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

 Public Record Office of Northern Ireland Davidson Family Papers, D3642/B/8/31 https://letters1916.ie/item/2787 English James Davidson 1916-02-27 Somewhere in the field, France Clara Mary Davidson Seacourt, Bangor, Co. Down Male 1916 World War I (1914-1918) World War I (1914-1918)

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 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 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. 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 Rtmd>March 4th/16 Mrs S. C. Davidson Seacourt Bangor Co. Down Ireland JS Davidson. Somewhere in the field, France Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 27 February 1916Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 29 February 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 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