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>.