Buckingham Palace,<br />Aug. 9, 1914.<br />You are leaving home to fight for the safety and honour of my Empire.<br />Belgium, whose country we are pledged to defend, has been attacked, and France is about to be invaded by the same powerful foe.<br />I have implicit confidence in you, my soldiers. Duty is your watchword, and I know your duty will be nobly done.<br />I shall follow your every movement with deepest interest, and mark with eager satisfaction your daily progress; indeed, your welfare will never be absent from my thoughts.<br />I pray God to bless you and guard you and bring you back victorious.<br />George R.I.