Letter from William Montgomery to his father, Harford Hugh Montgomery, 26 October, 1916 Letters 1916-1923 William Alexander Montgomery

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Letter from William Montgomery to his father enclosing cheques to settle accounts. William sympathises with his father on the death of an acquaintance, Matt. He writes that Major Horace Haslett (1884- 1953), who had been evacuated previously having lost his eye in a gunshot wound, is returning to duty and will take over William's duty as second in command. Major Horace Haslett was gazetted on 14 July 1917 having been awarded the Croix de Chevalier, likely for actions taken during the Battle of Messines. The Montgomery family lived in Malone Park, one of the wealthiest suburbs of Belfast city. This letter is part of a large collection that their son, William, a Captain with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles, wrote to his parents, Harford Hugh and Sara Montgomery, throughout the war. His first letter is dated 3 December 1914. Captain Montgomery was a decorated soldier. He was awarded both the Victoria and the 15 Star medals and was promoted to the rank of Major. His father owned a fire assessor business.

 Public Record Office of Northern Ireland Papers of the Montgomery Family, D2794/1/1/16 https://letters1916.ie/item/665 English William Alexander Montgomery 1916-11-26 In the Field Sara Montgomery Monacherra, Malone Park, Belfast, Ireland Male World War I (1914-1918)

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 In the Field 26.1.16 Dear Father Please pass cheques herewith in payment of accounts enclosed. Receipts may be given to Emmie. I duly received yours of 21 st inst. yesterday with enclosure. I note with much interest the dizzy heights to which Benniehas attained. I hope he continues to do well. I was exceedingly sorry to hear of Matt's death. I expect your were cut up about it. I will try & write a note to the Surveyors Institution some time & tell them of a matter that would no doubt interest them. which About a month ago two fellows dropped in to see me 'professionally' in my Coy. H.Q. in the Front line. One was the Liason Gunner for the day & the other was the O.C. 2. the Coy on my left. We both belonged to different Brigades. I don't recollect that I had ever met either of them before. But the nature of our business brings us in touch with a surprising number of people many of whom we only know by their Command or occupation. (e.g. O.C. Trench Mortar Battery. Liason Officer. F.O.O. O.C. Flank Coy .etc.) It was in the middle of the night & we had tea & other refreshment & things were quiet, & as usual we got chatting after we had transacted our business. Sociability as I understood it before the war is a pale shadow when compared with the Comradeship of the front line trench. You would love this side of it. Best of men. Thought quick & clear. Judgment swift 3. Wit sharp. Expression forcible rather than polite, but tact is always of a high class in a successful officer. No tact. No cooperation in a good guiding light for any officer. Well - In the course of our chat, we discovered that all three of us were members of the Surveyors Institution. Both the other fellows were P.A.S.I men. One of them is the son of a big London one time Auctioneer & Estate Agent - Harrington's. (I think that is right) The father sold the business & then changed his name to Cook. Very decent fellow the son. I have forgotten the other fellows names but I meet him occasionally when I dine out round the Batteries. This of course only happens during our tours out. We are expecting Horace 4 (Major Haslett, I beg his pardon) to re-join us today. He will take over my job as Acting 2 nd in Command. Woods is on a 2 1/2 months course in England. The 2 ndin Command job is a delightful one. I have had a most perfect rest at it this joyous month past. Owing to the effect Horace's rejoining has on my position I couldn't say very much when I was asked by the C.O. what I thought about it. I am however doubtful as to its advisability in view of the wet & exposure & cold & muck. His lack of proper eye focus also is a very serious drawback as regards observation or in the very rare instances in which it could arise in his position, self protection. It has been entirely the C.O.'s effort which hasis bringing him back. He 5. hated to think of him in a Clerk's job and I know he will do all he can to make things easy for him. This he can do all right as long as Woods is away, but if he comes back Horace will have to take a Coy. or leave us. I don't think even the C.O. believes he could stand Coy. work. Horace I know was himself most anxious not to take over the job of 2 nd in Command & wrote to this effect to the C.O. putting it quite clearly that he hadn't the experience & saying he would be delighted to serve under me. But the C.O. with his cast iron ideas of Justice said NO. I saw Horace's letter to this effect. I have Mother's letter of 11 th Oct before me but there does not appear to be anything in it requiring reply. 6. I had a very interesting letter from my good friend MajByers of Knock Church on Theological subjects in reply to a letter I wrote him. I am in the best of health & form. Drop me a line when you find time. Your affectionate son W. Montgomery H.H.Montgomery Esq C/o W m Montgomery & Son 2 Wellington Place Belfast. Post Stamp marked Field Post 26 Oct 1916 Monacherra, Malone Park, Belfast, Ireland Letter from William Montgomery to his father, Harford Hugh Montgomery, 26 October, 1916Letter from William Montgomery to his parents, Harford and Sara Montgomery, 30 October, 1916Letter from William Montgomery to his parents, Harford and Sara Montgomery, 29 December, 1915 In the Field Letter from William Montgomery to his father, Harford Hugh Montgomery, 26 October, 1916Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 28 November 1915Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 12 November 1915Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 16 November 1915Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 3 November 1915Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 2 December 1915Letter from William Montgomery to his mother, Sara Montgomery, 13 October, 1916Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 17 December 1915Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 12 December 1915Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 22 December 1915Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 31 December 1915Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 1 February 1916Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 11 January 1916Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 19 January 1916Letter from William Montgomery to his father, Harford Hugh Montgomery, 18 December, 1915Letter from William Montgomery to his father, Harford Hugh Montgomery, 13 December, 1915Letter from William Montgomery to his parents, Harford and Sara Montgomery, 18 November, 1915Letter from William Montgomery to his parents, Harford and Sara Montgomery, 29 December, 1915 William Alexander Montgomery Letter from William Montgomery to his father, Harford Hugh Montgomery, 26 October, 1916Letter from William Montgomery to his mother, Sara Montgomery, 13 October, 1916Letter from William Montgomery to his father, Harford Hugh Montgomery, 19 November, 1916Letter from William Montgomery to his parents, Harford and Sara Montgomery, 30 October, 1916Letter from William Montgomery to his father, Harford Hugh Montgomery, 29 September, 1915Letter from William Montgomery to his father, Harford Hugh Montgomery, 16 November, 1916Letter from William Montgomery to his father, Harford Hugh Montgomery, 13 December, 1915Letter from William Montgomery to his parents, Harford and Sara Montgomery, 18 November, 1915Letter from William Montgomery to his parents, Harford and Sara Montgomery, 29 December, 1915Letter from William Montgomery to his mother, Sara Montgomery, 23 December, 1915