Letter from Major Terence Duffin to Auntie B. Letters 1916-1923 Terrence Duffin

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 Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities Vienna, AT 2026

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A letter from Terence 'Terry' Duffin to his aunt, B. Terence writes of family matters and describes the boredom and monotony of trench warfare. Terence describes the lush green countryside, noting that but for the sound of guns (which never ceases) 'you could scarcely imagine a war going on...' He closes with hopes of getting leave in three weeks time.This letter is part of a rich correspondence between various members of the Duffin family, a large prosperous family living in Strandtown, Belfast. Several family members served in the war, including Major Terence Duffin, who served as a staff officer with 107 Brigade, and later with Royal Irish Rifles; Major Charles G Duffin MC, Royal Field Artillery; and their sisters Emma, Celia and Dorothy who served as Voluntary Aid Detachments (VADS) in Egypt and France, and with the YMCA.

 Public Record Office of Northern Ireland Duffin Papers, D2109/10/1/B https://letters1916.ie/item/627 English Terrence Duffin 1916 Brigade Headquarters, 107th Brigade, British Expeditionary Force Auntie B Male World War I (1914-1918) Personal Relations

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 D2109/10/1/B. Hd. Qrs. 107 Bde. B. E. F. My dear Auntie B. Thank you so much for your letter and also the box of shamrock which reaches me safely. I still owe Aunt Ellie a letter. Which adds another to my long list of correspondence debts which I fear I shall never be able to pay off as long as this war lasts! I hope all who are good enough to write realise that letters are ever welcome, even though I am too busy or too lazy, whichever way you like to look at it, to reply to them all. I am truly sorry for poor Charlie and Marjorie, he out here and she with her home broken up — I do hope he will be sent back to England for a bit. Aunt Margaret was certainly one of the very best and most kindhearted of women. I don't suppose she had an enemy in the world. Everybody who knew her like here. She was the kindest of friends to all of us at Dunowen. I have but little news to tell you — one day is like another — I really think monotony is one the worst features of the war. We have had a spell of the most lovely Spring weather. I was up in the trenches this afternoon and but for the noise of guns which hardly ever ceases, you could scarcely imagine a war was going on — every thing just starting to turn green and quantities of partridge running about in the sun, though only about 300 yards from the German trenches! I have hopes of getting home on leave again in about three weeks. Very best love to all at Strandtown Ever your affectionate Jerry Brigade Headquarters, 107th Brigade, British Expeditionary Force Letter from Major Terence Duffin to Auntie B. Terrence Duffin Letter from Terence Duffin to his father Adam, 29 January 1916Letter from Major Terence Duffin to Auntie B.Letter from Terrence Duffin to Ruth Duffin, 10 December 1915.Letter from Terence Duffin to Edmund Duffin, 3 December 1915Letter from Terence Duffin to Maria Duffin, March 1916