WAR! 1914
Lancaster and The King's Own go to War.
Generously supported by the Sir John Fisher Foundation.
SS Saturnia
The 1st Battalion was stationed in Dover at the start of the war. It
was mobilised and sent to Cromer and the men were billeted at Horsham
St. Faith, Norfolk, between 12th and 18th August. They then moved by
rail from Norwich to Wembley where the battalion camped at Neasden until
it departed on 21st August to Southampton Docks.
On 22nd August the battalion left for France on board the SS Saturnia.
The Saturnia had been built by Charles Connell & Company at Scotstoun
and was launched on 29th March 1910, for the Donaldson Line. At the
start of the war it was taken over by the War Office. The Saturnia was
scrapped in Trieste, Italy, in 1929.
Accession Number: KO1919/01
Lieutenant Colonel Alfred M Dykes wrote his last letter home from on
board the Saturnia.
2 am 22 August 1914
My Own Small Darling Wife
I got the last of my great command safely on board at 1 am. Another
Regiment are now embarking and we shall be ready to start in about
another hour. All being well we should be over by about 10-am tomorrow
morning. I have just been told that I am O C troops on board and handed
all sorts of secret codes for communicating with the Navy in case of
necessity! I have just finished a scrap to my poor mother and now my
last word before we leave these shores must naturally be to my Most
Darling Precious.
Baby, I won’t refer to our parting today. It was too damnable I fear I
may have seemed a little hard, But I couldn’t help it. If I’d let myself
go one inch, I should have cried and a crying Colonel proceeding to ‘the
Front’ – would not have been an edifying spectacle.
Sweet Baby Love, My Small Small Darling, I wouldn’t have missed that
Precious little time with you for all the greatest things in the world.
It was awful seeing you drive off - so lonely-so small and so
defenceless. Yet I feel cheered and strengthened by our time together.
It has made all the difference. Sweetheart I do so hope and pray that
you got safely and well to London. That you are sleeping well NOW and
that tomorrow you will get safe and well back to Malvern and be none the
worse of your journeyings. Please tell me soon. I’m certain you are none
the worse of the N-gg—ing I feel so much better and when you feel sad
call to mind the advantage we took of the hospitality offered us by the
friendly German Jeweller!! Never was such conduct!! Darling the future
lies all unknown. But we both face it with full hope and confidence.
I know you will pray that I don’t fail in my big job. You know that I
shall ever pray for you, to be spared anxiety, to keep well and strong
and brave and in due time to bring the little IT, healthy and strong and
well into the world. And above all with no danger or hurt or harm to
your Darling Precious self. God bless and keep you my Darling Wife. I
will come back to you safe and sound and younger than ever.
Au Revoir. All my love and a great long lasting snuggle. Just one long
kiss.
Your Dearest (?) of own
Mokes (?)
Accession Number: KO2654/040
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