Dear May

I am very sorry to have had to keep you waiting so long, but I have been down butt marking and all manner of things. Really, I haven't had time. I received your postal order safe, for which I thank you ever so much. I hope the snow has melted down at Wolverton as it is here. All the fellows seem to be home on their last leave before they go out, don't they? There is talk of us having our last leave in 3 weeks time, and then going to Egypt. Last Friday it was India. So you cannot depend on it. The Cope's family are always in the wars, aren't they? I don't think Walt Grace would be much use for the army. I don't think he would stick the long route marches. I hope you soon hear from Reg, so that we know how he is getting on. Mr Fessy is lucky to get home for a fortnight, but they are not so particular about Bandsmen, as they are the infantrymen, especially infantrymen like the 18th K.R.R. Our captain told us that when we go abroad, we have got to let everybody in England know that we are out. He says none of us are to be taken prisoners, under any circumstance. So we shall go out with the consolation that we shan't be made prisoners of war, at any rate. Our Adjutant told us the history of the 1st K.R.R in this war, by a diary from one of their officers. They got on fine until they went into action at the battle of Mons. They had a terrible share in it. They had 400 out of 1,000 men killed that day. The French retired and the K.R.R. held on for 3 hours after the French had gone. Then K.R.R. had to march 170 miles, fighting all the way. After the Marne, the other 600 were nearly wiped out. Well as it is tea time I must now close with the fondest love from

Your loving Brother Albert.

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