Letters By Author
John McCausland (1893 - n.d.)
Date of letters
October 1915 - 30 October 1919
Number of letters
28
Regiments
8th Royal Irish Rifles 107th Brigade Ulster Division September 1914 - June 1917
5th Royal Irish Rifles, 10th Division June 1917
15th Royal Irish Rifles February 1919
3rd Royal Irish Rifles April 1919
Rank
Second Lieutenant (left as Acting Captain)
Regimental number
8/13227
John McCausland was born on 20 January 1893 in Dungannon, Co. Tyrone to Mary Jane Henderson and Alexander McCausland, a farmer and later railway employee. The family were originally from Dunmullan outside Omagh and relocated to Belfast sometime between 1899 and 1901. From 1901 the McCausland family resided in Moorfield Street, off Ravenscroft Avenue, in East Belfast.
McCausland was appointed Assistant Librarian in the Lending Department of Belfast Central Library in March 1907. He was the first staff member to ‘join the Colours’ at the outbreak of war by enlisting in the 8th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles at Clandeboye, as a Corporal, on 8 September 1914.
His early letters describe France and life in the trenches. McCausland was given a commission in June 1917, being promoted from Sergeant to Second Lieutenant. This role took him away from France to Italy, Salonica and Egypt.
McCausland suffered shell shock in 1916 and was injured again in September 1918 as the result of a Yellow Cross (Mustard) Gas and Phosgene Gas attack. The war left him with severe injuries and in April 1919 he applied for a disability pension. The last letter in his correspondence is from his doctor to Goldsbrough, the Chief Librarian, stating that McCausland was unfit for work. He resigned from Belfast Public Libraries on 7 January 1920 due to ill health. The last known contact from McCausland came in 1926. In April of that year he wrote to Goldsbrough requesting a letter of recommendation for the Officers Association who assisted disabled officers in obtaining employment, which he received. In September of the same year McCausland wrote again requesting an application for a position in the library. He states that he is “80% permanently disabled”.
Belfast Central Library. © National Museums Northern Ireland Collection Ulster Museum.
For Author John McCausland we have found 28 correspondence(s).
Reference | Date of Letter | Type | Summary | View Letter |
---|---|---|---|---|
McC-001 | 01 January 1915 | Letter | McCausland to Elliott. France. Separation allowance, weather. | View |
McC-002 | 01 October 1915 | Letter | McCausland to Elliott. France. Trenches, effect of war on landscape and French people, graves. | View |
McC-003 | 26 October 1915 | Letter | Elliott to McCausland. Letter read to staff, other staff at war. | View |
McC-004 | 12 November 1915 | Letter | McCausland to Elliott. France. Trenches, farmers working alongside trenches. | View |
McC-005 | 19 November 1915 | Letter | Elliott to McCausland. Recruiting (war), staff 'joining the Colours'. | View |
McC-006 | 19 November 1915 | Letter | McCausland to Elliott. France. Trenches, 'no man's land', war effort, volunteers and conscripts. | View |
McC-007 | 19 June 1916 | Letter | McCausland to Elliott. France. Trenches, writing from a dug-out door. | View |
McC-008 | 29 June 1916 | Letter | Elliott to McCausland. Other staff at war. | View |
McC-009 | 28 July 1916 | Postcard | Field Service Postcard from McCausland to Elliott. I am quite well. | View |
McC-010 | 18 August 1916 | Postcard | Field Service Postcard from McCausland to Elliott. I am quite well. | View |
McC-011 | 12 September 1916 | Postcard | Field Service Postcard from McCausland to Elliott. I am quite well. | View |
McC-012 | 30 August 1917 | Postcard | Field Service Postcard from McCausland to Goldsbrough. Italy. On way to Salonika. | View |
McC-013 | 20 September 1917 | Letter | McCausland to Goldsbrough. Troop Ship. Salonica, weather. | View |
McC-014 | 16 October 1917 | Letter | McCausland to Goldsbrough. Egypt. With Irish Regiment, weather. | View |
McC-015 | 01 November 1917 | Letter | Goldsbrough to McCausland. Good luck in new location, Miss Miller, Brown. | View |
McC-016 | 30 November 1917 | Letter | McCausland to Goldsbrough. Egypt. Brown, Turkish forces, weather, other staff at war, library staff. | View |
McC-017 | 24 December 1917 | Postcard | Field Service Postcard from McCausland to Goldsbrough. I am quite well. | View |
McC-018 | 20 May 1918 | Postcard | Field Service Postcard from McCausland to Goldsbrough. I am quite well. | View |
McC-019 | 30 May 1918 | Postcard | Field Service Postcard from McCausland to Goldsbrough. I have been admitted into hospital. | View |
McC-020 | 29 August 1918 | Letter | McCausland to Goldsbrough. Brown's death, moved 15th R.I.R., meets Roy and Coulson. | View |
McC-021 | 03 October 1918 | Letter | McCausland to Goldsbrough. London General Hospital. Gassed, eyesight. | View |
McC-022 | 12 October 1918 | Letter | Goldsbrough to McCausland. Gas attack, other staff at war. | View |
McC-023 | 17 February 1919 | Letter | Goldsbrough to McCausland. Demobilisation. | View |
McC-025 | 01 April 1919 | Form | Returning Candidates Vacancy Form | View |
McC-024 | 15 April 1919 | Letter | McCausland to Goldsbrough. Brocton, Staffordshire. Demobilisation, disability pension, poor health. | View |
McC-026 | 24 April 1919 | Letter | Goldsbrough to unknown. Employment on return to civilian life. | View |
McC-027 | 25 October 1919 | Letter | Goldsbrough to McCausland. Demobilization, no communication. | View |
McC-028 | 30 October 1919 | Letter | R Watson, M.D. to Goldsbrough. McCausland not fit for work, list of illnesses. | View |