Real+WW1+Letters

> ==Letter #1 == > Somewhere in France > June 18, 1917 > Dear Mother, > I rec'd your parcel and two bundles of papers today and one letter today and one yesterday. I hope what that fellow says about the war is true. Yes I was in that battle you were asking me about. I was one of the lucky ones. What that fellow says about Raymond DeCoste is about right as far as what I heard. He was coming down a communication trench and a " Whizz Bang " landed pretty handy to him and a piece of shell casing hit him on the hip. He said he had a good " Blighty " and did not think he was hurt bad but he died the next day. > I was out about two miles today to the gas school to get a gas mask. As it was so warm I went in my shirt sleeves. I was just coming back when it started to rain and thunder all in about a minute when the sun was out as bright as a silver dollar. > I was over to see some of the 106th boys. I saw quite a few of them and some other boys from Westville. I saw Sergt-Major Jollymore and Sergt. Dan Adamson. I also saw Dannie Corrigan, Edgar Murray and a Morrison of Westville. I got a letter from Sergt. H. MacKenzie about two months ago saying he was coming to France. I answered it but did not get a reply and I wondered what was the reason as he always wrote regular. They told me that he was killed just after he came to France.  I will close now with love to all from your ever loving son,

 Clarence.

> P.S. Would you mind sending me a thin sweater with short arms in it. They are the clear thing for here. The cigarettes were good and glad to get them. Am receiving all my parcels, now.



Clarence signed up for the Canadian Expeditionary Force, 106th Battalion, with the rank of private, on February 1, 1916 at Pictou, Nova Scotia. The young soldiers were shipped to Shorncliffe, Lower Dibgate, England, for training. Clarence trained as a Signaller at first, but later transfered to the 87th Canadian Infantry, Grenadier Guards, and became a gunner, eventually being in charge of a Lewis Machine Gun Unit. At the battle of Vimy Ridge he received a hand wound and was buried alive for a short time when a shell exploded close to him and threw frozen earth over him. He was severely wounded, shot in the back, at Paschendale during the last year of the war and spent the rest of the war in hospital in England. These schrapnel wounds eventually contributed to his death in 1941, but ' nervous trouble ' plagued him the rest of his life. Until his death he was capable of ' light work' as an electrician, but was often unemployed. At the time of his death he was employed by my father at the Coniaurum Mine in Schumacher, Ontario. He never married. Among the many letters and cards which Clarence sent to his mother in Trenton, Nova Scotia, is this one.

Letter #2
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">September, 18, 1916

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Dear Mother:-

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">I suppose you have received my card by now saying I was wounded, I just got a piece of shrapnel in the chest, am doing fine. Expect to be out of the Hospital soon.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">We were all in the reserve trench when a shell burst and hit ten of us. There was only one badly hurt and he will be in the Hospital for a couple of months.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">I will send the piece that hit me home so as you can see it. Well Mother, this is all for now so will close.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">With love to all I remain <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Your Loving son, <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Bill

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">France, <span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">September, 18, 1916

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Letter #3
<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">September 13, 1916

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Dear Wife:-

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Just a line in answer to your most welcome letter. I should have liked to have written before but I have not had the time. We have been on the go night and day, and you can't write letters under a hell a of fire like we have had this last two weeks,but we are resting for a couple of days now so I am writing to you the first chance that I have had.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Well dear how are you going on, alright I hope. And how are the little ones? I can't say I am too well myself. I am getting stiffened up like an old man, and no wonder as it is very wet here now and we have to sleep in it night and day, so you can bet what it's like.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">So you have got a new sidewalk. Well I wish I was walking on it now for this is some place. I got a parcel from you yesterday, but it was broken up pretty badly so if I were you I would not send very much cake. I have not told you before but all the cakes you have sent have been smashed up so I would not send much of it if I were you. I have not received the plums yet that you sent but I hope to. Are you getting any letters from my people? I have had letters from them and they all say they have written to you. It's funny you don't get them.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Well old mate, I have some very bad news for poor Mrs. Richardson. Poor Charlie was killed on the 9th of Sept. I was by his side when he was killed and I don't know yet how I escaped the same fate, but one thing, he didn't suffer as he was killed instantly. A big shell called a nine point, weighing over one hundred pounds hit him so you can see he didn't stand any chance. But it's a great blow for me, for we were always together ever since he came out here, and I can tell you I miss him very much. There are no St. Mary's men in my Platoon now, and I am all on my own again.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">But never mind, don't you worry over me. I am alright up till now, but if anything happens to me, keep your little house together for I don't think you would like England. It's not much of a place now, but this place, is a thousand times worse. There is some talk out her of the war not lasting any longer than Xmas. Let's hope it is true, for I think everybody has had enough of it. The Germans are beaten and they know it, but we have got to get to Germany before they will give in, and that means some rough fighting.

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">I suppose you know where I am now, I saw in the Canadian papers where we are an we are in the thick of it too. There isn't a day passes without us taking prisoners and trenches. The French do the same so I don't think it will last much longer, but at any rate keep on living and believing. I don't think I can say anymore now so will conclude this short letter. Wishing you and the children the very best of health. I remain,

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">Your Loving Husband,

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">FRANK

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">France

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif; font-size: 150%;">September 13, 1916