1
H.M.S Excellent
Portstewart My dear Father + Mother Just a few lines to let
you know that I got your letter and parcel alright
I will send you on my oilskin for I would only
get it pinched here and I got a jersey pinched already
since but I will lift one for you the next day
they are serving out close that will be on
Monday next at pas 3 o'clock so I will send them
on first chance tell my mother not to send any
more of the big scones as they do not carry
very well. a small one in the oven and a couple
of the others are sufficient and no butter. I had
a letter from Jean today and she was saying
that Lizzie fell getting out of a tram car
and broke her arm I am sorry for poor Lizzie
she was giving me a bit of her mind not for
writing to her and asking if I would get
home for xmas I asked her if she ment meant
xmas 12 mounths. Well we are having very bad
weather here very wet. M Bacon went to hospitable
today he got a nail in his hand and it turned
to blood poison I expect he will be back
among the angles in a few days I will close
now I will write before Saturday your loving son Willie
Letter from William Shaw to his parents, James and Martha Shaw, regarding life on
the H.M.S. Excellent. William mentions that he will be sending his oilskin home so
that it does not get stolen and asks that his mother stop sending the larger scones
as the smaller ones will do. He also writes about Lizzie falling out of a tram car
and breaking her arm.
William Shaw (1893-1934) was a gunner in the Royal Naval Reserve. He volunteered for
active service in 1915 and served on ships such as the H.M.S. Excellent and H.M.S.
Albemarle, a battle cruiser. Before the War he was a fisherman.