Letter to Rev. R.M. Laporte Payne 18 October 1916

Royal Naval Barracks

Government crested notepaper

Leslie Boyce No 2686

N 15 Mess E Block,

Royal Naval b.

Devonport

18.10.16

Dear Sir,

I would have written to you before but I have not had any stamps.

I arrived here after a long journey of 7 hours. Last Friday I went to see the Chaplain and I believe he is going to write to you.  Last Sunday I went to Holy Communion after the preparation on the Saturday night.

I am just settling down more and am beginning to like it very much.   I have started my 12 weeks coarse{sic} of seamanship and it is very interesting I wrote to Mr. Mannering & Mrs. Dawson and am expecting a reply.

The little Bible that you gave me I have found a great help & I read it every night now without fail. Every morning we have the morning prayer out of the Prayer Book with all the boys & Officers drawn up.  We all have the battle hymn “Holy Father in Thy Mercy” & it reminds me of Christ Church.  Hoping you will reply

From Yours Truly

Leslie Boyce

Kind regards to all the family.