training

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
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

in 1915 - Training / 2010 upload / Ireland / Letter 0 comments
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

in 1915 - Training / Ireland / Letter 0 comments
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.

in 1915 - Training / 2010 upload / Ireland / Letter 0 comments
Sunday 27 June, 1915  by

Training: “There is 60 of us going on the Advance Party”

[postcard]

27.06.15

My Dear Mother

Just a line to say that I am still here. But by the time that you get this we will be on the road from here. We are going by the main line but we will hardly stop at any of the stations. There is 60 of us going on the Advance Party. The rest of the Batt. will not shift until Weds or Thursday. I hope youse are all keeping in good health as this leaves me in the same here at present. I will write to you as soon as I get settling down. I think this is all now as we are still packing up. I remain your loving son. With best love to all at home. J. Adams.

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Friday 30 July, 1915  by

Seaford: “We had a big inspection by Lord Kitchener on Tuesday”

D. Coy
9th Batt. R. Ir. Fus.
Seaford Camp
Sussex
England
[undated]

Dear Mrs Adams

Just a line to let you know I received your letter alright, thanks very much for the same. You need not be expecting a letter from Johnie [sic] for a few days as he has strained his thumb and will not be able to write for some time until the swelling goes down. But he is in the best of health only for that.

We had a big inspection by Lord Kitchener on Tuesday and he was very pleased with the Division. He says if we had our ball-firing over we would be fit to go any place.

I suppose all is going on as usual over there and some people getting married and people dying and all the people working on as usual.

Y here there is not much strange going on here at present we are just fooling about at the same old thing as when we were in Ireland. I have no news to tell you at present but may-be I will have more the next time.

I think I will close for the present. Tell Annie and Jimmie I will send them p-c’s later as I have not time to write them now.

With best love to all
I remain
Your sincere friend
Jack

Date evidence: Lord Kitchener inspected the 36th Ulster Division on Tuesday 27 July 1915. This letter was presumably written a few days afterwards.

in 1915 - Training / England / Letter 0 comments
Wednesday 21 April, 1920  by

Approval for Training

MINISTRY OF LABOUR

APPOINTMENTS AND TRAINING BRANCH IRELAND

Grand Central Hotel

Royal Avenue

BELFAST

21-4-20

Reference. “C” BRANCH P/2326

 

CONDITIONS OF TRAINING

I am directed to inform you that you have ben approved for a course of training in Motor Mechanics at Messrs G.B. Rowland & Harris starting on 28-4-20 and I am to request you to report yourself there on that date at 9 am. Course of training will terminate on 27-4-21.

2. As this will be a Wednesday, you will draw your Pension and immediately bring or send your Ring Paper to this Office, or if not in possession of it, go immediately on receipt of this letter to your War Pensions Committee, and obtain a certificate from them that your Ring Paper has been forwarded to the Pensions Issue Office, or elsewhere.

It is to be distinctly understood that if the Ring Paper or Certificate is not received on the day training commences, such training will be immediately cancelled.

3. Your training will take place under the following conditions:-

Period: 12 months

Trg. with Maintenance: 12 months

Minimum wage payable by Employer: 1st 6 mos. nil. Next 6 .. 10/2 p.wk

Personal maintenance allce. for Single men. 1st 6 mos. 46/8 p.wk. Next 6.. 36/8 p.wk

Total weekly sum: 46/8

4. In addition you will receive any supplymentary allowances claimed on your Declaration Form M.L.T. 22, for which it may be considered that you are eligible, together with an efficiency bonus of 5/- a week, payable on the satisfactory completion of training under maintenance, under the condition set out on Form M.L.T. 23.

 

[signature] Lieut.

For D/Controller, A.T.B.I Belfast

 

To:-

Mr John Adams,

Lisadian,

Whitecross,

Co. Armagh.

 

 

 

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