Letter #68, November 27, 1917 "Your brother is one of the 86 Canadians that is entitled to the Mons Medal."

Nov 27^th, 1917 (postmark)

Ristow Barracks

Shorncliff, Kent England

Dear Sister,

          Say old girl this is the third letter and no reply yet.  Think I have nothing to do only write letter s and receive no reply.  You want to buck up or I am going to start answering my own letters. 

          Well I have some fine news for you this time.  Your brother is one of the 86 Canadians that is entitled to the Mons Medal.  All men that were in France before November the twenty second get a big bronze star to war on their left breast of their uniform.  We were the only Canadian unit in France in November therefore the only ones in the Canadian Army that get the decoration and there are only about twenty of us left.  It is the scarcest decoration in the Canadian Army and the majority of people can’t believe that any Canadians are entitled to it but about twenty of us get the decoration.  “Mons Medal of 1914” 

          VV I am prouder of that than any thing I have ever had.  I am the only one from Winnipeg and one of twenty or so out of Canada.  Ha Ha conscripts, talk to an old war veteran like me with the Mons Decoration, I guess not.

          Things are as usual here I am still working in the office.  I am feeling fine and dandy so what more can one expect.  Christmas will be here soon but I am not going anywhere.  The movies will have to satisfy me that day but still I can’t complain.  I think I have had my share of leave this summer.  Do you like chasing kids any better.  I do hope you get a school in the city.  If you are home it will be better for you and far nicer for both Mother and Dad.

          The winter has set in here for ----, it’s raining nearly every day and cold miserable winds, we are billeted in very decent huts so we’re are not so bad.  Two years ago today I was in mid ocean on my way to dear old Canada, but I guess I am here for duration this time.  Unless I go back to France and get a --- one.  But the thing is would I get a --- one You see the square heads are not at all fussy as to how they handle a fellow.  And to say the least they are very, very rude in their actions.

          Well Dear Sister I have no news only about this medal business.  Tell Mother she is the only mother in Winnipeg with a boy entitled to the mons decoration of 1914.  Well VV remember me to Dad and Mother and write me soon.  Just see if you can squeeze one in some time before spring.  Say if you want to spend some of that kid chasing money, just send me along a few smokes.

Love Chas

About the 1914 Star (Mons Medal) from Veterans Affairs Canada 

• There were 160 awarded to 2nd Canadian Stationary Hospital members who served with the British Expeditionary Force beginning 6 November 1914.

Letter #67 November 24, 1917 "The cold footed sons of Canada"

Postmark November 24^th, 1917

Folkstone

CAMC Camp

Westenhaugen,

Kent England

Dear Mother,

          What do you think of your big daughter now.  Some schoolteacher “Eh What” Well Mother I am sure glad to hear she has got through and was fortunate enough to get a school.  She seemed quite delighted over getting 60 a month I don’t know but I have an idea she was trying to remind me that at last she is getting as much in one month as I am in two.  By Jove that’s the limit but believe me I am sure glad to hear she is a teacher it’s a great deal better than a counter hop or a stenographer and there about the only two other occupations that girls take up these days. 

          So at last the cold footed sons of Canada have to do their bit.  I have heard that all those over twenty-one, married or single will have to join.  Will that get Richmond and Ireland, it will be too bad if they have to come. It’s a pity the war would not end before that “The great big cold footed calves”.  Conscripts from Canada.  Mother, all the old boys are proud of them and a great deal prouder of the parents that would try and keep their men at home and see their neighbours boys going back for the second, third and fourth times.  While they subscribe to the cigarette fund and mighty little of that.  It was at one time one of our boasts over here “that Canada did not have to be driven to fight”   Ah well they will get a good reception from us.  The chicken-hearted sissies.  I tell you straight Mother it’s a good job for you that you have no other son if he was brought away from home on that scheme I would lick him before he ever saw a German.

          Do you know it has been raining here for two days steady so heavy that we have no parades of course the boys are not a bit sorry, still it makes it very uncomfortable in camp life.  How has Dad been keeping you tell him I would like a letter by gosh he owes me one now, tell him that its not necessary to wait as long as I did before he answers it.  I don’t know if I told you in my last letter or not that I expect to go to Buxton for a day or so to see my friends.  They wrote and told me that they had made all preparations for a motor party to Rudyard Lake and all they were waiting on was me to complete the party.  Gee they are fine people I would like VV to meet them they are just the kind that she would like.  Well just imagine they traveled very near across England to see me and in this country that’s a mighty long journey.  Gee they nearly went into hysterics when I told them I was here and may have to go to France.  They got the letter in the morning and that night they were on their way here.  They were always asking for a picture of my big sister so I sent them that snap shot of the kid and the cat.  The old man said she had a very sweet face and that she was a very kind hearted girl.  Regular big hearted Colonial and when I asked for the snap back again they wouldn’t give it to me.  They want one of me but I told them that even my mother didn’t have one so it was very little chance of their ever getting one for awhile anyway.

          I would like to have Dad here to see the Aeroplanes ----- -----(censored) and some of the stunts they go through. Gee they are as thick as birds and they sure can handle them down to perfection.  If you could only see them you would sure say that England was as supreme in the air as she is on the sea.  Well Mother one of the boys is going over to the Post office so I am going to give him this.  Remember me to Dad and tell VV that she has been congratulated by her big brother long before this ever will reach her.  Love Chas