"Do Not Worry"

Since they first set foot in France in late January, the 1st Battalion had been pretty much constantly in the line around the Belgian town of Ypres. 
For men who had seen a life of routine in  Egypt, the unknown, ever-changing life of trench warfare was something of a culture shock. 
The constantly changing situation in the front line, meant that finding a little quiet time to write a letter home, was virtually impossible.
For No. 7777, Private Frederick A. Fensom (left), who had joined the Regiment in 1908, and went with the Battalion to France on the 18th January, he had not had the chance to write home to his mother since the arrived. His first letter home to his mother, who lived at Dry Drayton near Cambridge, ran as follows: "Dear Mother, I am sorry I have not been able to write before. I hope you are well at home. I am well and cheerful. When you write please write to the following address: 1st Batt Suffolk Regt, 84 Brigade, 28 Div. Expeditionary Force, France. We are not allowed to write much so please excuse and do not worry. I remain your loving son, Fred."
After nearly four weeks without news of her son, on 17th February 1915, Mrs Fensom received his letter above. It must have been a great relief to read his words, even if they were few in number.

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