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H.M.S. Defence,
c/o G.P.O. London 19th Nov. 1915 My Dearest Sister, Just a few lines in answer to your letter
which I received on today (Friday) so glad to see by
same that you are quite well as this leaves me with a
bad cold again of course one cannot help having colds
this weather. Well I have no more photos like the
one I sent home to you only one taken with my chum
here. The best thing to do is to have the them out
as you will be always troubled with them. I will
write to Ester on Sunday so glad to hear that she
is keeping quite well. So you are having a rough
time of it at home. I thought here was the only
place for storms see you had a big storm at home
there plenty of fine wood not now for a while. I am sorry to see that mother has
a cold she
must take care of herself this weather
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I will write to Sister Francis on Sunday when I have
time to myself of course there is always a lot of noise
so you cannot write so well. Well dear sister I am
glad to see that Nell and Mary are well also dad
so conclude for now hoping to hear from you soon
again. I remain your loving
Brother Lawrence
XXXX
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Lawrence Brown wrote this letter while on board the HMS Defence. He wrote to his sister
Margaret Brown, who at the time was living at the Viceregal Lodge, the official residence
of the lord lieutentant of Ireland (Lord Wimborne in 1915) in the Phoenix Park, Dublin.
Lawrence was a gunner in the Royal Marine Artillery. On 31 May 1916 the HMS Defence
was sunk during the Battle of Jutland, the largest naval battle of the Great War,
and Lawrence was killed. His body was never recovered.
In the letter, Laurence makes no reference to the war except to say that there is
'always a lot of noise' on the ship. He refers to his family, mentions that he has
a cold and says that he will write to another sister.
Attached is a photograph of Lawrence Brown.