Sidney Marks

Sidney Marks copies of a letters from him to his father and sent to me by his great nephew Keith Marks.

Cavy Bde

 Ladysmith

 Field Forces

 S.A.

Dear Dad

    This is my Queen’s Chocolate I want you to keep it for me until I come home.

    Sam Shepley sent the little knife, it is to be given to Edith Shepley.  Tell her it

    was taken from a dead “Boer” on the 6th January when we had a big fight on Wagon Hill

    Ladysmith.

    My Squadron is going on Outpost Duty tomorrow about 8 miles from here & close to where the

    Enemy are supposed to be.

Dear DadI

    I have very little to say.  Things are very dull here and we all wish to goodness it was over.

    ********* to have one more big smash up & I expect it will be over in a month or two (let us hope   

    so)  I have had quite enough for once.

    I and Sam are both in the best of health.  He sends his love to all.

    Hoping you will excuse scribble I must conclude with fondest love from

    Your Loving Son

    Sid

    PS  Tell Percy I should like to hear from him

Keith comments that the Queen’s Chocolate was apparently a special issue to the troops – we still have the tin and Sam Shepley was a comrade of Sid’s and a next door neighbour back in Manchester.  Edith was his sister.  Sam later married Sid’s sister Julia Marks.
Percy was Sid’s youngest brother, my grandfather, who was about 12 years  old at the time.

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