1914-03-24rr

 

“Much has been written and said about the conditions of war as they obtain in countries devastated by the Germans in the present war, and while there is much of unbelief in the stories which have been told and published, there can hardly be any doubt but that there is a large measure of truth in many of them.”

Hamilton Spectator.    March 24, 1915.

Many Hamiltonians who were in full support of the Allied effort in the Great War did believe that the facts of the conflict were being censored before being shared with the general public. It was also felt that there was propaganda being promulgated to demonize the enemy.

The German sweep through Belgium had been the source of many tales of gruesome atrocities on civilians, many of which seemed too horrible to comprehend, much less accept as truth.

However, there was one incident which seemingly could not be denied, and the details of which were transmitted directly to a Hamiltonian:

“In a most forcible manner, the atrocities of the Germans in their campaign came home to a young Hamilton man, Pte. F. Judd, who is at present serving on the guard at the high level bridge, who in a letter from his uncle in Paris, France, was informed of the killing of his father, a little sister and a cousin, the first and last named having been shot down because they had refused to fight for the Germans.”¹

¹ “Germans Killed His Relatives : Local Man Receives Shocking News From France”

Hamilton Spectator.   March 24, 1915.

The letter which Private Judd received read as follows:

“ Dear Nephew:

I am in receipt of your letter of January 13, but am without any direct news from our Alsace since July 21, 1914.

My children are with your parents, and it is natural that we cannot give news, as all lines of communication have been cut off.

I was speaking to a man that worked in the D.M.C. factory and he told me he got no news since the war began. The only information I got was through your cousin who arrived in Paris after the first battle in the Alsace. He came over with the French when they retired after the battle of Muelhausen, as the Germans were looking for him to compel him to enlist. He received a letter telling him that the Germans had taken all the men from the age of 17 to 65 years to fight, and that the German soldiers pillaged the houses as they went.

Now I am going to tell you something that I do not like to tell, but think it is best for you to know.

The Germans acted like a lot of uncivilized fiends in our country and many people were shot down who refused to fight for Germany. Your father, aged 53 years and your cousin, aged 17 years, were shot for this reason, and your little sister was shot for some unknown cause. Your mother and two sisters are locked up in the cellar of their own house.

This is about all the news I can give you at present. I am pleased to learn that you have joined the Canadian army and are willing to fight for your country.

Wishing you good luck and prosperity. I am, your uncle,

                                                PIERRE GEMMER”