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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Copy of letter from Colonel Walter Kingsmill, Officer Commanding 123rd Canadian Pioneer Battalion, France.
To His Worship the Mayor, City of Victoria, B.C
In-The-Field, 22nd May, 1917
My dear Sir:-
I am writing this letter to you as Mayor of the City of Victoria, the home of the old 48th Regiment, later the 3rd Canadian Pioneers, who I have seen a good deal of since coming to France.
The fates ordained that this old regiment, through no fault of their own, should be disbanded, and further that my regiment should take over the work that they had been doing.
The breaking up of this regiment was naturally a very keen disappointment, not only to Lieut-Colonel Holmes his officers and men, but apparently to all those who had associations with them, as they had attained a splendid reputation over here; in fact it will be no easy task to live up to the high standards they have set.
Under these circumstances you will appreciate that they might have been excused had they exhibited resentfulness, and my task in taking over might have been an unpleasant one, but not so with the 3rd Canadian Pioneers.
Like the good sportsmen that they are they have overwhelmed me with their kindness in every way possible did all they could to make my task easy, and to give me the benefit of their long experience in the field.
I am very glad to say that some of their Officers and Men have come over to me now that their regiment has been disbanded.
The people of Victoria are no doubt very proud of this old regiment, and I can only say that they have every reason to be.
Yours faithfully, (Signed) Walter Kingsmill, O.C., 123rd Canadian Pioneer Battalion, France.
BC Archives, MS-1901 Box 1 File 7 / RUSSELL, Alma M., 1873 - 1964. Victoria; librarian. / Selected letters to and from Lieutenant-Colonel William Josiah Hartley Holmes, 1917.