Added to the monthly
report of the Hamilton Patriotic Fund, which appeared in Hamilton newspapers on
January 7, 1915, was the following letter :
“Field
Co. Canadian Engineers,
Lark
Hill, Salisbury Plain
“Hamilton &
Wentworth County Patriotic Fund.
“Dear Sir –
“I was very thankful to the officials of the fund for
their generosity and kindness to my wife and family. My wife has told me in her
letters of the interest you have taken in the wives and families of the
Hamilton contingent, and it gives us great pleasure that our loved ones at home
are now taken care of by the citizens of Hamilton.
“No doubt, it must
give you a lot of work and worry to have so any to look after.
“Dear Sir, it will
interest you to know a little of our camp life on Salisbury Plain. We arrived in
Westdown, South Camp, on October19th. We have been hard at drill, reveille 6
a.m., doubling parade 6:20 a.m., breakfast 7, infantry drill 8 to 11:30,
skirmishing 2 to 4:30, supper 5 p.m., first post 9, last post 9:30, lights out
9:45.
“ We have had plenty
of rain, the soil is very soft and the heavy traffic has torn it up, making
plenty of mud, ankle deep, but we have got used to it (rain and mud), and take
it as part of our training.
“The people of
Salisbury are very kind to the Canadian troops. During our march from Salisbury
Station to the camp, a distance of nine miles, the ladies and gentlemen
showered the troops with cigarettes and chocolate bars, waved Union Jacks and handkerchiefs
and were delighted to see the boys from Canada.
“On November 4th,
10 a.m., the King inspected the Canadian troops. He was accompanied by H. M.
Queen Mary, Queen Alexandra, Lord Kitchener, Lord Roberts and staff officers.
“The grass was wet
and the ground muddy in places, but the King and royal party walked on the wet
grass and mud, and inspected the front rank of each battalion.
“After the inspection
we were drawn up in quarter column, facing the road, and cheered His Majesty as
he motored to the camping ground. During the inspection of the camp, we fixed
bayonets, formed up on both sides of the road, two miles long, put our caps on
bayonets, hoisted them in the air and gave the Royal party a mighty cheer as
they motored along the road to the railway station.
“The death of Lord
Roberts cast a gloom over the camp.
“On November 13th,
we matched eight miles to our present camp, Lark Hill, to help build the huts
for our troops. The huts are 20 feet by 60 feet, are constructed of wooden
frame and corrugated iron, interlined with think cardboard, one small stove in
each hut.
“Our boys are showing
the citizens how to hustle. We finish three huts before the civilians finish
one. They do not like us for working so hard; but we have two objects in view :
one, to finish the huts as quickly as we can; second, to get our troops into
them.
“The people of London
are very kind to our boys; they will insist on stopping them on the streets and
thanking the Canadian people for send in us over to give help to the mother
country. They ask several questions, and when they are told that we are fully
equipped with guns, ammunition, transport, and receive our pay, clothing and
food from the Canadian Government, they are more than surprised.
“I am sorry to say
that we have two Hamilton boys in the hospital, Sappers Howie and Hartley. I
have made enquiries, and I believe they are getting better.
“On November 8th,
four born Canadians per company went to London to represent the Engineers.
Sapper Qua, of Hamilton, was the smartest-looking soldier of the twelve
engineers, who had the pleasure to march in the Lord Mayor’s show
“The 91st
Hamilton Highlanders are in the huts. When I was in West Down South Camp, I
visited some friends. First Lieutenant Colquhoun recognized me, shook hands and
talked of old Times we had in Hamilton. I had the honor of saluting him. He is
one of the finest soldiers Hamilton has sent out, and one of the smartest and
best-liked of his battalion.
“One thing I forgot
to tell you, the Colonel has granted us four days’ leave, 50 per cent to go
Christmas, 50 per cent New Year’s.
“Dear Sir – I must
thank you again.
“Wishing you a happy
new year.
“Henry Fitzgerald.
17 Lancaster street.”1
1 “Patriotic
Fund Has Paid Out Over $25,000”
Hamilton Times. January 7, 1915
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