Michael D.Heath-Caldwell M.Arch.

1885

Envelop addressed

Miss G.A. Marsh Caldwell

Linley Wood

Talk o th Hill

Staffordshire

(note from M.E.H. to G.A.M.C with Cuthbert Heaths [hymn?] on War.

Postmark Dorking 5^{th March 1885}

Rear post mark Holmwood, 5th March 1885

15th Sept 1885

Letter from Georgina Marsh-Caldwell to J.Milbourne Marsh, Australia

J.Milbourne Marsh Esq

c/o The Manager

Australian Joint Stock Bank

King William Street

City, London E.C.

From

Linley Wood

Talk-o’-th’-Hill

Staffordshire

12th March

My dear Mr Marsh,

Thank you very much for the Almanac – which I shall study with much pleasure and interest! That great idea seems settling into a fact. Now does not it – and then we may defy all the (Beau?) and the Germans and the French and all the world and keep our place at the head of nations. May not we – for I do not feel the democracy. I feel British good sense will triumph over these Doctrinaire and Miserable Party men!!

I am sorry Rosamond will not have the pleasure of meeting you. I am sure she will try to come to see Mrs Marsh if possible while she is in town but as Mrs Marsh told me when one is visiting one’s time is not one’s own!! I am very glad you were able to go to - - I am sure you will like the Duke Crofton in Rochester(?) and Cheltenham(?) are so interesting I feel you might find the tomb of my great great Uncle!!

My sister is Lady Heath for I called(?) under her name as I was not very sure of her letter. Sir Leopold got his K.C.B. for his service in the Abyssinian War.

Are not these exciting times? I wonder about the news today! We saw the morning paper and were so glad to see the result of the Gloucester election. With our tenderest regards to Mrs Marsh and sincerely very truly yours,

Georgina A. Marsh-Caldwell

Letter

Horse Guards,

War Office

24th March 1885

Sir,

I am directed by His Royal Highness, the Commander-in-Chief, to transmit herewith for your information extracts fropm Reports which have been received in this office regarding the efficient state of the 17th Company, Royal Engineers, and the admirable work performed by the Company under Lieutenant Colonel E. Wood, R.E., and I am to state that His Royal Highness has found much satisfaction in receiving so favourable a report.I have &c (signed) J. Stokes.

Extract from Inspection Report and a Confidential Report of the Annual Inspection of the 17th Company, Royal Engineers.

I have already in my Annual Report expressed my sense of the admirable work performed at Suakin by Colonel Wood and the 17th Company, R.E. Suakin

22nd February 1885

(Signed) A.G. Freemantle. M.G.

The 17th Company, R.E. including Lieutenant Colonel Wood Commanding, the Officers, Non-commissioned Officers and men, is one of the best companies of R.E. I have ever seen. They have suffered from extreme heat  of last summer at Suakin but notwithstanding it they have done most excellent work on the Railways, Piers &c.

The Company is now acclimatised, the weakly men have been invalided and both officers and men a fit for any work.

(signed)

J. Heriot Maitland, Colonel & C.R.E.

- 6th March 1885

Letter

Royal Engineers - No.7700/1449

Horse Guards,

War Office,S.W.

7th March, 1885

Sir, 

With reference to the telegram of the 1st instant from the Commanding Royal Engineeer at Suakin to the Inspector General of Fortifications, respecting the progress made at that station in the construction of piers,banks &c. I am directed by the Field Marshal Commanding-in-Chief to request that you will be good enough to convey to the officers of Royal Engineers named in the margin the high appreciation of His Royal Highness of the manner in which they have discharged the various duties that have devolved upon them during the past twelve months, and to express his great satisfaction at the good result of their labours, carried on under such very difficult circumstances.

I have the honour to be Sir,

Your obedient Servant

(signed) A. Alison A.G. Bt.

Lt Colonel E. Wood

Lieutenant F.C. Heath

Lieutenant A.G. Thompson

Lieutenant W.B. Askwith (since deceased)

The General Officer Commanding the Troops in Egypt,

True Copy.

(signed) A. Graham Thompson

Lieutenant R.E. 5th April 1885

In the Autumn of 1885 FCHC returned from Egypt and accepted the position of Companion to one of Lord Salisbury's sons (Probably Lord Edward Gascoygn-Cecil 1867-1918) for a year to travel with him in Germany.

The following is a letter of thanks written by Salisbury to one of FCHC's commanding officers, followed by a separate letter requesting ane extension of this special leave.

Letter

Private16th September 1885 - Chateau Cecil Puys, pres Dieppe

Dear Sir John Stokes,

I am very much obliged to you for the kindness with which you have assented to my application for leave to Lieutenant Heath.

I believe, that in a military point of view his time will not be ill spent with a view to his future career in the army: & the convenience to me, & to my son, is very great.Believe me,

Yours very truly,Salisbury. (Robert A. T. Salisbury,

3rd Marquis of Salisbury 1830-1903)

Prime Minister.to Sir John Stokes K.C.B. 

Private

5th December 1885 - Hatfield House,

Hatfield,

Herts.

Dear Sir John Stokes,

According to a suggestion which I made, and you I think approved, in a previous letter, I beg to enclose an application from Lieutenant Heath for a further extension of leave.

We are exceedingly pleased with him, and I believe that his stay abroad is likely to be of great utility not only to may son, but also to himself as an officer.

Believe me,

Yours very truly,

Salisbury. 

to Sir John Stokes K.C.B.

(note on letter - 'I took one of Lord Salisbury's sons to Germany for a year, F.C.H-C.')