30 Noyna* Road, Upper Tooting, SW London...November 23rd 1883
{*Thank you Lesley!}
My dearest Pollie,
I have been going to write to you two or three times, for I am sure you have not much time with your two little ones. I have such a great piece of news for you. I have been longing to tell you. I am going out to India! I have been waiting, hoping that I should have time to come and see you before I go, but I find I shall not have time, as I expect to leave England next week.
I have been at home six weeks, but shopping and needlework have filled up my time so completely that I have had really no time for letter writing. I think I am going out in the "Speke Hall" that leaves Liverpool for Bombay on Tuesday next. (I shall hear by tonight’s post whether I can have a berth in her), then I am going on to Lucknow.
I am going to live with Colonel Morton’s wife. They are already out there, so I shall have to travel alone, but I do not feel at all nervous about it, and from what I hear, I think I shall like the Indian life very much. Colonel Morton is a Staff Officer, they move about constantly to avoid the intense heat.
My engagement is for two years commencing from October 20th, so the time will soon pass away. Mother does not like me going at all - still it's only the idea - because you know I have been away from home so much.
I am so sorry I cannot come and see you all before I go. You must promise to write to me very long letters, and tell me everything about the dear children. Please don’t let them forget their Auntie Ada
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I have still got a great deal to do. I have got a great big sea chest for all my things that I do not require on the voyage.
With fondest love to all. Believe me. Always your loving cousin A.E.Leslie.
Allahabad, India January 30th 1884.
My dearest Pollie,
You will be much surprised I am sure, to hear that almost as soon as you receive this letter, I shall be back in England if all is well.
I arrived in India (Rurrrawhie) on Jan 10th and waited there two days for a Coasting Steamer to take me to Bombay. Four days later I reached Bombay to find a letter waiting for me from Col. Morton to tell me that Mrs. Morton had died since I left England and asking me to come over to Lucknow, and take his two little girls back to England.
So I travelled day and night by mail train and reached Lucknow on the Wednesday night at 11 o’clock having left Bombay on Monday afternoon at 6 p.m. The distance is less than a thousand miles, but trains do not go as quickly here as in England.
Lucknow is a lovely place, I am almost afraid to try and describe it – I shall do it so imperfectly. I was staying with a lady friend of Col. Morton’s who kindly took me driving to some place of interest every day. I was only there eight days. I saw nearly everything there was worth seeing. We had a splendid time at the Residence. Mrs. Shard was a friend of Lady Lyle, the (younger?) General’s wife. So one afternoon we went to Government House. We left Lucknow on the night of the 24th and arrived here the following morning.
Allahabad is a very large place, most interesting. We are about three miles away from the city. There is a very nice park (Albert Park ) and a beautiful large tennis ground, a native Military Band plays in one and the band of the "38th " in the other.
The people I am with now, are friends of Col. Morton’s, but I have got two of his servants with me. I am quite independent. It’s such fun here in India. When people go on a visit to another person’s house, they always take their own servants, and also bedding - by bedding I mean pillows and bedclothing. Every lady travels by night here, and as the Railway Companies supply sofas only, it’s quite necessary to take a good supply of blankets with you as the nights are very cold indeed - at this time of year especially. But in the daytime it’s fearfully hot even now. I suppose this is the reason the climate is considered so unhealthy. I have been most fortunate in having good health since my arrival.
Victoria Hotel, Bombay February 4th. (Continuation)
You see I began this letter at Allahabad, but was so busy the last day or two that and had no time to finish it there. I enjoyed the last days so much. The people I had stayed with in Lucknow came to Allahabad to stay with the Governor General, so we spent the afternoon there on Friday. It is such a splendid place, quite a palace. We left on Saturday and arrived in Bombay at 9 a.m. this morning. We leave for England on the 6th via the Jumna Troop Ship. Col. Morton joined us at Allahabad and came on with us – so as to be with us here and see us off. He is so exceedingly kind that I am still enjoying myself. I like Bombay. We are just going for a drive to see some of the principal places. I hope to come out again in six months time, that is for the cold weather season. Col. Morton has promised to try and get me another engagement with some of his friends.
9 p.m. I had to leave your letter again this afternoon. We drove down to the harbour to have a look at our ship. Afterwards we drove to a very pretty place called Malabar Hill. Now I must describe an Indian Day.
At 7 a.m. we have toast and tea in bed. After that it’s the rule to get up and walk, ride or drive for an hour or more. Then you return and take a bath. After the bath, breakfast about half past ten or eleven o’clock. It is generally too hot to go out any more till 5 p.m. 2 o’clock is the Luncheon hour. 5 till 7 p.m. driving and dinner at 8 o’clock.
I hope you got my photograph all right and Nellie also. I told mother to be sure and send them. If I live to get to England safely I shall try and pay you a visit if only for a day in the summer time.
I arrive at the end of the month.
Your loving cousin
A.E.Leslie.
April 12th 1884. 30 Vernon Terrace, Brighton
My Dearest Pollie,
I have been longing to write to you since my return to England, but so many things have prevented me doing so before.
We all caught bad colds while we were in Egypt, and coming home in March, as we did, the cold winds prevented our getting well as quickly as we might otherwise have done.
We left Bombay on February the 8th in the Troopship
Jumna. We had on board the 10th Hussars, the Battery of Artillery and drafts from other Regiments.Our departure was rather touching. The men cheered for Home and nearly all the ladies wept, but only for a little while. We soon began to shake down and make ourselves at home. We were only coasting for the next twenty-four hours. The following day we reached a place called Vingorla, here we took the 89th Regiment on board.
There is no harbour or proper landing place there, but it was a very pretty sight to see the rough Indian boats crowded with soldiers looking with such eager eyes to the ship that was to take them home. They had their own band with them playing. The band of the 10th was playing on board to give them a good welcome. Poor things, some of them looked so ill. The Regiment had been out in India for fourteen years.
We were in quarantine from Bombay, so according to regulations had to be at sea sixteen days before reaching Aden, but we were having such a merry time on board, nobody seemed in a hurry to reach that Port what with Concerts, Sports, Entertainment’s, music and Dancing, the time passed away so quickly. On the 14th we had great fun as all the ladies received Valentines – and of course all the Officers pretend perfect ignorance. Then there was great excitement caused by the Colonel and Officers of the 10th sending out cards of invitation for a Fancy Dress Ball to take place the night we reached Aden. This however never came off.
It was a few hours before we came in sight of port that we first got the news that the Jumna was set to go to Suakim to disembark troops. A transport came out to meet us. We had to make all possible speed, go into port and take on tents and ammunition.
After a delay of two days at Aden we were sent on to Suakim, where we arrived four days later. It is a strange looking old town, being then quite deserted by the inhabitants since Baker Pasha defeat. A great many Marines had already arrived, also the Admiral’s ship the "Sphinx". As soon as possible after our arrival the 10th landed. Then came days and days of waiting.
At last came a telegram from London saying that we were to embark both the Regiments and go on to Trinkitat. This was a journey of a few hours only. On our arrival they both landed at once, but the 89th still remained on board for nearly a week – until one night they too had orders to disembark at 6 a.m. the following morning.
Later on in the day we saw them take a Fort, ten miles away, (through glasses).
{The war was against the Mahdi.}
By this time there were 16 Troopships and Transports there. The "Orates" lying next to us, had been fitted up as a Hospital Ship.
Then came the Engagement at El Teb, I ought to add that the day before this the weaker mortals, (women, children and invalids) had all been transferred to the "Serapis" as it had been decided to send us all home, the "Jumna" being wanted for the wounded. This was a great disappointment to the wives of Officers and men as naturally they wished to remain. However we were the Victims of War, and under Military discipline, as we were more than once reminded, when the spirit of rebellion got abroad.
Before we left Trinkitat we heard that Major Slade and other equally well known on board, had been killed. Of course this news by no means cheered those who were leaving dear ones behind. The "Serapis" was very much crowded before us "Jumna" people were transferred to her. All the ladies cabins being filled, from the Jumna there were 28 ladies and 26 children and 180 soldiers, wives and children. The only available cabins were below watermark, in a place they called Pandemonium, (Hell).
To give us these, 30 Officers going home on leave, turned out and slept in the men’s quarters. But oh the heat down there was fearful. I know perfectly well we should be ill before we got to England. And I also know that Colonel Morton would rather pay any money than we should be uncomfortable.
So at Suez we left the "Serapes" for P&O SS "Icatia" (?) and went through the Canal to Port Said. Here we changed to "Niyaia" (?) for Marseilles, arriving there a week later. We came overland by way of Paris and Calais.
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Believe me
Your loving cousin A.E.Leslie.