Letter from Captain Alan John Bowles, 2nd Battalion The Royal Berkshire Regiment to his mother, 10 November 1915

The letter states:

'My very dearest Mummy,

I can't get hold of any postcards so this will have to do instead. Just a scribble. It just 9.30 and I've just had my dinner. I've been on duty since 4.30 as officer of the watch so to speak, which means one's actually up and down the trenches all the time, superintending working parties, sniping etc: that's how we work it in the day time. 3 watches Breakfast - lunch, lunch - tea, tea - dinner roughly. At night 2 ½ hour watches. I go on again about 3.30.'

Bowles was killed in action at La Boiselle near Albert on 10 April 1916 while serving with the 1st Battalion Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment).

From a collection of papers of Captain Alan John Bowles, 2nd Bn Royal Berkshire Regiment, Royal Military College, Sandhurst and Western Front 1914-1916.