Letters From the Front

Dated:

Charles J. Clarke, of the 3rd Battalion, writing Mrs. John Houghton, with whose son Donald he was a baker.

June 4, 1915

I am still in the land of the living and in the best of health. We are at present getting four days rest, after our turn in the trenches. I had several narrow escapes, thru carelessness in running chances. At present I am batman (attendant) to Lieut. Chisholm, son of the Rev. Mr. Chisholm of Montreal. We are having great weather, and everything looks fine in sunny France.

Our first night in the trenches there was a fierce thunderstorm. The Germans bombarding us at the same time made a fellow think of what was to come next. Where we are has been shelled by the Germans who wrought frightful destruction. We go back to the trenches tomorrow night for another spell in them. It is great sport were it not for the risk, and it seems too bad to be taking human life for the game. If we did not, the Germans would take our lives every chance. We have lost quite a few of our boys, but the German loss was double ours. We captured four trenches. Do you remember Amon Mann and Lawrence Waring? They were both killed. Lawrence was a bombthrower, and was killed by a bomb exploding in his hand. A sniper shot Amon thru the head. In reinforcements just arrived were Frank Bicknell and Charles Marshal, who have not seen any fighting yet. They were left behind in hospital with measles, so have been lucky so far. We are living out in a field and can sleep anywhere, even on a clothes-line. Some think the war will be over in August, but I don't, and am afraid next winter will not see the finish. I am writing this on the grass.