1 12/12/15 My dearest Mother, I have not much in
the way of news but as it is Sunday &
not much doing I am taking the opportunity
to send you a wee line in case I might not
have time during the next few days. Was so
glad to get your letters of 5th & 7th & to hear
that Kathleen was going along better. Do
hope the trouble, whatever it was, will soon
pass off completely. It was such bad luck
for her poor dear when all was going so
well. The handkerchiefs arrived safely
also box of butter, Soda Bread, parcel of
clothes & today the packet of medicine
including a large bottle of Aspirin which I
think must have been sent by mistake as
it would last me for a year or more
however I am sure it will be useful, as others
may be short. Thanks so much Mother dear
for all these things & would you please 2 give Mary my love & best thanks for the parcel
she sent me. We of course usually have
a very comfortable mess & this is particularly
the case where we are now as Madame in
the house where we have our mess does the
cooking for us, but the little extras make
a great difference. Butter is one of the
things we appreciate most for the ration
butter is usually rather awful. We also
enjoy any home made bread, — soda or
brown — & an occasional cake or box
of sweets, or dates or raisins about complete
the list. As regards clothes please don't
send any more for the present as I have
all I require & my kit is already very
bulky. We all enjoy the apples very
much but is is better to send only a small
packet at a time as a case takes such
a long time to come. When I wrote
a few days ago I thought we would
probably be on the move by now but 3
so far there have been no orders & perhaps
after all we may spend our Xmas here.
I certainly hope so for we could not be
in better billets. The weather has been
awfully wet — downpours of rain practically
every day. The country is in a terrible state
of mud & it makes our work most un
pleasant & difficult but after all it is
nothing compared to the conditions in
the trenches. The poor fellows there at
present are having a very bad time of it.
Have not seen Gerard for the last few
days as I have out most of the time looking
after M.G. ranges but he is very well as
are also all the others in the 13th. We
shall all be glad to see Charlie Murland
back again. He hopes to get a clean
bill of health next month. Did I tell
you that Capt. Burroughs had been invalided
to the Base Hospital. I think it is very
doubtful if he will be able to return. 4 The latest report of Courtenay Shillington
is that he is wounded & a prisoner.
What a relief this will be to his wife.
You mention in your last letter that
Kyle had been ringing up for my address.
I dont know why they should want it
as I have not ordered anything from them.
Goodbye Mother dear. With love to all
your loving son Jim It is hard to believe that Xmas will be
here in about 2 weeks. I wonder if we
shall still be fighting when the next one
comes round. At present the end seems
as far away as ever.
Jim 5
On Active Service Dec 18th Dec/15 RUBBER STAMPED PASSED BY CENSOR NO. 2515 Mrs. S.C. Davidson Seacourt Bangor Co Down Ireland
Js Davidson 12/12/15