From John Adams’ personal note
Enlisted on the 24th Sept 1914 for Royal Irish Fusiliers, Clandeboye, Co. Down.
The 9th (Service) Battalion (County Armagh) was formed in Belfast in September 1914 from the Armagh, Monaghan and Cavan Volunteers. Came under orders of 108th Brigade in 36th (Ulster) Division.
C Company
7 Batt RIF
Clandyboye Camp
Co. Down
Sept 1914
[probably 27th Sept 1914 – first Sunday after John Adams enlisted 24 Sept. Very possibly his first letter home of WW1]
Dear Mother
Just a line hoping it will find you all in good health as it leaves us in the same at present. I think this is the first Sunday that I have ever been away from home all day and it’s very hard to say when I may be back for we are going to get the shift from here as soon as we get our uniform and I do not know when we may get home.
There is an awful lot of UV here and youse need not be afraid of so long as they are on the top of the earth. I wish you would hear them singing at night all the Orange songs of the day. We had Sir E Carson and the wife here yesterday and they inspected our lines. It is a wonderful life this we have to things here that we would not like to do at home. It is a queer change when Jimmie and I could not lie together 16 of us lying together here. Every man has to lie on his side and you can not turn to right or left but you need not think by telling you this that I do not like [it] for I fairly enjoy it.
And there is a lot here that we know. We see S Moffat every day and S Crozier boy [?] too. As soon as he heard that we were here he come to see us. And he sent a PC to Jennie in Hollywood [sic] as I did not know the address. We have a sergeant stopping in the tent with us and he is great fun. You might not care what you said to him as long as you were not on parade. But it is very hard to watch the Officers all for they are still knocking about.
You may excuse this scribble as we are writing on the grass so it is not very level. But if we were in the Barracks we would be al right. They were saying around here that we are for Portsmouth [?] and from that to Egypt but it might be some time to that yet.
I hope you will get this before you write as I sent the wrong address. But if you have it does not matter. You can tell all round there that I was asking for them. I hope Mrs McCombe is better now. You may tell Jimmie [that] they are starting a Number in the North Antrims. We had a great Church Parade today. I think this is all. Remember me to all at home.
I remain
Your loving son
J Adams