Perth Courier - World War I.

supplied by Christine M. Spencer of Northwestern University, Evanston, Il., USA.

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Lanark County , Ontario

World War I

Document #2

Perth Courier, Jan. 22, 1915

Dispatches in Monday’s papers state that Private Gay of Smith’s Falls, of the Royal Scots is now in a French hospital with an infected hand.  Private W. Gay was a shoemaker in the employ of Mr. G. Saunders when the war broke out.  Being a reservist he left immediately for the Mother Country and has been on the firing line ever since.  Mrs. Gay and two children left in September for Mrs. Gay’s home in England .

Perth Courier, Jan. 29, 1915

Word was received by his mother on Sunday that W. Basil Inderwick, second son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Inderwick, died at Salisbury Plains that day.  The cause of his death was unknown.  Great sorrow is felt for the young man who passed so soon while in the service of his country and much sympathy for his mother here is expressed on all sides.  Basil, while engaged in surveying duties in the Northwest, enlisted with the First Contingent and was connected with a Nova Scotia Regiment.  He was a grandson of the late Walter Inderwick, K.C., London , England , the eminent British criminal lawyer.

Perth Courier, Feb. 5, 1915

120 men from the 42^nd Regiment are at Smith’s Falls, having volunteered for the Third Contingent.  Monday was pay day for them, $2,400 being paid out.  During the week two more men from Perth offered themselves for the 3^rd Regiment.  The names of the Perth volunteers are as follows:  William H. Oakes, Denzil Mitchell, Wilbers Inwood, James Thornton, Tony Petvick, Bernardo BeRoss (?), Walter Palmer, Rd. Broad, John Casey, Samuel Pipe, John Watters (?), George Earle, Robert Carmichael, Wesley Barrie, Thomas Crawford, Walter Powell.  The following from Perth left this week for Petawawa (?), to guard the prisoners there—Privates Stewart Wright, George Earle, Bradford Kohlin, John Enright, James Croskery, Lloyd Echlin, Mel Woods, William Rankin and Thomas Park.

Perth Courier, Feb. 12, 1915

Miss Kathleen Shaw of Perth , sister of Mr. H. (?) M. Shaw left last week for Halifax , a call having come from England for 100 more Canadian nurses for the war.  The party sailed on Sunday.

Perth Courier, Feb. 28, 1915

Letter from Archie Sinclair through the courtesy of P.R. Sinclair, we are able to publish portions of a letter from his son Archie who is with the First Canadian Contingent.  The letter was written before the Canadians had left for France and it is addressed to the writer’s sister Miss Olive Sinclair.  (Transcriber’s note, a picture is printed which includes the writer, Art Brown, Perth boy, Roy McIntyre, Lanark boy.)

We are still here on the Plains in tents.  We have not received any order to move yet but by the looks of things we are going somewhere whether to France of barracks I do not know.  Latest I heard was that we move a week from Tuesday.  We have received our new equipment.  It is a nice affair and much easier on our shoulders than the leather.  We carry our packs on our backs and in them we have a suit of underwear, couple pairs of socks, grey shirt, a great coat, canteen, pair of boots and so many other things as we can cram into it.  It is some outfit when we get it all in.  Then we have our water bottles and haversacks.  In our haversacks we carry our hold-all and in it we have our spoon, knife and fork also razor, soap and shaving brush.  Also in our haversacks we carry our housewife and towel.  Then we have a kind of pick that we use for trenching in case of a surprise.  It is quite a nuisance but we have to have it.  We had a couple days rest this week.  After we went for a route march today we have company drill and platoon drill.  Art Brown is being transferred to the supply column to drive a transport car.  It is more money in it too and he will be all right if he gets there.  The colonel does not want him to go but I guess he cannot stop him.  Love from Archie

Latest War Bulletin:  Salisbury Plains—Feb. 24—Official news received from base headquarters shows that the First and Third Canadian Brigades were in action on Sunday.  They were engaged the whole time they occupied the trenches.  Strong drafts of reinforcements are being prepared here to cover any loss.  The 17^th Battalion of the Nova Scotia Highlanders quartered, quartered at Tidworth, is being drawn upon to make up the strength of the base companies which will supply the first line of reinforcements.  On the list of the constitutions of the First and Third Brigades, which included the 42^nd Lanark and Renfrew Regiments.  Relatives of the boys from this locality will watch for further information with interest and anxiety.  The 14^th Battalion is under the command of Col. F. S. Meighan, a cousin of our townsman here.

Perth Courier, March 5, 1915

Earnest D. McIntosh, a student at McGill’s College, Montreal and a son of Dr. H. McIntosh, Carleton Place , has volunteered for overseas duty and left last week for Halifax to join the 21^st (?) 31^st (?) Artillery.  Mr. McIntosh has been granted his third year by the faculty of the college in consideration of his volunteering for active service.

Letter from Arthur Code—Dear Dad:  I am writing this on my knee behind this barn which had been used for our first picket.  As this letter has to be censored I am not sure how much I can put in it.  We are located in northern France but just where I am not at liberty to say.  I had a rotten voyage from England to France and there unloaded our transport of wagons, etc.  I had some fun trying to get the natives to understand what I wanted but through a combination of hands, feet, head and tongue we managed to make them understand what we wanted, either some chocolate, bread, butter of milk.  We got a side door Pullman and hiked off on a drive where we did not know.  There were eleven of us in the car.  We filled the bottom of it with straw.  The car was so constructed that there were four windows and a door on each side which offered a fine view of the country.  Even when riding in a real Pullman with a porter to wait on me I have never enjoyed anything so much.  We had been issued with goat skins and wore them all the way down.  I had beef, tea and sometimes jam to eat, supplemented by private butter and it was good.  We were on about two days and then got off at a station and marched to where we are now.  Last night it was my time to go on horse picquet and it was some time.  In the distance we could see the flash from the artillery and hear the roar and could also see air ship lights in the air.  I thought we were coming into a foot or so of snow but it is like a Spring day at home here now but is may easily get colder.  The country seems saturated with water.  The billet we are in has been occupied by the French, English and Belgians.  Coming here I picked up a piece of shrapnel shell.  Felt like a real soldier last night on picquet as I carried ball ammunition in my rifle and I had fixed bayonet.  From the peaceful appearance of this part you would almost imagine you were in England or somewhere else away from the trouble.  We expect to move forward any day so if you do not hear from me soon go on the principle that no news is good news and if I get hurt you will hear soon enough but I do not feel I will at least for a while.  My only problem is the rations do not come up to my appetite.  Your loving son, Arthur

Archie Sinclair –Just a few lines to let you know I am well and getting along all right.  This will not be long as I cannot tell you all I want to as it would only be thrown out.  We came across from England in a cattle boat.  It was not very comfortable but we went down to the engine room and got warmed up whenever we got cold.  When we landed in France we were packed into a cattle train 40 in a car and they are not as large as our cars.  We were on this train for two nights and three days.  We had lots to eat on the trip out.  When we came here we were short and have not got good rations yet although we are not starving at all.  We are billeted in a barn and are very comfortable.  It is not very cold at all.  We had a little snow last night.  The Germans have been all over this place here.  The barn we are sleeping in had a shell put through the roof and all around you can see the works left behind them when they retreated.  We can hear the roar of the guns all day long and especially at night you can see the flash and hear the roar very plainly.  I can hear them going at it now as I am writing this letter.  This country is much the same as England , lots of water and mud.  I set out for a tramp yesterday and picked up some pieces of shell and also saw some trenches and graves where English and Germans had been buried.  It is funny to think of a war going on just the same.  It is much different from the Boer War where it was all hills and valleys.  This would be much more interesting if I could just tell you where I am but of course I cannot.   Don’t worry about me.  I will look after myself as well as the Germans.   Love to all, Archie

Perth Courier, March 22, 1915

A letter from Arthur Brown last night gives information on his movements with the troops in France .  Arthur drives a car now which is to his liking.  He states that London omnibuses are being used to convey troops from the base to the trenches.  Roy McIntyre is in the trenches but Arthur cannot say at what point.

E. George Bothwell, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Bothwell, Gore Street , has enlisted with the Third Contingent at Edmonton .

Mrs. Richardson has received a letter from her son John Richardson saying his is in good health and has arrived at Tidsworth with the 12^th Battalion where they are awaiting further orders to go to France .

Perth Courier, April 2, 1915

From the British War Office comes the official statement to Clifford Darling, Captain of the 48^th Highlanders, Toronto , that he was seriously wounded in the shoulder.  He was inspecting the trenches at the time.  No further notice of his condition has been received.  Captain Darling is a cousin to our townsman Henry Taylor.

In a letter to his mother dated March 13, Arthur Code says in part:  Just a few lines in answer to your request for a note.  On Wednesday morning the 10^th we noticed very heavy cannonading and about 9:00 am we had a complete half company parade and the Captain read out to us an address by the general of the army saying that a general advance was about to take place and events were to happen.  He said our forces were superior numerically to the Germans, our artillery was superior in caliber and number to the Germans and also our serial fleet had driven the Germans from the air and something I saw last night bore this out.  From the direction of the German lines came an aeroplane, some three then came from the British lines and the German craft turned and ran but they soon went out of sight.  The last couple of days we have received new issues of pants, tunic and boots, my last boots only lasted about four weeks and they condemned Canadian boots.  There is a party of men making crosses for when some of us get killed we are keeping a stock.  Everyone talks of an advance.  I have not heard one man mention the possibility of retreat.  One of the men in my bunch said the night before last he is in a party carrying in supplies to the trenches, when his mate next to him was shot dead and the bullet went through his coat and water bottle but did not hurt him.  He showed me the bullets.  Must quite now we expect to move from here at any moment.  Love to all, Arthur

Perth Courier, April 9, 1915

Lt. Robert B. Lafferty, Canadian Horse Artillery, son of Dr. Lafferty, Calgary , formerly of Perth , was married at Chatham to Allison Margaret Dawson, daughter of Mrs. Dawson of Kingston .

The men of the 21^st Battalion, Second Contingent, recently in training at Kingston , will leave for Great Britain on Wednesday next via Halifax .  The horses have gone forward already.  Captain Caldwell of Lanark and quite a few men from Perth are among the battalion.

Pte. Ormond Lee of the 38^th Battalion, Ottawa , is visiting his grandfather here, John Lee.

A number of letters have come from the front to homes in Perth during the past week.  Lt. Clyde Scott’s letters to his father and mother partake of the secrecy that belong to censorship and contain the request that for the time being the correspondence should be regarded as for the family circle only.  He himself is in the best of health.  The men from Perth are first in his thoughts among those in the trenches and in the service at the places that are not named.  They are doing well.  Although the news from the western scene may come in a confusing way Lt. Scott reminds his correspondents that there is thought behind every movement. 

Perth Courier, April 16, 1915

The daily tragedies of war come closer to us here as time goes on.  The latest piece of saddening news in a cablegram to his father telling of the death of Hubert Allan, second son of J.A. Allan, barrister, Regina.  This took place at Dieppe , a French seaport and was the result of a fever while serving as chaplain of the First Canadian Contingent.  The deceased was born in Perth and at the time of his death was 28 years of age.  He was a graduate of Toronto University and took also a theological course at Edinburgh University .  While with the forces in France he was engaged in Y.M.C.A. work.  Besides his parents he leaves one brother, Harold, barrister, and two sisters in Regina , Irene and Muriel.

Chief Nichol of Arnprior is in receipt of a letter from his mother in England who states that the chief’s brother, Corporal Nichol, was wounded at the Battle of Neuve Chappelle probably the greatest artillery duel since the war commenced.  He is connected with the North Hampton Regulars but has been all through the campaign from the very start, was in the great retreat from Mons, saw his regiment shot to pieces yet this was the first scratch he received and not even then too serious.

Perth Courier, April 22, 1915

Miss McDiarmid, trained nurse and daughter of Rev. H.J. McDiarmid of this town, left for the scene of war in Belgium or France for active duty in her profession.  She sails from Halifax on Saturday.

Perth Courier, April 30, 1915

The calamities of the great war have at last come very close to us in Perth .  Following the general news of the desperate and bloody battle of Ypres came the following telegram on Wednesday to Rev. A. H. Scott:  “Sincerely regret to inform you that Lt. Clyde R. Scott of the Second Battalion is officially reported to be wounded or missing.  Although not essentially tragic in character the telegram tells of injury on the battlefield and leaves great uncertainty both of the nature of the wound and of his whereabouts after the action.  That a young man so genial so bright and so find a disposition as Clyde should be the first from our town to fall a victim, so far, to the horror of the campaign is one of the sad features of war; and in his parents’ great trial the sympathy of the people of Perth go out as they never went out before in this their hour of trial.  May the next news be more heartwarming.

Norman Allan, nephew of Mr. William H. Allan, Balderson, is on the firing line and writes that the closes he has been to being hurt was to have a large piece blown out of his great coat by a shell.

Perth Courier, May 7, 1915

Following the announcement that our young townsman, Lt. Clyde R. Scott, had been wounded in the Battle of Longemarch, and was also missing came a telegram from Caugleton Cheshire , England , from an unknown source to Mayor Grant that Clyde had been killed in battle.  This came as a great shock to the people of the town and was especially so to the parents Rev. and Mrs. A. H. Scott.  Cablegrams passed to and from London but up to this time the sad news has been unconfirmed by the War Office.  There is a bare possibility that the fatal news may not be sustained but the doubt is a small one.  The town hall and other flags have been flying at half mast since the first cablegram out of respect for the young soldier.

The 21^st Battalion left Kingston on Wednesday night for overseas duty.  The battalion consisted of 1,200 men.  Captain Caldwell of Lanark and Lt. John Inderwick of this town are with the company.

In the official list of wounded Canadians appearing yesterday morning the names of Privates David Lucas and Albert Lucas, Smith’s Falls, and Private Beatty of Perth , Private Campbell of Pembroke, Private Knight of Renfrew are mentioned.  Private Beatty is the son of Mrs. William Beatty and brother of Mr. Joseph Beatty of this town.

The following letter was received by Mrs. George Pepper from her brother, Arthur Brown, Lanark, who is with the First Divisional Supply Column of the Canadian Contingent now at the front:

France , 10^th April, 1915

Dear Sister:  Just a few lines to let you know I am well and that I received your welcome gift of cigarettes.  You do not know how much I appreciated them.  I had been three days without a cigarette and ho how I snatched the mail every day.  Today I was busy fixing my car when one of the lads came along with your parcel.  I stopped work right then and opened them and knocked off one for about half an hour to smoke.  I bet you would smile if you saw the boys’ eyes on me when I was opening the box so I had to stand a treat.  I am as happy as a king tonight—lots to smoke and I have just had a dandy supper.  I got a piece of beef tonight and got it fried.  Oh, it was swell!  I tell you, Joan, if I ever kick about my grub at home again just let me know about it.  I have not got mother’s gift yet but expect it some day soon.  They have chocolate here but I do not think you would like it.  We are getting more to do as time goes on.  So it will be soon that I will not be able to write long letters—just notes that all is well.  I had a trip the other night I was just going to supper when I was called to go out.  I had to go to another place about ten miles away and got my orders from there.  Then I was out hauling wet clothes all night.  I was close enough to the trenches to suit me but all went well.  Roy is not in the trenches as far as I know but he is going very soon.  Then keep an eye open for something is going to be doing about that time.  All the boys are out together seeing the town for we expect to move again pretty soon.  If we keep moving along like we are now I will soon see all this side of the country.  Well, Joan, I must close for this time but will write to mother tomorrow.  Give all my best wishes.

In a letter received by Joan Beedie from her brother Robert Beedie he says:  We were in the trenches for four days and nights and then got two days rest so we are going in tonight again for another three days.  We had four killed, one wounded in our company.  The weather is better now and the trenches are fully dry but this will be an awful place in the summer with fever.  So many died lying about hundreds of them that we cannot get them buried quickly enough.  I do not think this war will last long now perhaps until July.  The Russians are doing good work and I think they will finish it. 

Kaiser Bill went up the hill

To fetch a pail of water

General French came out of his trench

And hit him with a bloater.

Private Robert Beedie is in the 4^th Battalion of the Black Watch and was engaged in the Battle of Neuve Chappelle

Perth Courier, May 14, 1915

Perth is again in gloom, last Monday, when the message was received of the killing in action of one of Perth ’s best military officers in the person of Sgt. Major William E. Wright.  His last words to his close friend were:  “Well, George, I may never see you again but I am going to the front to do my best”.  Few men were as qualified in military affairs as the deceased.  For years he was Color Sergeant in the 42^nd Regiment and had attended military camps at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Kingston , and Ottawa .  He took a military course of training at Stanley Barracks in Toronto some years ago which greatly added to his military training.  The deceased was born in Perth the son of the late Benjamin Wright and was in his 48^th year and followed the occupation of a carpenter.  The deceased was a splendid musician and was for many years a valuable member of the Citizen’s Band and Orchestra.  He was also a member of the Perth Fire Brigade and during his absence was given his regular marks in the company.  The deceased was married to Grace Gallagher of Burgess who survives him with a family of four.  The sad news was conveyed to the family by Rev. A. H. Scott whose son Lt. Clyde Scott is reported missing as of last week.  Both of these were in the same battalion and best friends.  The following is the last letter sent by Mr. Wright:

France , 25^th April, 1915

Dear Grace:  A short and hurried not in case you should see the name of a private wounded in our company whose name is W. Wright.  I am well as usual although the regiment has suffered rather severely.  Will have to say goodbye for the present.  Love, Will.

In a letter received from Arthur Code dated No. 14, General Hospital, Cologne Base, he says:  Just a few lines to tell you the verdict of Col. Lister, an eminent eye specialist gave this afternoon and it is that I lose the sight of my right eye but keep the eye.  He says a man can get along very well with one eye so I guess I am lucky.  I think my active service days are over.  In a couple of days I go to London I think, and I do not know what then.  I hear that the Canadians did great work at Ypres .  Right ahead of me is a man of the 4^th Battalion who lost an eye altogether and shrapnel in the arm and leg.  We are receiving the best of attention and care so do not worry.  Yours, Arthur.

Perth Courier, May 21, 1915

Mrs. Dr. J. R. Mitchell received the following from her son Gordon Mitchell, who is in a hospital in France :  2 May, 1915   Dear Mother:  Just a few lines to let you know how I am.  I am in the hospital at present.  I was wounded on Friday, 30^th April.  I have two slight shrapnel wounds on the shoulders but they are not serious.  The shock with explosions put me unconscious and my back is so that I can hardly move.

A cable received by W. B. Hart intimates that his cousin, Dr. William Malloch Hart of Regina who was on active duty in his profession in the trenches at the Battle of Longemarche was taken prisoner and is in Germany .

A wire has been received from the battlefront to the effect that Private David Clark Craig, son of Mr. David Craig of Renfrew is missing after the Battle of Longemarche.  He was in a machine gun corps.  He is a nephew of Mrs. W. H. Grant of Ottawa , formerly of Perth , and also of Mr. Justice Craig, Toronto .

Recent Canadian casualties give as killed the name C. Laughrin, formerly employed at the Cecil House here who went to the front with the First Canadian Contingent and it is thought in town that he is the one mentioned.  His home is in Burritt’s Rapids and he has relatives in Carleton Place .  He was a fine young man and made many friends in Perth .

Perth Courier, June 4, 1915

J. Ross Riddell, son of Norman E. Riddell of Carleton Place (formerly of Perth ) is a member of the Collegiate Reinforcement Contingent for the Princess Patricia at present in training at Niagara , visited his home prior to setting out for the battlefield.

The following are some names of the trained nurses from this county and Renfrew and Leeds who have left for hospital work in Belgium and France—Dorothy Cotton, Almonte; Mary Bliss, Smith’s Falls; Kaireen Mackey, Renfrew; Miss R. Gourlay, Eganville; Annie Stark, Gananoque.  Josephine Armstrong of Perth is to go to Shropshire , England for work in the hospital there.

Perth Courier, June 11, 1915

The following interesting letter was received by Miss Wihelmina Wright from her father Sgt. Major Wright of the Second Battalion.

France , 10^th May, 1915

Dear Wilhelmina:  It got your welcome letter the other day and was glad to hear that you are all doing well at home.  I am in pretty good shape myself barring a touch of spring fever and the tired feeling that accompanies it.  WE are in a reserve billet well back from the firing line for a period of rest and reorganization after the tearing up we got a few weeks ago and which you will read all about in the paper.  For some reason or other there is no mention made of the 2^nd Battalion but we were certainly in the thick of it as the casualty list will show when it is fully made out.  We went into that scrap with about 350 the remainder being either killed, wounded or missing. I have not written anything about our own little bunch because I could not say for sure whether they are among the killed, wounded or missing.  I only know that Arthur Brown, Ed Fraser and myself are the only ones who we have any account at the present time and of the whole lot who enlisted with the 42^nd at Val Cartier there are only about 20 or 25 of whom we have any track outside of those who are know to be in the hospitals wounded.  The weather here is fine now and the whole country as beautiful as a park.  The trees are in leaf and people are going about with bunches of lilacs in the hand.  Probably the people at home will have come to a slight realization of what a gigantic struggle this is and is likely to be unless something unforeseen happens to bring it to a close which is always a probability of course in any war.  Give my love to all.

The last word received from Sgt. Major Wright dated 26^th May says “do not worry about newspaper reports” about him.

Perth Courier, June 14, 1915

The following is a letter received by George Fraser from his brother Edward in France and is dated 11^th May:  Dear Brother:  I received your card last night and I am glad to note that all is well.  I am O.K. and feeling fine.  We are having beautiful weather here now and the country looks grand.  As far as you can see there is not a fence in sight, nothing but hedges and they are kept so nicely trimmed.  The farmers do not put their stock to pasture here they keep them stabled all the year around and plant every acre of ground they own.  Well, George, no doubt you have heard about our first big fight around Ypres and Hill 60 of which I will not say anything except that we have done our duty as British soldiers.  You will get a full account of it in the press later.  Perth is hit pretty hard Scotty Cameron was killed the morning of the 22^nd, Clyde Scott, Will Joint, Archie Sinclair, Eric Spalding, Fred Carr and Roy McIntyre are among the missing.  W. Wright who used to work at the Hotel Cecil was slightly wounded.  We were in a house about 300 yards in front of the most advanced trenches which we won when the order came to retire as the French were falling back.  We had to cross that 300 yards of ground under machine gun rifle fire and a perfect hail of shrapnel.  Six of us out of 31 made it back and it was all of the 42^nd that held the house.  Capt. Hooper was with us and was the last man to leave the building.  He is missing also and will be a great loss to our battalion as he was one of our most able officers.  Some of our boys will take their oath that they saw Germans bayoneting our wounded and the devils crucified one of the 16^th Battalion driving bayonets through his arms and legs in a doorway.  Art Brown is O.K.  I saw him last night.  Col. Sgt. Wright and myself are all that is left of the Perth bunch.  Your Loving Brother, Ed.

Perth Courier, June 18, 1915

John Robert Allan of Ottawa was in town Saturday on his way to see his father James Allan.  Mr. Allan leaves next Saturday for the old country where his wife is and also two daughters who are in connection with Red Cross work.  Mr. Allan also has a son on the firing line in France where he went as a gunner but has since been transferred to one of the aviation divisions and is much impressed with his work.  Mr. Allan’s trip this time is in the interest of the Canadian private soldiers who are wounded and in hospitals.  When the wounded soldiers are convalescent there is no particular place for them to go to get complete recovery.  In the case of officers they seem to receive special attention and it is Mr. Allan’s business to secure some means by which our private soldiers will get all the attention necessary.  Quite a number of the wealthy Canadians have contributed to a fund which Mr. Allan is dealing with and we think it is in good hands.

Perth Courier, June 25, 1915

On Wednesday George Fraser received the following letter from his brother Edward of the 42^nd, who went through the Battle of Longemarche.  Dear Brother:  Just a note to say I am OK, also Will Wright.  We were more than surprised to read of his being killed in the last Courier I received from Katie.  I thought you would have read my letters.  I wrote you two times sine the big fight telling you all bout our Perth boys as I knew all their friends would be anxious.  Eric Spalding, A. Sinclair, W. Joint, and F. Carr are missing also Roy McIntyre of Lanark.  Our Colonel had a cablegram last night inquiring about Eric Spalding but we have heard nothing of any of the boys except Clyde Scott.  He is a prisoner in Germany .  If his father has not already heard let him know as it is official.  There is a pretty fair chance of some of the other boys being saved as Capt. Hooper is a prisoner and we were all with him.  I mean the boys of the 42^nd.  There were about a dozen of us came through.  You know Lorne Frood of Renfrew he used to work in the Merchant’s Bank.  He and I were pals since we left Perth .  He is missing also.  He was a fine fellow.  We have lost several more of our Battalion.  Well, George, I will close as the company is falling in for church.  With love to all I remain, Yours, E.J. Fraser, 8440 No. 4 Co. 2^nd Battalion, 1^st Brigade.

Word from Lt. Clyde Scott

Lt. Clyde R. Scott has sent his second letter since he became a prisoner of war at Paderborn in Germany .  His letter received on Monday of this week was written in part by himself and in part by an attendant.  Lt. Scott is suffering from a number of wounds but the chief one is a fracture of a small bone in the left thigh which eluded the physicians in the hospital where he spent his first week after being taken captive.  More skillful doctors in a second hospital where he has been removed to have the case in command and the patient is reported as making progress in a long and severe treatment.  The Germans with whom he has had to do with in the “ Brothers Hospital ” have been kind to the Perth soldier in the enemy’s country.

Perth Courier, July 2, 1915

Archie H. Sinclair of Perth, who was previously reported missing was officially reported as a prisoner of war on Monday and Sgt. Major William E. Wright who was previously reported killed is officially reported to be now will and at duty.

John Code received word from his daughter Gladys this week who is at present in London , England awaiting an appointment to some definite position as a nurse.  She and two other nurses recently went to Nottingham which is near London and where her brother Arthur Code is now in the Bagthorpe Hospital recovering from the effects of having an eye blown out on the battlefield.  She says he is getting along nicely and was exceedingly glad to see her.  In all probably he will be coming home in the near future.

It seems to be getting into the blood.  Last week Messrs. John Marsh and Jas. E. Lee enlisted for service at the front and Bob White, Ab. Briely, Jas. Barrett, Robert Houston, William Davis and “Chick” Lowe have decided to offer their services.  Briely and Barrett have already been accepted but the others have not yet passed their exam.  Gazette

Perth Courier, July 9, 1915

Capt. W. H. Hart of the C.A.M.C. Winnipeg who is a nephew of John Hart, Perth , boasts that he is the only Canadian who has been to Berlin and back since the war started but he admits that his impressions of the Kaiser’s capital were only fleeting though sufficient to make him detest the Teutons.  Together with a territorial medical officer he was one of a party of British exchange prisoners who recently reached England .  During the Ypres attack at the end of April, Capt. Hart was attached to the 5^th Battalion Western Cavalry and had care of the wounded.  With the commanding officer he went to procure ambulances which they were successful in obtaining but a blocked road rendered passage impossible.  Capt. Hat went forward alone to rejoin the wounded but was taken prisoner on an open plain by a group of Germans.  He was first sent to an internment camp at Mainz and afterward to Lanholm a small island in the Baltic.  The conditions at Mainz were wretched the bread being much inferior to the war bread used by the population while the most of them were supplied with horseflesh.  Capt. Hart and his companions chiefly subsisted on food mailed by friends a sample of the loaf served out was brought back by Capt. Hart and is now displayed in the window of the Canadian Immigration Department in Trafalgar Square , London .  The captured officers were crowded 19 to a room in Mainz although the German officers were given separate rooms.  At Lanholm the conditions were rather better, the commandant there being more humane.  The journey to the Baltic was made via Berlin of which the prisoners saw little but they received insulting greetings when first examined after being captured special interest was shown when the fact that Capt. Hart was a Canadian and through an interpreter was asked “what did the English tell you to persuade you to fight”.  Capt. Hart was exchanged as a medical officer but left behind him Capt. G. W. Northwood, Lt. J.K. Bell and Lt. G. F. Andrews of Winnipeg and Lt. H.E.L. Owen of Ft. William , all of the 8^th Battalion.  From Capt. Hall’s observation of the Germans he is convinced that whatever humanity they possess it is entirely superficial.

Normal Dodds of town received a letter this week from Sgt. Wm. Wright written from France on the 14^th June, he says that he was very much alive and was hardly a fit subject to hold a funeral service over yet and that after the Longemarche Battle the soldiers of the 42^nd had been mixed up with other regiments all along the battle line and came straggling in to report to their proper regiment but Sgt. Wright says “not one of our little bunch was among them” so it is either a case of being prisoners in Germany or killed in action.

Stanley Couch and David Lucas, two Smith Fall’s boys are reported “killed in action”.  The words though few have a tremendous meaning signifying that these two brave boys gave their lives for King and country.  It was only the other day that these columns contained a letter from Stanley Couch and it is difficult to fully realize that it was his last.  Heartaches will certainly follow the announcement but the glory of the achievement of these dead heroes and the glory of their sacrifice will finally dispel all grief and remain a constant source of alleviation to the bereaved families.  Smith Falls News

Perth Courier, July 16, 1915

Mrs. William Spalding has received official notice that her son Eric J. Spalding of the First Canadian Contingent in Belgium is “missing”.  Two other Perth boys at the front, Fred Carr and Wm. Joynt are unofficially in the same cut.

Perth Courier, July 30, 1915

William Chester died in Belgium on Friday, 23^rd July from a wound in the stomach.  He is the son of Mrs. F.A. Chester and brother of Thomas Chester of this town.  He is also survived by his wife and two children who are at present in Gananoque and one sister Margaret of Ormond.  He was 24 years of age and was with the First Artillery Field Brigade enlisting from his home in Gananoque.  He fell on the battlefield at Ypres having had several guns smashed in front of him but he luckily escaped and when writing to his mother in town his letters were always of a cheerful nature and he would speak of his return home after doing his duty but like many other Canadians God willed that he would sacrifice his life in carrying out his duty.  William Chester’s father, who died ten years ago was also a soldier, having fought in Egypt in the Nile Expedition.

A.L. Charlton received a telegram from Ottawa on Monday stating that his son Wilfred Charlton had been wounded on the 23^rd July by a bullet entering between the second and third spinal tumber (?) vertebrae.  At present he is at No. 2 Canadian General Hospital at Treport , France .  The telegram states that further particulars would be sent when received.  Wilfred Charlton who is 22 years of age, was a farmer in western Canada and joined the Strathoona (?) Horse and was serving with them when wounded.  His parents in town last heard from him in a letter dated 1^st July and which reached here 17^th July.  In the letter he stated that he was in the best of health and receiving the splendid care that wounded soldiers are receiving at the front.  He will in all probability recover from his wound.

Posted: 02 January, 2004