1916/02/15

In which Gordon Munro writes to his father with news from the front. Included is mention of bomb school, types of barb wire, inoculations, and fellow soldiers.

Pte H.G. Munro, 47904
Grenade Co.
15th Batt’n.
48th H.O.C.
1st Can. Div.
B.E.F.
France

Feb. 15/16

Dear Father, -

I intended writing this yesterday but we were out at a bomb school till late at night & I was too sleepy. We went through all sorts of antics, how to get over barbed wire, how to bomb out trenches etc. its all very interesting at the school & I guess it would be a little more so in actual fighting. The method of getting over wire is quite easy, only for the opposition you’d be liable to meet from the Huns. Thats the only thing I have against war; the opposition. The wire is of several kinds & the worst is the ordinary barbed wire only the barbs are a little longer. It is put up in different ways, sometimes just a few strands hidden in the grass, this is called “trip-wire”. The most common is the method of driving stakes & running wires from one to the other, then to the ground & back & is all tangled up. then there is a kind of wire with out barbs which form a kind of cage which is easy to get into & the harder you try to get out of it the worse you get caught. Little cans & pieces of tin are generally hung on the wires so as to give an alarm if anyone tries to get over at night. The ways to get over are by blowing them up with high-Explosive or by throwing canvas mats on them which are made so they will roll each way & thus form a bridge, it was this method we were trying.

We left the school about 3 p.m. & went to the Baths. they were quite a piece off but were worth going to. It was the first bath for nearly a month & I sure needed one. the water was so hot it stung & I guess caused quite a casualty among (?) We got back to billet about dark & I went to bed.

This morning we were innoculated in the left arm. thats 4 times for me. It makes you squirm when the Doc. shoves his needle right up to the hilt & then turns on the juice. We get off all duties for 24 or 48 hrs after. My arm feels like a young balloon & I can hardly move it & if anyone touches it – good-night! Fellows are all going around leaning over on their lefts like a bunch of veterans. The dope they shoot in to you would make an elephant blink & makes you sick & dopey, at least thats how I feel.

I was for an Auto ride on Sunday. I was waiting for Brock & he had’nt come & just as I was leaving, Canon Scott, came along & asked me who I was & where I was from I told him I hailed from Oakville & he said “Do you know Mr. Bath?” I said I did & he said Mr. Bath was a great friend of his. Just then the car came up & he asked me how I’d like to go for a ride over to another place to a Service. after I had got enough breath to say y-a-a-s, we climbed in & away we went. It sure was some drive. He asked me to come to his billet any old time I felt like it & read & write, etc. He sure is a good scout.

At night I went to a church service in the town, it was first-class all through & I enjoyed getting into a “real” church again.

I got a box of apples last night which were sure fine. Brock went to see Snyder the other day & he had just gone on pass to “Blighty”, so we didn’t see him. Our passes are still good for another couple of months or so apparently. I hope there are is no truth in what I heard about Bremner not getting on well. One thing there’s no use in any of the recruits bucking as they wont do themselves any good. I’ve seen better men than them try it & get stung. I hope when “sigh” gets his commission he wont be too Regimental with the boys.

Mr. Pepall is taking over the Machine Gun soon, so Brock will be at home allright & perhaps I will. I have another letter to write to Clarence Byers to night so must close for now. Tell Danny Chisholm I have kept that letter he wrote Brock & me for a souvenir; the one that he doesn’t want any one but us to read, it sure is some letter.

love to all

Gordon

We have had Porridge for breakfast all week.

G

2017.22.81