Monday 1 May, 1916
by John T Adams
See John Adams’ description of the incident on the letter from 13th May.
Saturday 13 May, 1916
by John Adams
Somewhere in France
13.05.16
My Dear Mother
Just a few lines, now that I am able to write once more, to let you know that I am getting on alright. Hoping yourself and all at home are still keeping in your usual Good Health. I suppose by this time you will think me dead, but thank Goodness I am still on the land of the living.
After I got wounded the Chaplin promised to write to you and tell you and so did Jack. Did they do so. You see I have not got a letter since then. And I may tell you that many a time I wondered how youse were getting on at Home. And many a time I was very sorry that I could not write to let you know how I was doing.
But as my hand is getting alright I will try and explain to you how it happened. It was on Monday night the 1st of May. And we were out of the Trenches at the time. But the Batt that we were doing reserves to was supposed to be attacked. And we got orders to go up to support them. it was about 10 oclock at night and very dark. And when ourside our quarters the Order was given to load up our rifles. So I happened to be rather late getting out and when I got out I was standing side ways to where the men were, when one of them by accident let of a round. The bullet passing through my rifle and exploding it in my left hand. The splinters tearing the whole heart out of my hand. I had to go through two operations for to get them out. It did feel sore I may tell you. But you not be uneasy as I am getting alright now, as I have the worse of it over me. And it might have been far worse if I had lost my hand.
The weather is still keeping very wet now it is simply pouring today. I suppose it is much the same at home. How is Annie and Jimmy getting on. I am sorry I cannot write to them as all my writing paper is in my rucksack and this is all I have got with me. But I may tell you many a time when lying here I thought often about youse all. And I did not know how youse were doing as I did not get a letter from anyone since I got wounded. That is nearly a fortnight today. I wish my hand was better until I would get out again as I am fed up knowcking about and not getting any letters to know how all is getting on.
I believe all the riots in Dublin is settled and near time too. If they would come out heere they would get plenty of fighting to do, without starting at hhome. If the poor fellows had the [?] and stuff that they destroyed out here they would be glad of it. But its as well that they put an end to it.
I think I must draw to a close as my hand pains me still when I use it too much. Excuse this horrible scribble. I now close hoping soon to hear from you.
I remain
Your Loving Son
John Adams
Sunday 21 May, 1916
by John Adams
BEF, Somewhere in France
21.05.16
My Dear Mother
I am sorry that I have been so long in writing to you again. But I was waitin in the hope that I might get a letter, but another day has passed and still no sign of any. So I have given up hope of getting any of them until I rejoin my Regt and I hope that will not be long now, I am still in hospital, the same one as I in the last time I wrote home. I thought at that time that I would have been out by this time. But my hand was so liong in healing up the Doctor though that there must still be some of the splinters in it. So he had to open it up again, and got one in the heart of my hand. So it was put as far back as ever. Only it has nothing to do now but heal up. And by the time you get this letter I will be back at my duty again.
Many a time I lie and wonder how youse are all getting on at home. But I hope youse are all still in your usual good health. I know it is not your fault at home that I am not getting any letters. They come all right to the Batt – where they are endorsed ‘Hospital’ and sent away again. And the letters may go back home again for all I know or I suppose fro all the care so long as they get rid of them.
They are very nice fellows in this hospital. I knew some of them since we were in Clandeboye. And they were in Newry for some time, about the time that we were on the Route March through the Co Armagh. I am telling you this to let you know that I am not altogether among strangers as you may suppose. I was talking to Sammie Moffat about a week ago. He came to see me. He is just the same. I need not tell you I was glad to see him. It was like a breath from home to talk to him. Those at home cannot realise how much good it does one to meet someone they know out here. It brings fond memories of happier days.
the weather still keeps good and is is most pleasant. I hope the weather at home is also fine. We will so be into the summer months again. I wonder what it will hold for each of us. It may bring sorrow for some and joy for others. But I suppose what ever comes it will be for the best and we will have to put up with it. It is all in a good man’s hand and he knows what is best for each of us. So we will have to leave it at that.
Tell Annie and Jimmy that I was asking for them. I hope that they are both in good health, as well as yourself. You can tell them I will write to them as soon as I get back to duty. But this is all the writing papoer I have got until I get back. My store of envelopes has run done. If you are writing to Jennie you may tell her that I am getting on all right. I cannot get writing to her now, but shall do so as soon as I get back. I am sending Jimmy a couple of cuttings out of an old newspaper. He might like them. I think this is about all so I must draw to a close. Hoping to hear from you soon.
Good night
I remain
Your Loving Son
John Adams
Sunday 28 May, 1916
by John Adams
BEF, Somewhere in France
28.05.16
My Dear Mother
Just a few lines to let you know that I am out of hospital once more. And that my hand is a good deal better although I am still not able for any heavy work. but the Captain was that pleased to see me back that he is letting me run about for a week without doing anything. I have got all your letters and was glad to know that all at home are still in good health. Well Dear Mother I suppose you will be glad to know that I have got another stripe since I came back. I have been promoted to the rank of Cpl. and am getting staying in my own Company.
The weather is simply lovely, it is just like summer this afternoon. I hope youse are having good weather at home for it is very pleasant. I hope Annie and Jimmy and yourself are keeping well. (You are right to keep fretting it will do you a whole lot of good.) [sic] I am beginning to think that you will never have sense. Well I may tell you if I havd started fretting over my hand I would not be back here today. You would have had me home with only one hand. But I kept up my heart and now you see the result of it. Well I think I have not much more to say. I will write soon again.
I remain
Ever your Loving Son
John Adams