The Citizen, 2004-11-04, Page 13Lest We Forget
Letters to family bring war closer to home
Congratulations
Karin
Karin Schroecker graduated
from Wilfrid Laurier
University with a Bachelor of
Arts with Honours in
Communication Studies and
Psychology. She works
currently as a Technical
Producer with Rogers
Television in Kitchener and
also wants to continue her
education towards a Masters
Degree in Psychology.
We are very proud of you.
Love your family
Graduation
Allan McDougall
At the May 22, 2004
Convocation of the University
of Massachusetts, Allan was
awarded his Masters of
Science Degree in Labour
Administration. Allan, for-
merly of the Auburn area,
graduated from G.D.C.I. and
received his Bachelor of Arts
Degree in Labour Studies
from the George Meany
Centre. He belongs to the
United Steelworkers of
America Local 6500 in
Sudbury, and is presently
employed by the International
Union as a Leadership
Development instructor. As a
result of his determination, he
has attained the honour of
being the first Canadian
Steelworker to graduate from
this program. Congrat-
ulations! We are very proud of
your accomplisnments! Love,
Angie, Shane and Marcie
McDougall, Glynda Williams,
Gordon and Bernice Gross
and family.
Get a flu shot!
Protect yourself and those around you
Attend one of the following community clinics to get your free flu shot.
Royal Canadian Legion, 123 Main Street South, Seaford)
Thursday November 4 from 4 00 to 7:00 PM
Thursday November 18 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM
Royal Canadian Legion, Branch 140, 95 Kirk Street, Clinton
Tuesday November 2 from 4;00 to 7:00 PM
Tuesday November 16 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM
Grey Central Public School, 84925 Ethel Line, Ethel
Tuesday November 9 from 3:30 to 7:00 PM
Remember to wear short sleeves.
For more information contact the Huron County Health Unit.
Tel: 482-3416 or 1-877-837-6143 Website: www.huioncounty.ca/healthynit
Beat the Bug - Protect Yourself and Those Around You!
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2004. PAGE 13 .
Company B
B Company of the 161st Battalion were enlisted soldiers from Goderich and
Blyth. The Battalion was photographed in London, June 22, 1916. Standing,
from left: A. Hastie, S. Haskins, Leo Roach, A. Wearing, James Anger,
Alfred Heahan, George Inglis, Andy Miller, Harry Waller, John Hayden, M.
Nash, Beverly (Musgrove) Nash, Robert Watters, Erie Corbett and Tommy
Thomson. Kneeling: George Anger, Jim Vittie, Frank Shaw, Frank
Westlake, Gordon Wray, James Hoffman, William Westlake, Charles
Forrest, Fred Brittain, Harry Westlake, Mel Sharpin, Robert Black and (Con)
Reis Seated: Joseph Kelly, J. (Stonewall) Jackson, Ralph Smith, Robert
Westlake, Tom Savage, Ogal McLeod, Carl Mitchell, Fred Westlake, A.
Kerr, Alex Graham and Fred Hastie. Front: F. Renwick and Phil Hoffman.
(Photo submitted)
Submitted by Bill Johnston
In our house for years on Nov. 11
- Remembrance Day, mother would
dig into her box of "treasured
memories" and bring out letters from
two uncles - from two wars and we
would sit down and read them often
shedding a tear or two.
The first, in part, was written
somewhere in France. Aug. 2, 1917
by her uncle Chas B. Forrest to her
mother Mrs. George (Agnes)
Wheeler:
Somewhere in France
Aug. 2, 1917
Mrs. George Wheeler
Dear Sister,
...Last year at this time I was
home with a mighty sore arm, and
did not think then that by the 1st of
August 1917 I would have spent 8
months in France. You never know
what is before you and a mighty
good thing it is.
Well Aggie, I suppose that by this
time you will have heard that Robt.
Fallis was killed. He wasn't killed
instantly but died a few hours
afterwards.
It seems rather tough on the Fallis
family. I don't believe in telling how
good a fellow was after death but
you would not want a more kind-
hearted fellow than Bob and I could
always count on hini and I felt really
sorry when he was killed. It wasn't
long afterwards when we thought we
would all be "nappooed" as Fritz
put over a "barrage". I guess you
don't know what that means, ask any
old returned soldier and he will tell
you.
Strange to say we had very few
casualties and it is wonderful how
we escaped.
I received a few words of
commendation from our Company
Commander on my conduct during
shelling and as a result was sent to
the Divisional School of Instruction
to take a N.C.O. course. We are
taking up the work quickly and
expect it will only be a short time
until we again rejoin the Batt.
So Jar we have enjoyed the course
and are getting a great anwunt of
knowledge about military affairs. It
is the first course that I have ever
had and to me they are fine, they
sure sharpen one up. I only wish I
could attend them oftener or that
they would last longer- than they do.
I had a letter front Bob and he was
well when it was written. It seems
strange that we are so close to one
another and yet not see each other.
We can only watch and wait. If I ever
see any of the 31st Batt., you can bet
I won't be long in hunting him up.
There was only once since coming to
France that I saw any of the 31st
Batt. and that was a long time ago.
Frank Shaw is fine and he is about
the only one with us that I know that
you knew. Walter Haines is well and
often talks to me about his sister.
Walter is a fine boy and so far has
been fortunate.
Ross Forsythe was wounded along
with Jack Hayden of Jamestown,
and he did, not think his wounds
serious, but have learned since that
he died. He was another tip-top
fellow and we were sorry to hear of
his death.
We long for this war to come to a
successful ending soon and it seems
a very great amount of sacrifice. I
often think of a verse Mrs. (Rev.)
Mann of Brussels, quoted once.
"0! King of Kings, Thy Kingdom
come with power,
Humanity is seeking after Thee,
Teach us, 0! Father, in this stirring
hour
The price of victory"
No one can ever know or guess,
the price we are paying for victory,
and the price is growing daily. When
we think of all the suffering that has
been brought upon the world by a
few autocrats, we are almost
tempted to curse aristocracy. It did
not bring credit upon itself in
starting the war.
Leslie McKinney is o.k. and looks
fine, so you can tell his people that.
I hope this war will soon finish
al& let us get home to farm again. It
seems too bad that mother is left all
alone, but circumstances turned out
that way and we areboth in the army
but I wish Bob had stayed at home. I
would like to see hirm
Well goodbye sister. Give love to
all the girls.
Your loving brother Chas. Forrest
Somewhere in France
Sept. 25, 1917
Dear Sister
...Well I guess 1 can tell you it was
a great pleasure to see brother Bob
and we had a good chat together. In
fact we were together one afternoon
and evening. He is looking fine and
feeling in good spirits. He has not
seen a great deal of the trenches yet
but I think he will have a chance to
see enough as the war does not look
very much like quitting.
You were asking me how Robt.
Fallis was killed. He was hit by a
piece of shrapnel in the neck and
lived about 1 1/2 to 2 hours
afterward. He had all the medical
help that was needed. We were very
sorry when we heard he was dead.
I suppose you also heard about
Leslie McKinney. He was instantly
killed and never knew what
happened him. I feel very sorry for
his people and it would put a damper
on the Messer wedding.
I was surprised when I heard that
you were putting up a shed this year.
Labour cannot be so scarce around
Wingham when you can build straw
Continued on page 16