Letters From the Front

Dated: April 6, 1915

Watford. April 22^nd - The following is a letter received by Lieut. Colonel R.G.C.Kelly, 27^th St. Clair Borderers, Watford, from Sergt.-Major Arthur Owens, 1^st Battalion, 1^st Brigade, late instructor in the Scots Guards.

April 6, 1915

Dear Colonel, Still alive to tell the tale. The boys from Watford are very fortunate up to the present, no casualties among them. I have never been away from the battalion since it's formation, and I can assure you that stories told in Toronto papers, with reference to the charges we made and the trenches we took are false. This does not refer to the Princess Pats, who are with another division, and we don't know what they are doing. Our casualties are caused by snipers, and going to and from the trenches, which of course is done in the dark.

With reference to the battle at Neuve Chapelle, we were in the supports and were very heavily shelled, but the improvements we made in our trenches and dug outs made us safe. Of course you know the idea of this heavy shelling was to prevent us from reinforcing the firing line. I can assure you the British casualties were very heavy.

Colonel I had a very close call the other day, leaving the trenches we go back a few miles for four days, which comes under the heading of rest, but in reality consists of route marching, trench-digging, bayonet fighting etc. I went out of the barn to shaker my blanket and a shell dropped about six yards from me, as luck happened it did not explode; it went into the ground about ten feet. We dug it out and found it to be a shrapnel and must have been defective.

I am afraid when the hot weather sets in instead of fighting Germans we will be fighting disease. Already the mosquitoes are beginning to swarm the trenches and at times the smell of dead bodies, which are just merely covered is very offensive.

Mr. Galaugher , who was selected to come to the front in place of Mr. Swift , was killed. Our casualties are about 22 killed and 30 wounded in this battalion. At Neuve Chapelle we got orders to hold ourselves in readiness and I never saw men so eager for the fray, but of course we were not required, so I can assure you when the time comes the boys will give good account of themselves. Believe me to be yours truly.

A. Owens