Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson, 29 February 1916 Letters 1916-1923 James Davidson

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 Austrian Centre for Digital Humanities Vienna, AT 2026

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James assures his mother who might have noticed his name on Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary Davidson. He writes that she might have seen his name on the the wounded list, but assures her that his wound is a slight cut on his left arm from a shell fragment sustained while doing his rounds of the HQ billets with a sergeant. The shell was dropped from a high -flying German plane and he "neither heard or saw it till afterwards". James thinks reporting such slight injuries "ridiculous" and again reassures his mother he is okay. James tells her the move referred in his last letter (of 27 Feb) has been cancelled; he asks that a pair of riding breeches be ordered so that he can try them on when he gets home. 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.

Public Record Office of Northern Ireland Davidson Family Papers, D3642/B/8/32 https://letters1916.ie/item/2788 English James Davidson 1916-02-29 Somewhere in the field, France Clara Mary Davidson Seacourt, Bangor, Co. Down, Ireland Male 1916 World War I (1914-1918) World War I (1914-1918)

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 29/2/16 My Dearest Mother — It is only 2 days since I wrote you but in case you should see my name in the wounded lists I want you to know that there is absolutely nothing to worry about. I have had a very close escape today in fact. I was lucky beyond anything for the only mark I have is a tiny wee cut on the upper part of the left arm where a fragment of the shell just touched me — there is really no more mark than a good vaccination. It occurred this morning. I was going round the billets here in Headquarters with one of my Sergts when suddenly there was a most extraordinary noise from somewhere above rather like an express train coming straight at one, & then came a terrific explosion about 10 yds away. It was a bomb dropped from a German aeroplane at great height but I neither heard or saw it till afterwards, probably because so directly overhead, as others had observed it & were watching it. I was at the time passing through a farm yard at the back of the billet where my men were just collecting before parade but by great good luck the bomb fell on a large manure heap which greatly lessened the effect of the explosion though as it was it did plenty of damage to the buildings. All the windows of the farm house beyond me were absolutely shattered but beyond the scrape I got the only other casualties were 1 Corp, a small puncture in leg & 1 L/C a cut in neck from a falling slate or tile. When the bomb burst I fell flat down as did the Sergt wandering what was coming next & we had scarcely done so when down came the next one about 20 yds on the other side. This one landed in an orchard where the ground was hard & the effect of it was horrific & the explosion deafening . Quite large size trees were cut through but as we were lying down not a fragment touched us or anyone else. It seems very ridiculous to return any such slight casualties but it has to be done & it is only because I am afraid they may be published & to prevent your feeling at all alarmed that I give you the full details. At any rate dear Mother you know I am quite all right & when I tell you I did a ride, after getting a small piece of dressing on my arm & went round the trenches till 1pm you will feel certain that there is not much the matter. The move has now apparently been cancelled at which we are all delighted & we hope that leave will soon be started again. Would you please tell Reuben Payne & Ireland to & to put a pair of riding breeches in hands & have them ready for trying on when I get home. I shall also want to pay a visit to Dentist but of course I cant make any appointment till I know when I will be leaving. Now Mother dear I must close. With love to all Your loving son Jim Rcd 3rd March /16 Mrs. S.C. Davidson Seacourt Bangor Co Down Ireland Jim Davidson 29/2/16 Seacourt, Bangor, Co. Down, Ireland Letter from James Davidson to Clara Mary Davidson, 3 November 1915Letter from James Davidson to his mother, Clara Mary. Davidson, 16 February 1916Letter from James Davidson to Clara Davidson, 30 June 1916Telegram from Samuel Davidson to Frederick Ponsonby, 11 July 1916Letter from K.E. Fitzgerald to Clara Davidson, 5 July 1916Postcard from James Davidson to Clara Davidson, 25 June 1916Letter from James Davidson to Clara Davidson, 28 June 1916Telegram from the War Office to Samuel Cleland Davidson, 7 July 1916Telegram from James Davidson to Samuel and Clara Davidson, 8 April 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, 29 February 1916Letter from James Davidson to his father Samuel Cleland Davidson, 16 February 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 1916 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 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