James goes home on his Draft Leave, the leave before his first posting to HMT Nodzu, in Milford Haven. DIARY: Draft leave
Category: November 1916
29 November 1916 – Arrives back in Milford Haven
DIARY: Arrived back 2.20 pm (on 29th) Dale Roads then to anchor in stream. Stays at Anchor until 3 December.
28 November 1916 – Action against a German submarine.
28 November 1916 HMT Nodzu Milford Wednesday Dear Mother & Father We have just returned to Milford after a 3 day trip to sea. It has been a very eventful one as you will learn later on. We left Milford last Sunday morning just as the Church bells were ringing. It seemed very strange going… Continue reading 28 November 1916 – Action against a German submarine.
27 November 1916 – Spots German U-boat
DIARY: Kept 6.30-7.30 watch. Went aft for breakfast. On watch 9am when periscope of German submarine was sighted 50 yds away. Opened fire and fired 3 rounds but apparently did not sink her. Put out sweeps and exploded a mine. Cruised about all day off Lands end in search of submarine. Put into Mounts Bay. … Continue reading 27 November 1916 – Spots German U-boat
26 November 1916 – Heading for Lands End
DIARY: Left Milford 10.30am to go for escort to Wolf Lightship, Lands End. Wolf Rock Lighthouse, off Lands End, took 8 years to build being finished in 1869
25 November 1916 – Towing mystery ship
DIARY: Arrived back Milford to anchor at 9.30 pm towed mystery ship from Dale Roads to Milford
24 November 1916 – Sailing to Conningbey
DIARY: Picked up convoy. Oil tank, escorted her to Conningbey Lightship. Relieved of convoy by Queenstown patrol James is referring to the Coninbeg Lightship that marked the rocks off Wexford's Saltee Islands. The Lightship had first been put there in 1824. The light was automated in 1980 and replaced by a superbuoy in 2007.
23 November 1916 – Convoy protection
DIARY: Left Milford for North Arklow, Ireland at 3.30 pm convoy
22 November 1916 – Letter to Sister Ellen.
22 November 1916 J Simpson O/Tel HMS Nodzu Milford Haven Dear Ellen I will write you a letter as you request. First of all don’t put c/o GPO London on my letters as it takes them far longer to come. Your letters is nicely put together but just take a little care in spelling peoples… Continue reading 22 November 1916 – Letter to Sister Ellen.
WW1 Letters of James Simpson 