Letters From the Front

Pte. Clifford Carter

Somewhere in Belgium

The Burlington Gazette Published: December 1, 1915

Pte. Clifford Carter, 20th Battalion, sent a number of letters to Mr. Harris, of the Burlington Gazette, during his time at the front lines. These were published in this weekly newspaper to update the home front on the activities of the Burlington men at war. The publication dates for these letters were Oct. 27, 1915; December 1 & 8, 1915; February 2, 1916; and May 3, 1916. The letter below did not include the date, but it appears to have been written in November 1915.

Dated: November 1, 1915

BURLINGTON BOYS ARE WELL

On Saturday last, the Gazette received the following letter from C. Carter, who left here with the second contingent:

Somewhere in Belgium.

Dear Mr. Harris,--

Just a line to say that the boys from Burlington are still alive and well. We have just come out of rest after 18 days in the trenches. Winter is setting in but it is not at all Canadian, as it is wet all the time. The trenches are in pretty bad shape, but others are being built, so we do not expect to live in water all winter.

Some reinforcements have just joined us, and I learn from them that George Graham has a staff job in England. He is a lucky one. I am enclosing a sketch by E. G. Green, of the R.C.D.'s in which he pictures Jack Lardie on the march.

Well, I must close, wishing you good luck and best wishes from the boys of Burlington.

C. Carter

Transcribed by: M. I. Pirie