Enlistment

September 30 1918

Dearest Ada,

We just got shipped some new soldiers, young boys really, from Valcartier not too long ago, to join our battalion. Sitting here with a few of them in my trench, I can’t help but to be reminded of when I signed up for war. 

As I’m sure you remember, it was all the craze. I, along with thousands of other men, swarmed the recruiting station, eager to get our names in. Not so much anymore, as the government has to turn to conscription to ensure there are enough soldiers. 

Because of the vast amounts of soldiers dying here on the Western Front and not enough men voluntarily enlisting there is no choice but to do so. Now, the strict regulations of before have been bent in order to let more soldiers in. After all, we all thought we’d be done and home by Christmas. It has now been four very long, hard years and I’m just aching for this to be done with. 

Your loving brother,

Grant

“Enthusiastic Reaction to War.” Canadian War Museum. Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation, n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2010. <http://www.warmuseum.ca/‌cwm/‌exhibitions/‌guerre/‌reaction-war-e.aspx>.

Highlanders Marching to Valcartier. N.d. George Metcalf Archival Collection . Canadian War Museum. Web. 27 Nov. 2010. <http://www.warmuseum.ca/‌cwm/‌exhibitions/‌guerre/‌photo-e.aspx?PageId=2.A.2.c&photo=3.C.2.h&f=%2fcwm%2fexhibitions%2fguerre%2ftraining-val-e.aspx&p=1>.

Weapons

August 8 1918

Dear Ada,

I remember at first when machine-guns came out, we were told that they were cumbersome and ineffective- that we were better off with our Ross Rifles and bayonets. However, that was soon proven wrong. We began to realize that this new invention, like one soldier put it “mowed down soldiers like wheat falling before the cutter”. Our Ross Rifles were nothing in comparison.

At first, we had only four Colt machine-guns in each battalion. I found that it was quite a good weapon, although it did still have a tendency to jam after each rapid-fire. But it was still much more effective than our Ross Rifles. Then just recently, the Colt was replaced by the Vickers. A heavier, more dependable weapon, it is mainly used in defense, although I suppose it could also be used in attack. It fires a .303 calibre cartridge, but because it takes five to transport it along with adequate ammunition and water, it is generally not used as a primary attack weapon. So we use our Lewis guns, light machine-guns that can be carried by a single soldier.

Machine-guns are not the only new invention though. Mustard gas is a whole new horror. First used in the second battle of Ypres, the Germans unleashed this yellow-green cloud of gas that drifted over us, an oppressive feeling of suffocation.  Many died brutally, their lungs being corrupted by this awful gas. However, increasingly effective gas masks have been put into action and the British have also released their own gas attacks against the Germans.  

And finally, the tanks. These huge armoured vehicles are monsters in themselves. They can crash through barbed wire and other trench obstacles. The problems of the early tanks included mechanical failures, lack of speed, and its difficulty in traveling over heavily cratered terrain. Like all inventions though, they keep improving. Attached is a photograph taken at the Battle of Amiens, as I and fellow soldiers return from combat. 

Love from,

Grant

Falk, J. A., et al. Social Studies Eleven Student Workbook. Ed. Jennifer Falk. 2nd ed. Surrey: Hazelmere Publishing, 2010. Print.

 “Machine-Guns.” Canadian War Museum. Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation, n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2010. <http://www.warmuseum.ca/‌cwm/‌exhibitions/‌guerre/‌machine-guns-e.aspx>.

 “Poison Gas.” Canadian War Museum. Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation, n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2010. <http://www.warmuseum.ca/‌cwm/‌exhibitions/‌guerre/‌poison-gas-e.aspx>.

Returning on a Tank. N.d. George Metcalf Archival Collection . Canadian War Museum. Web. 24 Nov. 2010. <http://www.warmuseum.ca/‌cwm/‌exhibitions/‌guerre/‌photo-e.aspx?PageId=2.B.2.i&photo=3.E.2.bl&f=%2fcwm%2fexhibitions%2fguerre%2ftanks-vehicles-e.aspx&p=1>.

 “Tanks and Armoured Vehicles.” Canadian War Museum. Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation, n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2010. <http://www.warmuseum.ca/‌cwm/‌exhibitions/‌guerre/‌tanks-vehicles-e.aspx>.

Prisoners of War

May 31 1918

Dear Ada,

We have captured a few enemy soldiers and taken them as prisoners. Their new jobs as stretcher-bearers certainly keep them quite busy. Stretcher-bearers are to get the wounded off the battlefield. However, it isn’t as simple as it sounds, largely because of the fact that they must dodge, or at least attempt to dodge, bullets and shellfire in order to get to the wounded soldiers. They must also wear armbands with the initials “SB” on them to indicate to everyone else that they are stretcher-bearers. 

I suppose getting captured as a prisoner would ensure you a greater chance of survival, as you are no longer a threat with a gun that can kill the enemy soldiers. But still, I would not look forward to being captured by the enemy. I came to fight in this war for the Canadians’ side and intend to stay with the Allies. 

With love,

Grant

To the Railway. N.d. George Metcalf Archival Collection . Canadian War Museum. Web. 28 Nov. 2010. <http://www.warmuseum.ca/‌cwm/‌exhibitions/‌guerre/‌photo-e.aspx?PageId=2.C.3.b&photo=3.E.2.cc&f=%2fcwm%2fexhibitions%2fguerre%2fwounded-e.aspx&p=1>.

"Battlefield Wounded." Canadian War Museum. Canadian Museum of Civilization
     Corporation, n.d. Web. 28 Nov. 2010. <http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/
     exhibitions/guerre/wounded-e.aspx>. 

Sir Arthur Currie

March 24 1918

Dear Ada,

Just yesterday I had the privilege of meeting Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Currie, the commander of our Canadian Corps. Although many soldiers aren’t exactly fond of him, I must say he does have a way of winning battles.  Having a chance to talk to him, I learned things about him that I might not have realized by just hearing stories from other soldiers. 

When the war first started back in 1914, he had never had anything larger than a regiment under his control. This changed quickly though, as he received a brigade command and went into the second battle of Ypres, where his brigade proved itself more than competent. Three year ago, in September, he was given command of the First Canadian Division and has led that ever since. 

Trained by Sir Julian Byng, a Canadian Corps commander whom I greatly admire, our Canadian Corps truly made a mark in this war under Currie’s command. It would be an honour to fight under General Currie’s command. Refusing to send his troops into battle without sufficient planning and preparation, I believe he is one of the finest generals of the war.

With love,

Grant

Sir Arthur Currie. N.d. George Metcalf Archival Collection. Canadian War Museum. Web. 24 Nov. 2010. <http://www.warmuseum.ca/‌cwm/‌exhibitions/‌guerre/‌photo-e.aspx?PageId=2.E.3.d&photo=3.E.5.t&f=%2fcwm%2fexhibitions%2fguerre%2fathur-currie-e.aspx>.

"Sir Arthur Currie." Canadian War Museum. Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation, n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2010. <http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/
     exhibitions/guerre/athur-currie-e.aspx>.

Propaganda

December 31 1917

Dear Ada,

I’m sure there are posters everywhere at home. There are propaganda leaflets everywhere here as well. The enemy have been using balloons to scatter them everywhere. It is not only enemy propaganda but there are a number of Allied posters as well. Mostly recruiting posters, as I have witnessed a great many deaths and there are a lot more that I didn’t witness. People are dying left, right and center, so it’s no wonder there is a need for more soldiers! There are also tons of posters trashing the enemy. Although it’s hard to believe everything on there, I’m sure there are people who do. And I’m sure the enemy could be capable of carrying through with such horrors that I do not wish to describe to you. 

On a brighter note, it is a new year tomorrow! Hopefully this will all be over very soon.

Your brother,

Grant

German War Loan Poster / World War I. Fine Art. Encyclopædia Britannica Image Quest. Web. 28 Nov 2010.

Shortreed, Robert. Letter. 9 May 1918. The Canadian Letters and Images Project. N.p.: n.p., 2004. N. pag. Canadian Letters And Images Project. Web. 28 Nov. 2010. <http://canadianletters.ca/‌letters.php?letterid=8123&warid=3&docid=1&collectionid=309>.

Battles

November 2 1917

Dear Ada,

I’m in a tad bit of a rush at the moment, but I write to you again about this horrible battle by the name of Passchendaele. We were thrown in there to help out the British. Up to this point, Passchendaele was held by the Germans. About half a month ago, we arrived in Flanders and were greeted by the awful conditions. The battlefield was and continues to be a mud pit. It is mud, mud, and nothing but mud. The shell holes flooded with water and we were forced to sit in them, the other choice being left out in the open to get hit by a whiz bang. Because of the mud and constant rain, we couldn’t dig trenches, and our clothes are wet all the time. We were ordered to win an allied victory. And that we did. 

But while I’m at it, let me tell you about another battle, Vimy Ridge.  At Vimy Ridge was the first time all four divisions of our Canadian Corps fought together; we certainly got much accomplished. I remember clearly that Easter Monday, early in the morning when we were ordered to open fire and advance. Although there was a great number of casualties, and it seemed like everywhere I looked there was either someone injured or dead, we took Vimy in the end. 

Seems as though us Canadians are finally breaking away from the British and making a name for ourselves!

With heaps of love,

Grant

 

The Battle of Passchendaele. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 6 Nov. 1967. The CBC Digital Archives Website. Web. Transcript. 27 Nov. 2010. <http://archives.cbc.ca/‌war_conflict/‌first_world_war/‌clips/‌5567/>.

A Field of Mud. N.d. George Metcalf Archival Collection . Canadian War Museum. Web. 26 Nov. 2010. <http://www.warmuseum.ca/‌cwm/‌exhibitions/‌guerre/‌photo-e.aspx?PageId=2.B.1.i&photo=3.E.2.ae&f=%2fcwm%2fexhibitions%2fguerre%2fpasschendaele-e.aspx&p=1>.

“Passchendaele.” Canadian War Museum. Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation, n.d. Web. 27 Nov. 2010. <http://www.warmuseum.ca/‌cwm/‌exhibitions/‌guerre/‌passchendaele-e.aspx>.

Vimy Fortifications. N.d. George Metcalf Archival Collection . Canadian War Museum. Web. 26 Nov. 2010. <http://www.warmuseum.ca/‌cwm/‌exhibitions/‌guerre/‌photo-e.aspx?PageId=2.B.1.g&photo=3.E.2.r&f=%2fcwm%2fexhibitions%2fguerre%2fvimy-ridge-e.aspx&p=1>.