Letters From the Front

Dated:

Letters from the Front

Belgium, May 5, 1916

Dear Dad and Mother, -- I received your most welcome letter of April 9, also two lots of papers a few days ago. I am pleased to hear that you are all well, and that you are busy in the shop.

I also received the copy of the "Roll of Honor"¹ and we all think that it is a magnificent piece of work. In looking over the names of the men who left there first, I find that it is not complete. Five of the men who have served in the Fifth, are Sergt. N. Robson, Sergt. Reed, (of Olds), Corp. Sharpe [W.A. Sharp]² W.A.; Pte. W. Beatson³ and Pte. C. Goodman. The first three are still on duty with us now, the fourth was killed at Messines, and the last lost a leg from shrapnel wounds at Ypres. There were about eighty of us left Red Deer, and there are not sixty names in that first list. A complete list of us all should be obtainable at the Armory¹, if they have kept their roll books. I wish that you would mention it to Mr. Galbraith and perhaps he will be able to rectify the mistake. I will try and see Major Page about it, for he may have a list of us all.

I was pleased to see Bill Mallory's⁴ letter in the paper; it is very interesting; Bill was one of the best men on the medical staff since coming out here.

There has been quite a lot of heavy fighting going, on this front lately, especially near us. There is one good thing about it now, and that is, whenever Fritz starts making things hot for us, we have plenty of heavy artillery behind us to make him quit. When the big guns open up they sure make an awful row, and a terrible mess of the trenches. Now that we have the artillery and the ammunition, the men have a great deal more confidence in themselves. There is certainly a wonderful change in this front, from what it was like last year. Where we had only a few small guns we now have plenty of big ones, besides any number of small ones as well.

We do not worry any more about the Germans using gas, for we are now well equipped for fighting it. Once a gas attack is started, our system of alarms is so efficient that within a very short space of time it is known all along the line, and the reserves behind the line are also warned, too. Considering everything I think that we are now in good shape to meet anything that the Germans have a mind to spring on us.

I had some more letters from New Zealand the other day, and I see by one of them that you have sent them out one of my photos. I am very curious to know which one you sent, for they passed some very flattering remarks about it. I sent mother a silk scarf a few days ago, by one of the boys who went on leave. I hope you will like it, for it is a piece of Belgian work. I am a little afraid that you won't like the color¹, for these people out here make most of that kind of work in bright colors.

I am expecting to go on leave again in about four or six weeks time, that is, unless Fritz takes a hand in the game to stop me, and then I will send you a few little souvenirs that I ahve gathered out here. We are not able to get much in that line on account of the inconvenience of carrying them around.

Many thanks for the congratulations on my promotion, I hope that I shall never disgrace the one strip that I have now.

Well, I shall have to close now with love to you all, and kind regards to your enquiring friends, from

Your loving son,

COLIN