Letter from James Davidson to Samuel Davidson, 9 June 1916 Letters 1916-1923 James Davidson

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Letter from James Davidson (1877-1916) to his father, Samuel Cleland (1846-1921). James writes to thank his father for his congratulations on James' engagement. James cautions that news of the engagement should be kept within the family until he returns. James notes that allotment of leave has decreased, suggesting that final preparations for the battle of the Somme are in motion. He briefly mentions the death of British Secretary of State for War, Lord Kitchener (1850-1916), describing it as a great blow.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.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 PRONI-D3642-B-8-53, PRONI-D3642-B-8-53 https://letters1916.ie/item/1059 English James Davidson 1916-06-09 Samuel Cleland Davidson SeaCourt, Bangor, Co. Down, Ireland Male World War I (1914-1918) World War I (1914-1918) Personal Relations

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 9/6/16 My Dear Father Just a few lines to thank you for your letter of congratulations & to tell you how much I appreciated it. I fell sure Eileen & I will be very happy together if only this War was safely over, for we have the advantage of a long friendship & so many tastes, in common. We had neither of us quite realised till recently how we felt towards one another. I told Eileen my feelings before leaving but there was no engagement as I thought it better that things should not go further till after the War. However we soon found that this was not possible & you know the rest, only I do want our engagement kept strictly private till I get home again. I am afraid however there is little prospect of leave for some time. The allotment has not only been curtailed but shortened as well & there is every indication of its being cancelled completely before long for things are now moving quickly. It is a great blow to the Army losing Kitchener at such a critical time. We are still in the line & attached to a different Bde as our Bde has gone back. I don't expect we shall be relieved at all as our own Bde will soon be returning but of course one never knows. Hoping you & all are well. Your affect son Jim The change of Brigade does not alter the address as it is only a temporary matter. On Active Service Written 9th June recd 14th S.C Davidson Seacourt Bangor Co Down Ireland 9 June 1916 SeaCourt, Bangor, Co. Down, Ireland Letter from James Davidson to Samuel Davidson, 9 June 1916Letter from Jo Sterdman to Samuel Davidson, 4 July 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 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