Blasons

1856 · réf. AQ24277 — 1856. Manuscript on paper. Single bifolium. With original stamped envelope. Old horizontal and vertical folds. Short tears at folds cross-written on terminal page. Envelope worn and soiled. An autograph letter in the hand of private Thomas Arms of the 12th Royal Lancers addressed to his sister written at Scutari Istanbul 17th January 1856 two months prior to the cessation of hostilities during the Crimean War. Arms references his participation in the Battle of Tchernaïa the fall of Sebastopol and the conditions he and his fellow soldiers had to endure: 'You wished for some small token from Sebastopol but I had nothing but a Russian musket and bayonet and those I sold to one of our officers as I have no means of sending it to England.things are very dear 1lb of bread here is 1/6 meat we cannot buy for any price we give 2 shillings for a bottle of porter or ale and we are only getting half allowance of rum to what we used to get and there it is a great deal of gambling amongst the troops'. The cross-written portion of the letter is of particular note for a passing mention of reformer of army medical services and of nursing organisation Florence Nightingale 1820-1910: 'Dear sister their sic are some kind ladies in these hospitals and kind nurses here to attend upon you. Miss Nightingale is here and Miss Roberts and some more very amicable from England'. . unknown