Letters from the Front
World War I

Evening Guide article

While indexing the vital statistics in the Evening Guide microfilms for 1914-1919, we also compiled an index of 200 published letters to family and friends from overseas. Many are extracts from full letters and all have been subject to military censorship. Some are detailed in their contents and many merely chatty letters home.
Included are the newspaper issue, page, and column number, and whether or not the person appears in the Book of Remembrance. The hyperlinked (underlined) surnames take you to a photograph and/or biography of that soldier or Nursing Sister.

Surname Given name Issue Page/
Column
Book of
Remembrance
Notes
AdamsonFrederick Byron14 Feb 19181/2YesLetter to Fred from Brigadier-General Victor W. Salum awarding the Military Medal.
ArklessFrank11 Aug 19171/3YesKIA circumstances to his mother, Mrs. Henry Arkless, Cavcan Street.
AshmanJohn Charles26 Jul 19151/3YesFrom King George's Hospital, London SE, dated 12 Jul, 1st Canadian Contingent.
AustinGeorge
29 Dec 1914
13 Jan 1915
08 Feb 1915
02 Mar 1915
1/4
1/3
1/3
1/5
Yes Very brief Christmas greeting to his wife & children.
To his wife from Salisbury Plains.
Cable from Salisbury Plains informing his wife that he has spinal meningitis.
Report to his wife re his recovery.
AustinNorman16 Nov 19181/6YesLetter to parents relating experiences in France.
BaxterHarry17 Nov 19172/1YesTo his mother and sister describing the Vimy battle.
BellGeorge William26 May 19171/5YesKIA letter to Mr. Alfred Grice, a former employer, of Hope Township.
Bennett
Reuben 10 Oct 1916
11 Jan 1917
1/3
1/5
Yes To mother, from France.
A condolence letter to his mother from Sgt. Powell, after Reuben's death.
BowmanMiss Maude27 Aug 19151/4NoFormer nurse at Port Hope Hospital. From Port Said, dated 03 Aug to Miss E.M. Elliott, Hospital Superintendent.
BrethenClarence Arthur19 Sep 19181/5YesTo his wife, assuring her that the report of his death was incorrect!
BridgesPercy28 Sep 19181/6YesTo his mother, describing holidaying in London and Edinburgh.
BridgesRoy23 Nov 19161/5YesTo his parents, describing his wounds and conditions in a French hospital.
CarmichaelGrant Thornton
08 Oct 1915
26 Apr 1916
1/4
1/5
Yes Short note on trench life to Charles Britton, British Hotel.
Letter to Mrs. G.T. Carmichael regarding the death of her husband in action.
CarruthersThomas15 May 19161/4YesThanking Mrs. WE Long for sent gifts.
ChambersThomas LeRoy11 Jun 19171/4NoKIA condolence letter to mother in Peterborough on his death. Nephew of Mrs. Frank Osland of Canton.
ChesherErnest 16 Feb 1917
12 May 1917
15 May 1917
30 Jul 1917
01 Sep 1917
14 Nov 1918
28 Dec 1918
1/3
1/6
1/4
1/6
1/4
1/4
1/2
Yes Letters to mother & brother, Clifford, describing an aerial battle.
"Chatty" letter to parents re life in the trenches at Vimy.
Front line news & mention of his "trench foot".
Describing a London air raid.
Describes excellent treatment of wounded in hospital.
To father describing his work as a Gas Instructor.
To father, A.J. Chesher, from Bramshott, England.
ClarkCharles01 Aug 19171/5YesReport of death to Donald Currie, South Street, from Captain J.W. Wayman (Chaplain, 87th Battallion).
ClarkeG. Arthur 06 Mar 1917
20 May 1918
30 Jul 1918
09 Dec 1918
1/4
1/6
1/3
1/5
Yes To father, describing life at Crowborough Camp, England.
To his father, George, Sherbourne Street, describing a "Port Hope get-together" in Surrey, England.
To his family from Whitly Camp.
To father, George, describing London's war-end celebrations.
CouplandMilford27 Sep 19181/5NoTo his mother, Mrs. S.A. Coupland, telling her of his injuries.
CraigW. Edward "Ted" 04 May 1916
12 Jan 1917
1/5
1/3
Yes To his mother about life in Shorncliffe Camp.
To his parents, describing camp life.
CurrieA.R.01 Aug 19171/5YesReport of death to Donald Currie, South Street, from Capt. J.W. Wayman (Chaplain 87th Bttn.).
DouglasFred15 Feb 19161/6YesFrom England, to the Girls' Bible Class, St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, Port Hope.
EakinsJames22 Jun 19151/5YesTo TB Chalk from the front lines.
EdmundsGeorge 22 Jun 1917 1/4YesZeppelin attack at Otterpool.
EdmundsJack13 Aug 19151/4YesTo his mother re Shorncliffe life.
EdwardsGilbert 17 Sep 1915
25 Sep 1917
12 Oct 1916
1/6
2/6
1/6
Yes A "newsy letter from England" to JH Wilson.
Letter to Miss Fox re death of her brother, Charles.
How he met his death, from Lt.-Col. L. McLaughlin to his mother. Recommendation for Military Cross.
ElliottRidd23 Apr 19171/6YesTo mother, Mrs. R.R. Elliott, Walton Street, re the importance of mail time.
EmersonLorne04 Oct 19161/4YesTo Mrs. N.E. Jenkins, describing trench life in France.
FairhurstJohn24 Jun 19161/5YesLetter describing his death.
FogartyHarold Cecil 12 Jul 1916
09 May 1917
07 Dec 1917
13 May 1918
1/6
2/1
2/3
1/5
Yes To his parents, describing life at Camp Borden.
Continued 10 May: 2/1.
To his mother during a lull in fighting.
Extracts of a letter written in a Rouen hospital to his parents, detailing his wounding.
FogartyWilliam Charles17 Oct 19171/3YesLengthy description of the battle in which he was blinded.
FosterThomas07 Jun 19161/6YesReply to the Baptist Church from hospital.
FrenetteEmery01 May 19181/3NoFrom a prisoner-of-war camp in Germany to Mrs. J.T. George of the IODE.
GarbuttHarold 15 Aug 1916
17 Feb 1917
07 Mar 1917
22 Mar 1917
1/4
3/6
1/4
1/3
Yes To mother, describing life in London.
Daily life in the trenches.
Death of Harold.
Details of death.
GilesJohn 20 Dec 19161/3YesTo his wife, from France.
GouldGeorge 14 Nov 1916
10 Mar 1917
1/5
1/5
Yes To Mrs. A.E. Pipher, describing life at the Front.
From Bear Wood Convalescent Hospital.
GreenJames27 Sep 19171/6YesReport of death.
HallidayJames Thomas Wainright11 Oct 19161/5YesReport of death by Frank J. Whiting. Listed in the Guide as John.
HarcourtJohn Vernon30 Jan 19194/2YesTo P.H. Horton re occupation life in Bonn, Germany.
HarcourtRobert22 Aug 19141/3YesFrom Robert of Cobourg Garrison Battery to his father, J.V. Harcourt, informing of his arrival in Vancouver.
HarveyThomas12 Jan 19171/3YesTo William McLellan, describing camp life in England.
HarwoodJohn Vincent21 Mar 19161/5NoTo the Guide from France.
HaultainRobin04 Dec 19141/3YesOf the 2nd King Edward Horse, from Hounslow Cavalry Barracks, Middlesex, England.
HaydenSherwood 07 Nov 1916
01 May 1917
22 Nov 1917
1/3
1/6
1/3
Yes Describing trench life, from Shoreham Hospital.
To the Daughters of the Empire, thanking for parcels & describing daily life in England.
Lengthy letter from France to his mother re trench warfare.
HemmickRev. Father William Anthony20 May 19184/2NoExtracts from a letter written to his father, Roland Hemmick of Idalia, Port Hope.
HillsAlexander09 May 19161/3YesTo William Marvin, describing daily life in England.
HoldenJohn 27 Nov 1914
20 Jan 1916
04 May 1916
10 Apr 1918
1/5
1/3
1/5
1/6
Yes To Sherman Gifford re training in Kingston.
To AE Pipher re lost Port Hoper, Albert Gloyne.
To Mrs. H. Dore, from Belgium.
Short, friendly note to J.R. Smith.
HoneyRoy 24 Oct 1916
19 Jan 1917
20 Jan 1917
17 Mar 1917
1/5
1/6
3/6
3/2
Yes To his father, describing his sea trip to England and daily camp life.
To his father, describing upcoming Christmas preparations.
To his sister re how he spent Christmas in England.
A chatty note to his father, from East Sandling, England.
HopkinsAlbert21 May 19151/7YesTo wife re plight of refugees in France.
HopkinsFred 19 Nov 1914
19 May 1915
1/6
1/4
Yes Brief note to mother re Christmas preparations at Salisbury Plains.
To mother, from Belgium, a chatty letter of calm.
HusseyJames Jan 19171/5YesLife at the Front, France.
IrwinDelbert18 Jan 19193/3YesTo mother, Mrs. Catharine Irwin, Lindsay, Ontario.
IrwinEdgar Edward13 Dec 19171/4YesA letter re his views on death.
JoyceNorris01 Nov 19161/4YesLetter to his mother. Listed in the "Guide" as Norman.
JoyceWilbert 26 Aug 1915
07 Jun 1916
13 Jun 1916
1/4
1/6
1/4
Yes To Harold Clarke, dated 10 Aug, 39th Battallion, Lydd, England.
To Miss Brown, expressing appreciation for gifts sent.
Reply to the Baptist Church from hospital.
LeeJoseph27 Mar 19151/5YesTo Henry White, MP, from France, relating feelings of the war.
LeutyJohn Gill 13 Feb 1917
17 May 1917
18 May 1917
23 May 1917
1/4
1/5
1/4
1/3
Yes To Miss May Rowden, thanking her for socks.
Letter to his wife re his story of a trench battle.
Description of a trench battle.
Describing his accommodation at Clarence House in London.
LightleWilliam 28 Dec 1916
30 Apr 1917
1/3
1/3
Yes Two letters informing father, David, & sister, Mrs. A.E. Fulford (Lucy) of William's death.
Report of death.
MacMillanMyrtle 23 Jul 1915
25 Jul 1915
18 Aug 1916
13 Sep 1915
1/5
1/4
1/5
1/3
Yes To mother re nursing chores in France.
To her sister re daily nursing life in France.
Description of nursing routines.
To family re trip to Alexandria, Egypt.
MacNaughtonMary 16 Aug 1915
11 Sep 1915
19 Sep 1915
13 Oct 1915
1/4
1/5
1/5
1/5
Yes From Queen's Base Hospital, 29 Jul, to "Dear Friends".
From Alexandria, Egypt, re leisure life, dated 11 Aug.
"Queen's Hospital is stationed in a desert": life in Cairo.
To sister, Flossie MacNaughton, re hospital & work in Cairo.
MaplesRichard 09 Jun 1916
29 Dec 1916
1/3
1/4
Yes To his mother, describing life in the Belgium trenches.
To aunt Louise Maples, about the "instincts of a horse".
MasonHarry30 May 19171/5NoCondolence letter to father, W.E. Mason, of Canton. Photo.
McCallisterWalter Harold 10 Nov 1914
18 Mar 1915
19 Mar 1915
31 Mar 1915
18 May 1915
09 Oct 1915
1/5
1/4
1/3
1/6
1/4
1/3
Yes To his dad, relating daily life on Salisbury Plains.
A friendly letter to Percy Nixon from the front lines.
To father, William, letting him know he was okay in France.
To his mother, a lengthy letter about trench life.
To his mother re trench warfare.
Lengthy letter re Langemarck battle.
McIntoshG.O.11 Oct 19171/5YesDescription of trench warfare.
McMahonNorman 23 Jun 1917
10 Dec 1918
1/3
1/6
Yes To father, a "newsy" letter from Shorncliffe Camp.
To father, Alderman T.J. McMahon, informing of Norman's death of Spanish influenza on 15 Nov.
McLeanNorman 12 May 1915
13 May 1915
01 Jun 1915
15 Jun 1915
1/5
1/6
1/5
1/6
No To his father, Col. William McLean, Mill Street, written at sea.
Written at sea.
To father from West Sandling Camp, England, re "beautiful British countryside".
To brother, Stanley of Toronto, re London life.
McNaughtonIvo30 Mar 19151/5YesA chatty letter to mother, Walton Street.
McQuadeEdward Patrick23 Dec 19162/1YesAs a prisoner-of-war in Germany, a postcard to his mother.
MercerWilliam06 Jul 19171/4YesHis war experiences in a letter to the Guide.
MicksRobert 12 Mar 1918
21 May 1918
1/3
1/6
Yes Letter to Mrs. Fair, sister of Robert Micks, reporting him missing in action and presumed killed.
Letter to father, Alonzo Micks of Ottawa, reporting presumed dead after 31 Oct 1917 wounding.
MillwardFrederick Louis 09 Jun 1916
09 Sep 1916
18 Jan 1917
1/4
1/3
1/3
Yes To mother re trench life in Belgium.
To wife re graphic account of a charge.
A chatty note to his mother, describing New Year's Eve in London.
MilneEdward Charles 22 May 1917
05 Feb 1918
1/5
1/3
Yes Letter of condolence.
Letter to father, James Milne, Walton Street, informing him of son's death in France - killed in action.
MitchellGordon 28 Nov 1916
23 Nov 1917
1/4
1/6
No To his mother, Mrs. William Mitchell, King Street, of his travels in Russia.
A detailed letter to his mother from Vladivostock. Continued 24 Nov: 2/1.
OgdenHarold 12 Jun 1918
29 Jan 1919
1/6
2/5
Yes Serving with the US army "somewhere in France". Short note to Mrs. D. Ogden, John Street.
To mother, Mrs. I. Ogden, John Street.
OughCharles09 Nov 19161/5YesA newsy letter to Rev. Spidell.
OutramAllan 17 Sep 1917
18 Dec 1918
05 Apr 1919
4/2
1/6
1/4
Yes To his mother, describing trench life and his recent leave.
To mother, from Russia.
Sent by Allan Outram to his mother, Mrs. G. A. Outram, dated 06 Feb, from Russia.
ParkerEric04 Nov 19151/4YesShort note to his mother re trench life in France.
PomeroyArthur 23 Dec 1916
02 Feb 1917
19 Feb 1917
24 Mar 1917
1/7
1/5
1/5
1/3
Yes To his father, describing life in the trenches.
To father, describing night work in No-Man's Land.
To father, describing trench life.
To father, describing a gas attack on German trenches.
PomeroyWilliam Henry13 Nov 19161/3YesTo his wife, a description of the battle in which he was wounded.
PorteousHarvey Robert 13 Jun 1917
15 Aug 1917
1/3
4/1
Yes To the Guide, life in Shorncliffe Camp.
Daily life in Roffey Camp, England.
PowersAllan A.18 Jan 19171/3YesTo his parents, re Christmas in France.
RalstonGeorge H. 21 Nov 1914
06 Dec 1914
08 Jan 1915
12 Jan 1915
16 Jan 1915
02 Mar 1915
08 May 1915
29 May 1915
14 Nov 1915
1/5
1/3
1/3
1/4
1/3
1/5
1/5
1/5
1/4
Yes To his wife, about life in England.
Life at Salisbury Plains.
Salisbury Plains news.
From New Copse Farm Camp.
Christmas at Salisbury Plains to his wife.
Daily life at Devizes, England.
From Belgium.
Progress in France.
From the SS Grampian (Allan Line) to Salisbury Plains.
ReynoldsArthur 26 Nov 1914
30 Nov 1914
13 Jan 1915
19 Mar 1915
10 May 1915
01 Jun 1915
08 May 1916
29 May 1917
1/5
1/5
1/3
1/5
1/6
1/4
1/3
1/3
Yes Interesting letter, dated 10 Nov, from Salisbury Plains to his brother, Henry.
To his sister, Mrs. F.G. Bouskill, re trip at sea & life at Salisbury Plains.
Arthur to RB Thompson from Salisbury Plains.
To his brother, Henry, re daily life in the trenches.
To his sister, Mrs. Fred Bouskill, re billeting in Belgium.
To Charles Britton of the British Hotel: "now on the firing line".
A letter to the Women's Institute, acknowledging gifts.
To John Laurie re battle description.
RoachHilton 02 Jun 1916
21 Jun 1916
05 Feb 1919
1/5
1/5
1/3
Yes To his mother re battalion life in Belgium.
To his mother re trench life.
To sister, Lenore. Son of P. Roach, Port Hope.
RosserSidney05 Jul 19161/6YesTo his wife "from the firing line".
RussellJames E.31 May 19161/6YesTo his sister, re trench life in Flanders.
SmithAlbert13 Dec 19164/2YesTo his sister, Pearl, Cranberry Road.
SmithHarvey 23 Mar 1918
14 Sep 1918
1/6
4/2
Yes Lengthy letter to friend, Roy Adamson. Son of Joseph Smith, Durham Street.
Lengthy newsy letter to Roy Adamson from Camp Witley, England.
SmithRobert11 Jun 19181/6YesLengthy letter to parents, Mrs. & Mrs. J. Smith, Smith Street, Port Hope, describing army life.
SniderCairns 04 Aug 1915
07 Dec 1915
1/5
1/6
Yes To mother, Mrs. E.E. Snider. Caesar's Camp north, Shorncliffe, dated 18 Jul.
To his father re life on the battlefront.
SniderEber Egerton12 Jan 19171/4YesLetter of appreciation from Mildred Massie.
StaplesStan05 Dec 19171/4YesA letter to his mother re his being KIA.
SutherlandDonald09 Jan 19171/5YesLife in the trenches in France & a witnessed aerial combat.
TarringtonJames03 May 19181/3YesA lengthy letter of family desperation.
TaylorArthur22 Dec 19171/3YesA letter about his Military Medal award.
TrenouthJohn10 Apr 19184/2YesLengthy description of trip overseas.
TrumperWilliam E.16 May 19161/5YesTo his mother, from France, describing wounds.
UglowWalter Denzil19 May 19171/5YesTo his mother re injuries sustained.
WadeMatthew 23 Jan 1915
25 Jan 1915
1/6
1/3
Yes Detailed Christmas doings at Salisbury Plains.
To Miss Violet Carr re his recent illness.
WaiteCharles Bertam05 Apr 19171/5YesLetter of appreciation from Alfred W. Gunton.
WalshThomas Morrow13 Nov 19161/5YesLetter to father, Alexander, from Claude H. Hill, re Missing in action.
WattElmo Wesley15 Jun 19171/3YesAt his aunt, Gertie Philp, re POW camp life.
WattsAlfred 06 Nov 1914
08 Jul 1915
23 Jul 1915
23 Aug 1915
1/3
1/3
2/2
1/4
Yes From Bustard Camp, England to A.E. Pipher, Standard Ideal Co. Ltd., Port Hope. "All are having a good time!"
To AE Pipher re trench warfare.
From the trenches to his wife, Ada.
From the trenches to his friend, John Hyne, dated 01 Aug, France, chatting about local boys.
WhiteBenjamin13 Nov 19181/4YesLetter to mother in Hope Township from Nursing Sister in France describing his injuries.
WhiteCharles H.23 Nov 19161/3YesLetter to parents, Mr. & Mrs. Henry White, King Street.
WhiteMark E.16 Mar 19171/3YesTo his wife, describing his 3-day battlefield "burial".
WickettRoy20 Oct 19151/4YesLetter to Norman Jennings from Shorncliffe Camp.
WilsonLionel Benjamin25 Nov 19181/4YesTelegram to father, Leo, informing him of his death at sea.
YatesWillliam Lawrence28 Nov 19171/5YesLetter to father re son's death, with photo.
YoudenThomas William08 Aug 19171/4Yes KIA letter to his brother.

Peter and Barbara Bolton - Port Hope, Ontario
www.alivingpast.ca