Copy of a letter from Albert French to his sister May written in early 1916.
Albert tells May that he has got over his home visit now but hopes to get another weekend leave soon. He has had two letters from Violet and sent her three. The training is intensifying now. Every day they are marching twenty miles and sham fighting. He was very pleased with the chocolate she sent him. A ‘gentleman Lieutenant of Yorkshire’ who was in the company sent everyone half a dozen cigarettes. He gave his to his mate. He talks about two men he now shares a room with who act the goat and make everyone laugh. One is an Irishman named Sharp, nickname ‘Sharpener’, and the other is a Scotsman named Kirby, who used to be a sergeant in the Scots Guard. Sometimes Kirby gets drunk and he is brought in by two fellows, singing and hardly able to stand up. The regiment had to help furnish an extra guard for East Surrey prisoners as they were getting out of hand. When they are marching other men wish they were in the Kings Royal Rifles. He hopes they are all well and sends his love.
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