Fri 29 Jan 1915, Tillsonburg, Ontario

An envelope containing a typewritten manuscript of a poem as well as 5 newspaper cuttings taken from a newspaper probably local to Tillsonburg, Ontario. Of couple items of particular interest. Firstly, it contains a church notice detailing Car's farewell from St John's Church's Anglican Young Person's Association (AYPA) to the army and, secondly, a cutting of a shortened, published version of Car's Poem 'Our Mother'. There are cuttings of 3 other poems.

OUR MOTHER

Mothers of sons whose life must be,

Dear Britain, a shield ‘twixt fire and thee;

God grant you peace this hour of need.

His will this armed strife decreed.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

In Israel’s days His word direct,

Man’s troops did guide. So we expect,

Our cause being just, His guidance now.

Victory’s to us. But where, and how?

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Only by faith in God’s right hand,

At knee taught, shall we withstand

Him, whose defiance of Christ and right,

Hath himself condemned. So we must fight.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Over beyond our ken, defiled,

Lies an innocent country, once a child

Of powers. And like a child, asleep.

It lay in its innocence, slumbering deep.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

O God, have pity on those whose hand

Hath despoiled forever this blameless land.

‘Tis for us swift vengeance to enact,

But thou, forgive this dastard act.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Dear mothers, whose sons are given free,

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To go as bidden, We pray for thee.

Thy part, to wait, is worse than ours.

God bless thee, in thy vigil hours.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

There’s a race of men whose faces show

No whit of their anguish. Tears may flow,

Yet thay may but comfort and bestow

A helpmate in this stress and woe.

Whose head held high. With pride aglow,

To give their sons to strike a blow

For England. All the world may know

These heroes are, who may not go, - -

----Our fathers----

- - -

ANGLICAN CHURCH

            The A.Y.P.A. of St. John’s Church on Monday evening listened to a most interesting address by Dr. R. E. Weston on the subject of “First Aid”. The address dealt with broken bones, poisons, resuscitation of the drowning and many diseases and the methods of treatment. The evening was turned into a farewell to Mr. C. E. Young, who has been most active in the Church. He was secretary-treasurer of the Sunday School and Church Warden, and has given freely of his services to the Church in every good work. The Rector expressed the feelings of the members at the loss of Mr. Young, and Mr. Young replied and told of his regret at leaving and his pleasure at having been associated in the work of the Church with the members of the A.Y.P.A. Mr. Max Luke was elected secretary of the school in place of Mr. Young.

Sun 28 Feb 1915, Guelph, Ontario

Guelph. 28/2/15

C.Co. 34th Bat

Dear P.

This is the first chance I have had to write anything in detail.

I am in C Company and as yet without my uniform. They will probably come along this week. The first day I had very little to do. But in the afternoon I went out with the parade.

We arise at 6.30 and all go down to the wash rooms. These are fine. There are shower baths and hot and cold water. [next page] I expect many of the fellows here have not been accustomed to as good times as we get here. Our cots are arranged in long rowns by companies. They have strips of loose metal across them. Then we have straw ticks, and pillows with three big grey blankets.

At seven we all go for a parade for a couple of miles and breakfast at seven. This consists of porridge which is very stiff, but good, bacon, bread and butter, and coffee. All the meals are good, clean, and no [next page] scraps. At nine o’clock we have parade out to the O.A.C. [Ontario Agriculture College] grounds in a big open field of about forty acres. It is cold but fine. The field is about two miles out and the winter fair buildings are in the centre of town just next the station.

We come back about twelve and have dinner at 12.30. This consists of a plate piled well with meat, potatoes, and two or three kinds of vegetables, bread and butter and tea. [next page] We can get all we want of anything.

At two o’clock we parade again to O.A.C. till about four. At four thirty we are free for the rest of the day. Tea at 5.30 of Bread + butter cheese and jam, and tea. All these are varied a little each day. Friday night there was a big boxing match in the arena and last night there was a big concert in the Y.M.C.A. canteen. Saturday afternoon we have off. Bluethner and Sergeant Fuller [Note 1] [next page] and I went out to the Y.M.C.A. for a swim and a shower bath. My cold has almost disappeared and though I caught a small new one, it is about gone too.

The fellows are all a very decent bunch, and very easy to get on with. I think most of them are Old Countrymen but there are a great many Canadians. There are a thousand men here and we are nearly complete in complement. We are divided into platoons. [next page] Formerly there were eight sections in a company of two half companies, but now there are four sections to a platoon and four platoons to a company. Four companies in the battalion.

I was not out to Church Parade this a.m. owing to lack of uniform but I shall go this evening. In fact all goes well and I feel O.K.



            Your loving son

                        Car

            Love to all

Note 1: This is Quartermaster Sergeant Ernest Denny Fuller, Regimental number 602171. He was born in England on 8 Jan 1878, gave his occupation on his attestation paper as a clerk and had previously served  with the Norfolk Regiment (Territorial Army reserve). His next of kin was listed as his mother, Mrs Anna Maria Fuller, of Lyndhurst, North Walsham, Norfolk, England. Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 3331 - 46.

Fri 15 Jan 1915, Tillsonburg, Ontario

The Canadian Bank of Commerce

Tillsonburg, Ont. 15th January, 1915

Dear Pater;

There is really nothing in the way of news but thing are going on in the usual manner.

Of course the snow is very scarce so we cannot get any snowshoing just now, though we had a little for a while. But several times now we have been out on the hills, bobbing. The place here is cut up from end to end with hills and gullies and this naturally makes excellent sleighing. We don’t have quite the same bunch as we had last year but the present one seems better. Younger anyway. As this is Friday, and our half holiday, we are going out again.

Monday night we had our evening at the A.Y.P.A. where we resurrected the musty old saints. However it was very interesting. Tuesday I retired at about 8 p.m. and got a good night’s rest. Wednesday I was at a hockey match between Tillsonburg and Ingersoll. We never have had a very brilliant team here for some reason or other, but now they seem to be showing up a bit better. We were beaten 8-2, but the score was no indication of the game. The boys played well, and only for some flukes would have held them down even. Last night, or rather yesterday afternoon, I went out into one of the gullies with Mr. Harrison. We took my rifle along and had some target practice. Then I stayed to tea with them, and spent the evening.

            I have not much further in the way of news. It may be another ten days before [next page] I get away. We are now waiting for Col. Bick to get his orders to take over the command of the regiment. Kift is getting the job of Paymaster’s clerk, and I gave offered that of the Col.’s orderly, at which chance I jumped. So that is just how we stand.

            I am feeling fine and all seems to be going along all right.

                        Love to all

                                    Your loving son,

                                                C E Young