Postmark Edinburgh; Nov. 8th, 1918

King George & Queen Mary Victoria League Clubs

Edinburgh

121a Princess Street

Ramsay Lodge, The Mound

St. Giles House, St. Giles Street

Blackie House, North Bank Street

        from

RAMSAY LODGE

   The Mound

Nov. 8th, 1918.

My dearest Muriel ~

Just a few lines that all is glorious and well and hope this may find you the same. I am enjoying my leave these days very much, the only fault that I have to find is the rain at times and the speed that my two weeks is flying by. I have from the 1st to the 15th and then back to France again for awhile. I think by the looks of things at present that the war won't last much longer. The people up here are in great glee over it at present and expect hostilities to close at any time. We have been doing no firing in France now for nearly a month as we couldn't keep up with the heavy guns on account of the canal bridges being blown up. I hope that when I return that I may find the battery still at Sauchy Cauchy a little town between Douai and Cambrai on the Canal De Nord. We are really in front of Valenciennes but out of range by a long bit. I didn't see Clark before I left at all but I think they are around there also. I have been very busy since coming over. Had a good visit to Glasgow and Ayr and I hope to see Dundee and Abberdeen if the weather is fit at all. My Scotch Lassie is fine and I am well away while in this town. She got over the flu just a few days before I came over. It is raging over here at present and claiming alot by death also. There seems to be very little of it with the soldiers though. Bruce Thompson's up with me this time again. He is going back on Sunday. We are expecting Whit up any day now as he was first on the list when I left. 

I have not had a letter from you now for a long time. I guess you must have got careless like me. It seems pretty hard to write during leave time however this is my second letter since yesterday. It is a bad time of the year for leave especially up here. I don't think I would come up this way again during winter months. We had a few flakes of snow today for the first. I have a bet on with a chap in the battery that the war wouldn't be over before the snow flew. It is any body's bet yet although who ever wins means a free trip to Buffalo from Port Hope and return. I will willingly pay it to see the thing end before the winter sets in. Well kid I guess I will ring off for this time and will write again before returning. Be on the look out for a little parcel any time. Be a good girl and write soon again.

As ever,                                     

Cecil                                     

Letter From The Front; July 16th, 1918

France

16-7-18

My Dearest Muriel ~

I was more than delighted to receive your very welcome and much appreciated parcel today. I hadn't had a good piece of cake for some time so you know how it would taste after the army rations all the time. I rec'd a big parcel from home a few days ago containing in all a big cake but was sorely disappointed on opening it for it was blue molded through and through. That is the first I have received yet to be in that condition and what puzzled me was that it was only on the road a short time and the cotton on the outside was dry and in good condition. Everything in your parcel was in A1 condition. The contents of the Comfort Kit Cover were just what I was needing the worst. Who's idea was it of sending such a good assortment of that kind. I am using the pencil for the first time on this letter tonight. I have often wondered how it was that you never kidded me about staying with the pencil so well. To tell the truth it was always my favorite and now during war times I have a little excuse. Oh yes I mustn't forget the flitters. They are excellent. I'm glad that you sent a few.

I rec'd your very welcome letter of June 21st a few days ago and two from Aunt Mary. In all I got 6 so I panned out real well in the last mail. We rec'd a big bunch of Cobourg Stars today and of course they were very interesting after not seeing any for so long. I read the entire evidence taken in connection with the burning of the Fenella cheese factory. I'm glad the poor beast wasn't so wet the time I landed in Cobourg with her perhaps I would have looked as cheap as the owner did had I been called to the stable there to have the Chief Cop and 3 or 4 others that might have tracked me in, questioning me as to where I was that night however it didn't happen that way. Just imagine Muriel up in Police Court. ha ha.

We had a very heavy rain storm last night with heavy lightening and thunder. A lot of our boys were very near flooded out of their dugouts some having several inches of water all over their floors. In mine in the morning at the guns there was about three inches but it helped to cool it off a lot as the day had been very close. Whit is still away on his signalling course and we have heard from him once. I have yet to see Clark which I hope to shortly. Did you notice in the Cobourg paper of Sergt Page being gassed. I was on the gun with him at the time but escaped although I did my share of sneezing and eyes watering and snorting however it passed off in a short time. We are still at the baseball. Well I guess I will ring off for this time. I see where we have a good lunch before retiring tonight as Bruce Thompson rec'd a parcel also. I am quite well at present. With love and best wishes Cecil. 

PS We are still on the same front.

Letter From The Front; May 16th, 1918

France,

16 - 5 - 18,

My Dearest Muriel,

I was delighted to receive your ever welcome letter of April 24th this week. It seems strange to me that it is so much easier writing me than to some of your other correspondents however I'm glad that such is the case. I rec'd a letter recently from a young lady of Roseneath by the name of Brown. It seems that she met Alex Spears last winter at his brothers dance down there. She has been at several dances since and has danced with Alex quite a number of times and has mentioned it to me of him being so good at it. By the last letter I got I think Alex must have shot her quite a line about you & I as she kidded me quite a bit about it. One of the parts of letter read like this. Oh by the way Cecil I hear there is a nice little school marm near Gores Landing that likes to get a letter from you very very much and that she is awaiting your return from overseas before she takes the matrimonial notion in her head. Isn't that a pretty good one kid? Get right after Alex now the next time you see him at a dance about that and kid him good for awhile and then ask him what he has been telling about you down around there. I answered her saying about that. Well, the poor girl doesn't want to wait that long if she gets a line on another chap for at present I'm considering to Batch out the rest of my days as I'm taking lessons now every day in washing dishes and clothes etc. Did I answer her all right?

I had a letter from Aunt Mary yesterday again, that is two now in a very short time.

They are still at the baseball around here and Clark was up as a rooter to their team a few nights ago.

We are having pretty hot weather at present and if it continues getting  more so as the summer advances it would sure be melting. We are still on the same front and having it quiet as usual. 

This is sure some place for small bugs around here and are very pleasant, yes, in your bed at nights.

When I rec'd a letter from Gordon Budd recently at the time of writing he was in a hospital in Cape Town S.A. and that he would soon be in London again. He said he was pretty badly used up and would never be the same again. I'm afraid if Mrs. Budd loses another boy it will go pretty hard with her.

I think you and Joseph are getting pretty thick driving around so much together and using such nice language. Believe me I would have laughed at the old Gink if he had of kicked me out of the rig afterwards.

I have got rid of the creepers again for a change, some change believe me. I'm glad that my letters are interesting at all. It's hard to fill up a decent sized letter but I've done pretty well this time. I think the next day off duty I must write your mother. I am quite well at present and hope this finds you the same. I'll be over for that boat ride all right before long. I saw a couple good snaps of Florence recently. Write again soon.

With kindest thoughts            

Cecil                      

Letter From The Front; Nov. 12th, 1917

France

Nov. 12th, 1917

Dearest Muriel ~

Your most welcome letter of October 11th arrived safely this week also the snap shot and the two cards of the teachers convention. That snap was sure real good of you. I must say of course you know considering however it will fill the bill the very best. The ones I had taken in Scotland haven't arrived yet although the one of the group has been here for some time. None of the Canadian mail arriving here is censored at least none of ours has been so far but all going out is. Our officers do all our censoring unless we use the green envelope but they have been few and far between with us so far. I don't know if Dudley happens to censor any of mine or not however I should worry for you'll know where it came from and how should he happen to make a break any time for any thing that I may say in any of the letters. I don't happen to be acquainted with him however all the boys speak very well of him.

I had a letter from Irene Walker telling me that she was teaching near Centreton and I suppose it is in Gladys MacCullough's old school. The people she boards with are C.O.B. and she has to go to church with them and so is afraid she will lose all her Methodistism. Apparently she is about as big a chip as ever. I think out where she is will be kind of quiet for her. My address will be still the 1st Can. Siege Battery. We are still having considerable wet weather and the mud about as bad as ever. There hasn't been a night yet but our feet are soaking wet. Night before last we were all drenched to the hide and I rolled in with some wet clothes on. Before that I had been coughing considerable but that put the kibash on it for I haven't coughed since. I think that is rather cheap cough mixture, what think you! I haven't saw Clark yet. He was in town for a few days but I hear today from a reliable source that he is gone again. I saw your brother a few days ago and a fellow that I see him with considerable told me today that he is still on the job alive and well. One chap in the battery had his head blown off yesterday with a shell. We have lost 15 of our chaps now one way and another. Two have been killed, 7 wounded and 6 gone for minor operations. These are all boys of our last draft. We get shelled very near every night around or near our billets. I have got quite used to it now for I seldom hear it at nights at all. We have lots of company now also galore of rats about. I pull my rubber cape over my head at nights so the rats will have a clear run way. You would think at times that they were having 100 yard dashes for prizes by the speed that they travell. I'm glad to know they are enjoying themselves. I'm sure you did real well at the last letter but please have a heart and don't expect me to ever pull off that much especially here in France. I think if you answered all the letters you mentioned about receiving that well you will be writing yet. I am glad your mother got the letter all right. I suppose I will be hearing from her again some time all being well. Bert Spear is bunking with me at present. You needn't worry about our conversation that time for there was little said about you however I could easily tell you all anytime that we meet in the future which I hope won't be long. I don't think this scrap can last many more years by the way things are going at present. There has been no cold weather here yet although there was frost this morning. All the boys are well at present. I suppose the dances will soon be in full swing in the Landing again and about the time that arrives the old boat will be stopped. Well I think this is the limit for this time so heres hoping to hear from you soon again. Bye bye for this time. Sincerely,

                    Cecil

Letter From The Front; Nov. 4th, 1917

France

Nov. 4th, 1917

Dearest Muriel~

Just a few lines in answer to your very welcome letters of October 4th and Sept the 27th & 20th all of which arrived this week. The mail reaches us nicely here and I think that all the boys appreciate it very very much. I am still on the job alive and well and have managed to miss the shells so far very luckily. There has been a few days this week that things have been very hot around the guns in fact so hot that we flew our kites away from them for awhile till the storm blew over. There are times when Fritzie is very quiet with his artillery and then again its the reverse. When the shells are not plentiful about he quite often pours bombs down at you from the air or else puts his machine guns to work on you. Since joining the battery it has been nothing but the roar of guns all the time. The first two or three nights I guess there were very few boys that slept at all with the roar and the air raids however with all there are many more of our shells going over at him that we receive. It is sure a wonderfull business this war and if one is spared to survive it is a thing worth seeing at least. #2001035 - Gnr C.A.Thackeray, 1st Can. Siege Battery, B.C.F. - France. I see your big brother quite often but have only spoken to him the twice so far. There has been only one shell light real close to their position since we came up here and I hope it may continue that way. You asked me for the exact position over here but I can't tell you now only that there is very heavy scrapping going on. There has been no cold weather here yet like other parts of the world I hear from however it isn't much wonder its warm here. I'm sorry I can't send you that photo this time however it will be along in a day or two as some of them have arrived all ready for the other boys. The young lady in Edinburgh got after the photographer and bustled him up a bit. It comes in handy to know a few in Edinburgh as I can get things sent over pretty handily. I haven't recd that letter from Bowmanville yet you mentioned off however I don't doubt but what it will reach here all right. Dudley Sears is here with the battery yet and he tells us that one of the Harris boys at Whitby has been here some how or other. No doubt you people will all know about it by this time. We have lost 5 of our boys all ready but not killed. Two were wounded the first day up at the guns or slightly shell shocked and the other two had to go the hospital for operations. I'll bet Pack as you call him isn't sorry that he is in Canada today. Do you know it is lively here at present and much ------ however the boys seem in good spirits for all that. And so a lot of your close neighbors are getting married over there. Now that Mina has done the trek I'll expect to hear the same of the rest of you Gores Landing girls now for there ought to be a good chance for you all now. I haven't saw Clark yet but I hear he is around here quite close. None of us feel much like running around at nights after our days work however the first chance I get I will rustle him up.

I don't know if it would be safe for you to call at 465 for a meal or not. I think that by the reports from Mary that she is laying up a good store for winter anyhow. All that is bothering me is that I won't be around to help spoil a bit of it. They give us lots to eat here. Our breakfast and tea is fine but we do the best that we can up at the guns for dinner. There are YMCA dugouts up along the line in fact way up past the guns and they are sure handy. All the tea and coffee is free and the rest is sold at reasonable prices . Well kid I guess this is about all this time. One is sure up against a proposition here for writing however I'll do the best I can. Hoping to hear from you soon again.    Sincerely, Cecil.

Letter From The Front; Oct. 7, 1918

France

7-10-18,

Dearest Muriel,

Your very welcome letters of August 28th and of Sept. 3rd and 9th have all arrived safely recently. We have been shifting here and there and all over of late so my correspondence has been sadly neglected. I suppose I could have dropped a field card at least but carelessness as usual. I was surprised to hear of Dudley censoring the letter however I should worry as he has left us recently for to join another battery. We have been seeing some of the real stuff since leaving our old summer position but all's going well and good to date. I have just saw Clark the once since coming onto this front and have lost track of him again. I saw Hilton again though a few days ago but not to speak to. We are having not so bad weather for Fall but the days are sure shortening up a lot. I hope to get away on leave the last of this month or the beginning of next. You asked me how the Scotch lass was. Well as far as I know she is A1. She and the family have been holidaying for a month up in the castle of Scotland. She sent me some dandy views and one was the Inclicape Rock and lighthouse. I suppose I will have to give her a few calls for sending so many. It is a good house to go to as they all seem very friendly. There are three more girls in the family but no boys. My favourite happens to be the baby although she is over 20 by a few years. I guess I hadn't better say much more or you will know more about her than I do myself. ha ha. Saw one of the Manley boys recently. I happen not to know him. I wish I could send some of the souvenirs I have, safely home just now. I guess I will hardly get many there though. I am enclosing a German form of field card or rather for a short letter that I picked up the other day. It is quite a dandy little rig at that. We sure see lots of different little articles of this lying about at present. Our mail seems to be coming in pretty well at present. I rec'd the parcel O.K. a few nights ago from the willing workers and it sure came in pretty handy as we moved that evening. It came through in fine shape. Well I suppose you are hard at the teaching again. Can you see yourself in the store as well as you did at first? Well kid, I guess I will have to ring off for this time. I am quite well at present and I hope this finds you likewise.

As ever                

Cecil           

*******

Saturday is going to be a very special day...

A Letter From The Front

Yesterday was Vimy Ridge Day and, to be honest, I'd never heard of it before. This year, ceremonies were held in capital cities across the country after the last Canadian vet of the First War passed away. This morning, I pulled out the letters that my Grandpa Cecil wrote to the woman he was courting back home, my Grandma. The letter that follows was written March 29, 1918, just about a year after Vimy.

France

Good Friday, 1918

Dearest Muriel,
Just a few lines to let you know that I am still on the land of the living alive and well and hope this finds you the same. This is the first I have written you since about a week ago last Sunday - we have been pretty busy lately and I have felt anything but in the right mood for writing believe me. Our rest has been broken at nights a whole lot but it is getting better again. I only wrote a little page home last Sunday saying that I was alive and well still. At present the excitement here is mild as the big push is farther down the line but there is no telling the time that we might be shifted out of here. I don't expect we will however there is no telling. I see in the Canada Daily Records a little paper we receive every day containing the general news of the Dominion that the people are watching the results of the big push very closely. I can't understand how it is there is no Plainville or Landing items in the paper. ha ha. Clark was up a few nights ago to see the bunch. Apparently he knows quite a bunch in this battery. He kept me up pretty late, thereby losing more sleep as usual however I enjoyed his visit as it was his first. He was talking to Ken Herald a few days ago he said. His Battery is not far from here. I haven't ran into Jerry yet for all I see some of his bunch quite often going up and down the road. Our good weather came to an end a couple of days ago and it has been quite cool and raining off and on. It doesn't look as if it might last long however I guess we can expect wet weather anytime from now on. I suppose you still hear from Gammy as your mamma called him. I have lost all track of him as I know nothing of the whereabouts of his battery. Bruce and Carl are on opposite shifts on the guns to me so that leaves me all by my lonesome when off duty. When Nichols is here why I have company but at present he is away on leave to Blighty. Of course you know I have company again but not the right kind. Clark thought we had a joke dugout here. I told him it was alright as long as a shell didn't give it a tap on top and cave it in. Last week we had some of the largest mosquitoes around I ever saw. When one landed on you it just felt as if he was going to carry you off to devour you. This rain has put a damper on them for a few days. It looks as if I will have to stay in today and write to Aunt Mary also. I will also have Sunday off this week to do some writing also. Well dear kid I guess I will have to draw this to a close. I hope you were not disappointed for not having heard from me last week for I know you will understand how it is. Our Canadian mail ought to be in again next week. Bye Bye. Lovingly, Cedric.

PS Some of the boys told me this morning that it is one year today since leaving Cobourg.