On Y.M.C.A. headed notepaper.

May 2^nd 1916

Reply to A Company 3^rd Bat Leicester Regt

Stationed at Patrington

Nr Hull.

My Dear Mr Walters,

            You will think I do not write often but I have very little time to spare, I expect you will see some of our chaps over this week end, some have a leave as they are going out.  Turner Newbury is one of them.  I do not know what you think about the progress of the war, but we are being got ready quick enough I have learned how to use rifle and bayonet and to throw bombs already so I shall not be long as they seem to be wanting men badly at the front.  We have been confined to camp for a week now so there is something serious somewhere.  We have been fetched out 5 times since Monday last at 3 AM in full marching order, but our company is always first this morning we dressed and out in 10 minutes that was smart enough.  I could not get to church on Sunday night it is the first time I have missed since I came here.  I often wonder how you are all getting on at our church.  It is a pity we are shut up like this as it is the cause of a lot of drunkness in the camp, but still I have not joined that crowd yet and do not intend to do.  We have nothing to do on Sunday afternoon so you see I missed our Men’s service.  I expect the band of hope is closed now.  I shall be pleased when the war is over and I can get back home, this is the first time I have been away from home and I know to it.  I hope you are still in good health as well as your wife and family.  I am in the best of health myself I am pleased to say and still smiling.  I have no news to tell so I must close and please do not say anything what I have wrote about our camp as it is against orders, but if we did not say something about our camp or we should not have anything to say.

I am

Yours Faithfully

J.W. Weston

Pte J.W. Weston 25739

A Compy 3^rd Batt

Leicestershire Regt

Patrington

Nr Hull

There is no envelope with this letter.