39th Regiment of Foot, National Army Museum, 1973–01–56, Letters 5 December 1854, 23 March 1855, and 16 April 1855.

Robert Clarke was a sergeant in the 39^th Regiment of Foot, who had enlisted in 1840. He survived the Crimean War, retiring in 1862. The letters below to his mother, and after their parting at Gibraltar, to his wife, Elicia (who was sent back to Ireland), are more emotionally expressive than most soldiers’ letters. Clarke repeatedly declared his love for Elicia, who awaited his return in Belfast. Clarke’s spelling has been retained, while punctuation has been added for clarity.