1915-02-23ee

 

        “Describing the uniform of the Canadian Scottish now abroad, Private J. C. Campbell, a former member of C company, 91^st regiment, says that great changes have been made”

Hamilton Spectator February 23, 1915

Once a proud member of Hamilton Highlanders, the 91^st, Private J.C. Campbell, training in England, wrote home about his experiences as a soldier since volunteering for active service, along with 56 other members of that regiment’s C Company.

Private Campbell began his letter referencing the uniform he was required to wear:

“The tunic is just the same as that of the regulars here, and we don’t even have Canadian buttons on them. We have big, heavy boots with hobnails and horseshoe heel plates on them. They are about a ton weight, but good stuff, We also have long khaki hose tops that come up over our knees and puttees, which we wear instead of our spats, so you see that the kilt is the only part of our original uniform that we wear.”¹

¹ “Are Proud of Honor Roll of Old Company : No Less Than 57 Members Enlist to Fight”

Hamilton Spectator.   February 23, 1915.

Referring to the that 57 members of C Company, 91^st regiment had volunteered for service, Private Campbell wrote:

“ I am very pleased with the honor roll of old C company. I never thought we had sent out so many men, and it took my breath away. It sure is a fighting company, and I have no doubt we will make ourselves worthy of the name when we have a chance.”¹

In his letter, Private Campbell expressed his eagerness to end training and get into action on the front:

“We will soon be going now (this was written on Feb. 1) as we’re supposed to leave today for Winchester, where we mobilize and wait on transports to take us over to France. We will not be sorry when we get over now as it is about time we were doing something. People are beginning to think we are a lay army.

“I should say, however, that we hope to show them something different. We have everything packed up ready to take at a moment’s notice, so some day they will take us out on a route march and we won’t come back to this camp as that is the way they do things.”¹

The private’s letter ended as follows:

“I hope the boys in the second contingent are having a good time. I guess they will profit from our experiences.

“I only wish I had been handy enough to get to Hamilton for my Christmas holidays. However, I was in Edinburgh, Glasgow and London for New Year’s week and had the time of my life.”¹

Pictured is not Private Campbell but one of the 57 members of Company C, 91st regiment, J. W. Bisley, wearing the uniform they were given to wear while training in England