An original Crimea War letter - author unconfirmed, dated at ‘Kadikoi, July 9th 1855’, ink, four sides on a single folded piece of white paper, addressed to ‘My dearest Mamma’ and discussing such matters as a soldier of the 41st giving water to a wounded Russian, a fellow officer selling his commission and the author’s decision to grow a beard; with related envelope addressed to ‘Mrs. Henry Leslie, Port Ballintrae, Bushmills, Ireland’, endorsed ‘via Marseilles’, with three 1d. stamps, and the reverse of the envelope bearing assorted date stamps by the Army Post Office, and offices at London, Dublin, Coleraine and Bushmills, generally in good condition £40-60

Assuming the author’s mother had not remarried, and by study of The New Annual Army List, corrected to January 1855, it is likely this letter was written by one of the following officers - their given ranks being those held at the time of the Crimea War: Major Arthur Leslie, 40th Foot, Captain Charles Henry Leslie, 9th Foot or Captain George Leslie, Royal Artillery.