Letters written in France, to a friend in London, between the month of November 1794, and the month of May 1795

These letters come straight from a British Marine officer caught in the turmoil of the French Revolutionary wars. Written between November 1794 and May 1795, they offer a day‑by‑day account of a ship’s desperate fight, its capture, and the uneasy surrender that followed. The writer’s voice is stark and immediate, turning a private diary into a vivid window on a world bruised by conflict.

In the first missive, he describes a harrowing battle off Brest, the lingering gunfire after the colours were struck, and the frantic scramble to safeguard what little personal effect he can. He paints the deck as a scene of death and wounded men, the air heavy with blood and cries, while French soldiers take control and the officer negotiates his meager rights amid tense, broken French commands.

Beyond the battlefield, the correspondence captures the uncertain life of a soldier far from home, the clash of cultures, and the quiet moments of reflection that emerge even in the midst of war. Listeners will hear a personal, unvarnished perspective that brings the era’s turbulence to life.