Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 27 February 1916

Foo, Bar; Bar, Foo

Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 27 February 1916

1 27/2/16 My dearest Mother — I have been ill
for past 2 days - a chill with sore
throat headache &c - but today
am much better & able to be up so no
doubt in a day or so I shall be
quite all right again. The weather
has been awful & the wonder is
that not more are laid up. Snow
sleet & storm. At the present
moment the snow is about 3 to 4
inches deep & the trenches are in
a terrible state. It is a long
way the worst weather we have
had but it is some comfort to
think that in the course of another
3 or 4 weeks we should be having
a little spring sunshine. After all the trouble & worry we
have had in getting here & taking
over, the latest news is that we 2 are to proceed elsewhere in a
few days time. Whether we
shall be in the fighting line or
again in reserve remains to be
seen but it is very sickening
as we are just beginning to get
things nicely in hand. The
Coy's allotment of leave was
curtailed a few days ago from 2
places per 4 days to 1 but now
even that has been cancelled so
dear knows when I shall be
able to get away. Things
here have been a good deal more
quiet recently & beyond on
periodical straffes with the guns
there has been nothing exciting.
My trench boots arrived safely &
are a great success, also refills
for the Little Kitchener, box of apples
& parcels with butter &c. Thanks
ever so much for them all. 3 I wonder if you remembered
to port me a large box of
Cockles pills. If not would
you please send with it a
bottle of Quinine & Iron tabloids.
The Dr. of the Batt. billeted in our
village who has been looking after
me has recommended me to
take them for a week or so &
of course they cant be obtained
out here. Your welcome letter of 17th came
a few days ago & I also had one
from Father dated 19th. Was glad
to hear such good reports of the
Pistol. Have not seen Gerard
since he returned but hope to do
so soon. Goodbye dear Mother. Dont
be anxious if you dont hear from me
for some days as when the move comes
there will be no time to think of writing. Love to all your loving son Jim 4 Rtmd>March 4th/16 Mrs S. C. Davidson
Seacourt
Bangor
Co. Down
Ireland JS Davidson.

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 has been sick, in appalling weather conditions with 3 to 4 inches snow and the trenches in "a terrible state" so he is looking forward to spring in a few weeks time. James is upset that they will have to move shortly, so soon after getting "things in hands here". Leave has been cancelled so he doesnt know when he will get off but things are quiet. He thanks his mother for the French books and food parcels containing apples and butter etc. have arrived from home but reminds her to send on Cocpiles?? pills, quinine and iron tablets (as the Battalion doctor recommended them for him). James thanks her for her letter of 17th and that of his father of 19th

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How to cite

Letters 1916, published by the Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities, Vienna, 2026 (https://letters1916static.github.io/letters1916-static/item__2787.html)