The Earl Campbell - Souvenirs from the Front

Earl would request that the family send him articles from home. In his October 24, 1916 p. 2 he asked Merelda (his sister)

"You want to know if I want any clothes. I would like to have that Hockey cap of Pauline's the one with the white trimming on. That one I use to steal from her when I was going skating. And I would like that scarf which Mrs. Boys gave me."

He also references money that he had sent home to Mother –

"was glad to hear that Mother got my $20.00 cheque. Next one she gets tell her to give Arch 2 or3 dollars to buy some tobacco half smoking and half chewing. It will be a great treat at the front. We can't get any good tobacco here at all."

Oct 29, 1916, p.2 Earl talks of sending packages home from the front.

"I am going to pack up a box to send home for Xmas or New Year's will let you know when I send it. It won't be very big one because the things are awful expensive here. And you know the amount of money I get a month things you get for .25 in Canada I give 2 s (shillings) for it here .48 cents.

Oct 29, 1916, p.3 Earl writes to Mother from Witley Camp:

"I am sending you a English Oak leaf, Maple leaf and a Holly leaf. The leaves are turning their colour now."

"Tell Arch that little Peatrie the National Lacrosse player is locked in with us. Allso Jack Wise the ventriloquist is here with me. He is an artist to I will send some of his work."

Nov 18, 1916, p.2 letter to Merelda

"I am glad you are sending me my scarf and cap. Because it is turning quite cold now."

Nov 30, 1916 Earl writes to sister Mereleda:

"I received your 16 page letter to-day. Them are the kind of letters I like to get a hold of." …. " I hope you get the Xmas card which I have already sent you.. I only got 6 letters to-day all from Canada we get Canadian mail twice a week Tuesday and Thursday. I allways stick around the mailman them two days." " I wrote Mother the other night telling her I received the parcel o.k. with the cap, socks, scarf kerchief and bacco in it."

Photo sent to Earl's Mother of Harold (sitting) and Earl

Dec 9, 1916, p.4 Earl tells his family "I am sending Mother a photo. I guess you will know who the two lads are, let me know if she gets I allright."

Mar 26, 1917, Somewhere in France,

p.2 "I have some dandy souvenirs which I got in the Germans dug-outs & trenches. I wish I can take them back to Canada. I found this piece of music in a German dugout. It is French tho. Let me know if you can play it. I have a dandy helmet which I took from a Fritz. He was not alive when I took it tho." "I am going to send some souvenirs which I got while down at the Hospital. They are silk handkerchief. They will follow soon. I carry them in my tunic pocket and it is hard to keep them clean."

Mar 29, 1917, p.1

"Did Harold get out home for the weekend? Did he take any souvenir home with him. I have quite a few now. A dandy Fritz rifle with bayonet and a dandy pike helmet. I will make you hop around when I get it on." P.2 "I am sending you all a silk souvenir tomorrow be sure and let me know if you all get them. I guess I will register them."

Apr 7, 1917, Somewhere in France, p.1

" I have not sent the silk handkerchiefs yet. I will try and send them sometime before next fall."

Apr 13, 1917, Somewhere in France, p.2 (in pencil) … Earl writes

" I have a dandy little souvenir to take home with me. It is a butt end of a 3 inch German shell made into a cap & 127 badge on it. And the name of the battle field I got it. I was offered 30 Francs for it, but I would not bite at that offer. I was afraid I would sell it so I got Serg Brown to put N.E. Campbell on it. Frank made it for me.

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