BX June 4, 1917
125th Formed A Guard of Honor For Alexandra – Pte. E. Reeve Tells Interestingly of Ceremony in Opening of New Revue – Enjoyed the Show
Mr. and Mrs. D. Reeve, Emilie Street, have received the following newsy letter telling of the many interesting events, in which the 125th Battalion participated, last week, from their son, Pte. Edward Reeve:
I am now in one of the most notable events in history in being on a guard of honor representing the whole grand Dominion on the occasion of Queen Alexandra opening up a great musical success called “Hello Canada.” A hundred of us were selected from the Fifth Division, which comprises battalions from coast to coast of that great land of ours across the seas. We are now at the King George and Queen Mary Maple Leaf Club, and in a few minutes ‘fall in’ will sound and we will march to Her Majesty’s Theatre, where we are to be reviewed by royalty and I suppose thousands. You may be sure that we feel greatly honored in being able to take part in such a notable event. It will be a strenuous afternoon for us, but we feel fully fit for it. We see quite a difference when passing through the streets today, as not so many soldiers are about, but then there is a good difference on weekends. The food problem is quite acute here, but all restrictions are for the best. No one can deny that it means helping in winning this Great War.
Our brass band, which has delighted the citizens of the old town so much, is with us and I just wish you could see the whole works with snappy step and stride going through the streets of London today. I think you may see it in the near future in motion pictures.
The forgoing was written on Friday and then on Sunday he continued:
I had just got through writing the forgoing when I had to close, and this is the first time I have had since. Well, we had a great day in old London, and it was full of excitement for us all. We lined up outside of the Maple Leaf Club and marched through the main thoroughfares to Canadian headquarters, where we had deposited our Enfield rifles. After an inspection here by General Goodison and Major Law we were marched to Her Majesty’s Theatre, where outside we ‘presented arms’ to Her Majesty Queen Alexandra, both on her entrance and again as she left. I happened to be in the front rank and I had a good view of Her Majesty besides those of her relatives who were there. After ‘presenting’ arms as she entered we filled in to good seats in the magnificent theatre, and we did enjoy the show. I would like to explain more in detail about it, but will leave that to the time when I see you, which I trust will not be long. We were given great praise for our work by the Queen, through Major Law (he belongs to Halifax) and after depositing our arms and the instruments of the brass band we were dismissed for a couple of hours, which was spent in sightseeing and getting something to eat. Prices were high to what they used to be. We had only a sandwich for lunch at 11 a.m., so I considered I was not doing wrong in making up for the lunch by partaking of a good dinner which cost me three shillings four pence (78¢). You should have seen McCutcheon, Todd and company. The boys all did fine. The applause that greets us on every hand is enough to cause any right thinking person to do all that is in their power to win the war. This war has wrought many changes, brought east to west and north to south. It is all wonderful.
Yesterday our battalion had a great day when we deposited our colors in a quaint old English church, in a village about seven miles from camp called Churt. The Bishop of Winchester conducted the service and spoke in glowing terms of the work that has been done by the Canadians. The service took place on a lovely green beside the church and afterwards the colonel dismissed the boys for half an hour and they had a great time with the village folks. All together we have had a busy week, but I glory in the work. We are in the very best of health and get along fine. Gus Hogan gave us a visit and he looks fine. I was looking for Foster to be with me today. I suppose Cliff Todd will be on the job with a big newsy letter from this week’s events. A great lad is Cliff. The boys all enjoy reading his letters that he sends to The Brantford Expositor. They also enjoy the letter ‘A Brant County’s father’s letter to his soldier son.’ It is always a case of pass them around. When we leave for France we do not know but when needed we will go.
BX March 4, 1919
A Visit to Liege – Pte. Edward Reeve Writes Interestingly of His Trip
Mr. and Mrs. D. Reeve, 75 Emilie Street, have received and interesting letter from their son, Pte. Edward Reeve, who made a recent visit to Liege. The letter reads:
I thought I would write you a line to let you know about my trip to Liege, this week, and also let you know how all was going on here Monday morning we were taken by motor buses to Huy, and there entrained for Liege. I’ve mentioned Huy to you before. It is in the valley of the Meuse, and there is the most beautiful scenery in that part of the country.
Well, we piled into box cars, 30 men in each and at night-fall arrived in the famous and historicity of Liege, which is also in the valley of the Meuse. We fell in again and marched a couple of miles through the city to our billets, which were in a school, and we had the whole building to ourselves. We had a look around the streets and viewed the store windows and shops and the displays were most beautiful. Tuesday morning we paraded at 9 o’clock, and joined the division in the big procession. Here was the line of march when the whole division started. Place de St. Lambert, Rue de Maghin, Place de St. Marguerite, Place de Delcourt and Place des Wallons. All are French names and I expect to make you laugh with my line of French.
It was laughable to hear the boys talk when among a crowd of Belgians, they would say anything which came into their heads, and of course the people could not understand a word. General Jacques represented the King and Queen of Belgium, who were to have been on hand. Jacques had some great bouquets to hand out to the Canadians. By the way, it was our old 125th Battalion band that led the entire procession, Jack McHutchion, Cliff Todd, and the gang were the first to pass the saluting base. Of course, when one is in the line-up oneself, one can see only 100 yards ahead, so I did not see the old band. At noon we were through and after dinner Aleck Cromar and I got out and visited the famous forts outside of Liege, where history was made in the early part of the war. Of all the sights I have seen since I left home, this was one of the greatest. General Leman, with 700 brave Belgians, held the Germans back at this place until a mysterious explosion of a monstrous magazine, which was deep in the fort. It broke and tore up every gun position. Of the 700, there were 415 killed, the rest all except 25, being wounded, and of course these had to surrender. I stood right on the same spot where a Hun officer was killed by a Belgian officer. The hole that was made in the fort by the explosion was big enough to put two Brantford post office buildings in. We go back to the battalion at 5 o’clock and went to a Belgian picture show, which we could just follow. The next morning we started back for camp by train and motor bus. Then this morning we were reviewed by General Griesbach, and he told us he was leaving for dear old Canada, and he also told us that we were to go to England on the 17th, and in two weeks sail for Canada. This is the latest information hot off the wire.
Private Reeve closed his letter with the hope that the old 125th band would be kept together, and that a real veterans’ band would be heard playing in Brantford in the near future.
