Wickham of the K.D.G’s is in command now. No personally I don’t think that C will ever go back but he will always have influence till he actually resigns. I don’t think I can talk to Gen Cayley about it. I don’t think I will get a B.M. for some time. I almost wish I hadn’t said anything to C. about it. As if I stay on and don’t get it he will have the laugh over me. I’ll have to stay at this job for some months anyway. It is all rather worrying. There must have been a good deal of unpleasant talk about it. I dare say there is a certain amount of jealousy over my M.C. However I’ll do nothing till I hear from you. I’ll write a letter to Pokes and send it to you before sending it on to him. I had an awfully nice letter from Brock a short time ago he didn’t say anything about my going back. I know that the whole thing is a plant chiefly because I am with the General. Well that’s that. I’m simply longing to get your letter to hear what happened at the interview. I sent you some odds and ends of papers this morning which may interest you. Not much doing here to-day. Hardress & I walked round the trenches this afternoon & got back about 7 o’c. I thought about you a few minutes after 3 o’c & said a wee prayer asking Him to help you and to make things alright. I will just write a letter now to Pokes and enclose it in this. Best love dear wee Mus. I do hope I will hear good news from you.
Your loving Pat.
Thursday 4 May
Went out & dug the garden for a bit, & did some tidying, Ione went up to London by the nine train to shop. […] Muz went & had a Turkish bath. We got a wire from Cecil Forde, to say that he was back on leave, & could he come down to us. After tea I watered the flowers, & read for a bit. Cecil arrived at about seven, he is a nice boy. Muz didn’t come back till later. We talked after dinner, & then went to bed fairly early, as Cecil was rather tired. Ione came back by the ten train.
Letter from Pat Armstrong to Mrs Armstrong
May 4.
My dear wee Mus.
Enclosed is an awfully nice letter from Brock. Thank you so much for sending my waterproof coat & breeches which arrived to-night. No news here atall. I’ve had a long day in the trenches & it’s now after 12 o’c so I will turn in. Best love dear wee Mus. I’m hoping to hear from you in the morning about your interview. I do hope it was a success & that you have been able to fix things for me. Good night dear wee Mus.
Your loving Pat.
Friday 5 May
I stayed in bed all morning. Muz & Ione went down to the Rest Camp at 7, & Ione came back at 11, & Muz stayed till about 3-30. Cecil stayed in bed late too. After lunch he & I & Tom & John walked down to the pier, & went out in a boat till tea time, it was lovely. But we were only allowed to go out a mile. Ione washed her hair, & didn’t come down at all, all day. After tea Cecil, Tom & I went out & dug the garden then strolled about. Then we four went to the theatre “Tonight’s the Night”. We went to 1/- seats, it was very good. Muz got a letter from Mrs Penrose to ask if Mr Penrose could come & stay with us on Wednesday for a few days.
“Tonight’s the Night”
Saturday 6 May
Muz & l stayed in bed rather late, Ione shopped.Then Muz & l went down to the Rest Camp from 12-30 till four. There was nothing to do, so I lay out & talked to Kitty. Cecil stayed in bed late, & then went out in a boat after lunch till tea time. Mrs Barrett came for tea. Afterwards Cecil dug the garden for a bit. Then Muz & I went to the club, & were fairly busy. We went to bed at about 11. Cecil was up when we got back, but we didn’t stay up long. Ione didn’t show all day.
Letter from Pat Armstrong to Mrs Armstrong
May 6.
My dear wee Mus.
Thank you so much for your letters of the 3rd and 4th. It was grand of you to go and see the Colonel specially in the face of that letter which he wrote you. You really are wonderful wee Mus & I feel now that you have put things right for me. I have just written to the Colonel, it’s a copy of your suggested letter and meets the case admirably I have been puzzling my brains what to say to him & I don’t think anything could be better than your letter. There is bound to be unpleasantness over it but I feel that you have smoothed things down well for me. The only thing I wish is that we had never said anything to the General about it. But that’s done and can’t be helped. I don’t know who had got my troop now but John Chesham had it & I expect went back to it after he had recovered from his wound. You seem to have done wonderful work with him & it’s a great thing that he now knows the facts of the case. It’s nearly 1 o’c & I’m too sleepy to write any more. Thank you a thousand times for all you have done wee Mus. I’m sure our prayers were answered. Best love dear wee Mus.
Your loving Pat.
Sunday 7 May
We got up rather late, it was raining, hard all morning. Cecil & I went out for a lovely walk, & got soaked. After lunch he & I played the claviola & ragged about. Ione packed all day. Muz went down to the club at three, so we went down to her at five, & had tea with her at the desk. Miss Phillips came down later. Then Muz, Tom, Miss P. & Cecil went to church & I stayed on for my shift, & then Kitty came at seven, & Muz & Cecil came at eight, we had rather fun ragging about, & Cecil loved it. We got back at about eleven, as there was a good lot of washing up to be done. Duskey stayed with me, & was very sleepy! We went to bed at about 11-30.
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