1 I.E.F.D 6/8/16 My Dear Mother Thank you very much for your letter of last
week. I am very sorry indeed to hear that
you have been having such a bad
time all round with people going sick
and I hope they are all going on as well
as can be expected. Things are just going
along here same as usual. In fact the days
are so alike that I thought tis was Wednesday.
It seems that it is Saturday & a mail day so
I got a shock. I have got more used to the ways
of the 3rd sappers. I was most awful fed
up with the whole bussiness at first as
I like the madrasses much better than
all the other sorts of niggers put together.
He always smiles & nothing worries him — also
he is not afraid to do hared work now
& then. Also of course I was very fed up
leaving Prince who was an awfully nice man
& a great C.O. However things have more or less
shaken themselves down & are going fine.
The bridge shows no sign of being finished 2 before Xmas anyway but it is hoped that we
get away before that anyway. I have been fishing a lot but have given up
bathing till I hear more about it as there is a
yarn going that a man got nabbed by a shark
the other day near here. Sharks go right up
to Baghdad not big ones but quite big enough
to take out a nasty bight bite. I see Bundie is wounded & missing they must have
had a very warm time at the front & I hope
they make good. Judging by the casualties
the Water Division must have been pretty badly
cut up. Well the mail boat may come anytime
now so I will shut up as there is really
no news. I am still very well
& I hope you are having an easier
time than when I heard last.
With love to all at home. From you loving son Jimmy 3 Mrs A.C. Tate
Slieve —na —Failthe
Whiteabbey
Co Antrim
IRELAND