The Earl Campbell Story - Life in King during the war

Jan 1, 1918

I guess Henry & Merle will be home now. Did Henry bring any cattle down to Dad. I guess they would be all of the goat breed. I wonder what you all are doing now at home. It is New Years morning over here. I guess it is the same in Canada. How many skins has Arch got? I guess Pauline & Floss get a share out of them.

Apr 1, 1918, C.C.H. "Dear Merelda, I received your dandy fat letter of Feb 25th last-night. I am sorry you are laid up with the Grippe. How did you come to get it? Going out to much at night, I guess. I hope it is all over by now. It is a bad time of year in Canada for sickness just now. So much damp weather. I wonder what you all are doing to-day eating eggs I suppose. We here had 1 egg for our breakfast. I bet if I was home I would have you frying them all day long for me. Did Arch and the gang go out sap drinking Easter Sunday. The gang will be two missing this year Sid Williams and myself. I told Mother in my last letter I receive the box from Charlie. I still have remains of it yet. Did Mother get any more letters from Nurse Waring. She was a wonderful fine Nurse. Gosh I was sure sorry when I had to leave that Hospital. Who ever told Colin I was wounded again. I am sure I did'nt tell him. I am sure some of my letters have went astray. Because I sent Pauline a photo of a Jane mine in Toronto dressed in a Nurse's uniform. Yes Merelda that 6 penny piece I got in the Christmas pudding sure brought me some good luck. Now don't any of you believe this until you hear for sure that it is the truth"

Apr 1, 1918, C.C.H., Monks Horton, Kent

"Dear Merelda,

p.4 How did the surprise party come off at Richard's. Arch would make a pull that night I guess. It will help to buy himself a pair of waders to go fishing up to the Lakes. He will be a swell with his new teeth. I know I thot I was when I first had mine in. I had 3 taken out not long ago. Am getting some more in. The hardtack was awful hard on my teeth. The back ones were all cracked and they would certainly give me jip when ackeing. So I decided I would put a stop to em. Has Henry got a farm yet. He will have to hurry up. Skunks will soon be holeing up for the summer. I suppose it will soon be spearing fish time now. Gosh I wish I could only get home in time for that. I bet I would be spearing now. Four eyes are better than two, ha-ha. Has Charlie Williams left for England yet? If he has gone will you let me know his address of what Camp he is at. I will go and see him. Will tell him what to do. I wish Smupe Sinclair not bad luck but I wish he is sent right over to the line. He could be sure of frightened a hundred or two Germans to death. Well Merelda I think I have wrote a big letter this time. I am sending this one without a stamp on, let me know if you received it. Tell Merle I am looking for a letter from her soon. Write soon and tell all to write.

Best Wishes and Love to all
Your Loving Bro.

Earl

Sap. E. Campbell
No. 779051
Hut 7
C.C.H. Monks Horton, Kent

I don't know if I will be at this place long. But I will be here for 3 weeks anyway. My mail follows me right along."

Apr 21, 1918, Monk's Horton, Kent, England

"Dear Pauline,

P.4 ... Has Dad sold his big cattle yet? You shouldn't squeeze the things out of their backs. They would help to make them weigh heavier. Did you ever get a black eye from doing that. I came very near once, ha-ha. I guess that is how Dad got his blacken this winter.

I can't get on track of the big cow. Boy atall. I wrote to No. 4 General Hospital, Bassingstoke. But have no answer yet. Maybe he is on his way to Old Canada. Well how is Floss and Hazel getting along at school. Floss will sure to spoil Hazel as school You should have had seen the letter she wrote to me about what she does at school when Wab is over at Hollingshead's getting his cup of tea. She is a real Bob Carney. I guess poor Bob is in France by now.

I have found a P.P.C.L.I. lad that knew Aubrey Marshall real well. He was in his Coy. The 14 of Sept at Moque Farm he lost track of Aubrey. This fellows home is in Sutton. He thot a lot of Aubrey. And was surprise when I told him that he was killed the night the P.Pats when over the top at M.F. He thot that Aubrey had got to Canada. This chap will be sailing for Canada soon. All the first Contingent are getting 3 months leave to Canada. Those that are left are very few. Well Pauline I have wrote you a long letter this time. Your eyes will be sore reading it. So had better close. Hope you are all in the best of Health and I hope to see you all soon. Au Revoir, Loving Bro. Earl."

May 30, 1918, letter to Earl from Merelda in King.

We are fortunate that Earl kept and returned home with one of the letters written by his sister. In her letter Merelda writes about the young 19 year old boys being drafted and sent overseas to fight. She mentions by name a number of young men who have been drafted under the Military Service Act. She gives us a first-hand account of life in King Twp and Canada during the war. Merelda also voices her opinion on the Government and on Earl's love life and marrying when he is overseas.

My Dear Brother Earl,

Your letters to Mother & myself arrived today. We are all very sorry you have to go back to France – but cheer up, dear boy. We will all be praying for your safe return to Canada before long. Everyone things the war will be over soon. There are so many men leaving Canada now, also U.S.A. all men are called up & in A.1 training. They are calling up B. men the 19 year old boys now. The next class is all men from 19- to 45. There is sure awful times in Canada, now. I have never told you before about it Earl. When you were sick, but I had better tell you now. There will be a rebellion in Canada before long if the ??it does not change, terrible hard times here. People can hardly afford to live. Meat & flour is so high & we are only allowed a little of it & sugar you can hardly get at all. Oh everything is gone up so high & they are taking all the men off the farms even. Archie has to go. He went to Niagara to train yesterday. We are going to do everything to get him off. Have a lawyer employed & are doing everything the poor dear boy does not want to go. It seems so hard to see boys who do not want to go be forced to. Dave Robb is in the same fix as Archie his only brother is in France his Mother & two sisters left to work the farm of 100 acres. They are appealing his case too. The Military Service Act exempted the sole remaining son of military age with a brother overseas, disabled or killed. So Archie & Dave stand a good chance of getting off if the Gov't keep their word, but they are a rotten bunch of liars. Conscription would have been a good thing if they had left it as they promised to before the election, promised to leave one able-bodied man on 100 acres but they are not doing it. I went down with Archie Tues night. We stayed at Harold's all night & all went with him to the boat. There were a lot of boys from around here going over in A.1 class between the ages of 20 & 23. There were Archie, Pick McQuarry, Jack Orr, Fred Judge, George Miller from Pellats, Bert Snider a Kaake boy, a Woods from Nobleton. The two Hillard boys & a Gunn Boy an Ireland from Kleinburg & Wilson from Teston & two or three hundred I did not know. Those are all ?? f. fellows Ralph Gillies, two Wells boys, Art Bovair & Billie Grey got in the artillery & train at Ax. Camp. B. class have all to report next week. Jim & Lucky Burns have to go in that. Art Gillham & lots more. I will be glad to see a lot of that class go especially those that spouted so much for conscription. Norman McMurchy & Burns, etc. Orrs they never though they would have to go but like to see our nice young boys go. The 19 yr. old boys have to report before the 15 June – Ed Lloyd, Jack Hamilton, Jess Richards, Alfred Gillham, Vick Orr, Ike McQuarry, Harold Cain, Dick Williams & lots more. Ed. Teasdale's bunch left for Eng. Y yesterday. I had a letter from C. Williams today. He hates Eng. & all English things – also had a letter & photo of Fred Young to Pauline. Fred is a find looking fellow now. I hope he gets back to Canada safely.

Now dear Earl. I am going to say something you will not like, but it does not matter. You will Thank me for it later. About that girl, you imagine you are in love with, don't you believe it. You have got roped in, the same as so many of our Canadian boys do. Harold says he was roped in the same, but got wise to it in time, before he got married to her. Also, Katie's brother he wrote home telling them off the sweet little girl he was going to marry & first thing he found out she was a married woman & had just wanted his money & succeeded in getting it too. Ask F. Platt what he thinks of the Eng girls, also Harper Wells & lots more – oh yes the Eng. Girls have lively charming ways & are sure looking out for husbands & to get their way paid to Canada, but their ways are not like our ways, they are only laughed at here & looked down on. Harold says they are alright in Eng but no good here & Archie says for you not to bring any Babe over here. The Eng. Girls know there will be nothing for them but old maids after the war is over & are looking out for a soft snap by getting some rich Canadian so they imagine, but Earl, you must think of the future, Canada is on the verge of a rebellion. The returned soldiers can't get work – living is most terribly high – farmers can't get help only 16-18 yr. old college boys & girls – imagine what they can do re the farm. Earl if you brought a wife home to Canada you could not keep her- & she could not do farm work - & Earl, if Arch has to go to the war, our farm will be sold. Dad won't work it himself & can't so Earl think seriously before you marry a wife. Anyway Earl you are so young to marry, only 23. I guess you feel old. Harold got married young & he is not getting on very well. Katie is working out now in a candy store & Harold is off work half the time, the gas is effecting him more now than it did before. So Earl have all the good times you can with the girls over there, but don't marry them or bring them to Canada & think of the nice girls here of your own kind who will be able to take care of you, & will have money too & it is a returned soldier they all want. If that girl really & truly loved you – you would not be spending your hard earned money on her – she would give you her money instead, it is her right to pay for things instead of yours.

Harold if you brought an old country girl here, she would be looked down on their ways are so different from ours. Mother will send you $5.00 this time & will send more soon. It is all she has in the house at present, & we will send you a box too, but Earl be sure & spend your money on yourself. Now Earl I hope you are not angry with me for this, but think twice before you do such a thing as get married. We shall be worrying over you until you ans. This & hoping it is not too late. Harold promised me to write you & tell you not to have any old country girl. You are too good for them. Of course you are your own boss but you can imagine what Daddie says about it. I am afraid to tell you & poor Mother is awfully worried about it. It was noised around that Lorne was married to an Eng. Girl, but is not true – it sure ws the talk of the country. Uncle Aaron was awful mad about it. I am so glad it wan't true. Well dear boy, you will think I am an awful crank, but perhaps some day you will think all the more of me for it. It is for your own self I am thinking. If the girl was an heiress it would be different but quite likely she is a poor working girl, looking out for someone to keep her. After the war it will be hard for anybody to make a living, every body is being ruined by this awful war. Canada is altogether different from what it was when you went away & will be worse soon. There will be a rebellion before another year if you could only see the newspapers, but the Gov't will not allow us to send newspapers to Eng. So the post masters tell us. If my letter was read, I guess I would land in jail for calling the gov't rotten, but it's true, Canada is going like Russia went in govt. The poor class are being kept down & the rich men can get their sons out of the army some way or other, but the poor fellows have to go. This country will run by Jews & other foreigners soon. They are not conscripted.

Now dear boy, I have said enough perhaps too much. Now ans. Soon we shall be praying & thinking of you all the time & hoping the letter is not to late.

Best love & wishes from your loving sister"

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