1915-05-04qq

“The Spectator is in receipt of some very interesting letters written by Hamilton boys who are at the front”

Hamilton Spectator.    May 4, 1915.

The fighting in Western Europe had intensified dramatically in the early part of May, 1915.

For Hamiltonians, as with Canadians all across the nation, news of how the battles were going, and information about the condition of Canadian soldiers, facing the German offensive, were sparse.

However, letters from soldiers, although most were written a few weeks earlier, did provide important insights into conditions in the war zone.

Recipients of such letters were quite willing to share them for publication the local newspapers.

The Hamilton Spectator printed several letters from the front on May 4, 1915. Sometimes the letters were presented with little introduction by Spectator writers other than identifying the soldier, his unit and the recipient of the letter.

The first letter writer of the batch published that day warranted a more detailed introduction before being quoted:

“One of them, from Private Arthur Robinson to his cousin, Howard Greathead, tells of the expectations of the Canadians that they would shortly be attacked by the Germans with the bayonet. This evidently is a forecast of the big battle of last week in which so many Canadians were injured and in which Robinson himself , his name appearing in yesterday’s casualty list.

“That the Ross rifle is proving all that was claimed for it is evident from Private Robinson’s letter, for he claims that the Canadian rifle is better than all others for rapid firing and for bayonet work.

“Other letters tell of life in the trenches and of the manner in which the Canadians are adapting themselves to their new mode of living.

“Private Robinson writes as follows :

“ ‘I have time to write you a few lines before the ‘lights out’ bugle blows. We have just returned from a small town near where we are billeted and where we were addressed by the Bishop of London.

“ ‘I suppose you read about the big attack made here by the British on March 12 and 13. The Germans were defeated and driven back and there were thousands of men lost on both sides, but that attack was nothing compared to the ones that are to come and long before you receive this letter. I expect we will have attacked the Germans with the bayonet.

“ ‘Four days ago we left the trenches and mobed back ten miles from where we were, but we are still within five miles of the firing line. We have been very hard training with the bayonet and learning all the little tricks of making a charge.

“” ‘We see a lot of hot air in the papers about the Queen’s Own, from Toronto, but our battalion is figured the best in the contingent, so I do not see where they have any chance to boast.

“ ‘The Russians are doing good work and I heard today they were within 50 miles of Berlin, but I hardly believe that.

“ ‘There has been considerable kicking about the Ross rifle, but you can take it from me that there is no cause for it, and the people who are trying to belittle it should be over here to see that it is as good as any. No rifle can beat it for rapid firing and for bayonet work, and while it may not be as strong as some of the English rifles, it answers the purpose equally as well, if not better. They are made to kill Germans, all right.

“ ‘Our officers have made a name for themselves among the British as well as among ourselves. They know their business to a T. and you bet that the Germans will not catch us napping. We are all in good condition and ready to meet them.’

“In another letter dated April 5, he says:

“ ‘One night last week we were taken to the firing line to dig new trenches, and, believe me, we had some lively time. Two of our men were killed and one wounded. The bullets were flying as thick as bees. I notice that when the bullets pass beside or over your head, they seem to give a crack, and they certainly make us duck our heads.

“ ‘I have not got that German helmet for you yet, but expect to get one shortly. It is too much trouble to carry truck around when we have sixty pounds of our own baggage.

“ ‘We all knew that there is some hellish fighting to be done before long, and we are anxious to get busy and finish the job.’

“In another letter, he says:

“ ‘We have been having an easy time latterly, but we expect to be right in the thick of the fighting in a few days, and that is what we are waiting for. I believe it will be a few months yet before the war is over, but once we get going properly, I do not think it will take long to finish the Germans off.

“ ‘I just paid 22 cents for a loaf of bread, which shows that the people here know how to charge you. We received a supply of cigarettes and socks from the women of Hamilton yesterday, and you don’t know how we appreciated them. They were certainly a treat.’ ”¹

¹ Big Battle Was Expected : Canadians Were Drilled in Bayonet Work”

Hamilton Spectator.   May 4, 1915 .

Another letter published in the Spectator on May 4, 1915 was written by Sergeant Dick Hunt to Quarter-master Sergeant B. Ferguson of the Hamilton militia unit, the 13^th regiment

“Will endeavor to give yourself and the mess a little news regarding the First Contingent company, something I have intended doing for some time, but I have been so busy that I was unable to do so.

“Our battalion is billeted in farms near the scene of the last big battle. I can’t name the place, as our letters are censored.

“We have been in the trenches four times, four days and four out, and to date have been very fortunate., only losing but one captain, one corporal and four privates wounded, four of them from our company. We have a large number in the hospital, however, on the sick list.

“You would hardly recognize a lot of the fellows that left Hamilton. They are as big as elephants and quite a number are wearing English uniforms, and all of us English boots (or rather ‘boats’) which makes quite a change in appearance.

“I would like to send you a group picture, but cameras are barred. Our grub is pretty good, bully and hard tack every other day, fresh beef and bread, but no one need grumble as we are near farms all the time and can purchase eggs, chickens, bread or anything else in the eating line that we fancy.

“What is an everyday occurrence to us, I suppose, is news to you, such as airplane duels etc. At one billet, we came near losing half a company in rear of th farm we were stationed at. The Germans started shelling us, so the company made for the dugout. One shell dropped in the midst of the company, but luckily did not explode. The boys dug it out at night for a souvenir. It went sixteen feet in the ground.

“We get a hot bath every two weeks. And a change of underwear, which we need, as we get very duty sleeping in barns or in the mud in the trenches.

“The weather is now quite mild. The grass is green; trees are beginning to bud, and daisies and daffodils. The roads are drying up, so the next advance will be a lot easier.   DICK HUNT”¹

A letter brief in length was sent directly to the Spectator by Private Peter McQuay who had enlisted with the First Expeditionary force. It was written while Private McQuay was recovering from wounds in No. 2 general hospital, France :

“Just a line to let you know I am a Hamilton boy. There are seven Hamilton boys in the hospital here. We lie awake here and listen to the roar of the guns. Sorry I cannot say anything as the letters are strictly censored. So, good night. PTE.  McQUAY”¹