1 3/11/15 My dearest Mother — It is just a week I
think since I wrote last, & since then I have
received your letter of 29th & one from
Kathleen dated 27th. Am so glad to hear that
she was keeping bright & well & hope that since
then there has been nothing to worry about. I am
expecting to receive the good news any day
now but I dont imagine you will be able
to let me know by wire as I understand none
are allowed to be sent out here. I have scarcely any news to give you, for ever
since we arrived here we have been simply
doing the same kind of work as at Seaford
with rather more Divisional Field Days &we
are all heartily sick of it. It seems to me
that instead of doing the men good it is having
quite the reverse effect for the Units are scattered
over different villages & discipline is apt to
become slack. The orders were of course
to begin with, that we were only to be here 2
about a week &then return to the trenches
to take over a part of the line on our own
&we were all looking forward to this for we
should have then been able to settle down to
some definite work, but for some reason
or other it was decided to send the 107thBde
instead of us&it looks as if we might
now be here for weeks. The weather has
been too awful for words, —torrents of rain
&very cold —the only compensation is
that we are in rather comfortable billets
in a fine big chateau &after all that is
a good deal to be thankful for out here.
I have almost got rid of my cold &am
really very fit. I have a lot of riding to
do as the Baths are each at different villages
some distance apart & the exercise does
me good. Saw Gerard today when I
was over with the 13th. He is quite fit &
in very good form &is also in fairly
comfortable quarters. He had heard
from Chas. M. within the last day or so 3
&told me that the latter had been given
another months leave as his throat was
still giving trouble. As regards clothing,
the last new socks that you sent me were
not so thick as I wanted though they have
suited quite well up to the present. For
the cold weather I shall want something a
good deal thicker, similar to my old ones
& of nice soft wool. I got that last ones
in Lindsays &they were very good quality.
they should have long legs so as to come
well up over the calf of the riding breeches.
The following is a list of things I would
like you to send out to me as soon as
it is convenient.
3 pairs thick socks
2 suits warm underwear
1 thick shirt
6 handkerchiefs
1 tube shaving cream (Roger Gilletts)
1 tube Holymos toothpaste
1 Muffler (I think there is a nice soft one is one of my greatcoat pockets) 4
I think this all I require at present
dear Mother &when they arrive I will
send back a parcel of thin clothing so
as not to increase my luggage.
There is one thing which is always very
acceptable & that is butter. We find
it very hard to obtain any out here &
tinned stuff has always a niff. Our
Bde. Major gets some sent out from home
occasionally, wrapped in oil paper&
it arrives out in splendid condition so
if when there is any to spare you could
send me a few pounds it would be
very much appreciated. It is very
late now so must have done. Hoping
all are well &with my fondest love Your loving son Jim 5 On Active Service Mrs. S.C. Davidson Seacourt Bangor Co. Down Ireland JS Davidson