Benjamin James (known to his family as Benny) was born in Chepstow, and joined the Royal Welch Fusiliers in Tonypandy. Having had previous experience of being a miner, he transferred from the 2nd Batallion of the RWF to serve as a tunneler with the Royal Engineers (perhaps because it meant an extra 6d a day in pay). This letter was written on 27 October 1915 (when he was still with the RWF) to his sister Frances ('Fran') and her family. In the letter Benny thanks Fran for the parcel and asks whether they could send out a woollen coat to help keep him warm in the trenches. Benny was killed in action on the Western Front on 19 April 1916: his body was never recovered. He is remembered on the Loos War Memorial and on the War Memorial at Chepstow.