Supplement to the Delhi Gazette, 31 May 1959

(Click to enlarge)

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11 Jun 59 Julius Camp Fyzabad Mother Hyde Park Place (West) ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Camp Fyzabad

11 June /59

My dear Mother

I am going to write you a regular grumbling letter so look out.

Before I begin I must first remark that I have seen in the Papers that my Father is no longer MP for Barnstaple. I must console with him on the loss of the two letters but I hope he does not bother himself much about them.

I have no doubt if in the course of a year or so he thinks the addition would be worth the trouble, he will easily be able to acquire the right to use them. In the meanwhile he must rest himself in order that when the time does come, (if he may wish it to at all) he may shine out all the brighter.

Not having heard from you good people at home I know nothing of the state of affairs. I do not even know if my Father offered himself, but I see both the old members are out & one Potts & someone else returned.

I suppose the General Election* has pretty well filled up your time.

I found one letter from you when I arrived here but, had it not been for the Direction one would have thought that this country was unknown & that the annoyances, work & discomforts (I may say sufferings) that we are all going through out here to put money into the English people’s pockets, were not worthy of remark, if indeed they were not entirely forgotten.

I put it all down to the Elections however & the European war* as I have no doubt during the present excitement, India & all belonging to it are considered (& justly too) 2nd, 3rd or any lower rate.

It is rather galling considering the trouble & discomfort one has been at since (I think) the eighth of October /58 (when we left Azimgarh) to reach at last the Goal, there to find nothing on Earth ready but that Engineers are building Houses & that these wonderful ‘Quarters’ that we have looked forward to so long are nothing less than your old rotten tent, in which I am now writing. Not an officer is under cover.

This is about the hottest day we have yet had. We have had the first shower & in a day or two the rains will be down in earnest.

Let the Aspirant to military glory look at both sides of the picture. On this side he will see ‘a Subaltern perspiring dreadfully, flies annoying him viciously, surrounded by thieving, lying scoundrels, a victim to three distinct diseases: 1st prickly heat, 2nd covered with mighty boils which prevent him lying, sitting, walking, riding with comfort & 3rd & worst of all, the Itch (regular workhouse one) – & then let the young gentleman hesitate before it is too late’.

Col. Kelly has gone down to Calcutta to his wife. His last order was that all Subalterns were to go to drill & begin at the beginning with the men.

So three mornings in the week, up gets the Sub & performs ‘goose step’ to admiration for an hour & a half, during which time some 4 or 5 men per Company have to be supported away.

Well here we are, having for the last 9 months been in a position in front of an Enemy, when occasionally it was ‘Now look here, this is a most important position. Take so many men, I trust entirely to you.’

If I could draw, I would send you a picture of the Offs. Qrs. at Fyzabad: bare walls, Subs. part has not been touched since our arrival – this delightful (?) country – how I am sick of it.

I have got a letter from Arthur, reached me yesterday, saying that John has sent him £20 & that he still wants £30 more.* He keeps an establishment costing in servants wages over £6 a month & that is all he tells me. Now I am at present owed by the Indian Govt. about £60 which I cannot get at – the custom with Indian officials is to do you if possible by not taking the slightest notice of your letters.

When I can get it I will be very glad to assist him in the paying off of the £30 but in the meanwhile I must get more of the particulars, as to where the money has gone to from him.

We suppose the French & Austrians are killing each other to their hearts’ content. I am glad England is out of it.

I suppose it will now be a case of 2nd Battalions – oh for some promotion. No sign of Peel* getting a step by the Gazette.

I think I should enjoy a little leave now, but I suppose one must exist some time longer out in this country first.

Several of the Company’s European Regts. have become disaffected lately – amongst others the 3rd Madras Europeans. Arthur says that there were only three Companies who refused to turn out for Parade. If every one of them had been shot it would have served them right.

People are getting too much educated now for soldiers. You get fellows who want to know ‘why’ they are to go to the ‘right face’ when they are ordered. It does not go down here tho’.

I enclose a copy of Government Gazette in which is Renny’s despatch* of our little fight.

Hoping I shall be better the next time I write, in which doubtless you join.

I am, dear Mother, yr affect. son

J D Laurie

I hope you are well

Best love – write soon & often

* General Election – Conservatives, led by Lord Derby are re-elected. Notable also for the birth of the Liberal Party

* European War – Franco-Austrian war concerning unification of Italy (see Crimean War 1854-1856/Outcome in '5 The Crimea, 1855')

* wants £30 more – The first reference to his brother Arthur’s profligacy

* Peel – Lt Francis Peel was two years his senior and had been wounded on 18th June 1855 in an assault on the Redan. Retired, as a Captain, January 1861

* Renny’s despatch (See above and 7 Appendix.5 - Pte Richardson's VC)