Halsey 29 March 1915

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My Dear Father,

Very many thanks for your’s and Mother’s letters of the 25th March. I am so glad you are better and your days seem to be very full with work. We are having a fearfully slack time and there is no doubt that it is a real uphill game to be always ready and to keep going at concert pitch and nothing happening day after day. It must be a bit of a blow to you having your chief constable taken away at such a time as this. I wonder if Mother and Fyfie attended the meeting at Buckingham Palace on Saturday.

We are having most fearfully cold weather up North and constant very heavy snow showers, but it does not really lay for long. A ship is a vilely uncomfortable place with the temperature below freezing point, added to which one rather struggles with pipes and hydraulic gear etc.

I get capital news from Coog and the baby seems to be going on awfully well. I would so love to be able to dash down and see them, even if only for a hour or two. But as we must always be the first striking force I don’t see much chance, though I know the powers that be are wanting to give us 48 hours leave if they can possibly do it. I hear Regie has returned to Egypt, so I gather that he did not get the appointment he wanted.

I get splendid letters from all my family and they are awfully good about writing to me. My best to you all, believe me ever your very affectionate Son,

Lionel Halsey

D/EHL F61/34