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27 Oct 55 Julius Camp before Sebastopol Mother ______________________________________________________________________________________________

[Written in Pencil]

Camp before Sebastopol

Octr. 27th /55

½ past 7 a.m.

Dear Mother

I am going to try & send you a few lines as I know you will be pleased with the attempt.

You must not mind the writing as I am still in bed. The last three days they have carried me out into the sun, but I am too weak to stand, even with crutches.

I have not yet explained to you how I was hit.

In the first place let me state that we were in support & were not the storming party which fully accounts for my not being mentioned – as those who were mentioned were the Staff, Commanding Ofrs. & the stormers who were killed or wounded.

I was just going over the parapet (we were in support in the trenches) for a run across the open to one of the advanced works when a shell burst close to me, part of which hit me on the back of the thigh & floored me.

They brought a stretcher & carried me off. I hope I may never have such a journey again as that was, up to Camp. The continual jolt, jolt was awful.

Has our Paymaster (Roche is his name) been to see you. He very kindly offered to call & I scribbled a few lines for him to take.

Peter has not turned up for more than a fortnight but John comes over nearly every evening & seldom comes empty handed. He has been very kind.

I expect to start for England this day (Saturday) week but you must not make certain of it. I am going to leave John a good many of my things which may be useful to him during the winter.

The mail is just going, so with love to all at home

I remain

Yr. affect son

Julius, Dyson, Laurie

Lt. 34th Regt.