John sighed "I know I did Kate and I have to live with that. I had to go. The Constabulary were never away from the house. If I went out they gave me and James Colley hassle. Things were hell between me and Joe. It wasn't pretty. If I had stayed. I'd have been in prison and that would have broken ma's heart worse than me going to the army. Da never approved but deep down I think he understands I had to aswell"

He sat down for a bit on the grass beside the path and patted the ground for Kate to sit with him, "when I left. All the families were fighting with each other. Wards, longbottoms etc. There was a large battle in the craggs at that time. Ma was more worried I wouldn't come home at all. I left before I got locked. The army did me alot of good. It taught me to read and write. How to do all my own admin. And It let me see part of the world. But now I feel that my three years left will be my last and I will be out on civilian street"