Newtownards

Sunday 7 March, 1915  by

Training: Clones-Ballybay-Cootehill-Monaghan-Castleblaney

D Company
9 Batt R I Fusiliers
Newtownards
Sunday 07.03.15

My Dear Mother

Just a line hoping it finds you in good health as this leaves me the same at present. I thought I would have had a letter from you before this. But I hope youse are all well. We had a very good time on the march. We trained it to Clones and stopped one night there. And I saw the place where [they] killed Flaughan. It is locked up since. We then trained it to Ball[y]bay and march Coot[e]hill and then to Monaghan where we stopped for 2 days and then to Castleblany and from that back here.

This is a wonderful place. I saw the place where that young fellow was killed. I think the step father will be hung. And I think he is guilty too.

I think this is all that I have time for now. Remember me to all at home.

I remain
Your loving son
John Adams

Write soon.

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Saturday 20 March, 1915  by

Newtownards: “It is simply lovely now like the summer time”

D Company
9 Batt R. I. Fus.
Newtownards
20.03.15

Dear Mother

Just a few lines to say I received your parcel this morning and what was inside. I thank you very much for it. The drawers is alright. I hope I may never worse [?]

The weather is greatly changed this last day. It is simply lovely now like the summer time. It does not be long in changing. I suppose the people are busy at their crops now. They have nearly all in about here now. It is a very early country about here. The ground is very sandy.

Tell Jimmy that I will write to him later and tell him all the news but I have not time now. He might write to me sometimes and tell me how he is getting on. Does ever he be at the Manse working now? I suppose he will put in the garden for Mr Jorrie this year. There’s many a change since last year this time but I hope they are all for the best. I hope the weather will keep like this for us going home. We don’t often get good weather for going home.

I think this is all now. I thank you again for your present.

I remain
Your loving son
John Adams

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Saturday 27 March, 1915  by

Newtownards: “you may be sure that if we can get we will be home”

D Company
9 Batt R. I. Fusiliers
Newtownards
27.03.15

My Dear Mother

Just a line to say that I received your letter this morning. I am sorry that you are not getting better but maybe when the good weather you will be alright. I said when I wrote to Annie that we were going to be confined to camp, but I think that will not be to after Easter. And I am not giving it for truth but I think that we will be home from Friday to Monday but you need not be too much made up for we might not be home at all. But you may be sure that if we can get we will be home. I think that I will have as much £ and d as will bring me home.

I will write to you again before that and tell you wither I can get home or not. I think this is all now. We are having lovely weather now. I hope it will continue until after Easter.

I remain
Your loving son
John Adams

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Saturday 17 April, 1915  by

Newtownards: ” We are all getting our photos take in Batt tomorrow”

D. Company
9 Batt R. I. Fus
Newtownards

17.04.1915

My Dear Mother

Just a line today. I got your parcel this morning and was very thankful to you for what you sent. We are still confined to camp. I was just out once since we came back. There is nothing else that I want just now except if you could get me a box of [Zach Buk??] sometime Jimmy would be in Newry.

I hope you are keeping in good health as the weather is getting good again. We are all getting our photos take in Batt tomorrow. If I can I will get one for you though I may not be seen in it you will know that I am in it somewhere. Did Jimmy get the photos out of Newry yet where we were taken together? There is one for you, one for Mrs Moffatt and Mrs Crozier and there was to be one each sent to us.

I think that is all now. [Praying] we will all be spared to meet again.

I remain
Your loving son
John Adams

I thank you again for what you sent me. Perhaps you will hardly know now this is. I am sending you this little book.

Tell Annie to write to me now and again. It does one good to hear from home.

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Friday 7 May, 1915  by

Training: “I expect it will be a very big day in Belfast tomorrow”

D Company
9 Batt R. I. Fus
Newtownards
07.05.15

My Dear Mother.

Just a line to say that I received your letter aright. I am sorry that I was so long in writing but we have been very busy this last few days. I expect it will be a very big day in Belfast tomorrow. We are leaving here at 6 am in the morning. I hope it does not be too warm.

I am glad you like the photo. It is not too well taken. You can see the Captain standing in front of me but I will show you them all when I go home. I will get you the other one too.

We intend going home on tomorrow week if we get and indeed to tell you the truth I would like if you would send me a few shillings before as we might be paid short on that day and the 3 shilling would not take me home. I am sorry to take it off you but if I was not going home I would not need it and it might be a good while [bef]or[e] we get home again and I will not may get the chance of getting any more photos of the Company and I would like to have them if we […] it would keep me in mind of the times we spent together. And if anything would happen to us you would have them to show. Jimmy might just be as well at home for there is going to be a very big crowd. I really wish it was over. It will be none [sic] pleasure for us.

I will write again before I go home. Excuse this writing as I am in a hurry. We are packing up for tomorrow. I think this is all now. I send my best love to all at home.

I remain
Your loving son
John Adams

Tell Jimmy I will write to him after Sat. I wish you would keep […] Belfast [Telegraph?] for me to I go home […] tomorrow’s parade will all be in it. I will take the other photo home with me as it might get broken sending it by post.

There was a major parade of the 36th Ulster Division through Belfast on 8 May 1915. More details from the Ulster Somme Association.

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Saturday 19 June, 1915  by

Newtownards: “None of us knows what the future holds for us”

D Coy, 9th R. I. Fus, N. T. Ards
[undated letter, messier than the others, apparently pre-deployment, possibly 19 June 1915 based on references in the letter]

Dear Mother

Just a line hoping it still finds youse all enjoying good health, as this leaves me in the same here at present. I hope Annie and Jimmy got home all right from Newry. There was not a big crowd at the station this time. We are confined to camp since we came back on the Flying Galamm [?!] and I suppose will until we are shifted from here. And I don’t think that will be long now as far as I hear Sunday week at the latest. It may be a good while until we are all at home again and we may all expect changes for they are bound to come. None of us knows what the future holds for us. But let us all hope for the best. There will be no chance of seeing Jennie again before we move and there would be no use of her coming over here again for it would do none of us any good. I will write and tell Jimmy if we go by the main line if I get any word about it. I think this is all now.

Hoping to hear from you soon.
I remain
Your Loving Son
John Adams
Excuse this scribble as I am in a hurry.
You might tell Jimmy to write now and again to tell us how he is getting on.
This is all now. It is well it was not away.

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Saturday 24 February, 1917  by

Newtownards: “This place is simply flooded”

“D” Company
Royal Irish Fusiliers
Newtownards Camp
Co. Down
 
24.02.17
 
Dear Mother
 
I received your parcel alright this morning and I thank you very much for what you sent to me for may handkerchiefs were all lost and I was just going to write home for a couple.  So I got them in good time.  The weather still keeps very wet.  This place is simply flooded.  You see it is so low lying very little rain takes effect on it.  I wish it would dry up as the good weather is quite pleasant.  I had no word from Jennie this couple of days but I am writing to her tonight.  
 
There was a very fine draft left here yesterday.  I think it was the best men left here.  Albert Brown is away with it.  There was […] them altogether.  They were all 9th men going back.  A few more drafts like it will take all the 9th men away from here.  
 
Is there any word from Jack?  I have lost his address.  But he may soon be home.  I hope he may get home before I get out again.  Well I think I have little more to say so I will draw to a close hoping to hear from you soon again and thanking you again for your parcel.  
 
I remain
Your loving son
J Adams

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Saturday 3 March, 1917  by

Newtownards: “I am doing Orderly Sgt this week so I will not have a minute to spare”

“D” Company
10th Royal I. Fus.[sic]
Newtownards
Co. Down

03.03.17

Just a few lines hoping they will find you still enjoying good health. I am sorry I was so long in answering your parcel which I received alright. Many thanks for the same. The weather keeps very wet. I do wish it would clear up as it is not very pleasant. Well I hope they had a good night on Friday night in Kingsmills. Was there many there?

Well Dear Mother if you do not get any more word from me this week you need not be uneasy as I will not have time to write. I am doing Orderly Sgt this week so I will not have a minute to spare. I am only telling you as you might wonder what was wrong.

I have got to go now, so I will have to draw to a close. Hoping to hear from you soon again.

I remain
Your loving son
J Adams

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