From the News

Dated:

Voice of the People

The Boys in the Trenches

Editor of The Star:

I notice in the World¹ they are asking for women to come and knit socks for the boys in the trenches.  I think a great many would go if they were sure of the boys really getting them.  I am writing in this pessimistic way because I have an only son "somewhere in France," and the battalion he is with certainly do not receive things.  He has been there nearly six months, and to my knowledge has received socks once and tobacco twice.  I will quote some of his letter which he wrote on Christmas day:

Last night was the first time that I really wished I were home since I have been here, and to make matters worse, our battalion band was playing at one of the corners as we marched past on our way to the trenches.  It did not seem like Christmas Eve, remembering last Christmas seeing everybody buying and hurrying home with their parcels.  To tell you the truth, dear, there were very few with bright faces; everyone had thoughts of some one dear to them at home.

We had a beautiful dinner to-day, tea and pudding that Miss Taylor sent me: not even a piece of meat.  But never mind, dear, anything and everything goes good out here.

If the report is true that two of our mail boats were sunk, it means a great many parcels went down, and some of mine, I know.  Mother, can you tell me if any Toronto society or people sent money to the 3rd Battalion?  We heard from a very good source that the officers had the big dinner and invited other officers which ought to have been our share.  A lot of things will come out after this war is over, and if this is a sample of the things being done, they had better end it as quickly as possible.  We also heard the people of Toronto sent a lot of things to us.  The only thing received so far is a writing pad.  There is something wrong somewhere, and it makes one feel disgusted.

Perhaps you will say:  Why did not you (his mother) send him things for Christmas?  I did, but being advised to send early, he received them the first week in December.  But I have often wondered where all the things go that the people of Toronto and elsewhere send, and if things have been sent to the trenches, as we are supposed to believe, why have not the 3rd Battalion got some of them?  But when one hears continual pleas for things for "the boys in the trenches" and you know absolutely they do not receive them, it makes one wary about giving.  I have long since decided to send direct to the boys in this way:  when I send to my boy I always put in extra for some other boy and in that way one knows they get them.  And they certainly need things, for on December 4 when my son received a parcel from myself and his aunt with underwear in he said that was the first undershirt he had on since leaving Shorncliffe in July, and as he had two suits and could only wear one, he was able to give to a less fortunate comrade.  And can you imagine how they feel without warm underwear this weather?  And it is for those who have no one in particular to supply them that I am writing, for they are not in a position to buy; and surely the boys on the firing line should receive first consideration!  when I think of the boys in the various camps here who were treated so generously at Christmas-time by the militia and citizens and the boys of the 3rd Battalion getting nothing in particular it makes one ask the question:  Who is to blame?  One knows that in the trenches they cannot have everything, but they might have been given something extra, or at least things to make a good ordinary dinner.

A MOTHER