Private J Chamberlain,1st 5th Bedfordshire Regiment

Just a few lines hoping this will find you quite well, as it leaves me, going on very nicely. Sorry to say that I never saw the fags Fred Walton and Charlie Chasty sent me. I suppose I was on the hospital ship when they sent them. The bullet has not hurt my ankle, it just missed. Sorry to hear that Ern Gowler is dead, when did he die? Last time I saw him he was very nearly in half, he did look bad. Sorry to hear that Lewis Pope has gone. Don’t fret about me, this is not like the Front, there are no bullets and shells flying about. We are looked after well and have everything we want. I am still in bed. I don’t think this war is going to last much longer. As a rule we don’t get longer than 10 days leave, but I don’t think I deserve longer than that. Don’t forget to send me the paper and my fags.