223063 Pte. James Drummond British Army 2nd Battalion Royal Scots Fusiliers from:Glasgow (d.16th May 1915) My Great Grandfather, James Drummond, who joined the Royal Scots at 19 yrs old in 1914 and was killed in action at the Battle of Festubert France on 16 May 1915 leaving his only son William aged 4 (my grandfather) an orphan as his wife Catherine had died previously. My grandfather was left with his bloodstained and holed army paybook and some letters written by his friend J Anderson and sent to his aunt Jean who was looking after little Willie while he was away fighting for King & Country.
I include some excerpts from letters sent home. one in particular sent the day before he was killed where he mentions how lucky he is by "not stopping a bullet"
Dear Aunt and Uncle
I now take the pleasure of answering your kind and welcome letter and parcel I was very glad to receive it. Did you get the letter about Johnny Gallagher Garrety and Mather Mulhand that he has not come to this battalion he must have gone to the first battalion. You was saying I was very lucky that I have not stopped one but it will be a lucky one that will see it over. Bobby as you was telling me is he not thinking about coming out and having a shot of this ……….. as I have been holding it all the winter for Johnny G.
Dear Aunt and Uncle I will now draw this letter to a close.
From your nephew James.
With love to Willie and Aunt and Uncle
God spare Big Will’s strength to work and we will do a bit for him when he gets old.
Dear Mrs Black
I now write these few lines just to let you know that your nephew James Drummond got killed in action on Sunday 16 May he did not linger long he got struck with a shell and got killed instantly. Well Mrs Black all the men of this company express their feelings of regret and all his friends and especially his little son who will be left without any parents. I buried him at the same spot where he got killed we all went through a terrible day just after he died but it will cost a few more lives yet
before we beat the Germans. The sergeant of the company got his parcel and divided it among all the men as they thought there was no use sending it back.
Well Mrs Black I know it will be a hard blow to you but I had to let you know that he died fighting for his King and country and he was a good soldier.
I think I will stop now as I can’t express our feelings any more.
Hope you will answer this just to let me know you received it.
I remain one of his chums.
James Anderson
To Mrs Black
I received your kind and welcome letter and was glad to see by it that you received mind but was very sorry to hear you were lying ill but I hope by the time you receive this you will be alright again. I know it will be a long time before you get over it. As I told you before he died a heroes death far better than some able bodied men who I expect are still knocking about the street corners of Glasgow at the present time. But I don’t know what they would do if the Germans were coming to Britain. Well Mrs
Black I am writing this letter and all the time the guns are roaring. We have just come out of the trenches for a few days rest I’ve been through a few battles myself but I have been home for a few weeks. I got wounded at the battle Aisne but if I get home again I will come through to you and let you know everything. I was making a cross for his grave but we got orders to shift I am very sorry to tell you that I did not finish it. You were asking me for his small book but we had to had it in to the Sergeant so you will get everything from Headquarters. The only thing we are frightened of now is poisonous gas they are using. Well I think I will draw to a close as I have no more to say. I hope to see you soon.
I remain yours, most sincerely.
Private J Anderson.
Xxxxx to the little boy from me
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