John Henry Absalom of Camrose joined the 14th Battalion Welsh Regiment (known as the 'Swansea Pals') and landed in France in December 1915. This letter was written to his family in 1916. Note how John writes 'According to the papers the Allies [are] intending to advance all along the line. The sooner it comes the better'. John was killed, aged 17, on 10 July 1916, which means that he died at the Battle of Mametz Wood.