Wartime letter between soldiers in World War I describe significant event
Southland man Iain Davidson’s passion for researching World War I began at the age of 13.
He was handed down family possessions as a teenager, which included his Grandfather’s photographs, wartime letters and other memorabilia.
It’s led to a lifetime collecting and researching World War I New Zealand and Southland history. Davidson has collected more than 1000 photos of New Zealand WWI soldiers.
He’s done the research on his own family and now helps find missing links for others.
Through the Facebook pages he runs, Southland Soldiers and Nurses, and Unknown Warriors of the NZEF, he has helped to identify the soldiers from photos.
‘‘I’ve solved quite a few mysteries. Putting names to faces, and then you can tell their story. It’s quite a magical thing to do.’’
Being given photographs of unknown soldiers by members of the public encourages him to carry on.
‘‘It fuels the fire alright. But I like helping people out, helping solve their mysteries and things like that. It’s quite a nice thing to do at the end of the day.
‘‘It’s a sense of history. The guys who came before us are worthy of commemoration. It’s a sense of history and a sense of family to me.’’
One letter Davidson holds dear is written to his grandfather John (Jack) Davidson from his brother Andrew, who were both serving in the war.
Jack was in France, while Andrew was at New Zealand troop training camp Sling Camp in England.
The letter was written on October 12, 1917, the same day Jack was badly wounded by shrapnel while being seconded as a stretcher bearer at the battle of Passchendaele.
In it, Andrew describes the Bere Ferrers train incident, in which ten New Zealand soldiers were killed when they were hit by a train in southern England while getting ready to collect rations from the guard’s van.
The letter to Jack never reached him in France, but eventually found him after he had been taken to hospital in England. Jack’s injuries were bad enough to put him out of war completely.
Andrew was killed in action on September 12, 1918, in France at the age of 24.
Every year Davidson heads to the Winton Anzac service with his sons, who he plans to pass on the family memorabilia to.
‘‘It’s important to remember. Andrew lost his life, he paid the ultimate sacrifice. He is part of our family and it’s something to be proud of.’’
He’s pleased to see an upswell of young people attending Anzac parades.
‘‘[War history] doesn’t get taught in schools much anymore, which is unfortunate. But as long as there is a day a year that they learn something
about sacrifices made by our New Zealand soldiers, that’s quite important.’’
ANDREW DAVIDSON WWI 56912 LETTER TO HIS BROTHER JACK DAVIDSON WWI 40908
Sling Camp
12/10/17
Dear Jack,
I received your note last night
so thought it would be as well to wright [write] you a few lines and let you know how we are getting on in Sling.
It’s a bit more lively here than in old NZ but I am just beginning to get over my stiffness at last … We get about enough tucker here for half the men that has to get served at the table. But as long as the canteen keeps open we won’t starve … How is things with yourself over there. I suppose pretty lively at times. Well we had a real good trip coming over on the boat all the way we only had one rough storm and that was just a few days after we left NZ … We had a train accident on our way from Plymouth into the camp.
As we were ordered to go back to the van at the first slip to get some tucker as we had nothing from six in the morning till about three in the afternoon. As the train pulled up they made a proper rush for grub and a express train came flying past and made a proper sealter so there were nine killed and one died shortly after.
I don’t know how many was layed out one of my mates got both his arms broke so I don’t expect he will make his appearance amongst us again … So I will end this letter now hoping this finds you still dodging the lead and in the best of health so ta-ta for now. I remain yours truely, Andrew.