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Title: Letter from James Smith to Vivien Beer, February 8th, 1919
Description: Consists of a letter written by James Smith to Vivien Beer. Item includes envelope. Transcription is as follows: [Parkison], Hamilton 8th Feb. 1919 Dear Miss Beer I have just been writing to Miss Allan, so will send you a few lines too. Miss Allan mentioned in her last letter that you had written me, but I did not receive it. I hope you are keeping well & I feel sure you have been busy with war work &c. I seem never to have a spare moment & my correspondence is sadly in arrears. Two of my [Bank] lads are in India & another East & I wish they were home. I often wonder how you are getting along. I was so sorry to hear that you had lost your brother on the field. Truly you have had your share of sorrow, wave upon wave. And yet I know that your sorrow is deeply tinged with pride for the gallant lads, who so bravely fought & died for us. A friend of mine here had news last Nov. of the death from wounds of his third & last son, all fine boys & now how desolate is their home, but never a word of complaint. He goes about as usual, only there has come into his face |page 2: a wistful, far away expression which is so pathetic. I keep Jim's photo above with those of some other boy friends of mine also "gone west" on my mantelpiece & I often think of pleasant hours spent in their company & wonder if we are worthy of their noble sacrifice. I like to have their happy faces smiling down on me & sometimes wonder if they can see me. Do you ever read Tennyson's "In Memoriam"? I think it is fine & you remember in his "May Queen" how she says on her death bed "I'll be often, often with you, when you think I'm far away." Sometimes when you have time perhaps you will send me a line or two, & please address- Clydesdale Bank Hamilton Scotland With all good wishes Your very sincerely James Smith
Type: text
Fonds: Beer family fonds (F0375)
Accession / Box: 1994-031 / 001 (05)
Date: 8 February 1919
Identifier: ASC27645
Identifier (PID): yul:271015

Title: Letter from James Smith to Vivien Beer, November 10th, 1916
Description: Consists of a letter written by James Smith to Vivien Beer. Item includes envelope and a photograph. Transcription is as follows: Clydesdale Bank Hamilton, Scotland 10.11.16 Dear Vivien Beer Thanks for your kind letter & I am glad I know that you are bearing up so bravely under your crushing blow. How splendid all you women are! I know from experience how desolate the world will appear to you at present, but I also feel sure that your grief is deeply tinged with pride, which will help to tint the grey days as they pass. It is hard to think of him so far away from you, & yet, don't you think that his spirit is hovering over you? Tennyson expresses that so beautifully in the "May Queen". & I know you will also agree with him that "[It] is better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all" With regard to the ring, I never dreamt of it having such hallowed association, to you it must be priceless! I really do not need anything to remind me of Jim. I have his photo & letters which I shall treasure. |page 2: His photo sits facing me in my lonely room & I somehow cannot think of him as "gone west" as he beams down upon me. I seem to hear his merry ringing laugh as I look at it. He proposed bringing you here on your honeymoon & insisted that I was to accompany you on a tour of the Highlands, though I protested that 3 people didn't go on honeymoon. It was good of you offering me the links but I had rather that you gave them to Jim's brother. I shall post the ring direct to you. The locket, links, diary &c I have already sent to his Mother. If not too much trouble I should like to hear from you occasionally, how you are getting along. May our Heavenly Father comfort & console your poor young heart! You will find work, & hard work, the only antidote & the time will soon pass. Only think of the Endless days you will have together, after this short pilgrimage is over. I have batches of wounded men for supper weekly & they are all so splendid. Kindest regards & boundless sympathy. Yours sincerely, James Smith
Type: text
Fonds: Beer family fonds (F0375)
Accession / Box: 1994-031 / 001 (05)
Date: 10 November 1916
Identifier: ASC17726
Identifier (PID): yul:271004

Title: Letter from T.C. McGill to V[ivien] Beer Regarding Death of James Allan, November 5th 1916
Description: Consists of a letter written by T.C. McGill to V[ivien] Beer on the death of Captain James R. Allan. Item includes envelope. Transcription is as follows: "France. 5 Nov 1916 Dear Miss Beer. So glad you wrote to us about Capt Allan's death as we very often spoke about you in those following days when we had to send home his kit but none of us felt that we mighy presume to the extent of writing to you. I have taken over Capt Allan's work and will tell you all I know of the affair as I was stationed in exactly the same place on my arrival. The other officers who saw it all, are extremely busy and have asked me, when writing, to extend to you their sincere sympathy. They all speak in such glowing terms of his work and his character, and in fact quite resented my presence for a time as his successor. The letter which he wrote to you on the morning of the 20th was written in the officers mess. It was scarcely finished (1145 am to the exact) when the Germans stared shelling the town (I think under the circumstances I may tell you that it was the town of Albert) and especially our horse lines, which were just across the road about 150 yards from the mess. The homes were all tethered of course and everyone was working madly to get | page 2: them untied and away. Capt Allan was the first to rush out of the mess to help them and possibly to see that his own horse got safely away. This was finally accomplished whilst many shells burst among them and Capt Allan, together with about ten men and six horses took shelter behind a stone stable, close up against the wall but the last shell that came over burst right in the centre of this group killing, as you know, Capt Allan and three men, also wounding the other six men more or less badly and killing four horses. It may be some small consolation to you to know that Capt Allan was not at all mutilated, a small piece of shell pierced his left breast killing him instantly. Rather a pathetic but charming little act was done by some French Peasant women close by, who went into the fields and gathered daisies and other wild flowers which they spread over the four bodies when they had been properly composed and laid out on ground sheets. He was buried in a quiet little military cemetery with the small wooden cross, more dignified than the most elaborate marble ever made. An the ceremony, so they say, was brief and strong in feeling. I visited his grave when first I came and somehow Miss Beer I almost envied | page 3: him. A splendid straight life he had and one always strong for principle and again these fine chaps who make "the great sacrifice" will live forever in the fine deeds they have done whereas those others of us who return shall probably live on unworthily, of the life which is given us to make what we may of it. Its our women who really suffer, you sweethearts and wives are the ones who really suffer for us, and as a Soldier's Sweetheart you too must be strong and brave and smile when you proudly say Yes I gave him what move could I do. When we put your picture back among his effects our hearts were sore for that bonny curly head but time heals all things, even broken hearts and I'm quite sure he would not wish you to be sad on his account but rather to be proud and happy in the knowledge that you had the love of such a Soldier. Is there anything else I have not told you of? if so please ask again and I shall try to tell you. Again our deepest sympathy Miss Beer to which may I add my personal respects. Very sincerely yours T.C. McGill Capt."
Type: text
Fonds: Beer family fonds (F0375)
Accession / Box: 1994-031 / 001 (03)
Date: 5 November 1916
Identifier: ASC17724
Identifier (PID): yul:270893