An entertaining letter has been received by Mr E. J. Hawkes, the Luton and District Police Court Missionary, from Sapper Ernest James Simpkins, of Mangrove, who was in the service of Mr Hawkes prior to joining the East Anglian Royal Engineers two year ago. Now in Egypt, he writes:

"I dare say you have seen the reports of the recent engagements. It was a bit warm, and I am not anxious to be in any more. They throw too many iron rations about. I am not up the line at the time of writing (July 1st) as I went into hospital on May 16th, had about a month, and now am at a detail camp waiting to be sent back to the boys.

"We are quite near ------ [censored], and so can get a pass and go for a night's enjoyment any time we have money to spare, which, I can assure you, is not often, as 50 piastre notes do not go very far here, and there are not a great many of them flying about. But I suppose we must not grumble.

"I don't think much of the 'land flowing with milk and honey'. When I was there I did not see much except sand and flies, so I don't know what it would be like if there was much honey knocking about.

"I don't doubt at the Israelites grumbling when they marched across the desert. I have marched about 150 miles in it, and I can tell you we did grumble somewhat.

"We have been quite close to the place where Samson carried the gates to the top of the hill. He must have felt a lot stronger than I do, as there are some decently high banks there!"

[The Luton News: Thursday, July 19th, 1917]