Letter from William Ashcroft to Samuel Cleland & Clara Davidson, 3 July 1916 Letters 1916-1923 William Worsley Ashcroft

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Letter from William Worsley Ashcroft (1879-1918) to Samuel Cleland (1846-1921) and Clara Davidson regarding the death of their son, Captain James Davidson (1877-1916). Ashcroft informs the Davidsons how their son died at the front and expresses his sincerest sympathy for their lost. He mentions how greatly James was admired by his company and writes that, although the 36th (Ulster) Division has done grandly, it has come at a heavy cost. Initially commissioned with the 13th Battalion of the Royal Irish Rifles in 1915, Lieutenant William Ashcroft landed in France in October 1915. He was promoted to the rank of Major with the Machine Gun Corps before he was killed in action on 11 April 1918. Sir Samuel Cleland Davidson was an Irish inventor and founder of the Sirocco Engineering Works in Belfast. During the First World War the Sirocco Engineering Works manufactured and exported equipment for cooling, drying, dust collecting, heating, ventilating, pneumatic conveyance for the Royal and Merchant Navy.

 Public Record Office of Northern Ireland Davidson Papers, D3642-A-2-5-3 https://letters1916.ie/item/1056 English William Worsley Ashcroft 1916-07-03 France Samuel Cleland Davidson Male World War I (1914-1918) World War I (1914-1918) Personal Relations

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 COPY 108th Brigade, Machine Gun Company B.E.F. 3rd July, 1916. My dear Mr & Mrs Davidson:- By the time you get this(which is scribbled on all I can find in a moving Camp) you will, I hope and yet more than sincerely regret, have received an official notice of your son's death. All I can tell you in consolation is that no man in this terrible War could have done his duty better, or died a finer death. Mr Davidson may remember me; at all events I remember seeing him at Bordon,and I shall never forget looking back as we left the Review the day the King was down,and seeing the solitary figure looking back at the 13th R. I. R., and the 108th Brigade in particular. I know he said to himself ' if he goes ' he goes for the Nation's good,and he has gone, but if ever a man as a civilian soldier founded a Company, ran it as a unit, did his duty as a Senior Officer,and gained the respect of all ranks, and died like a man and a soldier, Jim did. When things went badly,and he no doubt felt his obvious duty was to take up reinforcements, off he went,and for a long time he held up more or less single handed a dangerous position; although shot through the knee,he refused to be carried back; alter- nately he fired his Gun, and threw bombs until he had to retire to bind up his wound; he returned, and did what he could ,and finally he started back to try and find reinforcements. He was shortly after shot through the head. I wish I could tell you what I thought of him in adequate words,and also what the Company thought of him,and I know also what the higher authorities he came in contact with thought. You knew him better than all of us,and you can imagine a little of what a tower of strength he was. It was through him that I came to the 13th at Clandeboye,and with he, and Dermot Neill gone from this Company, and nearly all my good and best friends in the 13th gone also,I feel very lonely and sad,but it is all in a good cause,and there's no good any of us making the worst of it. I hope I will come across you some day,and that you will be given help to bear your terrible burden. Rely upon it,his body will be respectfully buried,and please write me if there is any help or information I can give you. Believe me yours in sincerest sympathy and deepest regret, W. Worsley Ashcroft. P.S. The Ulster Division has done grandly, but has had to pay a very heavy penalty. W.W.A. William Worsley Ashcroft Letter from Samuel Davidson to Lieutenant William Ashcroft, 7 July 1916Letter from William Ashcroft to Samuel Cleland & Clara Davidson, 3 July 1916 Samuel Cleland Davidson Telegram from Samuel Cleland Davidson to Captain SJ Davidson, 6 March 1916Telegram from Samuel Davidson to Frederick Ponsonby, 11 July 1916Note from R.B. Henry to Samuel Davidson, 10 July 1916Letter from Samuel Davidson to Lieutenant William Ashcroft, 7 July 1916Telegram from the War Office to Samuel Cleland Davidson, 7 July 1916Letter from William Ashcroft to Samuel Cleland & Clara Davidson, 3 July 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 his father Samuel Cleland Davidson, 16 February 1916Telegram from James Davidson to Samuel and Clara Davidson, 10 April 1916 France Letter from John Moynihan to Michael Moynihan, 9 August 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Lewis Martin, 18 June 1916Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 27 August 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Lewis Martin, 21 June 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Lewis Martin, 23 June 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Lewis Martin, 2 July 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Martin, 18 October 1916Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 7 September 1916A letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Martin, 27 October 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Lewis Martin, 26 June 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Martin, 20 October 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Lewis Martin, 20 August 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Martin, 27 August 1916Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 18 Sept 1916Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 19 September 1916Letter from Marie Martin to Mary Martin, 27 September 1916Letter from J. L. Hay to Lady Clonbrock, 7 January 1916Letter from J. Cordner to Elizabeth Bell, 10 March 1916Letter from Charles Hezlet to his mother, 26 September 1916Letter from John Adams to Mary Adams, 13 May 1916Letter from Richard Perceval Maxwell to Colonel Robert David Perceval Maxwell, 25 April, 1916Letter from Richard Perceval-Maxwell to Colonel Robert Perceval-Maxwell, 6 May 1916Letter from John Adams to Mary Adams, 13 May 1916Letter From John Miley to Diarmid Coffey, 18 January 1916Letter from Fr Francis M Browne SJ to Fr Thomas V Nolan SJ, 21 August 1916Letter from Terence Duffin to his father Adam, 29 January 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 Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 12 June 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 13 June 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 17 June 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 19 June 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 21 June 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 24 June 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 30 June 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 2 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 3 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 7 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 9 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 11 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 11 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 12 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender. 13 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 15 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 2 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 16 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 16 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender, 16 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to Lady Lillian Spender, 18 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to Lady Lillian Spender, 21 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to Lady Lillian Spender, 21 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to Lady Lillian Spender, 22 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to Lady Lillian Spender, 22 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to Lady Lillian Spender, 24 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to Lady Lillian Spender, 27 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to Lady Lillian Spender, 29 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to Lady Lillian Spender, 28 July 1916Letter from Wilfrid Spender to Lillian Spender, 9 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 10 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 12 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 13 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 14 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 15 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender, 18 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 20 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 21 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 22 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 24 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 25 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 27 August 1916Note from Sir Wilfrid Spender, 28 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 18 December 1915Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 19 December 1915Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 20 December 1915Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 21 December 1915Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his family, 21 December 1915Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 22 December 1915Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 23 December 1915letter from Charles Wyndham Wynne to his aunt, Sophia Sarah Wynne, 13 October 1916Letter from Samuel Davidson to Lieutenant William Ashcroft, 7 July 1916Letter from William Ashcroft to Samuel Cleland & Clara Davidson, 3 July 1916Letter from Father Willie Doyle to Hugh Doyle, 10 March 1916Letter from Fr Francis M. Shaw to Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan, 11 May 1916Letter from Fr Francis M. Shaw to Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan, 24 May 1916Letter from Fr Francis M. Shaw to Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan, 14 June 1916Letter from Fr Francis M. Shaw to Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan, 18 August 1916Letter from Fr Francis M. Shaw to Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan, 23 September 1916Letter from Fr Francis M. Shaw to Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan, 14 May 1917Letter from A.C.C. Fraser, 8 January 1916Letter from Fr John Fitzgibbon to Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan, circa 1916Letter from Fr John Fitzgibbon to Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan, 23 September 1916Letter from Fr John Fitzgibbon to Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan, 27 November 1916Letter from Fr John Fitzgibbon to Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan, 12 June 1917Letter from Fr John Fitzgibbon to Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan, circa April 1918Letter from Fr John Fitzgibbon to Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan, circa 1918Letter from Fr John Fitzgibbon to Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan, 9 March 1918Letter from Fr John Fitzgibbon to Fr Provincial Thomas V. Nolan, circa 1918Letter from Oscar L. Disney, 22nd Royal Fusiliers, to Father Darlington, 3 June 1916Letter from Michael Moynihan to John Moynihan, 18 September 1916Letter from Marie Martin to her mother Mary Martin, 8 October 1916Letter from Arthur Joseph Dease to his mother Lady Emily Dease, 18 July 1916Christopher Walsh lettersLetter From John Miley in France to Diarmid Coffey on the Ulster Home Defence ForceLetter from James Davidson to his father Samuel Cleland Davidson, 16 February 1916Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 21 May 1916Letter from James Robert Bargrave Armstrong to his father, Henry Bruce Armstrong, 22 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, circa June 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 11 June 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 15 June 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 17 June 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his family, 19 June 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 27 June 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 27 June 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 29 June 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 3 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 4 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 6 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to Lady Lillian Spender, 28 July 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 19 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 23 August 1916Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 13 December 1915Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 15 December 1915Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 15 December 1915Letter from Sir Wilfrid Spender to his wife Lady Lillian Spender, 16 December 1915Letter from Jim Fitzhenry to Bridgit Fitzhenry, 24 August 1916Letter from Peter Mooney to his sister Katie Mooney, 29 May 1916Letter from Peter Mooney to his sister Katie Mooney, 29 May 1916Letter from Michael Wallace to his friend Stíophán Conneely, 29 July 1916Postcard from George D. 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