Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 28 May 1916 Letters 1916-1923 James Davidson

This work was originally published by Maynooth University in Ireland in 2017. In 2026 this data, stored in a relational database was extracted and converted into this TEI/XML document.

 Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities Vienna, AT 2026

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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. James was born in 1877.James writes that he expects to be moving from holding the line in the next day or two to undergo strenuous training, indicating that he would not have time to write as much. He also writes that he had recently been spent a day at the French machine gun school. He is sending clothing home and asks to have other items mailed to him.

 Public Record Office of Northern Ireland Davidson Family Papers, D3642/B/8/50 https://letters1916.ie/item/705 English James Davidson 1916-05-28 Clara Mary Davidson Seacourt, Bangor, Co. Down Male World War I (1914-1918)

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 28/5/16 My dearest Mother, I have not been treating you well recently in the way of letters but really it has been impossible to find time for writing. Every day it is in the same from early morning till late at night, one continual rush. I was so sorry dear Mother that you have had so much worry with cooks etc I do wish you could find someone who would suit. Was glad to get a letter also from Father with news of the pistol. If I have time I will write him a line separately. We are probably moving back from the Line to— morrow or day after. You see we dont get much notice, for even yet it is not definite. We only go a short distance &, as I understand, for a short time, in order to go through some special training of a rather strenuous nature, so it wont mean much rest. However it will be a little relief from the responsibility of holding the Line. The weather has not been quite so hot last few days & there has been some rain which was really badly needed to lay the dust! The Germans too have been less vicious so things have been more or less peaceful & it has given us a good opportunity to push on with a lot of rather difficult work. I spent a most interesting day this week at the French Machine Gun School some miles from here. Went with 2 other officers in a Div. motor & got back same day. Saw no end of interesting things & the French officers took no end of trouble to show & explain everything. Have sent off a parcel of warm underclothing today & hope it will l turn up all right. Will have some more to send later. By the way the lining you sent for my waterproof was not the right one. It belonged to one of my coats at home. The correct one is very similar & you could easily make a mistake with them. You can recognise the one I want as there are elastic bands at wrists & it is rather shorter than the one you sent. Would you please have the other sent off & then when it arrives I will send back the one I have. The parcels from Fureys & Malcolmsons don't arrive so regularly as they used too but I am sure it is entirely the fault of the P.O. Now dearest Mother goodbye. Don't be alarmed if you do not hear from me for some days as if we do move it will mean a busy time for me. Hoping you are all well & with fondest love Your loving son Jim On Active Service written 28th May — 2nd June 19/16 Mrs. S. C. Davidson Seacourt Bangor Co. Down JsDavidson 28 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 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