On Salvation Army Soldiers’ Tent headed notepaper

Cpl S.S. Yearby

Z Battery R.H.A. 1914

Hursley Park

Winchester

Dear Vicar,

            In answer to yours received yesterday I was pleased to hear from you & to know that I am so well thought of at Whitwick.  It was stated that we were off to France last week but we haven’t made a shift yet, I wish we were going this very moment, because if it is one’s luck to get through all right by God’s Help he will do so, I am in the best of spirits looking forward when my good old Battery may come in action & if there is any chance of distinguishing myself I shall do so.  I see one young fellow what belongs to Leicester has won the V.C. his name is Driver Osbourne he was with L Battery at Mons when they got cut up.  Dear Sir I can’t get my Photo taken because we are right away from town 5 miles, but if you ask my Young Lady Miss Waldrom she has several of mine God Bless her.  I shall be pleased to hear from you at any time & as soon as I know we are for the Front & that can’t be long because they have took all our things only what we stand straight up in.  We are having some bad luck with our horses a great many laid up with colds.  I am in charge of 32 Sick Horses & out of that number I have 9 strangle cases very bad so I have my hands pretty busy taking temperatures three times a day & giving them different medicines & mixing up balls for them.  I haven’t much time to myself I was called up in the night last night.  I was called up twice to attend the sick horses I didn’t mind one rap.  I believe in looking after those that have to carry you & poor things can’t look after themselves.  Oh Sir I refused Farrier Sergt last week I didn’t like shifting elsewhere which I should have had to have done & gone to another Battery amongst strange fellows so I told the Major I was contented here & he said good I didn’t want to lose you from here altho it was my duty to give you the first chance must draw to a close hoping to hear from you any time

I remain yours truly

Cpl S.S. Yearby

Z Battery R.H.A.

Hursley Park

Winchester

There is no envelope with this letter.