News From Ollie
These are postcards that Ollie sent home to his mother and father. I have stuck them together back to front.
These
letters came to me from my cousin John Glen Mowat who took the time to
transcribe them all. This must have taken a great deal of time.
Onboard S.S. “Megantic”. Feb. 4 1915
Dear Everybody,
Just have time for a line this morning. Here we are at
Queenstown, Iceland ready to disembark. We had a lovely voyage
over and think of it little Willie was not sea sick.
We traveled
all the way over without a light showing & we left the convoy last
night at 9 O’clock & beat it in to here at the rate of 20 knots per
hour. Some speed.
We were met by 17 cruisers and 2 battle ships, some pretty sight. We’ll never forget it.
Am
feeling fit as a fiddle and gained about 10 lbs.. Expect to loose
that though. We had quite a few passengers on board so we had a
merry trip. Don’t know where they are going to send us, but
expect it will be in Ireland.
There is no more news at present, say hello to all my friends. Please excuse haste
Ollie.
Front line trench 19 – 8 – 15 August 19 1915
Dear Mother –
Here I am writing you again today from my OP. Weather delightful today but mud in the trenches remains the same. –
Received yours of Aug 2nd last night in the first line trenches with
five others. I’m glad you are going to meet Lillas. Give
her a good time for yours truly. She is a good sport & and
gave Ollie a good time in St. John last winter.
She also
know Goog very well, and gave him a good. Why? Because he
was my brother, at least that’s what she told me. I hear from her
every now & again.
Now don’t get cross because I gave
you an address of 15 July. I always get your letters, and
have answered every one of them the day I get them, or the next day
anyway. If you just put my rank & name with Artillery on the
Address I would get it. If the war Office knows where I am.
But I just gave you the right address so I would get your mail two or
three days sooner.- Yes I got the tobacco & Cigarettes O.K.
About three weeks ago I wrote & thanked you and Dad & Wian for
the contents the day I received same and no doubt your parcel will be
waiting for me when I go out to the battery tomorrow.
So
will drop you a line as soon as I get it.- I know you don’t get
all my mail for some of it goes astray. Just think of the job
they have looking after all our (MISSING) Oh . Yes. You
(Missing) have done down to Inch Ana(M) when Austin wanted
you too, for then you would met a girl who is at present visiting
there from Montreal. (In fact there are two sisters) and I hear
regular once a week from her. – Goog also hears from the other one as
often as I do. See what you missed. Rather clever of you in
reference to the bouy. Eh? But that was a mere trifle. Wake
up Mother or I will be married when I get home.
Everything is quiet today as far as our line is concerned. Must
close now & please keep up the writing as I love to get your
letters.
Love Ollie.
Frontline line
trench
Aug 18/15 august 18 1915
Dear Mother, Dad & all.
Just a line to let you know am still kicking and this time at the
Mud.- Has been raining for the last couple of days and our
trenches are in a very bad state. Especially the communication
trenches, but the sun is out this afternoon & it will dry up
quickly.
Our heavies have just finished shooting at the
Germans and the line is very quiet at the present. Have a couple
more nights here and then I go out for four days. The mail is
just in at the battery & they told me those were five or six
letters for me I will get them at 6P.M. when the orderly comes
up.- I stay where I am at present(that is in my OP.) till six
thirty. I then go down to the front line trenches which is about
80 yards away, and have dinner with the Infantry Officers. I stay
with them till 9:15 after this stand too, and I then go back to the
infantry headquarters about 1500 yds back & spend the night there
with the Col. of the Batt. Coming up here again in the morning about 9.
am. Unless something is doing. – Then I come up at
daylight. I always have a telephonist with me and am always
connected to the battery. & can open fire at a seconds
notice. So you see we have a lot of pleasure in this life.
Must close now & my glasses & have another squint at the
Germans lines & try to get a few of them. If I can see
them.
Love Ollie.
<LOST PIECE>
to start. – I do hope it’s mighty soon, as this waiting is hell.
Sir F. Borden inspected some of our troops here the other day, but didn’t come near the
artillery, as we are always in action.- He just inspected the Infantry that were out for a rest.
Orders came down the other day, to fix our horse lines & billets up
for the winter weather. Not very pleasant to look forward to is
it. Eh?- It will be quite awhile before little Ollie tucks his
feet under the home table again.
Best regards to Glen, Babe, Morden, and love to Dad & Yourself
<LOST PIECE>
Ollie’s Letters
Military and Defence, Canada
Fredericton NB Jan. 28 1914
Dear Mother,
Have been waiting for a line form you for the last month. What is
the matter. I got my hockey outfit OK. Also blue
suit. Had a letter from Googe yesterday & he wants his long
pants. So I suppose I will have to send them to him. Where
is that hamper you were going to send me. With the turkey &
pies & leakes. Ha! Ha!
Well
mother I am working very hard. We sure have a good bunch of men
in our battery, and you wouldn’t want to meet any better
officers. “I love the cows & chickens, but this is the
life” Tell Glen I am going to send his music some of these fine
days. I got his letter also babes. Tell them to duplicate
them. I think you & Father had better run up to Fredericton
when you go to St. John you can stay a day here anyway. What do
you say?
Well I haven’t very much time to
write you today. Am very tired was out to a dance last
evening. I am rooming with Keiter(?) McKay & we have good
times together. He just received his Majority this morning,
qualifying him for a field Officer. Did I tell you I received my
certificate from Kingston too. Did you hear if Bernie McLatetily
has received his yet?
We are having beautiful
weather down here at present & are working the battery into
shape. Hope to be able to take a trip home before taking the
final plunge. But I am not sure if I can get away. If I do
I will leave here Saturday night & leave home Monday morning.
That’s all the time I will get. Please excuse haste.
Your loving son Ollie.
Don’t forget to write…?
Onboard S.S. “Megantic”
(No date, have only page 5 and on)
and
will enclose it. They also gave a cup to the O.C. of the battery
winning the most number of points. The 24th Battery C.E.F.
won. My we were glad. Some time. I will mark our wins in
the program, there were eight different units on board so you see the
fight we had.
I am writing this tonight by
Candle light that is all the light we have in our rooms. And it
seems like the olden days. I can almost see a ghost sitting on
the other side of the table. Ha! Ha! But thank the
Lord we are not at Sailsbury plains. This is a beautiful spot
& it’s near where the Germans sometimes run in with there
submarines & cut up a little. Oh I didn’t tell you our narrow
escape coming from Ireland did I. Well the tug boat our pilot
came out from Liverpool in rammed a german submarine fifteen minutes
after we left her. I think our navy is simply wonderful the way
it is guarding the British Isles and everybody ought to be proud of
it. You bet the blue jackets got some cheers from our men when we
got into Liverpool. The pen is not working to perfection you will
have to excuse writing as the candle is awfully hard on the eyes, and I
am so darn tired I can hardly keep my eyes open.
I am enclosing a twig of Shamrock I picked from Irish soil with my own
hands, it is pretty stale at present, but that’s a mere trifle.
Some of our boys walked over to Folkestone today & they say it is
just full of Belgium people. You notice all along the line
wounded soldiers.
We didn’t bring any guns or
horses over with us for which we were very thankful, for it saved a lot
of work, we will get all those here.
We had a
fellow in from Toronto today to see us, he is a Cambridge boy & has
a commission with an English Battery he hates the English Army.
There not at all like the Canadians.
I have
to blot every page with the heat from the candle you will notice where
it caught fire once but I saved it in time. It is now 10:30
English time which is about 5:30 our time.
I
am also enclosing a list of passangers on our boat & I am marking
the officers of our battery. I will not be able to get them all
in one envelope so will send two. It is funny getting onto the
English money & their ways but it will come after awhile.
Guess I will have to close for now my address will be Lieut. OAMowat
c/o 24th Battery C.E.F. Shorncliffe Camp England. So please tell
all my friend I haven’t time to write them all. Give my love to
all the C’ton girls. I haven’t had my clothes off for 48 hours so
will be glad to turn in tonight. All the C’ton boys are well.
Your loving son,
Ollie.
Onboard S.S. “Megantic”. Feb. 4 1915
Dear Everybody,
Just have time for a line this morning. Here we are at
Queenstown, Iceland ready to disembark. We had a lovely voyage
over and think of it little Willie was not sea sick.
We traveled
all the way over without a light showing & we left the convoy last
night at 9 O’clock & beat it in to here at the rate of 20 knots per
hour. Some speed.
We were met by 17 cruisers and 2 battle ships, some pretty sight. We’ll never forget it.
Am
feeling fit as a fiddle and gained about 10 lbs.. Expect to loose
that though. We had quite a few passengers on board so we had a
merry trip. Don’t know where they are going to send us, but
expect it will be in Ireland.
There is no more news at present, say hello to all my friends. Please excuse haste
Ollie.
Kingsley Hotel (Near the British Museum)
Hart Street
Bloomsbury Square
London
Sunday March 28/15
Dear Dad Mother & the Kids.
Well you will see by the heading I am in London Town, and having a
swell time. We came up from Shorncliffe yesterday afternoon &
have to go back again in time for parade Wednesday morning. Capt.
McKay Mr. Reid & I came up together. Our Capt. Is on his way
to France already. I wish I were going with him. We found
out the reason why we were rushed out of Canada. We are not the
second Contingent, but reinforcements to the first Contingent from
Canada. We have already sent our Capt. & four man to fill up
one gap, and our turn will come very soon now, as they are making the
gaps very quickly over at the front.
We will
never go over as a brigade or as a battery the call will likely come
for so many men, & so many officers, and just as soon as we are
qualified we will be pushed right over. I was talking to several
of the first contingent who were wounded, they are all artillery men
and have just come back. They say it is hell over there at
present. The Princess Pats have lost heavily among there
officers. I am darn sorry we are not going as a battery for when
we go we will likely have strange men & strange officers over us,
after working so hard with one’s men, it is hard to part as you know
them, & become attached to them. We have two dept batteries
of the first contingent at Shorncliffe who are training us, we have no
guns or horses of our own & will not likely get any now. We
have to use the depot horses & guns.
Saw
Jim Fraser Friday night, nearly all the C’ton boys have moved down to
our camping grounds, Mersereau, Junes (?) Ned Sargent & a lot more
are there. I will take a run over & see them when I get
back. This is the first leave I have had since joining the
Battery at Fredericton Jan 8/15, & it is only for two days, as I
said before Mr. Reid is also with me & he knows London like a book,
as he has been here several times before. We were out to the
Royality last night & saw the play “ The man left at home” It was
rather good. Don’t you know.
We were
out to teas this afternoon at Mr. Chatterys. He is one of the
leading Lawyers of London, all kinds of money. He has two very
nice daughters who Reid knew before. We area going out there for
dinner tomorrow evening & then we are going to have a little
theater party. Oh this is some binge. A pound here is like
a penny home, it goes so fast. You got to tip everybody
here. We were out to Buckingham Palace & the Soo today &
I also had my first drive on an underground railway. We are going
to get passes & go through their power houses. It is some
system believe me. We are right near the British Museum here
which we are going through tomorrow. We also got passes for the
House, which we are going to see in session. We are going to be
busy every minute believe me. It is going to cost a couple of
Lbs. but then we should worry, dear knows where we will be this time
next year. When we go back we are going to put application in for
6 days leave, and are going to Scotland.
Mr.
Reid has some relations there. He is a corker to travel
with. He knows the ropes so well. We were out to Place Gate
Gardens this afternoon too. It was simply wonderful.
Got your letter last week that is last Friday also the papers, & I
was indeed glad to hear from home, as it was the first letter.
Did you get the lot I sent home from Fredericton, you didn’t say
anything about it. Please send me all the Graphics, you get a lot
of news in them.
I was sorry I did not get a
chance to see some of you before leaving. But in this game, your
not your own boss, nobody is for that matter not even the king. I
was sorry I did not call on him today but I was rather busy.
Well dad I don’t know of anything else I can write you
about. Will write again when I go back to camp. Hope you
& Mother & the boys are all well. I was vacanited (I know
that’s not spelt right but we should worry) last Friday & I am just
beginning to feel it now. It’s going to be mighty sore.
Don’t forget to write as often as you can, as there nothing like news from home.
Hear Major Crockey is at the 28th Battery at Fredericton. Has
Googe left Canada let me know his address as soon as you get it, as it
is pretty hard to get it here as England is just full of troops.
If I knew where he was I would write him, & get him to run in and
see me.
This is a peach of a hotel we have
about fifteen Canadian nurses here at present there were fourty of them
here last week. Well it is now 8:45 & dinner is just
on. It is only 3:45 by your time so you see we are quite a bit
ahead of you here.
Bye Bye for present
From you loving son,
Ollie
P.S. Say hello to all my friends for me.
Canadian Artillery Depot Brigade, Shorncliffe.
April 16/15 (April 16 1915)
Dear Mother,
How you was? Hope you have fully recovered by this time.
What do you know? Just think I got eleven letters from Canada
last Mail. I was a glad boy believe me. But I will be some
busy answering them eh? They made me a little lonesome at the
time reading them. But I have gotten over it.
Everything is in doubt here tonight. All (unreadable) & Motor
Cycles are not allowed to run after 6 PM. I expect an air raid
any moment. If one comes our orders are to get our men out of
barracks & take them in the open fields or in woods & make them
lay down on their stomache’s(Darn the pen) with their face and hands
under them. Wouldn’t if be fun if we had to do that. They
raided a place about fourty miles from here last night. They are
looking for this place as there are quite a few troops here. Last
week they sent 40 000 men from here to France in the night & hardly
anybody knew anything about it till they were over. I hope our
turn is not very far off.
I was very glad to
get your last letter last Tuesday & also the Easter Card. I
have nothing new to write you about so will ring off. Heard that
the second contingent is on it’s way over. They are going to
place them about a mile from us. That’s the word now anyway.
Saw
all the C’ton boys day before yesterday & they are looking
fine. Mersereau is coming over to dinner with me some day next
Week. Must close now please excuse haste as I have to run off a
few more letters.
Love to all Ollie.
Canadian Artillery Depot Brigade, Shorncliffe.
April 27 /15
Dear Mother Dad & Glen & Babe.
This letter today has to do for the whole of you see.’ There is
hardly any news to write you about anyway. I suppose Googe is on
his way over by now. They took all the Canadian Infantry
they have over here now & sent it too France yesterday. To
fill up the gap in the last battle. The Canadians lost very
heavily didn’t they eh? But they sure had their nerve with
them. We expect to go very shortly now. Shiney Mersereau
(?) & all the boys of the first contingent have gone, and they will
go right into the firing line. It will help recruiting in Canada
and I think the fourth & maybe the fifth will see service.
It’s going to take every man England can get together to crush the
Germans. So far we haven’t won anything at all to speak of.
But we’re going to do it. Believe me.
I
hope Mother’s arm is better by now and she is able to use. I am
going to London next week.( If I am here ) and buy the rest of my
equipment. I haven’t got my Shooter or Binoculars as yet, but
will get them before I go.
News is very scarce at present will have to ring off for now. Don’t forget to write when you have time.
Yours as ever
Ollie.
Belgium July 24/5
Dear Mother:
Have just finished censoring about twenty five letters, and thought I
would drop you a line: - Every day I have to censor any where from
twenty five to fifty letters, and when the Canadian Mail comes in
twice as many, for the boys are always busy answering their mail.
Have not been feeling up to the mark for the last week, but am coming around now.
At first the M.O. wanted me to go to the base hospital for a couple of
weeks but I told him I would rather stick it out. I’m glad I did
for I’m feeling better now. – It was a
(Missing)
P.S. – Have not heard from Goog since writing last. OAD.(?)
Belgium July 28 1915
Dear Mother,
Yours of July 8th received today, and needless to say I was glad to
hear from you. But why all the worry about me? Mother there
is absolutely no need of it at all. Please let me do all the
worrying about myself, and everything will turn out Ok. I am
sorry I wrote and told you all my experiences. I will know better
next time. I suppose it was just like my first visit to London,
everything was new, and I took in all the details, and just had to tell
everybody else what it felt like to me, on my first experience.
But now after being here awhile everything is different, and I don’t
mind it a little bit. Just laugh at it all now. I don’t
even mind a shell at all, and never loose any sleep over them.
I told you that we’re in a new position, and it’s very quiet, to what
the other on was. I think I also told you I was back at the
Column, and have been for quite awhile. So instead of 12th
Bty. Put Ammn. Column on my mail.
I had a parcel
from Goog today 7 he sent me some Cigarettes & some chocolates
which I enjoyed very much. It was sure good of him.
You are awfully good to send me the parcel I am looking forward to
receiving it. You remember about 1900 around Xmas time. How
we kids used to enjoy Xmas. Well it’s just about the same to me
here, when I get your parcels. We dearly love to get them – but
you better not send me any more till I ask you for some, at present I
have about 150 Cigarettes, and when I get the parcel from Hugh &
the one you are sending I will have more than enough.
Tess, Haze, & Earl sent me some fudge & Cigarettes which I
rec’d Ok, but nothing left now but the boxes. It was sure good.
I also had a parcel from Miss Ahetty(?) from London. She is the
girl Read is going to marry. I often hear from her. Major
McKay & Read are still in England, and they both want to get over
here. I would like to see Read.
I hope Glen got
through his Matriculations with honours. Tell him to write me
when he is finished writing them, and tell him to be sure & go to
College next year, or he will miss the best time of his life. I’m
sorry I was so crazy but that’s gone and past now.
And
poor Babe, please don’t let him rely on his voice. It might be
excellent, but it is N.G. without the education. Keep him at his
books.
Don’t worry about the liquor part of it. It
doesn’t appeal to me a little bit. It never did & never
will. If I liked it, it might be different. But I don’t.
In reference to my trunk I never sent it home. It is still in
England, and Capt. Chisholm is going to find a place & store it for
me. As soon as I find out definite, where he has stored it, will
let you know.
The Graphic! Oh yes I get it about
once a month. It still goes to Shorncliffe & when they feel
like readdressing it to me, I get it, which is about once month.
You might give Macbell(?) my correct address, so it can come direct.
Always have lots of pencils you know the gov’t supplies them.
As far as clothing goes I have plenty, I can always send to Eng for any
clothing I want, my tailor over there can supply me with
anything. He has all of my measurements.
This is
the last page in my book so will have to close, and pursue some more
gov’t paper. It’s very handy for letter writing. It saves a
lot of bother carrying note paper around.
Will likely
see you all by this time next year. In the meantime DON’T
WORRY. PLEASE. Am in the best of health. Hope you all
at home are the same.
Love to all. Ollie.
Belgium July 29/15
Am enclosing a couple of clippings taken from today’s paper, which I
think are very interesting. Especially the map of Warsaw.
It will mean a lot to us if the Russians can retain Warsaw.
That’s one reason why our front is so quiet. The Russians are a
great nation, and they know how to fight. I don’t think they ever
won a battle without retiring about the middle of it, and then coming
back strong.
Mail is just today, and no sign
of your parcel as yet, but I guess it will be along soon. How are
things in general this summer with you? Write & tell me all
about them.
Our front is very quiet at present, one
would hardly know that there is a war on, except for a few shell coming
over now & again.
Had a parcel of
Cigarettes from Goog yesterday, and they were certainly great. He
knows a good Cigarette when he sees one.
Don’t feel like writing a letter today so guess I had better put the brakes on.
Saw a cricket match last night, and it’s a very tame game, nothing to
it at all. Drop me a line when you have time.
As ever Ollie.
Frontline line trench
Aug 18/15 (August 18 1915)
Dear Mother, Dad & all.
Just a line to let you know am still kicking and this time at the
Mud.- Has been raining for the last couple of days and our
trenches are in a very bad state. Especially the communication
trenches, but the sun is out this afternoon & it will dry up
quickly.
Our heavies have just finished shooting at the
Germans and the line is very quiet at the present. Have a couple
more nights here and then I go out for four days. The mail is
just in at the battery & they told me those were five or six
letters for me I will get them at 6P.M. when the orderly comes
up.- I stay where I am at present(that is in my OP.) till six
thirty. I then go down to the front line trenches which is about
80 yards away, and have dinner with the Infantry Officers. I stay
with them till 9:15 after this stand too, and I then go back to the
infantry headquarters about 1500 yds back & spend the night there
with the Col. of the Batt. Coming up here again in the morning about 9.
am. Unless something is doing. – Then I come up at
daylight. I always have a telephonist with me and am always
connected to the battery. & can open fire at a seconds
notice. So you see we have a lot of pleasure in this life.
Must close now & my glasses & have another squint at the
Germans lines & try to get a few of them. If I can see
them.
Love Ollie.
Front line trench 19 – 8 – 15
(August 19 1915)
Dear Mother –
Here I am writing you again today from my OP. Weather delightful today but mud in the trenches remains the same. –
Received yours of Aug 2nd last night in the first line trenches with
five others. I’m glad you are going to meet Lillas. Give
her a good time for yours truly. She is a good sport & and
gave Ollie a good time in St. John last winter.
She also
know Goog very well, and gave him a good. Why? Because he
was my brother, at least that’s what she told me. I hear from her
every now & again.
Now don’t get cross because I gave
you an address of 15 July. I always get your letters, and
have answered every one of them the day I get them, or the next day
anyway. If you just put my rank & name with Artillery on the
Address I would get it. If the war Office knows where I am.
But I just gave you the right address so I would get your mail two or
three days sooner.- Yes I got the tobacco & Cigarettes O.K.
About three weeks ago I wrote & thanked you and Dad & Wian for
the contents the day I received same and no doubt your parcel will be
waiting for me when I go out to the battery tomorrow.
So
will drop you a line as soon as I get it.- I know you don’t get
all my mail for some of it goes astray. Just think of the job
they have looking after all our (MISSING) Oh . Yes. You
(Missing) have done down to Inch Ana(M) when Austin wanted
you too, for then you would met a girl who is at present visiting
there from Montreal. (In fact there are two sisters) and I hear
regular once a week from her. – Goog also hears from the other one as
often as I do. See what you missed. Rather clever of you in
reference to the bouy. Eh? But that was a mere trifle. Wake
up Mother or I will be married when I get home.
Everything is quiet today as far as our line is concerned. Must
close now & please keep up the writing as I love to get your
letters.
Love Ollie.
Sept 9 1915
Dear Mother, Dad & Boys:
As promised am writing you from the trenches. It is now 12 A.M.
and I have been here from 7 A.M. and will be here till 8:30 PM.
Tonight, and longer if the situation demands it. However if
things remain as they have been this morning I will get away on time.
I have just finished firing our battery at a working party with good
results. Oh it’s a great game, this was game but it takes so long
to finish. I tell you when I get home I’m going to have a dug out
built in the back yard. I like them so well.
Lunch
today consisted of bread & jam, with a piece of cake my man had
received from home. – The cake tasted pretty good.
Expect
mail in two day & I’ll likely have a letter from you
tomorrow. – I go back to the battery tomorrow morning, and after
a clean up will feel like a new man.-
Don’t feel like
writing a letter today. In fact there’s no news anyway. – I shall
repeat I received the tobacco & leake Ok. And it was indeed very
good.
Hope you are all well at home, and are having a
good time. – Received a letter from George the other day & he
expects to be over here shortly. Love to all. Ollie.
France 10th Battery
September 23 1915
Dear Mother,
Your letter of Sept. 5th to hand today & needless to say was very
glad to hear from you. (Please excuse pencil but I’m not in love
with the pen) I certainly would like to spend a days fishing, but
I guess I will have to wait.
I received a parcel from you
today which you mailed me to F’cton last winter. Norman McLeod
just remailed it to me today from England. It consisted of a hold
all (which came in very handy) and a collar belt. Which I was
glad to get. Thanks very much fro same.
Glad to see you are having a good time I wish I could join you.
I have never rec’d a parcel from Mrs. E. A. Smith. Perhaps it has
gone astray. I certainly will drop Mrs. Fraser a line and I will
do that tonight. I might not have another chance.
You will see by the heading that we are back in France, and in a pretty
tight corner at that. This time tomorrow night I shall be down in
the trenches waiting to open up. It’s going to be some experience
if I get through it. It sure is a big chance against it.
I’m jolly glad I was picked for the job. I was down to the G.O.C.
Division last night for my final instructions and they’re pretty
stiff. I would like to tell you all about it but I possibly
can’t. However I will let you know about it afterwards. One
good thing it will be over by the time this reaches you and you will
know what has happened by then. I will get a letter or card away
to you as soon after as possible. So you see there will be no
worry at all.
One satisfaction anyway I know I will get a
few of them before they get me, and that I went under doing my
duty. Which I think after all is the best way to die. If
the worst comes to the worst you might say hello and good bye to all of
my friends. Something seems to tell me Mother that I’m going to
pull through Ok. I don’t feel a least bit nervous about the
job. In fact I’m in love with it. Not many fellows get the
same job.
I wish you could hear the Artillery fire tonight, they’re not letting up at all.
I have from 11 to 1:30 AM to take my turn with our battery, firing
it. Capt. Lancaster is at present with it, and Mr. Churchill
relieves me. Mr. Hyde has taken my gun up to it’s position.
It was fitted out with rubber tires so the Huns wouldn’t get
wise. I will put them wise soon enough.
Had a
letter from Goog yesterday & he is left at the base. I’m
sorry for the kid. He feels just the same way I did about
it. Anybody that comes over to do his bit doesn’t feel like being
left at the base. However he will get his chance later.
Must close now, will write you later. How is Dad & Glen &
Babe hope they are all well. Tell Glen to take my advice & go
to College.
Bye bye for present. As ever.
Your loving son Ollie.
“Same old place and worse than ever”
May 17/16
Dear Mother
From London to the trenches, finished my journey. Just came out
of the trenches today after spending two days in. My what a
difference from civilization.
I left London
last Friday afternoon at and spent Friday afternoon and all day
Saturday in Folkestone. Left Folkestone on the 7:20 PM boat &
arrived in Boulogne about 9 PM and had to stay there for twenty four
hours. I arrived back at the battery 3:30 AM on the Monday
morning & went up to the front line trench at 9:30 same morning
& just came out this morning. Your letter of 21st and 27th
were waiting for me also your parcel which indeed I was very glad to
get. Thanks very much for sending same.
I was up to see Goog Friday morning before I left London & he was
feeling much better. I also sent him his trunk from Folkestone
when I was there. But don’t know whether he got it yet or not?
I have about fifteen letters to answer & am going to try & get
a few of them away tonight. I also had a parcel from Aunt Alice
& must write & thank her for same. News is very scarce so
must close. Hope you are all well at home. Please excuse
note.
Love Ollie.
Same old place
May 21 1916
Dear Mother:-
Just a line today. I received three parcels from the G.C.A. one
contained fudge Mouse sent. One was a pair of white socks &
some Cig’s & tobacco, and the other was the letter case, and it
very neat & handy and I like it fine. I must write Aunt
(MISSING)
see
me. I sure was glad to see him. I had him stay for dinner.
(Such as it was) & we had a great talk. He has changed quite
a bit since 1910.
Haven’t had any word from
Goog or Morden lately so have nothing new to write you about. How
is Dad & Babe. Hope they are both enjoying
Reserve Brigade
Canadian Field Artillery
Witley Camp Surrey Eng.
2-5-18 (Feb. 5 1918)
Dear Dad,
Have few minutes to spare so thought I would drop you a line.
Ever since arriving at this camp, have been extremely busy, fighting
with paper. Was given the job as second in command of the above
unit, which consists mostly of paper, and the discipline of the
outfit. It’s quite a job and I’m kept quite busy. Up every
morning with the birds and in bed every night with the owls.
Have written no less than twenty Official letters today, besides being
president of the court of Inquiry, and prosecutor of Court
Martial. I should also have had my medical board, but had to
cancel it till tomorrow morning. That reminds me I have to take a
Summary of Evidence for Court Martial also tomorrow morning besides
attending to my correspondence. So you can see I’m making up for
the pleasant time I had while home.
If the board pass me A’
tomorrow am going to try for France immediately. If not shall
hold this job down till I am fit. Here’s hoping?
War news looks much better lately, and believe me at no time during the
great enemy offensive was there any cause for worry. They can’t
break the line and they damn well know it now. If we wanted to
sacrifice our men, we could do the same to them at any time.
Had letter from Glen this morning and he expects leave to London
shortly. I’m afraid I shan’t get off to see him for I’m certainly tied
down. Also had a letter from Goog today. He tells me you
were sick. Hope it was nothing serious? He also tells me
you require assistance financially. What’s the troub. Write
and let me know please, and remember I have about 70 pounds or $400.00
you can have at any time. I’m only sorry it’s not larger.
Wire me if you require it immediately. At any rate let me know
all about it, and remember I can stand it. So make it
quick. When I get my March and April pay I can spare you 100
pounds. Have had trouble about my pay over here, but ought to get
it settled pretty soon.
Must close now.
The weather has been delightful here lately and when I get time I
generally go out to the Golf Links. It’s a great game and I’m
coming fine.
Please remember me to Mother
& the rest and don’t forget to let me know re above
immediately. Urgent.
Love to all, Ollie.
PHOTOGRAPH AND POSTCARDS
Ollie’s Trench Pics
Top – This is a mine crater in front of our front line trench. It
is about 40 yds from the enemy front trench. Have often been in
it & it sure is quite a hole. They have quite a few scraps
with bombs from this spot. Ollie.
Bottom – The telephonist dug out. Ollies
Dome des Invalides, Church
Ollie's Military and Battle Honors
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