1 27/1/16 My dearest Mother — I have not written for
some days as I have had such a lot to do
& think about & now it is very late so
must make a very wee line do. Give
R. my love & best thanks for her 2 letters &
I had one from you today. Was so sorry
Mother dear that you had been poorly — hope
you have since been keeping better. The
weather at this time of year is very trying
for everyone. My throat though still
troublesome is better than it was a few days
ago. The inflammation got into my ear
& as I could not lie up owing to having to
make all arrangements for the Machine Gun
Company. I became quite deaf with the right
ear & felt perfectly wretched. Thank
goodness it is rather better now but even
when there is not much the matter it adds very
considerably to the burden of ones work.
Well the Machine Gun Company has been formed.
The Units arrived yest. & by degrees things are
getting straightened out but there is so
much to be done in starting all the organisation
that sometimes it seems as if I should never
2 get to the end of it. The other officers however
are working for all they are worth & Dermot
Neill who is my Adjutant is splendid. If we only get a few weeks to settle down
we shall be all right but there are strong
rumours going round of a move to the trenches
at an early date. Would you please
tell Furey when sending parcels to me not
to put 13th Royal Irish Rifles on the address.
I enclose the label that was on the last one
& of course it went to the Batt & then had
to be forwarded. My address is now
Machine Gun Company, 108th Infantry Brigade
36th Division B. E. F. Would you please
tell them this in the Works. With fondest love to all
Your loving son
James 3 On Active Service
rcd 1st Feb /16 Mrs S C Davidson
Seacourt Bangor Co Down Ireland recd 1st Feb /16
J Davidson
27/1/16