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11 Nov 60 Julius Fyzabad Mother ______________________________________________________________________________________________

Fyzabad

11 Nov 60

My dear Mother

I must try and send off a few lines today otherwise I shall not write during the week.

I am looking out for the next Mail to learn the news of John’s arrival & I hope the consequent amelioration in my Father’s health. It is evident he needs much quiet. Now that your Eldest Son is with you he ought to rest from his active pursuits as much as possible.

I think I told you in a short note the other day that two Companies were going by purchase in the Regt.

Dunbar has been Gazetted in this country as a Capt, ‘subject to Her Majesty’s approval’ i.e. ‘subject to the money being forthcoming or not’. I congratulated him this morning on his promotion but he did not seem to like it & said ‘defer yr. congratulations until you see me confirmed’ which I think is very doubtful if my suspicions turn out correct. Holroyd will be Capt. vice Peel & I shall be first for Steuart’s step. The latter has written to Holroyd asking him for £600 over Regulation, if he goes. I think it is a great deal considering Steuart got his Company for nothing, but I have no doubt John will give you all necessary advice on the subject. I should get over five heads which would be worth paying for.

What ever may turn up, do not on any consideration let me be purchased over. I think nothing but a collection of the most fortunate circumstances could prevent one of my five seniors getting the step, but to show you there must be some chance, I was offered yesterday an even bet by the Adjutant,* (who, if any one should, ought to know what is going on in a Regt.) that the step would come to me.

I hope Cox & Co are prepared in case of being applied to by a Company seller, with an answer to my being a Company purchaser. If this should come to my turn it would be such a chance as would not occur again probably in my life time. Steuart is at home at the Depot; John is at home with you. I have no doubt if my Expectations about Dunbar are fulfilled, that John will do his best for my interests in forming some arrangement & bringing my old Capt. (Steuart) to terms.

I am occupied all day during week days with Rifle Drill (in which we intend to astonish India this year); Hindoustani (in which I am perpetually astonishing my self with fresh discoveries of my slowness); No. 7 Company & a Pack of dogs (both latter of HM 34th Regt) – the discipline & training of which take up the whole of the few hours I have left me by the two previously mentioned little amusements.

I have entirely shaken off my fever & ague again I am happy to say.

Christmas is coming on, we even in India feel it getting cold, and of course to keep up old customs. We have our Xmas dinners, the Officers feed the men; the Sergeants give a Ball where some of the Officers make a point always of forgetting themselves.

However at Christmas times great excuses are made but in the midst of our Races, our dinners & our Anglo Indian fun, the time of year somehow makes people wish they were in the old Country & to seeing all the well known faces about them. This is a subject however on which it does not do to dwell, and on the same principle as the Band goes on after a Funeral – when coming away from the Cemetery it strikes up one of its gayest marches – we try to forget care & enjoy ourselves. We should have very poor soldiering if people gave themselves up easily to brood over all their misfortunes.

I have not heard from Master Arthur for an age but as I have no time to spare, I content myself with answering letters I receive & do not open up fresh correspondences.

I suppose, if my Father’s health allows it, you are preparing for a rush into all sorts of Xmas festivities. I wish you joy in them & wish I myself could join you. However there is ‘a good time a coming’ so we must wait patiently.

I have written until I am tired so with both love to Helen & all

Believe me

yr. affect. son

J D Laurie

[Later Addition – written diagonally across page 1]

34th Foot. Captain Posts to sell

& then Capt Steuart purchase papers put in

The senior Lieutenants for purchase are

Dunbar

Holroyd

& Greaves

then Laurie

As vacancies (Companies) fall or by purchase they will be offered to the Lieutenants as they stand above by calling upon their Agents to pay the money – If one fails to do so the next will be taken

WF [?]

21.12.60

* Adjutant – At that time, Lt. Richard John Philip Leeson