June 7, 1915 - Fredericton

Dear Father,

I received your letter Saturday noon and the parcel this noon.  If I had got the parcel with the letter I could have saved 35 cents for writing material which I bought Saturday night.  But no matter, it won't spoil and I can use it sometime.  The only money we can draw here is the $6.00 the major gives us between the 15th and 20th of each month and everybody gets that , so if I come home I will have to save what I can from pay day and the rest will have to come from home.

I did not think last summer that Henry Ward would ever work again, he was too sick at times.  I am sorry to hear that C. Sellon and J. Currie are dead, but it is as likely to be them as anybody.  I notice mostly all of the casualties are in the infantry.

When I spoke of my boots being rough on the inside I meant it was the untanned side of the leather, so there is nothing I can do to make them better.  However, I like them fine and they fit me perfectly.  I used a lot of grease called Dubbin on them when the weather was wet and they got very dark, and when the weather got dry and warm (it has been awfully hot here lately) I tried to clean them and get them a lighter color to shine but I could not do it, although I tried soap and warm water as well as gasoline.  However, on Saturday they issued us with our second pair and I got a pair of Slaters (regular dandies), size 7, just the right length but a bit narrow so I sent them to the cobbler this morning to have them stretched.  I like to have boots that fit.  So many here have them too big and they wrinkle all up and look like the deuce.  Of course, the quartermaster tries to make you take the first pair of your size he finds and there are so many makes made on so many different lasts that sometimes you can wear 6's in one make and have to have 8's in another, so I just stand and holler till I get what I want.

I am on picket today, went on with three others and an N.C.O at five last night.  My tricks were from 5-7 and 11-1, last night and the same today, up and down, mostly sit down out by the horses to see that they are all right.  Two hours on and four off, when on guard we have two on and six off.  But it's only play with no rifles to carry, only it's a bit lonely at night becuase the rest of the picket are 150 yds away, whereas the guard beats right alongside lots of company.  There is a draft of 42 men ordered for England from this Battery at any minute with Mr. Muirhead (Lieut.) in charge.  I don't know whether I go or not yet.

Clarence

P.S. Mr. Muirhead started to make out the list of men he would take, 20 gunners, 15 drivers, 6 N.C.O.'s and himself, and he had me down as one of the best drivers, but the major took the reins himself and does not know the men's work at all so I don't know whether I go or not, but I will let you know as soon as I can...I thought you all might like my photo so I had it taken Saturday.  They cost me $2.50 and you will get them the last of the week.  Do what you like with them, but see that Ada gets one.

© Copyright 2010 Pamela Wile. All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.

May 25, 1915 - Fredericton

Dear Father,

I don't know when I will come home, it's a question of money, but I want to go home before we go across.  I would come now if I had the cash.  The talk is that we can expect to go to Sussex any day now and that will be 25 miles nearer home.  We are getting lots of hard drill now.  The weather is much better here now than it ever is home at this time.  In mid-summer it's very hot (110 degrees in the shade they tell me), and much colder than elsewhere in the winter.

Drake should have paid the bank charges on that draft, I added them to it at the bank.  It is queer you have had no money yet.  Ada has been sick so she could not get in.  You drive out some night and see her about it.  The other boys from home tell me their people have got the money they signed home.  They got it about the same time we got ours here, so Ada may have it.

I don't know anything about the separation allowance.  I signed all the papers here and that's all I can do.  I suppose the government takes its own time, they have the upper hand.

They discharged McInnis this morning, could not get any satisfaction out of him.  Yesterday, the major gave any who were frightened the chance to get out and about twelve are going if they let them go.  It doesn't seem possible, but they say that is the custom.

We are all trimmed up today expecting Col. Sam Hughes here to inspect us.

Don't worry about those bells, they will have to wait till you can do something for them.  Another letter and roll of photos with them.

Clarence

© Copyright 2010 Pamela Wile. All Rights Reserved. No reproduction without permission.

May 24, 1915 - Fredericton

Dear Father,

With this letter you will get two photos of the Battery.  About twenty of the men are not in the picture because they were away on leave, and the captain was away also.  However, it compares very well with one like it of the Ammunition Column.  These cost me $3.00.  Raise a little collection if you can because it about bused me.

(P.S. I am perfectly well, barring a slight cold which I have had since coming here.)

Part of the A. Column called the A. Park have gone across (about 20 men).  All the Columns have been issued with their steamer shoes.  They are not allowed to wear the military boots on the steamers on acct. of the hobnails, and though they have been going away for six months past they expect to leave soon, possibly this week.

One of our N.C.O.'s was home on leave and he says there are 80 horses in Sussex waiting for us, so it looks as if we would go there soon.

We have a full holiday today after striking because they only intended to give us half a day.  They always give us Saturday afternoon off, but last Saturday they worked us all day.  The A. Column had a day on Friday, Saturday and all day today.  So we thought we should have more and kicked.

John Bustin is here now and I had quite a talk to him yesterday.  He expects to be home in a week.  Our major is awfully hard, gives us the deuce about everything.  The officers are altogether different.

Keep one of the pictures and give one to Ada.

Clarence