1 27/12/15 My dearest Mother Xmas has come & gone
for another year — I wonder how
things will be when the next one comes
round. We spent a very cheery
Xmas indeed — nothing much during
the day — went to mass in the Cathedral
in morning to hear the music, in the
afternoon there was a football match
between the 13th & 11th & then in the
evening 30 of us sat down to a most
excellent dinner in the cafe where I am
billeted. One of the special delicacies
was snails — I need scarcely say I
did not experiment but many did &
quite enjoyed them. The great feature
however of the evening came after the coffee.
A few of us before the dinner explained
to the 3 maids that the English custom
on Xmas evening was for the maids 2 to kiss the Colonel; they took this quite
seriously & so when the coffee had been
served one of them went up behind Col.
Savage, made a little speech about
following English custom which he did
not understand & then much to his surprise
bent down & gave him a real good
kiss. Of course everyone simply yelled
& the poor old Col. did not know what
to do or say but attention was soon
drawn from him as we insisted that
everyone should be kissed in turn &
all 3 maids did the round. Quite a
tall order but they seemed to enjoy it
& it created great amusement as you can
imagine. After that we had
songs & speeches — everyone had to do
something & as I could not sing I was
let in for a speech. Later we started
dancing & the party did not break up
till about 2am so I think we did 3 not do badly. The plum pudding which
came the day before was a great success.
I also received a Scotch Bun but it has
not so far been sampled as till today I
could not find out whether it was supposed
to be eaten cold or heated. I understand
now it is to be eaten cold but it seems
most indigestible stuff. Have received
all kinds of parcels since I last wrote —
one with pyjamas, one from K. with muffler
raisins etc. & also 2 from Malcolmson's
with butter, cake etc. It was so nice
to get all these good things in time — thanks
ever so much dear Mother & would you
also thank Kathleen for her present & letter.
I already have a muffler, but the second
one will probably be wanted later on.
Malcomson always includes a tin of café
au lait which I never use so it would
be better if they sent instead say a
box of dates, or sweets. There was
a special parcel of 4 lbs of butter came 4 in addition to the lb. in Malcolmsons
parcel so I am well supplied in this
direction & it is really one of the
most acceptable things out here. However it will be quite sufficient if
you can arrange to have one lb. sent out
each week as the Bde. Major & others also
get butter sent out to them. No news
of any move yet — it will be great luck
for us if we are able to spend the worst
of the Winter in our present quarters. We are kept very busy & its simply
wonderful how the time goes. Was
so glad to hear your good news of Hammie.
It must have been most interesting to hear
all his accounts of the fighting at Gallipoli. With fondest love to all & and best wishes for
the New Year. Your loving son Jim 5 On Active Service Sent 31st Dec 1915 Mrs. S. C. Davidson Seacourt Bangor Co Down Ireland