1915-03-29ii

One of the most well-known Hamiltonians at the front during March, 1915 was Lieutenant G. R. Forneret, son of Archdeacon Forneret of the Church of the Ascension.

Lieutenant Forneret had been a participant in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, March 10-12, 1915. His parents knew that he had been wounded and was conveyed to the Queen’s Canadian Military Hospital, Beachborough Park, Shorncliffe.

On April 13, 1915 Archdeacon Forneret  received a letter from George McLaren Brown who had visited that hospital.

The letter, dated March 28, 1915, was both interesting and a comfort to the concerned parents of Lieutenant Forneret:

“He was still in bed, looking wonderfully well, and as he said,’ as fit as anything.’ He was struck in one of the engagements and suffered concussion without inflicting any outward wound. It is thought the damage was caused by some heavy particle of spent shell. The doctors and his nurse tell me he is recovering rapidly and will soon be himself again. He temporarily lost the use of his lower limbs, but this he is recovering. He is as keen as mustard to be back at the front.

“Lord Grey and Col. Wm. Hendrie, who came with me to visit the hospital, both had chats with your boy. I had told Col. Hendrie of his being in hospital, and you can imagine his surprise at finding him there. Lord Grey was keenly interested in your boy and spoke of him and you to me several times on our return to London.

“Your son has doubtless written to you of the hospital, which, I am sure he will agree, is comfortable and well conducted.

                                                                   Sincerely yours ,

                                                                   Geo. McL. Brown.”¹

¹ “Is Recovering : Lieut. Forneret Had a Visit from Earl Grey.”

Hamilton Spectator.   April 13, 1915.

During a visit to him in hospital, Lieutenant Forneret was interviewed regarding his experiences :

In a published transcript of the conversation, the young officer from Hamilton articulated his experiences in battle vividly :

“ ‘Three impressions of life at the front remain with me,’ said the wounded Canadian officer. ‘are those of smell, sound and light. The first was sickly had had a tomboy flavor; the second was nerve-wracking for its intensity and continuousness, and the third was remarkable for its weird forms and surprises.’

“A shell crashed off the parapet of the trench, a particle of it tearing a hole in a scarf  that Lieut. Fornert wore rund his head. He assumed that he had escaped unhurt, beyond being dazed, but later, when he started to walk from the trench, his feet gave way, and the doctor ordered him home as suffering from concussion.

“When seen two days ago, he was still in bed, unable to walk, but otherwise appeared in good condition.

“ ‘In the trenches,’ resumed the speaker, ‘one does not get much time to think about the horrors, but the smell does undoubtedly suggest the valley of death.

“ ‘Then the lights are very weird and are of the sort that you see when you have nightmare – sickly blue and green flames. Then there are the little flashes that officers hold as they read almost illegible orders.

“ ‘Another variation is the dull, red glow of the brazier, but more comforting as it suggested warm and cooked food.

“ ‘As regards sound, the bombardment  that preceeded the great advance  at Neuve Chapelle was probably beyond anything heard in battle before. Yet it did not tell on my nerves at the time.

“ ‘One of my sergeants was shot through the head by a sniper. I had warned him not to be careless, and a few minutes after someone said :  ‘--- is gone.’ “Don’t joke, boys,’ I said, ‘or it may be real.’ It was true however, for there was the man, just breathing his last.

“ ‘Going into the trenches for the first time was an interesting experience,’ continued Lieutenant Forneret. ‘We, of course, went in at night. There was a cross road with troops lined up. When we reached that, we formed single file by platoons. Beyond an occasional crack of a rifle, there seemed nothing to suggest that this was the front. We were conducted to our trenches by a guide.

“ ‘The place we arrived at was just a broad, shallow valley with tall, polar trees standing out in the moonlight, and there were also one or two remnants of ruined farmhouses.  Then there passed by us four men bearing a burden covered with a blanket.

“ ‘We lft the road and struck down a slope. As we did so, a bullet whizzed right ahead of us – the noise was like a cat’s meow. The bullet entered the mud and another followed. Then the Germans sent up a flare, just like a brilliant Roman candle. At that moment , we saw a big mound, irregularly cut as if someone had been making a drain. We could see heads and shoulders moving about. We had come to the trenches. We went in as platoons, but a few regulars mixed in with us.

“ ‘How did you get on with the Tommies?

“ ‘Oh, they were good fellows all around. They pressed their tobacco upon us and did all they could to make us at home. It was the greatest demonstration we had since we left Canada, though there was no cheering. There was no attempt to patronize, but there was to fraternize.”²

² “Officer Tells of Big Battle : Lieu. Forneret in Thick of Neuve Chapelle Fight.”

Hamilton Spectator. April 17, 1915.

The conversation over, the lieutenant decided to rest as much as possible. He still had many stories to tell, and over  the next few weeks, while recovering from his wound, he would write to his parents of his time in battle, letters which would be shared with all Hamiltonians in the newspapers.  

 

Hamilton Spectator.    March 29, 1915.