Comment by daverol

This brings to mind the Vindolanda tablets: https://www.thoughtco.com/vindolanda-tablets-roman-forces-in... used by Romans at Hadrian's wall.

Many personal messages, for example:

'Caelum crebris imbribus ac nebulis foedum' - the sky is obscured by constant rain and cloud...

or 'Commilitones mei non dolor. Quibusdam placet mitti iubet' - My fellow soldiers have no beer. Please order some to be sent.