Workington Star and Harrington Guardian / 2 February, 1916
Mrs. McQuire, Derwent Crossings, mother of the late Private McQuire, has received the following letter from Lt-Col. P. W Machell, O.C. 11th Borders, dated 25th January: -
Dear Madam,
I write from the trenches to beg you to accept the assurance of my deepest sympathy in your sorrow. Your son was greatly liked, and his death is regretted by the whole Battalion. He was not willing to accept promotion, but he was a natural leader always cheerful, and carrying others with him in his desire to do his best all the time, and he did lead, without perhaps knowing it himself.
I hope it may be some little consolation to know how much we all valued your boy, and how deeply his death is felt by us all.