October 1915

Sunday 3 October, 1915  by

Southampton: “We will get to France sometime at 7.30 tomorrow morning”

[undated]
Southampton
Sunday

My Dear Mother

We have arrived here on our way out. We left Bordon last night at 11.30 arrived here at 2 o’clock and will not leave here until 7 o’clock tonight.

We will get to France sometime at 7.30 tomorrow morning. I sent home a small parcel. I suppose you will get it alright. I hope youse are all keeping in good health, as this leaves me in the best of spirits at present.

Will write as soon as I get time. This is a fine dock. This is where all the soldiers go from to the front. Remember me to Annie and Jimmy. Tell them I will write soon to them.

I remain
Your loving son
[Johnnie]

Date evidence: 9th Bn R.I.F. arrived in France at 6.30 am on 4 October 1915, according to Maj John George Brew’s account.

in 1915 - France / England / Letter 0 comments
Monday 4 October, 1915  by

Field Postcard

NOTHING is to be written on this side except
the date and signature of the sender. Sentences
not required may be erased. If anything else is
added the post card will be destroyed.
[Postage must be prepaid on any letter or post card
addressed to the sender of this card.]

I am quite well.

I have been admitted into hospital

sick

wounded

and am going on well.

and hope to be discharged soon.

I am being sent down to the base.

I have received your

letter dated
telegram  ,,
 
parcel     ,,
 

Letter follows at first opportunity.

I have received no letter from you

lately

for a long time.

Signature only
Date
4th October 1915
in 1915 - France / France 1915-1916 0 comments
Thursday 7 October, 1915  by

France: “We have got over safe”

Somewhere in France
07.10.15

My Dear Mother

Just a few lines to let you know I am still in good health hoping this will find youse all at home the same. We have got over safe. And the people that we are in amongst are very nice and would do anything for us at all. The only thing we cannot get any ciggireets [sic] to buy and I would like very much if you could send me a few and a lighter. Jimmy can get it in Newry for a few pence as we cannot get matches either.

This is all I have time for now. Hoping [Annie] and Jimmy is well. Will write later on.

I remain
Your loving son
John

[on the reverse of the same piece of paper]

D Company
9th Roy. Irish Fusiliers
108 Infantry Bde
36 Ulster Div
Brit Expd Force
France

I received your letter tonight but I had not time to read it before the post. Will answer it later.

Location evidence from Major Brew’s account.

in 1915 - France / 2010 upload / France / France 1915-1916 / Letter 0 comments
Saturday 9 October, 1915  by

Rev E.G. Torrie: “I hope you are not fretting too much”

Postmark: Crossmichael, 09 October 1915

Manse of Crossmichael, Castle Douglas

Dear Mrs Adams,

I hope you are keeping well and not fretting too much. I am wondering about John, whether he has been moved yet.

This is a picture of the church.

Kind regards from both of us.

Yours sincerely

E.G. Torrie

151009 Crossmichael 02

151009 Crossmichael 01

Postcard shows: “Parish Church, Crossmichael”. A view of the parish church across a graveyard, well wooded. The church has a round tower topped with a spire.

From Google StreetView

in 1915 - France / France 1915-1916 / Postcard 0 comments
Tuesday 19 October, 1915  by

Jeannie: “Poor Johnnie, I am sure he is lonely”

Church Hill
Holywood
Co. Down

19 Oct 1915

My Dear Mother,

This is just a wee line to say I had a postcard from Johnnie this morning to say he got my parcel alright.  Yours had not arrived when he wrote.  He said he had not heard from home for a good while but I am sure he has all by now.  He got a pair of socks from Mrs Meeke.  It was very good of her sending them.  I was thinking of sending him an apple cake and some nuts [sic] for Halloweve.  Poor Johnnie, I am sure he is lonely.  I have wrote him a good long letter.  Mr Chambers says it’s wonderful how much good a letter from home does them, how it brightens them up.  I hope Johnnie will come back safe.  I hope Mother Dear you are not fretting too much.  I know it’s very hard to keep from it and I think they are in great danger sometimes but God can take care of him there as well as at home and all we can do is pray for him.

I hope you are all well.  I will write longer next time.  I had a letter from T Davidson.  He says he is coming home and he is to leave Rouen this week.  I hope Johnnie’s hands are getting better.  Tell him to be good to that stuff, there is 5 pence worth in it.

Give my love to all and write soon,

I remain your loving daughter,
Jeannie
Write soon.

 

151019 Jeannie

in 1915 - France / France 1915-1916 / Letter 0 comments
Thursday 21 October, 1915  by

Field Postcard

NOTHING is to be written on this side except
the date and signature of the sender. Sentences
not required may be erased. If anything else is
added the post card will be destroyed.
[Postage must be prepaid on any letter or post card
addressed to the sender of this card.]

I am quite well.

I have been admitted into hospital

sick

wounded

and am going on well.

and hope to be discharged soon.

I am being sent down to the base.

I have received your

letter dated
15 October 1915
telegram  ,,
 
parcel     ,,
 

Letter follows at first opportunity.

I have received no letter from you

lately

for a long time.

Signature only
Date
21st October 1915
in 1915 - France / France 1915-1916 0 comments
Thursday 21 October, 1915  by

SW Chambers: “John has got much fatter and firmer looking”

[on YMCA writing paper]

S.W. Chambers

YMCA
BFPO I
BEF

Oct 21st 1915

Dear Mrs Adams

I just want to let you know that some little time ago – about a fortnight ago – I saw John [blacked out sentence follows – censor?] He and Robt. Crozier’s son came into our tent one evening and were surprised to find me. I was plsd to see them. They were both fit and well. John has got much fatter and firmer looking. Experience and responsibility are doing him good. He looks every inch a man and I have no doubt he will do credit to himself wherever he goes. You may make your mind easy as to that. They were in the best of spirits. They have now moved away from my neighbourhood… [rest of letter missing]

[Presumably written by S.W. Chambers to Mary Jane Adams. We believe the author to be Rev. Samuel Waugh Chambers of First Holywood Presbyterian Church, Co. Down. He was the employer of John Adams’ sister Jeannie, and had been a minister at Cremore Presbyterian Church near Poyntzpass from 1898-1907. The YMCA notepaper may mean that Rev. Chambers was working for the YMCA, and this is further indicated by a Medal Record card on Ancestry.co.uk. (needs an account to link to this, unfortunately).

Location evidence: Major Brew’s account indicates that the 9th Bn R.I.F. were in Rainneville around this time.]

in 1915 - France / 2010 upload / France / France 1915-1916 / Letter 0 comments
Saturday 23 October, 1915  by

France: “No less than 5 shells has burst beside me since I started to write”

Somewhere in France
23.10.15

My Dear Mother

Just a line to let you know that I am still alive and well. Hoping this finds all at home the same. I received all the parcels that you sent to me. None of them is opened at least I get all you send and many thanks for what you have sent me. Some day I may be able to repay you. We are up here in the trenches these last few days. I am writing this letter on the side of the trench. No less than 5 shells has burst beside me since I started to write. One may get used to rifle bullets and does, but you never can get used to the shells. They make such an awful noise. I hope all at home are well. Tell Jimmy that I will write a long letter as soon as we are relieve[d] for a rest. But thank him from me for the razor. And tell him I shall never forget him for it and to be good to yourself and to thank God for his bed every night he lies down for many a poor fellow out here would give their life for one night in bed. I have to stop now as I have to take my section up to the fire trench again. We were relieve[d] for a few hours. Write soon.
I remain your loving son John

Location information: from Major John George Brew’s account. This was the first week of action that the 9th Bn R.I.F. saw.

in 1915 - France / France / France 1915-1916 / Letter 0 comments