1 12/11/15 My Dearest Mother - It's over a
week now since I wrote you
but having written to K & Father in
the meantime there was really nothing
to tell you & besides I have had
a very busy time of it recently. It was
good of you dear Mother to write me
so often & I have now 4 letters of
yours before me to acknowledge dated
2nd, 5th 6th & 9th. I was just
reading your last, telling me what
a bad time poor Kathleen was having
when the wire arrived with the good
news that Baby had arrived & that
both were doing well. I can
imagine how delighted & relieved
Douglas will be to receive the news.
I think K was hoping for a boy 2
but still I don't suppose she will
be at all disappointed. Well
as regards our doings out here
the Brigade starts back to the
trenches on Monday but they are
only to be there for a short spell
(about 2 weeks) & it has been decided
to leave all the Machine Gunners &
Bombers here to continue their training
& so I shall be remaining also to
superintend the M G instructions & as
O C details. The weather is simply
awful at present - it has scarcely
stopped raining for past 3 days
so am lucky to be left here in
comfortable quarters when the move
is only for such a short time.
I have a machine gun range fixed 3
up about 2 miles from here &
all the guns in the Bde, assemble
there each day for shooting & various
kinds of training. We take lunch
with us & spend the whole day
there so I have quite a busy time
of it. The Batts. are billeted in
neighbouring villages but I expect
when the Bde. leaves for the trenches
the detachment left behind will
all be billeted in this village.
I ride every day to the range &
frequently also to the various
villages where the Batts. are billeted.
but of course have nothing like
the amount of riding here that
I had when we were in the
trenches, & I was going to various 4
parts of the line each day.
I have been rather seedy for the last
2 days - a bilious turn - & have
been in bed since yest. afternoon,
however I am much better this
evening & expect to be quite all
right again by tomorrow. There
is a very good little Dr. in the 9th Fus.
who are in this village & he has been
looking after me. Have not seen
Gerard for some little time but he
was then in good form & looking
well. His Batt. the 13th is about 3
miles away from here. We
heard yesterday that Charlie M. has been
granted another 3 months leave so
he must be a good deal worse
than he imagined. It is unfortunate 5
for him & also for the Batt. but he
will at least miss most of the
winter out here which is something to
be thankful for. Was glad to hear
Hammis was looking so well - I hope
he will soon recover the use of his
arm. You mentioned that you
had sent me a box of fruit but so
far no parcels of any kind have
reached me within the last 2 weeks.
I have also been expecting the parcel of
clothes I wrote for. Probably they will
come within the next day or so as also
cakes etc. By the way Mother dear
if you can send any butter, would
you include some soda bread,
Quite a number of the men have it
sent out to them & it makes such
a pleasant change from the ration
bread we get. My gloves have
almost worn out & I would 6
like you to send me
1 pr leather with gauntlets & fur lined
1 pr woollen
1 ' ' mittens.
My size is 8=1/2 but the leather
gloves especially are better to be
on the large size as then ones hands
keep warmer. Hoping to have
further good news of K in your
next letter & with love to all Your loving son Jim Have not yet received the tubes of
shaving soap & toothpaste. Hope they
will come soon as my supply is
almost finished. 7
On Active Service
17 Nov Mrs S.C. Davidson Seacourt Bangor Co. Down Ireland
JS Davidson
12 - 11- 15