excellent sportsman, and mourn his loss very much. My deep sympathy is
with you at this sad time when your home is made desolate.

Please do not think of answering this.

I remain,
Yours sincerely,
MANVERS.

(_From Brigadier-General Farmar, C.B., C.M.G._)

HEADQUARTERS, 2ND ARMY.
_March 20th, 1915._

MY DEAR MRS. LAURIE,

I cannot tell you how shocked I was to hear the dreadful news: only
to-night; but you at home must have heard of it days ago. B----'s
letter was my first intimation. Somehow it came absolutely
unexpectedly: of course, one lives in the middle of these awful sights
and happenings, but he was so strong and so full of energy that it
seemed unbelievable that he should be taken. He has been a friend of
mine, and a very real one, for a good many years now. I saw him not
long ago. He would have been sure to have got a Brigade soon if this
terrible thing had not happened. I have heard no details, but will try
and find out and tell you: unfortunately, his battalion is right at
the other end of the line to where we are, but if I can get down I
will. Dear Mrs. Laurie, I do feel for you most deeply, and my own loss
of a friend as well. If there is anything I can do, it would be a
kindness to ask me, and a relief to do something for you.

Yours very sincerely,
JASPAR FARMAR.

(_From Colonel Anderson._)

HEADQUARTERS, 8TH DIVISION.
_March 22nd, 1915._

DEAR MRS. LAURIE,

About ten days ago I received a copy of Col. Laurie's "History of the
Royal Irish Rifles" which he had very kindly promised to send me. I
was kept very busy on duty, so much so that I never had time to see
him and thank him. And now, to my great grief, I have to write and
tell you how very grateful I was for the book, and at the same time
how very deeply I sympathize with you in your great loss. I need
scarcely tell you how splendidly the Royal Irish Rifles did in the
battle of Neuve Chapelle, and how grandly they were led by their
Colonel.

My father had been in the 83rd many years ago, and I had written the
history of my own regiment, so we had bonds of