1 19/1/16 My dearest Mother — I have been troubled with
my throat for some days past & today had to stay
in bed as it was feeling so sore & inflamed when
I wakened. This evening it is a good deal
easier & I got up, so am in hopes that by tomorrow
it will be nearly all right again. I think it
is an unhealthy place here & then the weather
has been awfully wet which does not improve
matters. I think it must be almost a
week since I wrote last. I have been having a
busy time of it as I got instructions from the
Division that the Machine Gun Company for this
Brigade was to be formed almost at once & to make
all necessary preparations. At present, the machine
guns of course are with the Batts. but the new
organisation is to withdraw them & form a
separate unit. It will be a very nice little
command for me once it is organised &
running smoothly but like all new things in
the Army practically no information is available
& one is left to get over all the difficulties in
the best way one can. The Company is
150 strong with 16 guns & transport etc 2
& no less than 52 horses. I shall have
8 officers & they are all good chaps so we
should be quite a happy little mess. Dermot
Neill son of S.O. Neill will be second in Command
& I could not have wished for a better. I have been getting things arranged as far as
possible but there is still such a lot to be done
& it is going to be a very troublesome job for
me for some time. You see I have so
far not had any experience of the running
of a Company & though we shall be a very
small unit there will be just the same
number of returns & books to be kept as a
full Batt. I dont suppose the Company
will be formed for a week or so yet, possibly
more, but I shall then be leaving the Brigade
H.Q.s & remain with the Company. I don't
know yet what the Company is to be called
but in the meantime letters addressed as at
present will find me. In your last
letter you asked about stockings — I have
plenty of these thanks Mother dear & indeed
have no need of anything except a small
bottle of quinine. I have been taking a good
deal for my throat & almost finished my
small supply. With regard to the parcel 3
from Malcomsons which arrives each week
would you please tell them to send some
different kind of cake. They send the same
one almost every time. A gingerbread would
be very nice or one of the plainer kind. My new orderly is now installed & doing
very well — a great improvement on the
previous one who had become too careless —
so I am glad i made the change. Must stop now & get back back to bed —
do hope I shall be quite better tomorrow as
we have to do a staff ride with the General
tomorrow. Hoping all are well &
with fondest love. Your loving son James I was hoping there would be a chance of getting
leave home soon but if the M.G. Coy. is really
formed at an early date I am afraid I won't
be able to get away for some time. If
there is any delay about the formation I
will try & obtain my leave as soon
as possible. Jim. 4 On Active Service Wed 23rd Janry/16 Mrs. S.C. Davidson Seacourt Bangor Co. Down Ireland J.Davidson