Letters From the Front

Dated: April 17, 1915

Charles M. Paul, son of Mr. & Mrs. George M. Paul of this city, who is with the first Canadian contingent in France, writes the following to his parents here.

April 17, 1915

Mr. & Mrs. Geo. M. Paul, Sarnia

Dear Mother -  Well, Mother, we have been here over two months now. We are getting well acquainted with the country. I guess we will soon be taking out papers. We should have a vote here, you know, since we will not have one in Canada this year.

            We have seen a good deal of the country over here for we have done a good deal of shifting about, sometimes living in factories, in villages and cities, and at others in barns on a nice little farm in the country “somewhere”. All the crops are up and green and things look quite nice. The sun is bright and cheery and taken generally life is real pleasant. Of course sometimes we get in on a bit of “rough stuff” and some long marches on these infernal cobble roads. The other day we had quite a trip. We left our billets about 1:30 and travelled partly by London buses and the rest by marching until about midnight, when we went into the trenches. Our company was in the reserve line and the rest in the front line, which was only 40 yards from the enemy at some points. The line at that point swung round in such a fashion that we were open to fire on every side. WE got to the position alright without mishap but it sure was dark and foggy as well. I was in a dugout with four other chaps and there was barely room for four, so we were just crowded enough to be uncomfortable. I, with some others, then went back up and carried up cases of ammunition. Before we reached company headquarters to report, four of us who went together got lost twice and we stumbled around in the dark into ditches, bushes and a bit of everything for half an hour before we finally got on the right track.

            A party detailed to carry rations into the trenches had a bit of excitement that night. They had a couple of miles to carry the rations and started about 9 p.m. They lost their way and wandered down an open road right out, finally, in front of another battalion. They soon were made acquainted with their mistake and lost no time in clearing off. It was a bit close for had they not been noticed in time the Germans sure would have had some rations free of charge. Some of the cases weigh sixty pounds or so, and they had on their full packs and their rifles. They finally got the rations delivered at about 5 a.m. I guess they won’t be forgetting the incident for a little while either. It was a lucky thing none of them were hurt.

            The shelling was by far the heaviest we have yet seen. They shelled the trenches steadily and dropped shells by dozens all over the show. We lost several men in the trenches but no one got plugged behind the lines, although shells whistled in all directions over our heads and around us. The shrapnel was whizzing above our dugout at times in quite an unhealthy manner. The French 75’s however, kept up a steady bombardment, so the Germans got quite the same dose we got.

            We had to stay right in the dugout and we could not light fires, so the cocoa we took with us and such could not be used. There was a grave just outside our dugout having two German helmets on it, and there were plenty of German rifles and bayonets etc. lying about. There had been a good many buried altogether too near the surface, and well, everything seemed to stink of bodies. The hot weather was responsible. There was one of the biggest battles of the war fought there about Christmas time, and that accounts for bodies being improperly buried.

            We got a bit of hot mulligan the following night and also a fresh supply of water. The next day passed off in the same way. We were released last night and got out and came back here to our present billet arriving here at 6 this morning.

            You wanted to know what we do out here. I have tried to tell you what I could. I cannot tell you all. It would never reach you. I guess if the censor is kind enough to pass this he will suffer from nervous breakdown for the rest of his life, but I do not know how or what to tell you that he will sanction.

            I’m quite well and have been thoroughly enjoying the tobacco you sent. I am sorry it does not last longer. I hope you will send some more and don’t forget the sugar or some syrup if you can send it. Well mother, I must close now. With love to all, your loving son,    CHARLIE