Transcription:

Dear Captain McKitrick,

Thank you for your letter of the 21st February.

I am glad that the Battery Commander has received the M/S of ‘Monsieur Joseph’ and delighted that he finds it interesting. I am honoured to have it placed in the Battery Museum.

Thank you for the invitation to visit the Troop. I am afraid that it is extremely unlikely that I shall be able to do so as inflation is killing the ability to travel and overcomes my ardent desire to hear further of my old Troop. I belong to the R.H.A. Association so I do get newsletters and am generally informed as to what is going on with RHA and ex-RHA Troops.

I am afraid the book will never be published -- although I am having a last stab at Blackwoods. Several publishers have already been approached and all say the came thing in different ways. They all like the book immensely and say it makes an unusual, compelling and human document. BUT it has no sex, virtually no violence, and only a minor love interest, so they say it will not sell.

Everyone I have spoken to about the book says that this is just the kind of thing they have been waiting for and have had quite enough of sex and violence. However, the publishers think otherwise.

Thank you very much for the plaque, it is a lovely piece of work and will hang in the place of honour for everyone to see. Nothing could have pleased me more.

If, by any chance, I do get the book published I will send you an autographed copy.