Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 3 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 Davidson from behind the lines before going into action. Expresses frustration at delay in going to front tempered by being in comfortable billets, getting plenty of exercise, and visiting his troops who are scattered over several villages. Requests items from home: thick wollen socks, shirts, warm underwear, handkerchiefs, muffler, Halcyon toothpaste, Roger & Gallet shaving cream and butter.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/8/8 https://letters1916.ie/item/675 English James Davidson 1915-11-03 In the Field Clara Mary Davidson Seacourt, Bangor, Co. Down Male World War I (1914-1918)

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 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 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 107thBdeinstead 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 &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) 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 On Active Service 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