A collection of letters from Pte Dick Armer to his wife Mabel who he frequently referred to as "Dear old girl". His three children were Billie, Marjorie and Dorothy who was born while he was away. Dick had promised to "write every day" and, with few exceptions, kept his promise. The letters were written during WW1 from Camp Borden in Canada, on the train to Halifax, on board ship to England, from Witley Camp and France. Scroll to the bottom of the entry and click on comments to leave a message
1 May 1917 There is no place like home
30 April 1917 aeroplane dropped bombs and woke us up
28 April 1917 - We had a good game at football
27 April 1917 - The guns booming all night
26 April 1917 Cheese, Jam, White Bread and Butter
25 April 1917 I can't tell you where we are
For more information on the 1st Canadian Battalion The Royal Canadian Regiment that perpetuates the 1st Btn CEF
22 April 1917 Dick arrives in France
20 April 1917 This draft will clean out most of the 142nd
19 April 1917 We got our identification discs this morning.
18 Apr 1917 It's a long lane that (h)as no turning
16 Apr 1917 by next week I shall be in the thick of the fray
15 April 1917 We have been on parade all morning with full kit
68 High Street, London Ontario
No letter for the 13th of March 1917, so a little background information.
Above is a photo of 68 High Street London Ontario, where Mabel lived for some time while Dick was overseas. The house still exists today and is occupied by Gibson Surveyors. In chatting with them, I learned that the house was originally a boarding house. The upstairs bedroom doors still each contain a lock cylinder which would allow the occupant to secure his door. The current occupant says he believes the house is 125 to 150 years old and was originally built by the owners of a large appliance manufacturer in London for family along with a house at the top of the hill on High Street.
11 & 12 April 1917 The old town looked the same
9 April 1917 - The 149th and 186th have just arrived
8 April 1917 Easter Sunday is here and it is a lovely day.
7 Apr 1917 I was picked in the first 10.
5 April 1917 Ted got 2 Free Press newspapers the other day
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