February 1915

Tuesday 2 February, 1915  by

Holywood: “We are for an night attack”

[YMCA postcard: HM Forces on Active Service]

[From 13971 Pte J Adams, 9th Batt RIF, D Coy, The Palace Barracks, Holywood, Co. Down
To Mrs J Adams, Lisadian]

Postmarked 02 Feb 1915

Dear Mother,

Just a line today we got back here alright. I was not down seeing J[eannie] yet nor will hardly see her tonight as we are for an night attack. But I will go down to se her before we leave on Thursday. It will be Sunday week before we are the length of Bessbrook, but I think we weill have time to go home on that day. I think this is all now.
I remain
Your loving son
J Adams
You need not write again until you hear from me for I do not know when we will be shifted.

in 1915 - Training / 2010 upload / Ireland / Postcard 0 comments
Thursday 4 February, 1915  by

“We are stopping at Portadown tonight “

Postmark: Portadown, 4th Feb 1915

Dear Mother,

Just a line hoping it finds you all in good [sic] as this leaves me in the same at present.  We are stopping at Portadown tonight and going on to Moy in the morning.  We are getting a fine reception everywhere we go.  It will be Sunday week before we are in Bessbrook.  We are spending the weekend in Loughgall.  This is all at present.  I will send word when we get that length.

I remain your loving son,

John

150204 Portadown 02

150204 Portadown 01

Postcard shows:

“It’s a Long, Long Way to Tipperary (1).

Up to mighty London came an Irishman one day,

As the streets are paved with gold, sure ev’ry one was gay;

Singing songs of Piccadilly, Strand and Leicester Square,

Till Paddy got excited, then he shouted to them there:-“

A man (the “Paddy”?) leans on the entrance to a Bakerloo line underground station, while London life, red omnibuses and crowds passing along.

in 1915 - Training / Ireland / Postcard / Route March 0 comments
Friday 5 February, 1915  by

Co. Armagh Route March

In early February 1915 Col Fitzgerald led a large party of 220 men of 9th Royal Irish Fusiliers through County Armagh on a recruiting march. John Adams was one of the men chosen for this trip. His personal notes have enabled us to trace the possible route of the march:

Friday 5 February Lurgan to Birches 16 miles
Saturday 6 February Birches to Loughgall 9 miles
Sunday 7 February Loughgall
Monday 8 February Loughgall to Armagh 5.5 miles
Tuesday 9 February Armagh
Wednesday 10 February Armagh to Richhill (via Hamiltonsbawn) 7 miles
Thursday 11 February Richhill to Tynan 13.5 miles
Friday 12 February Tynan to Newtownhamilton 16 miles
Saturday 13 February Newtownhamilton to Bessbrook 10 miles
Sunday 14 February Bessbrook (including being at home in Lisadian)
Monday 15 February Bessbrook to Poyntzpass 9 miles
Tuesday 16 February Poyntzpass to Markethill 12.5 miles
Wednesday 17 February Markethill to Tandragee 10 miles
Thursday 18 February Tandragee to Portadown (and train to Belfast) 6 miles

We have traced the route on Google Maps below. They covered a fair distance, we estimate approximately 115 miles in 2 weeks. It was probably a foretaste of the footslogging they were to do through France through the rest of the war.


(unfortunately Google maps only allows 10 layers, so we couldn’t show the last leg from Tandragee to Portadown!).

in 1915 - Training / Event / Ireland / Route March 0 comments
Sunday 7 February, 1915  by

“This is part of Loughgall. Perhaps Mother would know it.”

[Postcard showing Loughgall]
[Addressed to Miss A Adams, Lisadian]
[Postmarked 07 Feb 1915, Loughgall]

Dear Annie
Just a line hoping it finds you in good health as this leaves me in the same here at present. I hope you will come to see us when we get to Bessbrook. This is part of Loughgall. Perhaps Mother would know it.
I Remain
Your loving Bro
J Adams

in 1915 - Training / 2010 upload / Ireland / Postcard 0 comments
Wednesday 10 February, 1915  by

Route March: Armagh-Richhill

[From personal notes]

Wednesday
Afternoon marched to Richhill via Hamiltonsbawn. Stayed in Home of Wm. McNally.

[This is what Hamiltonsbawn looked like then. Strange to think that John Adams will have marched past two houses he later lived in after he moved to Hamiltonsbawn in 1926. I wonder if he ever thought about that route march when he was marching along the main street later in life?]

in 1915 - Training / 2010 upload / Ireland / Personal notes / Route March 0 comments
Thursday 18 February, 1915  by

Holywood: “Many thanks for the shirt it is alright”

D Company
9 Batt R.I. Fusiliers
Palace Barracks
Holywood
18.02.15

My Dear Mother

Just a line hoping it finds youse all in good health at home as this leave me in the same here at present. I received four letters and parcel alright. Many thanks for the shirt it is alright. I am glad that you have got some word about the money as it never will come out of time. You were kept a long while out of it. You need not be uneasy about me at all for I am fit to look after myself. You need not think because I said it was a bit rough that I had rued anything I had done. I have not indeed I would do the same thing tomorrow if I thought I would be any use. I see J. nearly every night. She is doing alright.

The weather is very wet but what can you expect at this time of the year. If it gets no worse we will be alright.

All the promotion Sam Moffatt has got yet is not much. He is only a waiter in the Segt Mess and that is not much. It is the first thing that will be his downfall for he will be too near the drink. I think this is all as the pen is very bad.

I remain
Your loving son
J Adams

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Thursday 18 February, 1915  by

Holywood: “Just a line to say that we have got back here alright”

Postmark: Holywood, 18 Feb 1915

Dear Mother

Just a line to say that we have got back here alright. We got back today. I am sorry that I was so long in writing, but I could not help it. I will write later on.

I remain your loving son,

John Adams

150218 Soldiers home 02

150218 Soldiers home 01

Postcard shows:

“Soldier’s [sic] Home, Holywood”

A large house with Solders Home 1903 embossed on the three front gables. Two men in the frocks of household workers stand in front, facing the camera.

in 1915 - Training / Ireland / Postcard 0 comments
Monday 22 February, 1915  by

Holywood: “she made a great deal of me more than any girl I have met on the march”

D Company
9 Batt R. I. Fusiliers
Palace Barracks
Holywood

22.02.15

My Dear Mother

I am sorry that I was so long in writing but I had not time until now. We got back here on Thursday evening from Portadown. We had a fine time from we left Bessbrook. I suppose Annie and Jimmie got home alright. What did they think of the RIF? We got our dinner at Major Close’s house that day.

But the best day of all was spent in Tandragee. It was the best night I ever spent. I was stopping in the house where Eva McElney is Dressmaker and she made a great deal of me more than any girl I have met on the march. When I was leaving she gave to silk handkerchief and she has since sent me 2/6 worth of fegs [sic]. I think it was very nice of a strange girl that I may never meet again in this world. For we meet so many in this world in which we live that it is very hard for one to mind them all.

We are starting again on Thursday morning for Co Monaghan for a week there. It will hardly be as good as the one we are just off. I think this is all now. Jenny is well and will write later on. I will write from Cavan to you.

I remain
Your loving son
John Adams

in 1915 - Training / Ireland / Letter 2 comments