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Roll of Honour Project - Letters From Soldiers - A. M.
Libbey
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We record with pride and gratitude the names of members of Our Communities who served their King and Country
Is there a link with letters from Alberta Soldiers or do
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for inclusion any Alberta Veteran letter, they need not be of an
ancestor, and they can be from any war.
| This is a letter written in England during WWI by Allison
Moore Libbey to his parents, Judd and Margaret Libbey, in Fort
Saskatchewan. It must have been forwarded to the Edmonton
Bulletin by his parents and was published in the newspaper. The
article appeared on Page 2 of the Edmonton Daily Bulletin on 11
September, 1915 and is as follows: Fort Saskatchewan Forty-niner Tells of Life at Shorncliffe Private Libbey Writes
Interesting Letter to His Parents–Musketry
Instructions and Bayonet Practice–Refers to Arrival of First Draft of 51st Battalion -----------------------
Private Allison M. Libbey, of "C" Company, 49th Battalion writes an interesting letter to his parents in Fort Saskatchewan from Shorncliffe. He gives many interesting sidelights of the life at the big training camp. Private Libbey says: Dear ones at home–We are still under canvas, getting plenty of drill and are all in the best of health. As far as the eye can reach there are nothing but tents to be seen. They are fourteen feet in diameter and accommodate and average of twelve men. Each regiment has its dry canteen and Y.M.C.A. which is crowded tonight with letter writers. Some of us went to th Y. today, had a cup of coffee and four large pieces of gingerbread each, which tasted pretty good and was only sixpence. Everything seems so funny here compared to Canada. The passenger cars are very small and the freight cars seem to be about the size of the kind used in coal mines at home, but owing to the level roads here the trains travel sometimes over sixty miles an hour. Very few were sea sick on the voyage: no, I was not a bit sick– almost hated to leave the steamer. There is a beautiful view from a hill near our camp; you can see for a great distance along the coast, also the coast of France about twenty-two miles distant, can be seen very distinctly. Was surprised indeed to meet young McClellan, who used to work for Mr. D. Andrews, the blacksmith, and later went to barracks as blacksmith. He left the Fort last October with the first contingent, has been wounded twice, once in the arm and in the abdomen. Was returned here and is now in the convalescent hospital, quite well again, and wishes to be remembered to friends in the Fort. I tell you I was awfully glad to see him, as I have looked high and low for some of the "home" boys. We went to a café, had tea and a long chat. He does not know where any of the other boys are, unless still in France. Think we are to get new issue of clothes within the next week. It cannot come too soon, as our present uniforms are getting to look pretty shabby. I visited the old castle of Henry VIII., in the town of Sandgate, last Saturday afternoon, also St. Leonard’s Church, in the St. Hythe, where the bones of four thousand people are on exhibition in the crypt. These bones are over four hundred years old and are supposed to have been gathered off some battlefield. They are in a good state of preservation as you will see from post-cards I intend sending later. The castle was most interesting as well, there being a museum in connection, with a good many instruments of ancient warfare hanging about the walls, along with all sorts of other historic articles. Canadian regiments are still pouring in. Heard some arrived from New Brunswick. (July 7)–Received your letters yesterday, very glad to get them, and thank you very much. The boys had a turn at looking them over and thought the photo very good. Our mail (Canadian and Old Country) is brought to the camp twice daily. When it arrives we must be right on the spot else might have to wait an hour, as they scramble like chickens after food. We have route marches every day. Yesterday had a sixteen mile march in full marching order. Intend going to London before long if we get leave. A number of the boys are on furlough now, six days are allowed. Hardly know when I shall go, but am thinking strongly of going to Perthshire and Melrose, Scotland. A party of us went to Folkestone beach, Friday afternoon, got a boat for an hour and had a fine row. It is a lovely place to bathe as well. Our musketry instructor is from the Aldershot gymnastic school. He knows his work well and says we are making good. He has given us a lot of bayonet instruction as well. The fifty-first draft of two hundred and fifty men arrived last week and are encamped within a stone’s throw of us. Went over and saw young Todd (the fellow from the barracks) and George McNaughton. They are well and had a good trip. We have been issued with hob-nailed or ammunition boots–as they are called. They felt like ten pounds each the first day, but shall soon get used to them. Had our service in open air as usual, Sunday a.m. Rev. Gordon (Ralph Connor), of Winnipeg, and Rev. Bruce Taylor, of St. Paul’s Church, Montreal, spoke. In the evening went down to Tontine St. Congregation, near water front, as there seems to be no Presbyterian church in the place. We see aeroplanes and dirigibles daily, yesterday three of each were flying along the coast at one time, so you see they are taking every possible precaution to prevent aerial raids. (July 17)–About fifteen thousand of us were reviewed today by Premier R. L. Borden and several staff officers of the militia. Our battalion was the last to be marched to camp and it took an hour for the others to move away before we could start. Heard the Canadian mail is to be delivered to camp weekly, so suppose the letters will come all in a bunch. However, it will be very acceptable whenever it arrives. We may be removed to a camp nearer London before long, so it is said. Have received part of our uniforms, the rest will come shortly. Be sure to remember me to all friends. Will close for this time, hoping to hear from you soon again, with oceans of love. |
Annette Bame Peebles, Alberta
Provincial Coordinator