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Sunday, January 10, 2016

Been a while ... Letter #34 Early January 1916

Early January 1916
Medical Depot
Sandgate, Kent, England

Dear Mother
          You must forgive me for not writing previously for I have been so terribly busy we got here all okay and have returned to duty.  The trip was fine the only thing that was wrong was the last couple of days we were not allowed to take off our clothes as there were submarines around and when the alarm came half the fellows near went mad, but I took my time and came out alright - some got their legs crushed in the rush.
          Well Mother how are the horses now and did you have that dance you were talking about having .  I am all choked up with the grippe just now.  But I guess I will be alright in a day or so.  I met a bunch of the old boys from France and we were sure glad to see each other.  I wrote to Major Staples in Winnipeg and I might get off all right when he comes over here.
          I guess I could get a commission under him but it is in the Infantry and you know how much I like the Infantry.  However time will tell.  
Is V-V still going to the school in Holland.
I met Ruby and Ernie in Montreal and when I left them at the depot poor Ruby nearly cried, well Mother do you ever hear from the new Mrs Ireland and how they are getting on.
Well Mother I am going to lunch now.  So remembrance to V-V and Dad and write soon
Lovingly
Chas




An update January 1916

Charley volunteered in August 1914 as a Private with the Canadian Expeditionary Forces.

He arrived in France in November of 1914 and was among the first of the Canadians to land in France.  Upon arrival he commenced his work as Medical Dispenser at the #2 Stationary Hospital at Le Touquet.

As of January 1916, Charley has served for 17 months.  He has just turned 23.
I know I do not have every letter he wrote home (he mentions writing at least twice a week).

I have a total of 88 letters spanning the years 1914 to 1919. These were lovingly saved by his sister (and my grandma) Vida Valerie. 
When Charley wrote to his mother, she would then forward the letters on to VV at college. 
It's a wonder that any still exist. 
The 1916 calendar below tells us what day it was 100 years ago, and on what days Charley wrote these letters home. I've marked them on the calendar.

And so the story goes ...
I'm guessing on the date of this first January letter as there's no envelope attached and no date stamp. And so, I'll split the difference and post it this afternoon.


Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Happy One Hundred and Twenty-third Birthday Charley

I have no letters preserved in the Charley Bailey collection from the 21st of November 1915 to early January 1916.  I wonder how he fared over Christmas this year?  
Christmas mail is delivered to the front.Archive photo, Library and Archives Canada
And Wouldn't Charley be Amazed to know that Facebook has reminded all his followers that today is his birthday!!  Born to Jennie and Charley Bailey 123 years ago in Brandon Manitoba, Canada on January 29th, 1892

Charley's mother, Jennie Howie was born on March 8, 1872, also in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. Her father, James, was 34 and her mother, Jane, was 36.  Her mother died four months after Jennie was born.  Coincidentally, Charley's dad died just two months after Charley was born.
My father; Jennie's grandson, remembered her recollecting seeing and hearing the Red River Carts going through town.
Photos taken in Portage la Prairie in the 1880's
Settlers loaded all of their worldly possessions onto ox carts for the long, slow treck to their homesteads.

http://www.gov.mb.ca/rearview/averill/journal/rr-oxcart_photo.html  

This excerpt is from a fascinating history written in 1970 called  
A HISTORY OF PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE AND SURROUNDING DISTRICT By Anne M. Collier

Reading it gave me a real taste of what life would have been like for Charley and his mom in those early years and I am always drop jawed when I read Canadian history; how recent this all was and how far we've come ~ and how fast.  

From Anne Collier's book: On Portage la Prairie

1892 (the year Charley was born) was a time when great wheat fields, separated by threadlike wire fences, were chequered with rows of stooks, where the grain stood ready to be stacked when dried. Noisy binders moved around diminishing squares of standing grain. Men in the fields stooked as the sheaves fell from each binder. That was the year that there were two million bushels of grain grown on the Plains and marketed in Portage la Prairie. Of this, the bulk was wheat, with oats and barley coming second and third respectively. Forty and fifty bushels to the acre for a whole farm was not uncommon. 

South of the town could be seen a line of trees - oak, ash, elm, maple, cottonwood and poplar, outlining the course of the Assiniboine River. Vast quantities of wood from these trees provided excellent cord wood for home consumption, and for export to Winnipeg and Brandon. The outline of a prosperous town rose between the tracks and a bayou of the Assiniboine River. The Lake of the Woods Milling Co. in Portage was rated the largest and best equipped mill west of Toronto. This firm shipped flour by the carload lots to all points west as far as the Pacific Coast. The oatmeal mill, the pioneer of its kind in Manitoba, ran day and night in an attempt to supply the demand for that product. Down by the Assiniboine River was the large Portage Paper Mill, which manufactured all brands of heavy wrapping and building paper. The plant of machinery originally cost $30,000. The capacity of the mill was over five tons per day. Much building was being done and planing mills were kept constantly busy. 

A couple of machine shops were doing a rushing business attending to the repairs of about 75 steam threshing outfits, worth $150,000 which were operating on the Portage Plains. Thirty tractors and portable steam engines were counted around the Watson Bros. Machine Shop one day! Implement dealers could scarcely keep up with the demand for plows, patent stackers, seed drills, mowers and selfbinders. All lines of business were well represented. Four banks did the business of the town and of the farming community. Two large breweries supplied the demands in that line of business, covering a large territory. A brickyard was operating east of the town. 

The semi-weekly Liberal, The Review and The Saturday Night were the eyes of Portage. The registry system had divided Manitoba into four large districts, and with the introduction of the Torrens system a staff of from ten to fifteen registrars and clerks were employed in the Land Titles Office. 

The big brick central school, which cost $35,000 furnished, was found to be inadequate to accommodate over 700 school children and ward schools had to be opened. Six religious denominations had churches. The Roman Catholics were just completing a large new one, and the Methodists had erected a big brick edifice in 1891 at a cost of $13,000. Town streets were lighted by arc lights, and over 1300 incandescent lamps were in use in public and private homes. The telephone boasted an exchange list of 100 subscribers. Smith Curtis and George H. Webster, C. E., prepared plans for the damming of the Assiniboine River, for the purpose of providing water-power for electric and manufacturing purposes. The scheme involved the flooding of what was known at that time as "The Slough," to convert it into a beautiful lake. Across the river, a valuable section of country was opened up by the N.P. & M.R., and settlers were flocking into it. It was adapted to mixed farming especially, and possessed great stores of valuable wood and shelter groves, along with rich native grasses, easily cut and cured into the best of hay. It wasn't only these things that attracted people to the Portage Plains. The whole plain was under laid at a depth of from 8 to 20 ft. with a water-bearing strata of sand that was easily tapped, thus securing a plentiful supply of pure water. In dry seasons the sand strata supplied moisture to the black loam, and in wet seasons it gave under drainage. We will end the 1892 narrative with a touch of humor. A paper of that year contained an advertisement which said, "WANTED - a smart boy to be half outside and half behind the counter." 

HIGH BLUFF  was known as the "Nairn District" in the very early days. (This is where Jennie and Charley Bailey Sr. lived when Charley Bailey was born. It's about 8 miles NE of Portage la Prairie) Because of a high bluff or grove of trees, which rose conspicuously out of the surrounding woods the area was given the name 'High Bluff.' Archdeacon Cochrane can be credited, not only for starting the first white settlement at Portage la Prairie, but also for the confidence he inspired in pioneers to cast their lot in the area which circled his settlement. High Bluff came within this circle.  High Bluff Village was a pretty important little place in those days. The first steam-powered elevator was built by Mr. John Dilworth in the early 1880's (two horse-powered ones having been built and used previously). It was rebuilt after being consumed by fire in 1897 and Andrew Forsythe, who founded the Forsythe Grain Co., built a grain dryer to be used in conjunction with the new one. The head office for the Company at the time was High Bluff. Before the railway went through mail was picked up by a carrier who met the stage coaches conveying it to Old High Bluff. Later, a room in Mr. Coxsmith's home became a post office. Another room in his home became the first telephone office. At that time there was a bank (the Bank of Nova Scotia), three stores, three blacksmith shops, a livery stable, two implement shops, a boarding house, a billiard hall and barber shop, a grist mill, and the services of a doctor. Sports and entertainment added zest to the life of the community. Skating, curling, lacrosse and baseball were the main sports, and concerts, house parties and garden parties the main entertainments. 

Two professional ball players who got their basic practice in High Bluff were Melville Jackson and Clarke Metcalf. The High Bluff baseball team won the provincial title in 1924. High Bluff played an important part in patriotic efforts in both of the World Wars. The many men and boys who made the Supreme Sacrifice is the greatest proof of this. High Bluff gained in stature because of them, but was made poorer by their absence. Due to progress in modes of transportation, speedy communication and advanced education, another little village is living in its glorious memories of the past. The history of any village contains an element of nostalgia.  
The lengthy excerpt above is from:  
A HISTORY OF PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE AND SURROUNDING DISTRICT By Anne M. Collier


Happy 123rd Birthday Charley Bailey
Lots of folks thinking of you today!

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Charley's in Canada!! November 21, 1915

November 21st 1915
Montreal Canada

Dear Mother
          Hello to everybody.  Just in Canada long enough to write and say that I got in on the 16th and am leaving Quebec on the 21.  Isn’t that fierce.  I just got out of the hospital in England when they wanted a dispenser for a ship load of wounded that were going to Canada.  So at half past eight in the morning I was told to report to Headquarters Shorncliffe at nine and at half past nine I was on my way to Liverpool to Sail for Canada.
          
On arriving here they wanted me to go straight into a Hospital and work till the boat went back.  I went to the Officer commanding in Quebec and said it was a funny thing if I couldn’t get a pass home for a few days.  Well you should have heard him rave, well I say “if you won’t give me leave to home will you give me permission to go back to Montreal for a day or so?” then the trouble started.  He told me that some of us fellows should be put in the coop for a few days and we would learn that we were soldiers now, I spoke right up to him and said “yes, and if some you fellows were in France as long as I was you would know what a soldier was” well then he questioned me as to what I belonged to and where I was in France etc. and ended up by giving me three days in Montreal and no money. 
Mother this is the first letter I have ever written since I joined that has not been read by others before getting to any of you and I could tell you things about this infernal outfit that would make you wonder.  However I am in it and have to do as I’m told so that ends it.  I have to go back at it again without seeing any of you so I might just as well cheer up and take it as it comes.
          Ruby has a very nice little suite here and her and Ernie are a happy as little pigs in dirt. And I don’t think married life has disagreed with either of them.  Ruby was telling me that V-V was going to Portage to go to school for the winter.  I hope she will like Portage, as I think the teachers there would be a little bit better versed than those of Holland.
          Well Mother how is Dad.  Do you know I have not heard from any of you since Sept. My mail has been sent all over the country to locate me but as yet I have never received any of it.  I hope this winter will not be to hard in Manitoba.  I have been talking to some of the people of Montreal and they say that times here are terrible.  Well believe me Mother, I have had some pretty tough times myself and have lived in conditions where two years ago I would of laughed at.  But it’s a poor man who can’t take his medicine and by gosh I’m getting mine and no prospects of bettering them.  Well Mother I hope this finds V-V, yourself and Dad in the best of health as it leaves me not bad.  So remembrance to Dad and the kid.
Love Chas.





Aunt Rachie, Ina, Ruby, Annie and Harry Richmond come up frequently in Charley's letters. Ruby is Charley's cousin, 2 years younger. They grew up together.  Ruby was the 3rd of 4 children born to Jennie's older sister; Rachel.  Rachel married James Richmond in 1888.   Ruby (Charley's cousin) married (Ernie) Ernest Pearen in 1915.  

PHOTO OF 1915 Montreal : Wm. Notman & Son, Corner St. Catherine and Stanley Streets (detail), looking east, Montreal, Qc, 1915, VIEW-15468 © McCord Museum

Saturday, November 14, 2015

1915, November 14th. WW 1. Charley's 32nd letter home from the Front.

November 14th 1915
CMAC Depot
St Martins Plain
Shorncliff England


Dear Mother
            Here is another.  As for any news of any of you in Canada I know absolutely nothing as I have had no letters since I left France.  My mail has been chasing me all over England from one Hospital to the other.
           Well Mother I am able to get around alright but don’t feel just quite right yet, however I guess I will be okay before long.
At Christmas time Hess sent me a ring with my initials on it and the other day I took it off to wash and lost it.  I still have the little watch you gave me and it is about the only thing that I have that I brought from Canada left. 
How is V.V. getting along as school it must be an awful change for her after going to Brandon. However I hope this will be her last year at a Country School.  Well Mother I will write you in a day or so again and tell Dad to drop me a line or two.
The weather here is very damp and is somewhat like that of France in the winter but I like it here much better as the people can at least talk you own language.
Well Mother how do you and Dad like farming it must be very lonesome after all the people that used to be around when you were in the Hotel.  I met Jim Rutledge here and several of the Dauphin fellows, they were anxious for me to go over to see them but somehow I don’t care for them.  They seem to be such villagers.
So Mother I will come to a close. Remember me to Dad and V-V with love
Chas








Thursday, October 22, 2015

1915, October 22nd. WW1. Charley's 31st letter home from the Front.

October 22nd, 1915
Letterhead from “The Salvation Army Soldiers’ Rest”
Shorncliffe 
Envelope: Disabled Service War Seal 1914-15

Dear Mother
            Have not written you during the time I have been in Hospital because I thought you would think me more serious than I really was.  I was invalided to England about the first of the month suffering from gastritis and have been in a Hospital at Canterbury till yesterday but am now at the Canadian Base in Shorncliffe.  I am able to get around allright but not just quite fit.
          As yet I don’t know what they are going to do with me but I think I will be sent on another draft somewhere.  As yet I can’t say where.
          It is quite a treat to be among English speaking people again after so long among those French.  It really seems too good to last.  Do you like farming as well now or not.  The winter months will be the worst when there is nothing to do in the evenings. 
          I suppose V.V. is still going to school you see I have had no mail from Canada for over a month so you can see I am entirely at a loss for any news of any kind.  Well mother this finishes the paper so will write again this week.  Remembrance to Dad and VV and say I am allright. My address will be as below.
Love
Chas
CMAC Depot
St Martins Plain
Shorncliffe, England




Shorncliffe Military Hospital was where many wounded Canadian soldiers returned from battle to be patched up and convalesce. The hospital was located just outside Folkestone in Kent, in close proximity to both Dover and Folkestone ports, making it ideal to transport wounded troops from ships.  The photograph is postcard being sold on ebay titled "Royal Military Hospital, Shorncliffe Camp"


Wednesday, September 30, 2015

1915, Sept 30th, Charley's 30th letter home from France. WW1

Called the 'Big Push', the Battle of Loos was the largest British battle of 1915 on the Western Front. It was the first time the British used poison gas and the first mass engagement of New Army units who were not well enough trained. On September 24th the reserve divisions were warned to carry extra rations as it may be some time before their cookers caught up with them. By September 28th the British had lost over 20,000 men, including three major-generals.


from www.illustratedfirstworldwar.com
Wearing their anti-gas masks and looking like hooded familiars of the inquisition, British troops attacking Germans with bomb and bayonet.  From illustratedfirstworldwar.com

September 30th, 1915
France  

Dear Mother
            The last few days we have been very busy as I suppose you have seen by the papers of the big advance the allies have made, and as a result the Hospitals are kept going day and night, wounded coming in very nearly every day and night.  If the Allies continue we all may be home for Xmas yet.
          Say I nearly fell over dead when you told me about Harry Richmond going to the Peace River Country, but as for Mable I think I told you one time that either that or something more serious would happen.  Of course don’t mention anything I say to Aunt Rachie or she would have a fit. 
          I have been on night duty and believe me I sure will be glad when I am back on days again. You are not allowed to sleep during the night and it is mighty hard to get much during the day when most of the fellows are around.
          There are another bunch leaving here for the front, to start a dressing station in a day or so. I sincerely hope they have no accidents but one never can tell what’s going to happen especially under these conditions. 
          Well how is the kid getting along at school it wont be so pleasant during the winter but tell her that she won't have to put up with it only this term as next fall I will be in a condition to help her at Brandon. 
          I guess Dad can grow potatoes alright but it must be awfully funny to see him doing any kind of farm work but he know as much about it as any of them.
          It has started in the rainy season here and believe me I feel this damp air.  Well  Mother you know how scarce news is around here.
          Remember me to VV, Pa, Albert and Lavinia and best of health to you all as I am the very best.

Chas









_________________________
Sources: http://www.1914-1918.net/bat13.htm and www.illustratedfirstworldwar.com