Date of Letter:
1917/06/03
Summary:
Melville writes home to his mother, Jessie Munro, from his camp in England. He talks about his thoughts about the war's duration, and thinks that it will end soon. Melville also mentions his enjoyment of the local pubs, and the atmosphere of the town nearby the camp. He says that he and three friends from Oakville are thinking about pooling money together for a camera, to share amongst the four of them.
Transcription:
Crowborough
June 3 1917
My Dear Mother-
How is everything in Oakville. I haven't had a letter from Canada for quite a while now so don't know how things are going on. Everyone here is wondering when there is going to be a Canadian mail in. I don't feel homesick or anything like that but I sure would like to step in on you at about 10 o'clock to-day or else be home when you all came back to church. The war is soon going to be over anyway. I have a feeling that we're not going to see much of it and I'm not a bit sorry.
Well, I guess I had better tell you about how Roy Wass wants me to go down into the valley with him now to get some flowers to decorate the hut so I will break off for a few minutes. Well, I am back again. We got some blue bells, daisies, and some other things. I don't know what they are called but you will find one enclosed in the letter.
The weather up here is still as good as ever, we have had very little rain since we came to England. Last night I went on piquet at five o'clock and got back
(PAGE 2)
at 10 o'clock this morning. We were supposed to get back at 11:15 but there were two drunks we had to bring back and take to the klink. We were down to Crowborough, about 2 miles away. This is the greatest place for public houses I ever saw. There are eight in and around Crowborough that I know of. There is not a mile between the two farthest separated. There is the "Plough & Horses", the "Bricklayer's Arms", the "Rose & Crown", the "Beacon", and some others that I don't know the names of. Over half the fellows down in Crowborough last night were drunk. I was let off church parade this morning on account of being up so late last night.
Four of us, Hager, French, Cowan and I, were thinking of buying a camera amongst the four of us. We were to get it yesterday but the three of them couldn't decide on one and I couldn't be there to give my consent etc., so they didn't get one.
Last week we were on the Machine Guns. It's nice work and not nearly so monotonous as drilling. We have three weeks more of it before we go on our last pass.
(PAGE 3)
The grub we are getting now is not up to much. At noon every day they give us enough bread to last us until noon the next day. The loaves are about the same size as a small one in Canada and 1/3 of a loaf is what you get a day. That seems quite a bit perhaps but when it is your main stay and there isn't much more to eat it doesn't seem much.
This morning for breakfast we had a little bit of porridge, without milk or sugar, a little piece of liver, some tea? and of course bread. I nearly always fill up on beans etc. at the canteen after every meal. However we manage to get along all right and no-one is losing weight over it.
Yesterday we heard that young Taylor (across the park) and Dave Smith, another Oakville boy, had been wounded, but we don't know how badly. I wrote a letter to Brock over a week ago but haven't got an answer yet. I guess that is all the news I have this time so will close.
Love to all,
Melville.
(PAGE 4)
Yesterday the got the whole depot on parade and brought out a fellow that had deserted and was caught on a boat that was just going to leave for America. An officer read out about all the deserter did etc. and that he was sentenced to 1 yr. detention without pay etc.
June 3 1917
My Dear Mother-
How is everything in Oakville. I haven't had a letter from Canada for quite a while now so don't know how things are going on. Everyone here is wondering when there is going to be a Canadian mail in. I don't feel homesick or anything like that but I sure would like to step in on you at about 10 o'clock to-day or else be home when you all came back to church. The war is soon going to be over anyway. I have a feeling that we're not going to see much of it and I'm not a bit sorry.
Well, I guess I had better tell you about how Roy Wass wants me to go down into the valley with him now to get some flowers to decorate the hut so I will break off for a few minutes. Well, I am back again. We got some blue bells, daisies, and some other things. I don't know what they are called but you will find one enclosed in the letter.
The weather up here is still as good as ever, we have had very little rain since we came to England. Last night I went on piquet at five o'clock and got back
(PAGE 2)
at 10 o'clock this morning. We were supposed to get back at 11:15 but there were two drunks we had to bring back and take to the klink. We were down to Crowborough, about 2 miles away. This is the greatest place for public houses I ever saw. There are eight in and around Crowborough that I know of. There is not a mile between the two farthest separated. There is the "Plough & Horses", the "Bricklayer's Arms", the "Rose & Crown", the "Beacon", and some others that I don't know the names of. Over half the fellows down in Crowborough last night were drunk. I was let off church parade this morning on account of being up so late last night.
Four of us, Hager, French, Cowan and I, were thinking of buying a camera amongst the four of us. We were to get it yesterday but the three of them couldn't decide on one and I couldn't be there to give my consent etc., so they didn't get one.
Last week we were on the Machine Guns. It's nice work and not nearly so monotonous as drilling. We have three weeks more of it before we go on our last pass.
(PAGE 3)
The grub we are getting now is not up to much. At noon every day they give us enough bread to last us until noon the next day. The loaves are about the same size as a small one in Canada and 1/3 of a loaf is what you get a day. That seems quite a bit perhaps but when it is your main stay and there isn't much more to eat it doesn't seem much.
This morning for breakfast we had a little bit of porridge, without milk or sugar, a little piece of liver, some tea? and of course bread. I nearly always fill up on beans etc. at the canteen after every meal. However we manage to get along all right and no-one is losing weight over it.
Yesterday we heard that young Taylor (across the park) and Dave Smith, another Oakville boy, had been wounded, but we don't know how badly. I wrote a letter to Brock over a week ago but haven't got an answer yet. I guess that is all the news I have this time so will close.
Love to all,
Melville.
(PAGE 4)
Yesterday the got the whole depot on parade and brought out a fellow that had deserted and was caught on a boat that was just going to leave for America. An officer read out about all the deserter did etc. and that he was sentenced to 1 yr. detention without pay etc.
Object ID:
2017.22.119
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Munro Letters: June 3 1917: Melville Munro to Jessie Munro
Munro Letters: June 3 1917: Melville Munro to Jessie Munro
Munro Letters: June 3 1917: Melville Munro to Jessie Munro
Munro Letters: June 3 1917: Melville Munro to Jessie Munro
Munro Letters: June 3 1917: Melville Munro to Jessie Munro
Munro Letters: June 3 1917: Melville Munro to Jessie Munro
Munro Letters: June 3 1917: Melville Munro to Jessie Munro
Munro Letters: June 3 1917: Melville Munro to Jessie Munro