Monkton Times, 24 May 1917, p. 4

The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Sie hlgtiest ake elek True wei _ for cream ns be ae ights and test will -- = é be. ates 'We supply cans and soe : oaee 6 Pearl MILVERTON « your: gigs to. Creamery and seg ene [ From Overseas "Ming. Hi. Spencer Sr. received be following letter from her son, I'te. } Perce Spencer, who took pare: in the xcgreet battle of Vimy Ridge. © : Sommewhebe in- France, ' April 19th, 1917. My. Dear Mother,-- ee fT know you will have been looking for a letter from me before now, but the position I have been in for the past week and a half, it was impos- sible to do any writing. But I am back again and thankful to say I am _ one of the lucky ones--although we you, left some of our boys behind. I have seen some real war during this past week or so. I think I told . Mother, in one of about the position we hold in the lines, if not, I told Sid. I said the - front we were on at the present time - $6.00 this time. ~ elean change of underwear and as on, . really believe t 4 2 nH ' Me night 'and most ' go over and see and Lorne. : bei 4 'gees 'Mao,-- 'a eee» and another have kept putting it off. --the French took, but could not hold neither could the Imperials--so they gave the Canadians a chance, Well, mother, we took that position and "what we have we hold." A German prisoner said there was | not enough Conadians in France to take that line. It just took us thirty- | five minutes to take No. 1, No. 2, No. 3 and headquarters trench. So you} see that was going some. (Censored). You should have have seen the con- tented look on the German prisoners _ It was hell for them and they said, they were sick of war. You couldn't see them for mud. I have never seen the like for snow Really, mother, I have never seen any more in Canada than the tith of Ap: 1. We were a soaked lot of tea, Wao We went out done morning at 3.20 in that snow storm on a raid to visit the Germans, but did not go very far. In the afternoon two of our men, a Lieut. and a Corporal went out to do some scouting. Lieut, Dempsey was one of our old 110th officers, and a Listowel man. He was wounded and I don't' know how bad the other one was, The Corporal was killed. ,One of the boys is playing the fnouth organ and the réSt are sing- ing "Just break the news to mother, for I'm not coming home," Well, mother, I have had a few close shaves ond have seen boys drop dowr justi three or four from me in the line, but I am right at home and never once have I felt nervous, [look on it this way, if my time has come, I will go; if not, I will come back to you. It seems hard to see men lying in all positions in death and there is lots of men up there stepping over them as they go forward, but you don't seem 'to mind it any more than if they were living. You have, no doubt, seen good news in the papers this week. We have certainly done well on this front of Canadians, and this is no paper story. I know it to be the truth for I have seen afew things and am one of 'the advancing party. We left the line at 10.30 one night and landed here at 5.30 next morning--some walk for a tired lot of boys to start on, but we all finished in pretty fair shape. I don't know whether you would call us men or not, but, really, I feel sometimes that Iam a horse or I would not stand it. I haven't even a cold and have been soaked to the skin and for five nights have been sleep- ing out in the open air. Just dig a hole about three feet deep and large enough to lay in, pull a few weeds to put on the wet ground with a rubber sheet--that's your bed--with snow and rain all the time. In the trenehés you are generally in mud or water up past your knees. At times I often wonder how I stand "ite buty I have been in thé best of health. We are "vi for a rest now mm have dandy billets and lots to othe fellow that I am sleeping with got three boxes last night and he shared up with me, He is a Brus- "sels boy. I have seen Lorne and Dave Lorne got two boxes and Dave one. They wanted me to help 'eat the good things. I have received a number of letters from home also your letter "nd the postal order for which I thank you very much. We have to fall in for pay at 8,00 oclock, We are getting Won't I be well off / They are falling in now and IT must 0. oe. again. We had a bath and a we needed it. I could only wash. once in two weeks. I had a nice bunch of whiskers and have left my moustache Tt is raining again to-day. I wish it would clear off. If it would L 2 war would end sooner, One of the Getiian officers that was taken prisoner said every time a shell would break he could see three Can- -adians pop up. They certainly . got \. their" eyes opened. The boys have all kinds of souvenirs. I won't need any to remember this war, Tam well 'satisfied, in fact, when that drive was 4 going on, % felt' that | wouldn't have missed it bg a whole lot, I thought Twas gettin Sderaeh rough, but I am getting wel now if it only con- tinues" iff feel satisfied. | Px I must 'write a few more letters to- Dave 'Now, mother, don't worry | about me, because I am taking good care of myself. Look on ag ida bred aes of things. j 'Your loving son, "ag Perce... '- 44 Re 'Shornelitfe,. west: "Dib ate Cam, ; gi Se May 13th, 1917, time past, but in one way We are now getting some fine wea- ther after having a very 'severe win- a 'er, in fact I have been told that they} have not had such a winter in Eng- land for the past thirty years. The about a month behind the "usual ¢ 'ing 'now my letters been isting 6 write: yout ; has been delayed and the crops | -and as an inereased acreage has' been 'sown the danger of England being |. starved out by the submarine menace is doubtful. If either England or Great Britain tilled all her available land suitable for agriculture she would not need to depend on any other coun- try for sustenance. Things are now going well at the front and the Ger- mans are now getting a dose of their own medicine. I have been speaking to quite a number of men just re- turned from the front. They all say the same thing that the German army ning of the-war. They do not put up such a good fight and are quite willing to surrender if they get the chance. Though not.at any time was it equal to the British army as man to man they are inferior and now since the Allies have got- the men munitions, ete., it is only a question of time 'when they will be out of Bel- gium and Frence. Some have -ex- during the coming Fall and it is also freely stated over here that before they will allow Germany to be invad- ed they will ask for peace, of course, |this is only. conjecture. My own opin- ion is that the war will go into 1918. So the U.S. has come in at last. They will be of great assistance to the Allies in the way of food stuffs, | Radini tions, and, if the war lasts long enough, men, Germany will take | years and years to get over the war. | As far as England is concerned you jwould hardly know a war was on-- things are going on as usual it wou!d! "appear "to anyone--but everyone ; Working hard to bring the war to a Successful conclusion, The cost ef liy-1 jing has gone up but you can say the S2M¢ thing about Canada, Most of bur battalion is now at the front and some of them have been up! in the trefiches; Norman is away taking a machine ¢un course and is looking forward to the time he will get across Saw Henry Orr the other day for a few | minutes, Army life seems to agree | with him, infact all the boys who are 'here are looking well. Had a short chat with Lieut. Moore this evening he is locking fine and may go to France at any time. Home Rule is 'in a fair way to being settled and |France. now ig not.the same as at the begin- | pressed the opinion that will happen: "we i ast us then: eee was. ing ve oF etka: "till tHe next day when another bunch went joyer | = 'jon our lift and a shell exploded and i |got hit in the knee and left. '|was a dugout . '| got 'some souvenirs and we were eat- | ing black bread and sausages. When} 'I came out at every dressing station | we got cocoa and biscuits and cigar- | ettes, now I am in 'blighty, in Wales; jat Cardiff. Quite a time, don't you Say, - ere we stopped, I seen it in the: Beacon} : Everybody had a fine} -- Tam going to hang around} ; 'France. laugh.: England just as long as I can, be- lieve me. I'll have to close now. F From your loving son, S Pte. N. Edwards, # Sea ee Part of a letter ~ the battle of Vimy Ridge. "Your" parce! arrived to-day. I had almost given. up expecting it but it was very ,weleome, I tell you, as my pack somewhat short of socks, which the parcel provided. I lost my much-coy- also my gloves and great coat, bu+ these will be supplied again. I have mind and will now try to catch up with my writing. No doubt by this time you will have had a general write-up regarding ad Vance on Western Front, Vimy Ridge, St. Quentin and the Pimple. The latter of 'most interest I will give you just a.short outline. Sorry I cannot give it' in detail but that would re- quire volumes 'and I am sure it is all history now. The Easter found us in the front line eight days of wet, mud and very lit- tle sleep, Easter Sunday preparations were made for the start. Troops crowded the tunnels, which are end- less you might say if you were in them. We sat down so crowded we could not move, eats were passed along the lines and we helped our- selves, and as is usually the ease un- der such conditions some went with- out. I was one of those unfortunates but did not suffer much--did not feel hungry and the time went quite com- fortably past. We were arranged ac- cording to the order in which we } is | ltrefand will have a Parliamént of her own, based on something like our Provincial Parliaments, which shé should have had long ago, Lloyd | George has done things tind if he had been at the head of affairs two years ago the war would have practically i béeh over by now. Milverton is going on as usual I should judge at least according to The Sun. We ali look forward to it and {I can assure you it is appreciated over here. I have sent you several papers from time to time trust you haye received them. This camp is the.best I have beén in since coming over here, Any number of interesting places ta see in the way of old churches, castles, "etc, I am now connected with the Frigade Mili- tary Police: as they will only allow a certain category to do inside or office work so I have to do outdoor duties which I prefer and I will pro- bably be sent across with a Railroad Construction Bn. sometime. Give my kind regards to Mrs. MacBeth. Yours very sincerely, Pte. W. M. Rosamond. ++ The following letter was received iby Mrs. George Edwards, Stratford, from her son, Pte. Norman. Edwards, |who was wounded in the battle of Vimy Ridge; England, April 18th, 1917. Mother,-- Just a few lines to say I am in the pink of condition and back in good old England. [I hope you are in the best of health. I would have written soon- er but we were always moving from one place to another then getting fix- ed up for the taking of Vimy Ridge I guess that is the latest thing back there and something I won't forget,- Here goes, to have it all off my chest We went back' to a place called Div- ion for division rest and io practice going over the top. Did that for about six weeks, had a swell time too, came back and went in the tren- ches Thursday the 5th, did sentry go till Sunday morning the 8th, then we were all put into our dugouts til! four-thirty, Easter Monday then we went out and dined the jumping of trench, that is the first line all the time saying .so long and good luck amongst ourselves. Well, at five- thirty two M.G, started shooting I had just turned around when about a mile back and to the left and right was like one big bon fire and the noise you never would have believed till you heard it yourself; then the rush of 'the shells overhead, that last- ed for three minutes, then word was passed get ready, and say, may I nev- er have the feeling again that I had climbing our side of the craters and Fritzie throwing up different colored star shells then the crack of his rif- les and somebody dropping with a moan and the swish of M.G. bullets till we got our objective; we went Dear were to line the trench and "go over" incidentally. I had filled my water bottle for tie. express comfort of those whose fate woulu-be Sealed in the morning, but some very slyscoun- arel who had neglected his bottle. emptied mine for some other purpose --I was awfully angry and had an idea who had done it but "had no proof. The suspect lost his life on the morrow but I think not just be- cause of that deed.) At 8.30 p.m. or- ders came to man the trench, which we did. The trench was hip-deep in mud and I passed several who were stuck unable to get out and I unable to help them but I knew they had all night to try. We all seemed in good spirits although we kept very quiet, and had 'to stand too, all night long in the mud, wondering if, when the time came we would be able te Wiggle out, but in most cases we were ready for the start. I had al- ways entertained a feeling that this Was going to be a huge success, a walk-over in fact, It was a success but by no means a walk-over. At two minutes after five a.m. by my time the brigade machine guns on the hill back of us opened up,-breax- ing the stillness of the night (except- ing occasional shells which Fritz had thought jt wise to place in various places). This lasted almost a minute --I wondered if Fritz would come over to see what was keeping us-- suddenly, with a roar the artillery broke over our heads and we climbed the parapet all eager to get at him before he was awake, The barrage, miles long, was as perfect a barri- cade as one could imagine. All along the line our men were creeping over --on their feet, but bent forward-- we waited an instant for the barage to lift then came on. The trench craters, etc. swarmed with Fritzies coming out of the earth like wild bees. They started with hand gren- ddes, these I suppose, at hand, having been altogether sur- prised by our attack and thinking perhaps it was only one of those small raids which on our front had become so common. We settled down to our rifles and fought just like real live Canadians. I was in the first wave and it was our play to follow the barage and do what little damage we could and let the following waves clean up. On we rushed, but here I lost my. party as my work was that of helping the wounded I could not follow as fast. But I worked as fast as I could. A heavy snow storm was on, wet snow and the mud was fierce. About this time Fritz had wakened up and was shelling our supports and ever creeping up closer to us and it was necessary to get the wounded in quarters safe from shell fire, I established a wooden cros8 and stuck it. in the ground over a dugout to which [ sent all my walking cases and packed a number. I never before had my strength so triced--mud knee ceep and a man on my. back was too much to last long. But the casualties | White Rocks | Exhibition and Utility Laying Strain EN 1 headed by Fishel strain cock- erel, from imported stock--a prize Winner--took first at Galt and Kiteh- ener, mated to prize-winning hens. Pen 2 headed by a grand cockerel, (Graham stram) who has splendid egg records to back him up, mated to choice hens with good records. Re- peating orders, Our motto is "A Square Deal." Eggs, $1.00 per 15; 41.75 per 30. ED. HELM, Hesson past it Just a bunch of shell holes. P. O. Address -- R. R. 1, BRITTON 4 reas . os Tour ee "pie for - or | My case was ver ein expected. : mo bac tk 7 ss Your Has 'sells Gin Pills--50c. + FORTH : "ley. 2 Road, NB. May ist, 1915, - "My 'trouble was gravel in the bladder. serious and my death was _ an I had to endure, I beg-you to publish oe letter so that people may know what _ Gin Pills had done for me. fe Le a great deal, The first box Eight boxes were to. oat fect health, and to. tng _ Isadore Thomas.' 'ee a box, cie 6 boxes for $2, ne {ITED : _ Toronto, Ont. ZEB, 'Adress --e-Dr0-00, fey 202 Main St. tn gard! There | to nag: nigt part written by Pte, H, L. McNaught, from | it was written shortly after} 'getting back for the first rest after was not at hand and I was} éted balaclava cap on the battle field | almost gotten back to normal peace of: week before. need of being nearest, 'o suffering could be worse - Sample _ free & 'bes 3 bliss to. a s ey NATIONAL 'pau & OHEMIOAL a4 ay OF CANADA, I Ak Bor: and Earl s in 'Madras and 'Scrim is peady for You will i Balt fhe. PRICES: VERY MODERATE. -- oc ays NOW IS PELE TIME "FOR You TO GET THE NEW GOODS FOR youR 'HOM Our 'Stock is Curtains, r Your Inspection . re Pe wit om Spring Hope Dou We again ask you to see these -- : ~ dainty House Dresses. Prices range" Cte S80 to" $3.50 -- The D. & A. Corsets ; ke depar mer The big drive is on in ep: Our big, is larger than ever. T < super-bone boning: soraale at $3. 50, : ie a He ter. "Come in ae a direct 'from Bostor, ay usually sold at from $5 to $10. On sale this week only at spr ing and fall overcoats. Raincoat Special We have a big shipment of rain 'coats. for men and women, bought These coats - 4:88 'Men's Dressy Raincoats in Fancy Tweeds, suitable for Silk Department Our Silk department Push in our store. New silks weekly *: is the. Big, Men': Ss Hats fleld and other hats, re- gular $3, all on sale Sat- pata at one price... . Special Sale on Saturday 'Only -- all our New Spring Hats-- consisting of King, Hawes, Wake-_ Specials in Grocery E . Department Lennox Soap, 5 cakes for. : Old Tyme Pure Syrup, qt- Old Tyme Pure Syrup, pt _Catsup Relish 4 1b. tin Orange Marmalade. . Comfort Lye 100% pure _ Large package Pearline....... 5c Cascade Salmon. Auto Salmon . Quaker and Porridge Oats, at the old price 25 10c. 43 7 Somme Collars here, in sizes 14 to 163, at Boys, have you tried the new Somme Collar? It's '15c each. COFFEE HOUSE THE BIG All coffees ground, or whole. CORSETS er Prone were wétiins fewer and others were coming up to help. We reached our objective and held it for forty-cight hours. and then we were asked to aid in taking' an objective in which another Battalion had failed. It was over the top again for us. Our ra- tions were short, no water until next day but we were happy to be still in it. The next attack © was as wholly a surprise as the first. We went over Ana-were almost on him before our artillary started. We, on the right flank, going too far and having to come back through our owp barrage was an error and somewhat exciting but we had no casualties this time and gained our ground, the whole covering a space of nearly a mile, We were relieved next day. Came out as we thought to rest for a while, slept over night and got a hurried call up the line next day. Needless to say 'we were "all in," but we went just to act as support to a battalion who went over as far as we could see they weref{ still going meet- ing little or no opposition. We were soon relieved and are now trying to regain our dearly lost energies. We took a lot of prisoners, among them some officers who asked where all the Canadians came from as there were no ships to bring them over. They also thought London was knock- ed all to pieces. This is a bare out- line. I think I could write volumes and not tell it all. We were twelve days and nights with only one night's sleep. I a" well and have not had a scratch. J asked God to protect me from those things over which I had wounded. He has done ali this and more. 1 have lost a lot of my best friends and I feel badly not so much for them for they were good living living fellows, but for their home folks. I expect soon to have a good long Divisional rest. Pte. H. L. McNaught, 907996, Stretcher Bearer, 102nd Can. Battalion, France. --<---- SS WELLESLEY Mr. Henry Hammer moved into the house recently purchased from the Greenwood estate. i! Last Thursday, Ascension Day~--was quietly observed. The Messrs. Theo. and Norman Yendt, spent Sunday here and friends. : The many friends of Miss Alma) Froehlich will be glad to learn that | she landed safely in England, going with the Canadian Army Medica! | Corps. Mr. Doyle, manager of the Standard Bank was married last Miss K. Schummer, of St. and has since moved here, Stahle, Charlic of Waterloo, among relatives residiaz Mrs. Doyle as citizens. of our village. 'Mr. M. Schaub attended the fun- eral of his nephew, Mr, A, Kruspe, of Sebringville on Monday. The Misses Lizzie Szember -- Gertie Woiwade were to Detroit for a week attended the formal graduation of nurses, among whom was Miss Me- linda Woiwade. Mrs. A. Rau, o ing. a week with her parents here. A severe electrical storm passed over our district last Saturday was accompanied by hail, but up to time of writing have not learned of any damage being done with the ex- ception of some washouts on the culti- vated fields, ---- na eee NES 'POOLE Mrs. Keating left on Monday for 'Brandon, Man., where she intends ee her work as nurse. Mr, late 'Saturday night of the aeath 'of his brother, Capt. A. P. Chalmers, at: Lucia. Much sympathy is felt for his aged mother, who is not very well. Miss Mattie Nafziger attended the Ropp--Roes 'wedding which took place 'on Sunday at the Amish church. Mrs. Thos. Tanner and son, Harvey, '| visited this week with -- sister, Miss truthers, : Miss Mary Kerr, of. 'Padent: is at present - visiting her "grandmother, BA ar Dewar, ie iss Margaret Fleming spent a few done, near Milverton. Mr, and Mrs. Thos. Bumiett: of Lis- towel, 8 We are pleased to report: that Mrs. x Joa -Ropp is. sero une from her re- ~feent" pea ' eae RAVELRIDGE George Capling and Masters t Sunda with Mr. d Mrs B. Wes ager no control and to give me strength ; to do my duty in taking care of the} Monday jo Clements, ! ever th bank, We welcome Mr. and. and } of Hamburg, is spend- nd | ays" Tast week with Mrs. John meat spent a few aays last week! {with friends here, Light-Four 975 Subject to change without notice to you, matical correctness. addition to utility, Overland success is so eclipsing that one might take it as a matter of course. But make it have a personal application --because the cost of any car is too much money to be carelessly spent. There need be no confusion in selecting the sound valwe at the same price--make comparisons and see if Willys-Overland does not spell the answer with mathe- Do not miss the significance of the over- whelming production that makes it possi- ble for us to give beiter cars at lower prices. More than 400,000 owners have been guided to Willys-Overland by their de- sire for beauty, comfort and luxury in " Motor Cars Due to its gigantic facilities the Willys- Overland industry effects millions in economies; has never found it necessary to skimp or rob a car of value in order to compete; but is able to give surplus value throughout the entire car for far less money. Might may not make right, but right has © made Overland might. ae The Overland Light Four from the stand-_ point of mechanical excellence, easy rid- ing comfort, roominess and beauty is _ incomparably a better-car than can be had in any other make at anything like so low a price. Come in and see the Willys-Overland Motor Cars--the Light Four and the most comprehensive line of cars ever built by any one producer. WM. ZIMMERMANN, Agent FOR MILVERTON AND VICINITY cA Willys-Overland, Limited Head Office and Works, Toronto, Ontario | - | Rayeraft around again after being ;confired to his bed for a number of ' weeks, | Mr. and Mrs. V. Schlotzhauer, of | Rostock, spent Sunday with- Mr. and Mrs. Koch, Mr. Ernest White has purchased a neW runabout car. | Mr. and Mrs. S. Jacobs, Mr, and Mrs. W. Sanderson and Mrs. W, Cap- ling motored to Shakespeare on Mon- | day. Mr. Wm. Capling spent Sunday with Mrs. T. Capling, of Donegal. Mrs. W. Carter motored from Strat- ford on Thursday and called on her mother, Mrs. John McCley. BRUNNER Miss Caroline Patterson returned to j}her home here after spending a year with her sister at Revelstoke, B.C. Mrs, T. J. Whitney, regent of the Massie chapter attended the I. 0. D. E. meeting at Stratford on Thursday. Mrs. ©. Doerr is at present con- fined to her room. Wellesley, ~ Mt. D. Ropp, of and '|Miss Emma Roes, eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Roes were quictly married on Sunday. Mr. and Mrs. N. Nafziger and Mr. 'and Mrs. 8. Nafziger left on Tuesday 'im the eaeyhere 'Btates, the week-end at his home here. The storm on Saturday: did consider- able damage, Mr. steel barn was blown down. will be about $2,000 or more.. Mr. J. 'Albrecht had. his silos and - house partly shattered. : A 'Mr. Ed Doerr, of Stratford, Sunday with his 'mother, Doerr, * : 'spent Mrs. Cc. eR ARU ESS Huge Herron Killed ----, ite Carol Wilcox, a farmer, ing near Tilsonburg on his way bome graph wire along the road. evidently been electrocuted by alight- Jing on 'the Hydro-Electrie wires. The ee bird | is.a very large one, measuring | six seek from tip to tip of the wings, feet from the end of the bill to five The blood had been the toe nails. but one teaspoonful of fresh blood in the whole body. bird and one of a veNe few in sets Pere: ist wiry Att Whitney, of Acton, spent 'Robert Hanna's "The loss | liv- Friday morning, was surprised to find | a great big blue heron under a tele-| Tt had literally dried up, for there remained || It is an old male Quality i in the Right Place" a Expensive tokens doesn' t prove that a car excels in qua ity.. The real quality of the car is determined by its chassis its power plant, transmission axles, ete, actual service tests, the differ- ent parts composing 'the § Chasyis have proven t | Service Stations _ in Canada, -- aR peri s . GROPP, ME TEON:

Powered by / Alimenté par VITA Toolkit
Privacy Policy