The Earl Campbell Story - Life In The Army

Sep 10, 1917 Field Post Card sent to Miss Merelda Campbell, King, Ontario, Canada



Sep 16, 1917, Rest Camp Belgium Earl writing to his Mother

"Dear Mother, I am on 24 hour guard to-day so though I would try and pass some of my time away in writing to you. We are having a great time down here. We just do 2 hours a day rifle drill and P.T. then we have the rest of the day to our selves. We will be getting a three day pass to cities in France I expect. We are down for two weeks. Yesterday the 2^nd C.R.T. played the 1^st C.R.T. baseball at their camp about 8 miles from us. We beat them 16 to 4. The first man I ran into when I got there was Sam Moss. I was talking to him about 5 minutes then I asked him where could I find Wallie. He told me that he had been killed the day before. It nearly took my breath away when he said that. I had not seen him since he left England last year. And I was thinking all the time I was going to see him once more. It is awful sad about the poor fellow. What will his people think? He was so well thought of around home. He was hit with a splinter of a H.E. shell in the stomach. George Bainbridge told me the last words he was 'hurry up with me or it will be to late' He died before they carried him 4 rods. Frank Gamble was also wounded with the same shell. But they say it was only slight. I did not see Sid Goodswain or Paddy they were away drawing rations. How did the corn turn out this year. Did they fill the silo? There are dandy crops around here. The farms are to far away for Fritz to destroy them. It is a very pretty place, 10 minutes will take one into France. Yesterday was Sunday and you could here the Church Bells ringing all over. Must tell you that we had the Prince to watch us play Base Ball. He is very young looking. Well Mother I will have to close for this time. I have not heard from home for a long time. I am expecting a bunch some of these nights. I sent Pauline & Floss a couple of cards yesterday.

Sep 22, 1917, Belgium letter to Merelda

"Dear Merelda was very glad to hear you again. And glad Mother received her Handkerchief holder. Yes I get all your letters. Yours last night was written the 22^nd of Aug. I wrote to May this morning after I got her address from you. I wrote to Harold the other day. I address it to King maybe he will be home to get it…. We had a awful storm about 2 wks ago. We were washed out of our beds in the night. It was the worse night I ever saw. You could'nt hear the thunder for the noise our guns had. We are having a jake time now down the line for a rest. We are down for two weeks. Our time is up the 29^th of this month. There is an awful war going on just now. We just can hear a faint sound of the guns. Let me know what you think of the photo. I will tell you their names. (No photo in the letter) Top row left to right – Yek of course you know him. Second is Bill Wellman of Richmond Hill an old 127^th Batt lad. Third is Carl Jensin of the 114^th Batt. N.B. who was drafted into our Batt in England He is a Dane and a very good Boxer. Second row sitting left to right 1^st Frank Wilson of the 112^th Batt Nova Scotia he was also drafted into our Batt in England. And the one sitting with the cigarret in his mouth is an old 127th lad Bill Fisher of Richmond Hill. His home is in Ireland. He worked 5 years ago at Badgers place King. They all are coming out to King to see me after the war. Luke and I had our photo taken a couple of wks ago. But have not received them yet. We had these taken in a small town in Belgium. Harold been in it."

Sep 25, 1917, Belgium letter from Earl to Pauline

"Mon Cher Pauline received your letter also Flossie's. I am glad you are getting all the Souviners I send home. That word Lucy Allan uses is a certainly long one. She will feel bad about poor Wallie being killed. Well suppose you had a high old time at Pellatat's. Did you do any running or are you getting to old to run. That was a very nice guy you had for the best one. McKennin is his name I think. I think I know him I met him 3 (?) years ago. Bill Wellman of my Coy is related to him someway. It is a shame about poor Edith getting married. What will I do now you will have to hunt me up one. The mail call just went so I ran like a son of a gun to see if there were any for me. I was glad to get two. One from May & one from Merelda. Merelda wrote it the 7^th of Aug. I had went to the Hospital I was in and then to the Conv. Camp and then to another Hospital and then to the Base then up here to me. It was pretty well marked up. What did she put two cent stamps in it for? I got the slip about me being wounded in it. I get everything that is sent from home."

Sample of envelope with "On Active Service"

Oct 2, 1917, Belgium letter "Dear old Sis, Receive your welcome letter of Sept 3rd and am glad you all are keeping well. And glad you all are getting the Souviners I send home. I am back to the line again. Had a good them the two weeks were on rest. I would had a much better time if the two weeks rest were to Blighty. We have a lot of hard work ahead of us now. Fritz has been driven back quite a few miles this last three months. We are running a narrow gauge track across a awful looking country. No mans-land is right. A person would not believe what it is like until they see it for theirselves.

Oct 9, 1917 Letter to Merelda

"Dear Merelda …. You asked me if Gordon Ross was wounded. Know he has not been hit yet. He is on the transport with his brother. I only see them about once a month. Lorne and Sam Gorley & Leslie Sturdy are also there. Leslie is working in the cookhouse there. So I guess he will never go hungry anytimes. I know I would'nt if I was in his place. I could easy find the cellar.

Oct 12, 1917 "Dear Mother. Guess you will do some looking at this fellow. I had it taken after I came back to my Coy from Hospital. You can see that all of my head is there. I am only minus a bit of skin and hair. Let me know if you get these two photos. I had this taken in a town where Harold had been many a time. Your loving son, Earl

Oct 25, 1917 Sap. E. Campbell # 779051, B.Coy, Can. Rly Trpe, Belgium

"Dear Sister. Received you very welcome letter of Sept 19^th today. And tell Flossie and Pauline I receive theirs of Sept. 17^th also. Was glad to hear you all are keeping well. But sorry Harold has gone to Ottawa could'nt he get a job in Toronto. Do you think he will ever come over again? Keep him away from it if you can. Once is enough for any one . And it is to much. Three days ago I was walking on down the third line trench and I ran across Jack Mullen. I had not seen him since I came to France. And we were sure glad to meet each other. I see him quite often now. He is in the 123^rd Pioneers. He was wounded in the jaw but is better now. And this afternoon I was in my dugout I call it mine anyway. It is only big enough for the two of us Wellman and myself. I was drying a pair of socks Mother sent me. Henry Bovair came along and hollered in ‘Yek' there's a fellow from King City wants ot see you. It was H.Wells. I was surprise to see him allright. And he is so fat, hard tack agrees with him, ha-ha.

p.3 Earl continues his letter to Merelda the following morning 26th

'Well Merelda I will write a few more lines this morning. I have'nt to go out on duty until towards evening. So I will write a few letters to-day. It is very cold this morning. But our dugout is quite warm with a blazer in it. I swiped some good pine boxes last night for fire wood. And there is plenty of mud. It would'nt be Belgium if it was'nt muddy. I would rather be in France than here. The French people are far nicer than the Belgiums. I have no use for any Belgie. And they are the same with us. Tell Pauline & Floss I will answer their letters soon. Had Dad all his cattle yet? And how did the roots turn out after the big hail storm you had. Lieut Jenkins has gone on 10 days leave to Paris. He will have some time there believe me maybe I will take my leave there. If I ever get one. Well dear Sis. I will be quitting for this time now. So write soon again with love to all at home.

Au Revoir, Bro. Earl

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