Alma Russell Letters
Letters of British Columbia men on active service with Canadian and British Expeditionary Forces, 1914-1918. Learn more.
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X X X X X X X X X X X X X (for David - - if he's too old, for the little girl ! ! )
No. 13 Platoon "D" Company 8th. A & S.H. Bedford
April 16/1915
COPY
My dear old pal,
Was very pleased to get your welcome and interesting letter and to hear news of you all, yourself, Jess & David the wee sma' laddie. Since I got your letter, I have had 7 days leave, returning here last night. It made a nice break, as I hadn't even 12 hours leave since I joined at Christmas; and we have undergone a very severe course of training. I have fired my recruits' course and completed Trained Soldiers' Course. Also been inoculated for typhus twice. Until you have undergone there foregoing trials and tests you are not eligible for foreign service.
I must congratulate you on being a happy father of a daughter, and delighted at being an uncle of such (pretty miserable sort of uncle all the same!). I shall be pleased to hear details whether she resembles David and whether dark or fair. So please advise.
As I said before, I returned last night from a week's leave. I had the pleasure of seeing your Father and Mother, both of whom were in excellent health and spirits. Your Father has the same youthful air as always and looks more like the father of David than the Grandfather. We played billiards. I wouldn't help thinking that it might not be many years before we might see the three generations of Pites around the same billiard table, and see N.F. hopelessly beaten by his old man and his young Canuck son. I miss David very much. I used to like to show him the "Pigchure" book and the good crabs and the bad crabs, the owl and Bubbane's Pups. He was the first youngster I've ever seen much of and it naturally causes an aching void when you look back and think of him.
Upon my arrival here last night, I found everybody and everything in bustle and confusion. There was news too. The Battalion (8th. Argyles) has received orders to proceed to join the Expeditionary Force in France on Sat. 24th. April - - that is in about a week's time. Our kit and equipment is being inspected now almost hourly. We can now get anything we ask for, from a jack-knife to a bayonet, such magic has the word "active service". This afternoon I passed my medical examination, and having been inoculated and passed my musketry courses, I am a Trained man and will proceed with the Battalion.
The Brigadeer inspected us yesterday and in a speech exhorted us to uphold the great traditions of the Argyleshire Highlanders. He announced that next Sunday will be our last church parade in England. Well, 'steady the buffs,' we should worry. So far as myself is concerned, it is only another stage of a somewhat chequered career. I have talked with several wounded soldiers home from the front, and they all tell the same tale. It is Hell on Earth out there, there is complete unanimity on that point; and you only want to see the number of terrible wrecks
BC Archives, MS-1901 Box 1 File 5 RUSSELL, Alma M., 1873 - 1964. Victoria; librarian. Selected letters and associated items from Private Jack A. Gunn, 1915-1916.