only 23 miles wide here. We are only thirty-five miles from the firing line.

You must excuse this untidy writing and my old failure – grammar – but it is not very often I have the use of ink these days. It is impossible to keep ink in the tent as one has such little room and the bottle is sure to be smashed. I have left it to the end to say how sorry I am that I was unable to come and say good-bye to you all. Thank you so much for offering to send the cigarettes. Please write again and soon. A letter from an old friend is what one looks forward to most. Remember me to all, or better still give them my love. You see six thousand miles makes one bolder and you cannot see me blush,

Believe me,
Most sincerely yours,
Joe
________________________________________

MS-1902, File 15 Shires to Russell 17/07/1915 p.6