Family History
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These letters form part of our family archive, and were written by John Adams in 1916, a year that started on the Western Front, saw him wounded 2 months before the Battle of the Somme, and ended with Christmas in a camp in Tipperary.
The letters were written in a colloquial style and have been reproduced verbatim, apart from adding extra paragraph breaks to aid readability.
Thanks to Roger for deciphering and typing them all in.
Undated, 1915, Newtownards
"None of us knows what the future holds for us."
12 July 1915, Seaford Camp, Sussex
"All the bands in camp turned out this morning."
15 September 1915, Bordon Camp, Hants
"And if I do not have the Good Fortune to come back again, let us all pray that we may all meet in a happier place when all wars will have ceased, and there shall be no more trouble or sorrow."
11 January 1916, BEF, France
"I do not believe the Germans has made the bullet that is to kill me yet."
18 January 1916, BEF, France
"We will be like tarred roofs when we get home."
20 March 1916, BEF, France
"Each man being given a sprig of shamrock which we all enjoyed having very much."
31 March 1916, BEF, France
"And you did your best to do me out of my girl."
31 March 1916, BEF, France
"It is very hard to write a letter from here for you do not know what to say for to be right."
29 April 1916, BEF, France
"The Germans kept quiet all day on Sunday."
13 May 1916, BEF, France
"I suppose by this time you will think me dead."
21 May 1916, BEF, France
"In hospital with hand wound."
28 May 1916, BEF, France
"You would have had me home with only one hand."
14 June 1916, BEF, France
"Meets Rev. Paton of Downshire Road, Newry."
30 June 1916, RAH, Paisley
"I often heard it said that Scotch people were hard with their money. But I will believe it no longer."
03 July 1916, RAH, Paisley
"We are about sick of rain here."
07 July 1916, RAH, Paisley
"We were out for a drive last Tuesday."
23 July 1916, Stobhill, Glasgow
"I will be home on Tuesday if all is well."
13 August 1916, Newtownards
"Excuse this scribble as I have not got the proper use of my arm yet."
14 September 1916, Tipperary
"I see at last J. McCullough is reported killed."
30 September 1916, Tipperary
"How is Jimmy getting on?"
20 October 1916, Tipperary
"I was put back for further treatment so I do not know when I may get away from here."
28 October 1916, Tipperary
"I had no word from Jennie this long time."
17 December 1916, Tipperary
"No chance of me getting home for Xmas."
5 October 1918, Lisadian, Co. Armagh
"Dear Johnnie if you are able to speak ask some one to write to me."
18 June 1918, Munster, Germany
"I have not got any letters since we were captured on 27th March."