COU-03

Royal Irish Rifles,
Ship Street Barracks,
Dublin,
23. X. 14

Dear Mr Elliott,

I have been trying to get time to write to you for a week but my time is so fully occupied that it has been almost impossible. Anyone who is joining the army just now under the impression that he is going to have an easy time will get a very rude awakening. Briefly this was my time table at Wellington.

6.0 Rise & get an early breakfast
6.45-7.45 Gymnasium for officers only
7.45-8.30 Breakfast
8.30-9.0 Squad drill & musketry
9.0-1.0 March to Phoenix Park for work in extended order, etc
1.0-2.0 Luncheon
2.0-5.15 Squad drill & musketry
5.15-6.15 Lectures
8.45 Dinner. Sometimes night operations.

We had any amount of work to do. Our quarters were most comfortable & commodious. Last weekend I was dispatched to take command of a detachment of our men at Howth guarding the submarine cable & wireless station, but just as I had settled down there I was ordered back to Dublin & sent here to take charge of a squad of recruits whom I have to train in the shortest possible time. The work is desperately hard because one is running about the barrack square all day, & as we have no regimental mess here I have also to run about after meals.

As an interlude I may mention that the reason this letter is so badly written is because no light but candles is permitted in our quarters & I am reduced to a simple light. My servant is out on leave & he keeps the stock so I cannot replenish it tonight. The second light I use has just flickered out.

I have had no opportunity to see Dublin as yet because as soon as I get back from my hotel after dinner I go to bed. Living is very expensive. I already begin to feel that as I cannot send my sister any money I do hope Mr Moneypenny⁷⁷ will not delay to send my cheque on to her. Here in Dublin if one is in uniform everything suddenly assumes a most weird & grotesque price. No one offers change. The way we are treated is abominable although apart from the shopkeepers everyone is very nice, although I had a racket last Sunday in Howth with the National Volunteers as they were dispersing to their homes. They jostled & hissed me so I hit out. Although I was quite alone that sufficed to quieten them but when the police told my men they wanted to go round & wreck the place.

Our men are a curious medley of both North & South of Ireland & a good number from Wales. They are an odd crowd.

Now I think that is all the news which will interest you. If there is anything which you would care to know of course I will be glad to tell you.

Please remember me most kindly to your wife & family (whom I hope are all well) and to the staff. I have been wondering if Simpson has got away. You can tell him that if he gets a commission he must be prepared to spend money pretty freely. So far I have got rid of about £70 or £80 & am not yet at the end of my expenses.

With kind regards & best wishes
Sincerely Yours,
T. Coulson

P.S. It may interest you to know that several of our fellows come from Belfast & two from Newcastle-on-Tyne. I have been chumming with Sir Robert McConnell's son. Col. McCammond was asking about someone in our staff I think it must have been Gourley⁷⁸ . It was someone who got him some information one time or another.
For Simpson's⁷⁹ benefit I may mention that our pay is only 5/3 per day, which is increased to 7/- if there is no mess in quarters. No other allowances are made, & he may have to pay heavy mess entrance fees, mine were £10 to the mess, & £5 for the land, & I was only in mess for three days!! In addition I have my mess bill still to be furnished. These are only entrance fees. His kit & equipment will cost about £40-45 if he is careful.