The Earl Campbell Story - Life In The Army

The Battle of Passchendaele occured October 26 to November 10, 1917

Oct 29, 1917 letter to Mother from Belgium .. stamped passed by the Censors 'My Dear Mother Well I guess I'll write to you this time. Tell Merelda I receive her long letter of Sept 25th. And I received one from her the same day written June 24th with 1 dollar in it. It had gone through all the Hospitals I was in. That's why it took so long to reach me. I can say that I get all my mail and boxes to. I received that dandy box last night. That was a dandy cellar of honey. But was not large enough. ha-ha. Mrs. Merchant would be in an awful way about poor Wallace. It was sad news for me when I heard about it. I was very sorry I did not get to see him burried. I know where he is burried tho. It's a very pretty place. And such a large cemetery. Many a hundred lives are buried in it.

Oct 29, 1917, Somewhere in France – letter to "Dear Friend" think it is addressed to Harold as Earl is mentioned in the body of the letter not sure who it is from

"Dear Friend Just a line as I was to write you well I hope you will excuse me for beening so long in making it good but its better late than never. I had a letter from Merelda and I see that things are about pretty well the same around King. I also seen in the letter that the news of poor Wallace's death has cast quite a gloom around especially with those who has Sons or Friends in the firing line. I was up to see his grave yesterday he is buried in a British Military graveyard not far from here. We have got crosses and wreaths set up on all the graves of those who were killed that night they are of good quality and will last a long while. While the crosses will last for generations. I had a few with me who were pals of the others they were pretty sorry there is a good many graves in the graveyard where he is buried. Some reports say it was bombs that was the cause but that is not true. I was talking to some of the one two seven (127th) when we were on a long run a few days ago and the thought it was bombs but the truth is that it was shells and he was not wounded in the chest. I think for sure that he died not suffering very much for the shock was enough to kill anyone who was close and heavy concussion serves to deaden the brain. We had two services I was present at the one when we gave them a soldiers funeral the other one was when the wreaths were put on. I was away for that one we are very busy now and owing to the weather I had to be on duty pretty steady. You were to see Mrs. Merchant I am sure she would be very sorry for him he was a fine fellow as I have had a good chance to know for we have been through so many tight corners together that I have lost the count and he was Johnny on the spot every time. I wrote to his Mother soon after it had happened I hope she has got the letter. Alright Sam Moss also wrote and I could not say for Frank Grambriel he went to Blighty with trench fever on the night that it happened. I have not seen Earl since he came out here he was quite close to our place one day but I was out at the time and did not know of it for a long after. I have seen quite a bunch of the hundred and twenty seven(127th) with Billy Bowler has some great experiences to tell. Well I will have to close as it is getting dark in here tell Dad and all the grils I was asking for them .. Au Revoir. I remain yours sincerely Harry

Photo unidentified found in the letter addressed "Dear Friend" October 29, 1917

Nov 2, 1917, Sap. E. Campbell no. 779051, B.Coy, 2nd Batt. Can. Rly Tps, B.E.F, Belgium

"My Dear Sister Just a few lines this time to let you see I am still able to write & am keeping well. Rec. your letter of Oct 2nd last night. And I also had one from another married woman Mrs. Edwards, I only received 21 letters this last mail that came in. What do you think of that. All from Canada to. But don't you tell anyone or they might stop writing to me. Thinking that I have to many girls. No Merelda I have not get the $5 Mother sent me yet. But I guess it will come allright. I received the box you sent me. I have the underwear on. It is jake for the little animals, ha-ha. I wrote Mother not long ago did she get it o.k. How is Pauline's cold, hope she is all over it by now. Has Arch got the stones & stumps cleared off the new land they broke up. It is to … bad that Libe was turned down for overseas duty. He is the only one I did want to see come. I hope the Watson yellow gang all were mark A.1. They will open their eyes many a time if they ever get over here. Maybe they will be like the Americans a long time in coming. Gamie Crossley was to see us B.Coy lads a few nights ago. He is looking good. He is more like old Bill now. Shoots great lines of bull. We are sure having lots of mud over here. It will be nice in Canada now won't it. Well Merelda I am only writing a few lines this time. Will let you know if I get the money. Hope all are well at home.

Au revoir. Your Bro. Earl

Nov 5, 1917 Belgium, letter to Harold

Dear Bro Harold
I received your long looked for letter last night. Allso the dollar bill with. I know you know that money is tre beans for a poor bugger over her in this bitch of a country, ha-ha. It will buy me a couple of good meals allright. I am glad you like your new job o.k. You are sure traveling the world allright. Will you be in the States all winter. I will never do any traveling when I get back if I ever do. It will be damn hard to get me away from home a couple of miles. Yes we had some awful weather here allright. Mud first to the belly. Yesterday & to-day the sun shone a little. Once darkness comes on a fellow is better in his dugout for there are plenty of shell holes to fall into. And some of them are 8 & 9 feet deep with water. I got into some of them. But only after a .. issue, ha-ha. I seen a few of your old Batt to-day the R.C.D from Stanley Barracks. They have not been into any scraps yet. But are standing too just now. The war will be over when the Calvary get a day or two at Fritz. The Bengals Lan are down the line waiting for the order. God they are great looking lads quick as weasles on horseback.
Well Harold I will have to close now and hope you get along at your job the best. And write me again soon. I will write soon,

Your loving Bro, Earl

p.s. I have been looking for Mr. Nelson over here. But I cannot find him. I think he is on a different front. I wrote to your May. But don't you say anything to me. Ha-ha.

Nov 8, 1917, Sap. Earl Campbell, No. 779051, B.Coy, 2nd Batt. C.R.T., B.E.F., Belgium

Dear Pauline
Well I think it is about time I am answering your letter. I should write to Floss also. But you tell her I said she could write for a little while longer. Tell Mother I received the money order she sent me $1 it was. I soon had it changed into Francs that is French money. I got 27 Francs for the $1. That will buy me some goodies for awhile. I will be looking for some more this xmas. I guess I will have Christmas over here allright. I would much rather be in Old King for it tho. Has Mother sent my black sweater yet? I will bring it back with me all right. Tell Merelda I received the dandy box she packed for me of the Laskay Red Cross everything was jake in it. I have'nt it all ate up yet. I keep the good part of it for the last. The light ginger bread & the dark ginger bread. I also had a box from Merle last week. Henry had a lot of old chum and cigars in it. Allso a new Canadian pipe I am sure I get every box that is sent to me. And am might glad to get them. The eats that are in them you no are quite different from what we get out here. There are just the two of us in our dugout. Bill Wellman and I. And when a box comes we make ourselves sore from eating. You should see our little home of sand bags. We have it bomb proof, but not shell proof. I had a letter from Maisie last night. She is getting to be some girl. She can write a nice letter. Did Dad go hunting this fall? And how is Arch getting along trapping. It makes me homesick to think about this time of the year in Canada. It has been a dirty fall over here, rain all the time. I never knew what mud was until I came to Belgium. Well Pauline I have to write to Henry to-night so you will have to excuse this short letter. I hope you all are well at home. I will write in a day or two again.

Au Revoir, Bro. Earl'

Nov 11, 1917, Belgium

Dear Old Sis – I received your letter of Oct 10th with a dollar in it. Allso Pauline's & Flossie's sheets. It was a dandy fat letter the kind I am glad to get. So you got the photo of 'Yek' and the other four lads. So you think I look thin, eh. Well is no wonder I am thin. This place will make anyone thin. Some nights I get no sleep atall. Old Fritz get shelling or bombing over our dugouts. And a person can't sleep. Sometimes the shells light so close to the dugout that it will tremble all over. I then cling to the ground. No one will ever believe what it is like over unless they been to see for theirself. You asked me if Karl Jenson was any relation to the Jensen we had hired. Well I will ask him … had forgotten about Hans Jenson. So you know Wellman . He does'nt know you. He and I have slept together in a dugout nearly 3 months now. He is a nice lad allright. But only 19 years old, ha-ha. Fisher the Irishman is about your age tho. They are all coming to King to visit me after the war. Well Merelda this is another night. I could'nt finish this last night. I'll try to to-night. You will be sorry to hear that Jack Kerwell has been wounded. He has been at Head Quarters right along. And last night Fritz came over with his bombing planes and dropped a few around H.Q killing one Serg and wounding five Sappers. You do not know any of the others. Jimmie Allan and Bob Wilkins brought our rations up to our Coy to-day and they were telling me. They are on the transport for B.Coy I will call them the Safety first guys. But sometimes they get it hot. Lorne is Corp over in Transport. Jimmie Laremount the old Corporal was killed in May. Serg Ross is the Serg. I was on the transport in England. But Jenkins took me off and put me back into the Coy. I had been in it ever since. The only King boys in the Coy now are the two Brown boys, H. Bovair, Serg Jack Dock Boys. He is in Blighty now. Any Lieut Jenkins & myself, and little Serg McKeckeric. I must tell you all the news I can think of now while I've the chance. When we left England last January we had 1200 men. But only 450 of them were the old 12 York Rangers, 127 Batt. The rest of the 127 Batt men went to No.1 Construction now called 1st Can. Rly.Trps. Would you believe it if I tell you that there are only 112 men left out of 450. I call myself mighty luck for being one of the lucky 112 men. Frank Grambil's brother was killed last wk. He was in the 1st C.R.T. I think I told Pauline in her letter about receiving the Laskay Red + box. I sure did eat that night. There are just the two of us in my dugout. And what I own he owns, ha-ha. I also received a box from Ruth a few nights ago. I get every thing that is sent to me. So my little Clara has a fellow, eh. Well I'll fall back on Miss Sturdy now. And if she get a guy I"ll get another one. I guess Harold will keep Arch out of the Army. It is a good job he is home to tell him a thing or two. I hope he will listen to him. I got the five dollars Mother sent me. And it is just about all gone up in eats now. I am a big eater yet. When ever I get it to eat, ha-ha. Sure tell Mother I want lots of money till after this winter is over. I expect to get a 14 day leave after the 12 of January. We will be 12 month on active service then. And I want to get one more souviner of Belgium. It will be a big one this time 40 or 50 Franc one. Well, Merelda I am getting sleepy so will come to a close for this time. Hope all are well at home. How is Mother's cold. Tell her to take care of her self not to work to hard. And for to keep out of the wet.

Bye Bye Your Loving Bro Earl

Received the snaps Mary Teasdale sent me. I know the most of ‘em"

Nov 12, 1917, Sap. E. Campbell No. 779051 B.Coy, 2nd Batt. Can. Rly.Tps B.E.F. Belgium

Dear Brother, I received the post card you sent me last-night. Surprise you are back in Toronto. I guess you would enjoy your trip through the States alright. A different looking country than France or Belgium is'nt it. I am .. sure she has England beat to. I think I'll take my 14 days leave to Scotland & Ireland if I get one. We are due for a pass after the 12th of January. It will make us 12 months on active Service. Mothers Birthday it is easy to remember. I would like to go to Paris tho. I might change my mind yet and go there. I think the French people are very nice. But these Belgies are no bon at all. And when you are talking to a Belgium lassie and happen to say anything out of the ay in which I am very fond of doing. They say ‘no conpre'. Mereleda said you where to see the World's Series. How did they make out. I guess it would be a great game.

p.2 of the letter is missing

p.3 "There is heavy fighting going on now, has been this last 4 months. Well Harold old boy I will have to close for this time. I will write soon again. Take good care of yourself. And I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Years.

Your loving Brother Earl"

"write soon"

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