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14 Aug 55 Julius Camp before Sebastopol Mother Portland Place, Worthing ______________________________________________________________________________________________
Camp before Sebastopol
Augst. 14th 1855
Dear Mother
The mail goes out in a few minutes so I must hurry myself if I want to write.
I have dined with John twice & he has dined with me once. I intend to go & look after Peter. I was down yesterday knocking about the harbour in search of him, but it was no go.
We were turned out the night before last at ½ past 2 & remained there on the ground till ¼ past 5 as we are expecting 75 thousand Ruskies to attack us. They have not done it yet & as I am in the trenches tonight perhaps we shall have some fun.
I have a capital pony which John bought for me. It quite does credit to his taste. It carried me down to Balaklava yesterday & back, foraging.
The great bothers here are the flies & the heat of the sun. The first spoil everything & will not allow you to sleep after 6 in the morning & the latter obliges you to stop in your tent nearly all day.
I mess with the Lieut. in command of my Company, Boyce * by name & as he has a good stock in hand we are all right.
Our camp is right on the other side of Sebastopol to what the Fourth is; that is to say we are on the extreme Right & John is on the extreme Left & our Regt. is the farthest advanced of the Light Division.
We have only one Capt. out here so all the senior Lieuts. have command of Companies.
I have had my tent dug about 4 foot deep, & had the stones &c. thrown forward in a mound, & also had a trench dug to carry off the Rain.
I see that Ensign Cattley of the 47th has resigned his commission. I am surprised to see that he shirks it. What will the illustrious Chaplain say.
with love to all from yr. affect. son,
Julius, Dyson, Laurie
Lieut, 34th Regt
(in haste)
[Written inside envelope]
Please do not send my letter the rounds, as I only write it for you & not for the world in general. Some day I will write a swell one for everyone to see.
J.D.L 34
* Boyce – Lt. Abel Woodruffe Boyce went on to become Colonel of the 3rd City of London Rifle Volunteers