route march

Wednesday 21 October, 1914  by

Bangor: “We are just in from a route march to Helen’s Bay and it has rained the whole way home”

Postmarked: 21 Oct 1914 Bangor, Co. Down

Dear Mother

I received your letter alright. I am sorr J has the cold. I am very afraid he would not stick this long. We are just in from a route march to Helen’s Bay and it has rained the whole way home. You need not think because I don’t write often that I have forgotten you but sometimes I have nothing to write about. We may put in a pass for Sunday week if we get away. Both our [arms?] are better and we are in the best of health. I think this is all now.

I remain your son

J. A.

141021 Bangor 02

141021 Bangor 01

Postcard shows painting of soldier and elderly mother as soldier bids farewell to her to join his comrades. “Duty and Honour Bid us Part”.

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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.

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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!).

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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?]

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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
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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