The Earl Campbell Story - Life In The Army

Jul 8, 1918 Purfleet letter to Mother – informing her he is going to be leaving for France. He also mentions Ypres and the building of the Wide and narrow Gauge

My Dear Mother,

Being this is my last night in England for a while. I must write you a few lines. We were told to-day that we would leave her to-morrow night at 10.30. We will get to Folkstone about 1 o'clock and sail for Bolougne in the night. I am glad we are crossing the Channel at night.

I received a big fat letter from Merelda to-day written June 13th. I am glad Arch is home for a while. But I only wish the Lawyer Dad has will get him out of the Army. I would not like to see Arch have to come. He is sure needed at home. They must know that the Campbell's are good soldiers. What I think of our Government is very small. They all should be shot. So Kelly won the M.M. . Well his is a sort of a fellow that would get. He is not afraid of death. I guess you have a idea what sort of boy he is. He will get a good job now. If a chap win any kind of a ribbon he gets a safty job. I will try and win some kind of a ribbon. And than I"ll get a bomb prove job, ha-ha. There are a number of the 127 lads here with jobs. But I would not asked for a job here. If they would not give me one, will I can go back to France again. I never asked for a safty job yet. And I will not start. I am sorry we lost Jim Jenkins he was a good officer to B.Coy. All the boys had a good word for him.

Now Mother, don't you be worrying about me while in France. I went thro some awful times before and I am still alive, ha-ha. I will watch myself allright. I am very good at ducking you know, ha-ha. I do not know what front our Battalion is on. I hope thye are not on the Ypres front. That's an awful place. I think they are on the Wide Gauge track now, so that will be far ahead of the narrow track.

All the track we put down in the Ypres district last summer Fritzie has it all now. But it will be no use to him because our good artillery blow it all up as they retreated. I will answer Merelda's letter when I get to our Base at Etaples in France. We may be at the Base for two weeks before we are sent to our Batt. Well Mother I will say Good Bye for this time. Merelda says that she was sending me another box. I will likely get it at the Base. Now take good care of yourself. I will not bring any girl home with me, ha-ha. I came very near getting married. But I did'nt, ha-ha. Merelda says there are lots of girls in Canada. So I will listen to her.

Write soon and tell the rest. Your Loving son, Earl.

On back page… "For Goodness sake don't show this photo of me to any people it is awful of me. But I only send it home on account of my chum Sip Brown being in it. I look as tho I am going to kill someone or to frighten to do so. You all can have a good laugh at it anyway.

Jul 11, 1918 letter to Merelda from France

Dear Merelda. Well I arrived safe in France again. I arrived here last night. And the trip was very good. But crossing the Channel was not abit good. A very rough seas was raging. The worse I've seen yet. I was seasick to be sure. And there was not very many that was not. I feel all right now tho only I am awful lonesome. Things are different here than in Blighty you know. I have not gone to my Coy yet. But expect to go to it to-morrow. We have been to the bullring all day and I feel mighty tired. Harold will know something about the Bull ring here. I am near where I was when in Hospital wounded nearly a year ago. I was very glad to rec your fat letter in England. This will be a answer to it. I wrote to Mother the night before I sailed. I allso sent her in the letter a awful photo of myself taken with Sip Ball. Ball is here with me. He will be sent to No. 1. C.R.T to-morrow. He can't get his transfer. Say how many different kind of papers have I sent home. I try and send all kinds I get my eyes one. The Huts here in France sure give out some beautiful papers. I did not get to see C. Williams before I left. I was very sorry I could not see him. Chances are I will never see him over here. France is a large country. And allso a large number of Canadians are in it. How is Arch getting along. I can't say very much in the letter. But I do wish him the very best of luck. Some of his Batt came over in our draft. 1st C.O.R. they ware on there shoulders. Well Merelda you thot I would be sore at you for writing such a letter as the Registered one. I am not such a one as that. You certainly told me right. How every did you know what the English girls were like. I think all the more of you for doing as you did. I will not have a English girl to go back with me. You say there are plenty waiting for me. I wonder who they are, ha-ha. Glad to hear the Egard's boys were clinked. But they should be sent over here for treatment. I know a box from home is close to me. I will likely get it when I got up to my Coy. I was glad I did not get it at Camp in England. I would have had maybe feed it all to the fishes in the pond, ha-ha. You can give the girls around home my address now, the same old one will be it. Sap. N.E. Campbell, # 779051, B.Coy, 2nd Can. Rly Tps, B.E.F., France

Jul 15, 1918, France letter to Merelda

Dear Merelda, Well I am back to my Coy again. I find the boys all well. But quite a few of them are away in Hospital. I was very glad to see them again. In B.Coy the ones you know are F.Locuas, C. Bowhey, J. Allen, A.Brown. Serg Brown is trying for the R.A.F. Bowler is here, H. Jacks that is all the King lads that are here. We are on the Wide Gauge track now. It is jake here. No shells to get our wind up. I have not had any mail since I left Eng. Yet. But it will follow me over. Well this is the 16th a year ago today I was wounded. I have been out working to-day for the first since I left in June. We have a gang chinks working with our Coy. They are happy bunch of lads. But a awful lingo they have. I can understand a few of them. But I have to go some to make their language out. We are having very good weather just now. I hope it continues. Jim Allen rec his Laskay Red Cross box to-day mine will follow me from England. I sent Ella a little present not long ago from Eng. It was a centre piece. I made while in Hospital. I was sometime making it. I spoilt quite a few before I could get a decent one. I should have had sent her something long ago. I think it is the best present I could send her. Well Sis. I will now come to a finish for this time. Excuse this writing I am in France now, ha-ha. Write me as often as you can. Those big fat ones I like to get. Is Arch in safe hands yet? I hope so anyway. Be good and take good care of yourself.

Love to all at home. Au Revoir, Your Loving Bro. Earlie.

Aug 1, 1918 letter to Earl from Dorrie Smith, Heathwood Lodge, Stelling, Canterbury, Kent, England.

In a letter dated June 27, 1918 Earl makes reference to a Doris Smith " Ask Harold about a Miss Doris Smith in Folkestone she invited me to her place next leave, I get. But don't think I'll go." The following letter is from Dorrie Smith.

Dear Mr. Campbell

I was pleased to receive your letter I'm sorry youre in France again. I'm sure after one being there ‘tis hatefull to return. We in England this last few days are melting under a broiling sun. I think of you brave boys over there & discomforts you all have to put up with. My Brother has been ill again. I wish he could come on leave. I like to hear from you when you can write. I'll write again in a few days as perhaps you find letters a change out there. I'm rather busy & cannot write long at once. I do not know if Monte knew another girl in Folkstone, he was very chummy with me & when there always use to come & see us, but when he went to Ramsgate he got to know a girl called Ethel & she wrote to him when he was back in camp near F'stone before going to France second time he showed me some of her letters. Jolly nice boy Monte & a good pal. You can tell him in your next letter. I'm glad to know his Brother I often wondered what had become of him. Monks Horton is shut up now. I've got a cousin in the CASC & he's been there convalescent. Everyone left last Monday. I think the Americans are taking it over. I biked over there to some sports week ago yesterday, saw a baseball match in the evening seems to be made of chewing gum & yellowing as hard as everyone after & then I biked back alone got back about 10.. I do not get much chance for dancing to keep with it guess my partners endured agonies! I cannot write more. Mother, I & my Brother are going to a farm to. There are six girls up there they can all sing, play & dance especially one. So you bet there will be something going on "some" for. Goodbye for this time.

Yours very Sincerely Dorrie Smith

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