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2 Jul 55 Julius on board 'War Spirit' Mother Portland Place, Worthing ______________________________________________________________________________________________
On board the Ship Warspirit*
in the Mersey
Dear Mother
I received your kind letter yesterday – an Ofer. brought it to me from Preston. I think it would not have been worthwhile to have come down here because you would probably have arrived after I had sailed.
I will now detail the events that happened yesterday.
I got up at ½ past 3, we fell in at 5, & marched at 6. We took train to Liverpool & marched through the town to the Docks. We went on board at about 9 or 10 o’clock & about 2 we were tugged out into the Stream.
There are about 45 Ofrs. on board & between 700 & 800 men. There is accommodation on board for 30 out of the 45 Ofrs. & so I being one of the 15 have no berth. Last night I slept in a hospital berth. There are about 14 in the hospital cabin, & only 2 were occupied so I made myself as comfortable as possible.
At present I find that there is no water to be got so it is a chance whether I get a wash or not this morning.
There are Drafts on board of 5 Regts. – the 71st 28th 97th 18th & 34th – all going to Malta but I should not be surprised if some of us were sent back as I told you, there are too many on board.
My new servant turns out a stunner. He has not been a servant before but he has given me hopes that he will be first rate.
With love to all, I remain
Yr. affect Son
Julius, Dyson, Laurie
Ens. 34th Regt.
* Warspirit – War Spirit was a Canadian built sailing ship, converted to transport troops in the summer of 1855. The Liverpool Mercury reported: ‘Yesterday 655 men and 30 officers, consisting of drafts from 18th, 34th, 97th & 28th regiments, embarked at this port in the War Spirit, for the Crimea.’ She went on to sail to Australia with emigrants during the 1860's