Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 12 December 1915 Letters 1916-1923 James Davidson

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 Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities Vienna, AT 2026

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A letter from James Davidson (1877-1916) to his mother, Clara Mary. Davidson writes to thank his mother for sending parcels of food, clothing and medicine. He especially appreciates the home made soda bread and boxes of butter. He also asks her for cakes, sweets, dates, raisins and apples. He is homesick at the thought of being away from home for Christmas.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/8/16 https://letters1916.ie/item/681 English James Davidson 1915-12-12 In the Field Clara Mary Davidson Seacourt, Bangor, Co. Down Male World War I (1914-1918)

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 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 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 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. 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 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 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