Letters sent from Major General Water Newman to Miss Emma Brown, 1860

Lieutenant Walter Newman (1836-1894) was from Yeovil, Somerset. He served with the Royal Artillery from 1855, taking part in the Crimean War (1854-1856) and the Indian Mutiny (1857-59). During his service, he wrote a series of love letters to his sweetheart, Emma Montague Browne (1844-1930), from County Down, Ireland.

On 13 October 1860, whilst based in Portsmouth, Walter wrote to the 16-year-old Emma, asking for her hand in marriage. Emma accepted Walter's proposal with a letter of agreement.

The couple married in Plymouth in 1861, they had three children, Edwin, Walter and Evelyn.