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3 Dec 55 Julius Malta Mother ______________________________________________________________________________________________

‘Indiana Steam Transport’

Malta

Decb'r 3rd 1855

Dear Mother

You will be glad to hear that after staying 10 days at Scutari, I left on Monday evening (last) & have at length arrived at Malta, from whence I hope we shall start tomorrow.

I thought you would like to hear when I am likely to arrive in England. I fancy it will be in about 16 days. If we stop at Gibraltar I will drop you a line from there & also when I arrive.

I have brought on a servant from Scutari, a man of the 23rd; was at Alma* & Inkerman* & the affair of the 8th.* He is very willing but very stupid.

I left Nat at Scutari. I believe he will be home before long. He would certainly never do for the winter in the Crimea.

I hope you are all well at home. With love to all & hoping soon to see you

I remain

Your affect. son

Julius Dyson Laurie

Lt. 34th Regt

P.S. You must not be astonished at the sight of crutches

* Alma – The Allies’ first battle on landing in the Crimea, as they moved south towards Sevastopol, on 27th September 1854 where they crossed the River Alma

* Inkerman – Following the battle of Balaclava, the Russians’ next major attempt to raise the siege of Sevastopol, on 5th November 1854, when Allied forces on the heights above Inkerman Bridge over the River Tchernaya found themselves under heavy attack, effective overall control being impossible due to the bad visibility

* affair of the 8th – The final assault on the Redan in which he had been wounded