Letters From the Front

Pte. Donald MacDonald Cleal

Pte. Donald M. Cleal remarks upon Canon Frederick G. Scott

Toronto Star

Pte. Donald MacDonald Cleal enlisted in Toronto in August 1915 in the 92nd Battalion C.E.F. Cleal was one of three brothers voluntarily enlisting for service during the war - Pte. George Hugh Cleal, 15th Battalion, killed at the 2nd battle of Ypres,¹ and Sergeant Major Paul Ethelbert Cleal. The Cleal family had immigrated to Canada in 1906 from Dayton, Ohio. The Cleal brothers had been connected to the 48th Highlanders of Toronto.

Pte. Donald Cleal's letter was published in the Toronto Star with an introduction. This is the transcription of the actual article followed by the letter:

PTE. CLEAL WOUNDED

North Toronto, Aug. 30 - Pte. Donald MacDonald Cleal was wounded by gunshot in the wrist, on August 16th, and is now in the No. 3 Australian General Hospital, Abbeville. He enlisted two years ago, and went overseas with Col. G. T. Chisholm in May last year. His younger brother, George Cleal, was killed on April 24th, 1915, at Langemarck. Another brother, Paul Cleal, was quarter-master-sergeant in the 48th Highlanders, but was discharged owing to inflammatory rheumatism.

Pte. D. M. Cleal owned the Ralph's cigar store on Bay street in Toronto. His parents came 12 years ago from Dayton, Ohio, where he was born 25 years ago. He went over as a sergeant to England, but reverted to the ranks again in order to get into the trenches. Writing from the front, he said, recently:

Dated: August 30, 1917

I will tell you what a lucky man is. A man who returns with the victorious army from France. That man is a lucky one. A man who is medically unfit to join the overseas forces now is to be pitied, not blessed. We have a chaplain here, Canon Scott,² of Quebec, who has several medals. He earned them too. He is the Divisional Chaplain and entitled to stay in the rear. But no matter how thick the fight is, he is always to be seen wherever the boys are. I wish the slackers could hear him speak.

Of course, I never forget the old and trusted saying, 'Judge not, that ye be not judged,' but oh, to see men dying all around you, men with wives and children, also old men, all dying for principle, and these men your comrades -- you can't help seeing things from one side only. It hardens a man, and at the same time softens him. You learn what fear is, and you learn to conquer. It makes some men, breaks others, and changes them all.

¹A photo collection relating to Pte. George Hugh Cleal may be viewed here.

²Lt. Col. George Frederick Scott (1861-1944), Canadian Chaplain Services, was awarded the Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George and the Distinguished Service Order.

Transcribed by: M. I. Pirie