Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 28 November 1915 Letters 1916-1923 James Davidson

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 Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities Vienna, AT 2026

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Letter from James Davidson (1877-1916) to his mother, Clara Mary, writing on his return from the trenches. He thanks her for socks, gloves, soda bread and provisions and asks for smaller quantities more regularly, due to difficulties packing provisions when moving. The weather is cold, hard frost but no snow. He is now stationed near other battalions and his friends which pleases him. This letter is part of a large correspondence from Captain James Davidson to his parents. Davidson, who was Managing Director of the Sirocco Engineering Works in Belfast, served with 13 Royal Irish Rifles and the Machine Gun Corps. His letters describe his experiences while training in England and serving in France. He was killed on 1 July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme.

 Public Record Office of Northern Ireland Davidson Family Papers, D3642/B/8/12 https://letters1916.ie/item/669 English James Davidson 1915-11-28 In the Field Clara Mary Davidson Seacourt, Bangor, Co. Down Male World War I (1914-1918)

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 28/11/15 My dearest mother We have arrived in our new area & things are rather upside down so excuse a very rushed letter. Have not been able to do any writing for some days as there has been such a lot to do. The Brigade arrived back from the trenches on Friday & it meant such a rush getting all the details sent back to their various billets, settling billeting claims & as of course the least possible amount of notice is given. Then the Units were only allowed to rest 1 night in their old billets before starting for the new area so you can't imagine how difficult it has been for all concerned. This time we are in quite a big town compared to what we have been accustomed to & it is therefore a very welcome change. What makes it all the more pleasant for me is that the 13th are billeted with the Bde. H.Q.s & the other Batts are in neighbouring places so it is quite like old times to see all my old pals. Saw Gerard of course today. He is looking well & in quite good form after in spite of the very severe weather they had in the trenches. The Brigade was very lucky this time as there were no killed — only a few wounded. I am afraid there is little hope for poor Courtenay Shillington who was in the 107th Bde. He was out with a patrol at night, was fired on by a large German patrol & he was seen by the others to throw up his arms & fall forward. When a larger patrol was sent out later his body could not be found. Weather very cold at present — hard frost but fortunately no snow. One has to file out as many clothes as possible to keep warm. I had a very bad billet last night but found a much better place today where I am quite comfortable. We are evidently to continue training here as before — I wonder where we shall go next time. Hope it wont be service. And now dear mother I must thank you for three letters which have come since I last wrote. Was so sorry to hear you had not been very well for a day or so. I expect it was those oysters. So glad that K. & Baby go on well & that father has been keeping all right. Poor Mr Ward does not seem in good health. I do so hope he will soon be better, things would be very difficult at the works without him. The socks arrived safely & the gloves. Thanks ever so much mother dear. They were all perfectly splendid. The tin of soda bread also came & was enjoyed by all & papers come regularly so I dont think anything has gone wrong so far. When sending out any eatables in future however it would be better to send only small quantities & more frequently because when we move all personal surplus store one may have, have to be given away or left behind unless one can find some means of packing them up. What I mean is that fo instance it would be better to send say I lb of butter each week rather than a box of 5 or 6 lbs every month. There is one thing I would like sent out as soon as possible & that is my green canvas kit bag. It requires some overhaul I think atErskines — some of the eyelets were a bit torn & he could put my name on it if that was not already done. I of course dont mean they should put on Bde. H. Q but simply Capt. J.S. Davidson. I did not think I would have time to write so much but must now stop. With fondest love to all. Your loving son James over I was almost forgetting to ask you to send me out 2 more suits of warm underwear & 1 warm shirt. This should be sufficient meantime & I will send back my summer things within the next few days. James On Active Service 2ndDec /15 Mrs . S.C. Davidson Seacourt Bangor Co Down Ireland JS Davidson 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 Seacourt, Bangor, Co. Down Letter 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, 19 December 1915Letter from Captain James Davidson to Clara Mary Davidson, 6 December 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 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 Clara Mary Davidson, 21 November 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 James Davidson to his mother, S.C. Davidson, 27 December 1915Letter from James Davidson to Clara Davidson, 27 January 1916Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 28 May 1916Letter from James Davidson to his sister, Kathleen, 7 March 1916Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 13 March 1916Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 19 February 1916Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 27 February 1916Telegram from Secretary War Office to the Davidsons, 3 March 1916Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 21 May 1916 James Davidson Letter 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, 19 December 1915Letter from Captain James Davidson to Clara Mary Davidson, 6 December 1915Letter from James Davidson to Clara Mary Davidson, 3 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 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 Clara Mary Davidson, 21 November 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 Captain James Davidson to his mother Clara Mary Davidson, 7 December 1915Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 19 January 1916Letter from James Davidson to his mother, S.C. Davidson, 27 December 1915Letter from James Davidson to Clara Davidson, 27 January 1916Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 28 May 1916Telegram from Samuel Cleland Davidson to Captain SJ Davidson, 6 March 1916Letter from James Davidson to his sister, Kathleen, 7 March 1916Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 13 March 1916Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary. Davidson, 16 February 1916Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 19 February 1916Letter from James Davidson to Clara Davidson, 30 June 1916Postcard from James Davidson to Clara Davidson, 25 June 1916Letter from James Davidson to Clara Davidson, 28 June 1916Telegram from James Davidson to Samuel and Clara Davidson, 8 April 1916Letter from James Davidson to Samuel Davidson, 9 June 1916Letter from James Davidson to Clara Davidson, 12 April 1916Letter from James Davidson to Clara Davidson, 18 June 1916Letter from James Davidson to Clara Davidson, 16 April 1916Letter from James Davidson to Clara Davidson, 21 June 1916Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 27 February 1916Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 29 February 1916Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 21 May 1916Letter from James Davidson to Clara Davidson, 5 June 1916Letter from James Davidson to Clara Davidson, 6 June 1916Telegram from James Davidson to Samuel and Clara Davidson, 10 April 1916Letter from James Davidson to Clara Davidson, 9 April 1916Letter from James Davidson to Clara Davidson, 15 June 1916Letter from James Davidson to Clara Davidson, 23 April 1916