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5 Oct 55 Peter on board 'Alipore' Father 1, Hyde Park Place ______________________________________________________________________________________________

HM Transport ‘Alipore’

Kamiesh 5 October /55

My dear Father

I have written a long letter to my Mother, to which I refer you, and write this not to favour you with anything fresh or concerning yourself in particular, but merely to show you that your name not being mentioned in any letters to her (as she observed in one of her last letters to me) does not show that it is from any forgetfulness and negligence on my part.

I should in the first place like to know how I am to mention it. My letters generally speak of myself and my doings. I make a point of not asking questions because it would be at least a month if they ever were answered and as to winding up with asking how each separately are and with sending my love to each separately, it is totally unnecessary and very absurd – for instance, ‘Best love to my Father, Mary, Arthur, Alfred and Frankie, not forgetting to remember me to all relations, friends and the several members of our household.’ That I think would be a lovely wind up.

Julius is getting on as far as his wound is concerned, but each day makes him weaker and more lonely.

John is so confined to camp that he cannot pay him half the attention he otherwise would. I have seen him several times but it is a good ten miles from here and that is a long distance to walk.

We have had (or rather are still having) a regular outbreak among our crew. They signed for ‘the voyage – probable length of the voyage 12 months’ and because the twelve months have passed and the Captain refuses to give them their discharge they at first refused to work, then found the ship was not sea-worthy and when the Captain proved she was, they made a large hole in the long boat which they declared had been done by their fist (to show how rotten it was) and now this morning we have missed the skipper’s favourite cat (A dreadful calamity!).

I dined with John on his birthday. Nat was to have been there and I believe we were to have made up a party of five but they all with one accord began to make excuses and the consequence was we dined alone.

There was actually a letter from Mary the other day. I have been out here three months now and that is the second letter I have seen from her in that time. I really think she might find a quarter of an hour once a week to write at least to one of her brothers.

I suppose she sees all our letters and if so, they are as good as if we wrote to her. If she would only take ten minutes less in talking nonsense to write a few lines to the Crimea it would be an exchange for the better and as such would be valued.

I say talking nonsense and I mean it, for when girls (I beg their pardons) get together, they always talk a great deal of rubbish and I have seen a whole morning devoured in such a manner, my own beloved sister forming one of the party. They may not consider it nonsense, but that is no reason why it is not. Please to give Mary a hint at this, for the other day when the mail came in we looked in each others’ faces, each exclaiming ‘By Jove! a letter from Mary! – well, wonders will never cease’

Mention this little fact to her.

Yr. affect son

Peter Laurie

Today the ship is clear and we shall be off somewhere but where to, we know not.

We expect to go to Odessa with troops but have no orders yet.