c/o Mr O’Shea

33 Dale Rd

Luton.

Revd Sir,

            Thank you very much for your mast kind letter this morning.  I am sure it is most encouraging & will be helpful to me, if it should be my lot to be in the fighting line & also if I am not, to know that my friends at home are interceding for me.

            I must thank you for your congrat^s, it also has been a sore point to me, that my Captain did not consider I was capable of such, after having served under him before.  I might say (in confidence) that we was to some extent pressed into it at the last by the senior N.C.O’s which I did not at all like when they told me.

I am pleased you like my photo, everyone says what a good one it is.

I am afraid that the night operations are rather a drawback to our health, as the ground is so very damp, myself I have had a bad cold for a fortnight, but am much better now.

Most of our men are grumbling at the hard work.  Of course, it does not do for the N.C.O’s to say anything even if they think it.

We have been out “Trench Digging” today I was at it about 4½, & altho not used to it I do not feel any effects.  Our Colonel came round & say we had done very well.

I should like to be remembered to all the members of our Service, I often think about them & also long to be at the service & week night meeting.  I hope that the numbers are increasing, altho I suppose it is really to much to expect many now, under the circumstances.

I hope to be able to write again to you before we leave & if we should be here another week shall try to get home, if however I do not, I should like to ask you to allow my name to remain on the “Sidesmen’s List” at the Easter Vestry, if I am alive, which I hope I may be.

Must close now with very kind regards to Mrs Walters & yourself.

I remain

Yrs obediently

Albert Will Hanson

Lc/Cpl

I have not sent you my Regt No which is 2346.

There is no envelope with this letter.