BX August 28, 1914

Robert Henry McCartney Tells of Camp

A letter has been received in this city, dated August 23 from Robert Henry McCartney, one of the Brantford volunteers.  Among other things he reports the safe arrival of the troops at Valcartier and tells of the trip to camp.  A part of the letter follows:

The valley of the St. Lawrence is very picturesque.  We are encamped in a large valley surrounded by high hills on almost every side. Our road leads through a forest of pines, birch and poplar, so we are not likely to run short of fuel. Shower baths and storehouses have been built, while innumerable teams and motor trucks are seen transporting supplies of all descriptions. There are 14 men to a tent so you may imagine what kind of a family party we are.

BX January 14, 1915

Canadians Spent Merry Christmas – Mr. and Mrs. Robert McCartney Received Word From Their Son at Salisbury Plain 

The Canadian soldiers now in training in England had a splendid Christmas dinner.  That is indicated in a letter received by Mr. and Mrs. Robert McCartney of this city from their son Robert, now at Salisbury Plain.  He also states that the men are anxious to get to the front, being tired of Salisbury Plain.   The letter, divested of personal matters follows:

December 26, 1914
Salisbury Plain
 
Dear Mother and Dad,
 
I am on picket duty in the town of Salisbury at the present time - practically the same as military police duty.  We had just finished our Christmas dinner when my chum and I were sent down here on duty.  We had chicken, roast meat, cabbage, oranges, nuts, puddings, cigarettes and a glass of beer each.  This is quite a dinner for camp life, isn't it?  We were also going to have maple sugar, but we left too soon to get that.

Being on picket duty is a fine job, but it only lasts until Tuesday next.  We are here to watch for men overstaying their leave of absence and arrest them.  They are then put in motor trucks and sent back to camp.  There are very few prisoners at present.  Of course we have to preserve the peace also.

Cheer up.  We'll soon be in Berlin now.  Believe me, the sooner we get to France the better we will like it.  Of course, we are not idle here, with drilling every day, but we would rather be taking part in the fight.

Your affectionate son,
 
Bob McCartney
A. Co. 4th Battalion, 1st Brigade,
Canadian Contingent
Salisbury Plain, Eng.

BX February 4, 1915

The Woolwich Arsenal Keeps 30,000 Men Working Steady – Interesting Stories of How Two Brantford Boys at Salisbury Camp Spent Their Leave – Woolwich and London the Centres the Boys Gravitated to – Christmas Dinner in Camp

That there are 30,000 men working in night and day shifts at the Woolwich arsenal, the great manufacturing government depot for the British army and navy, is the information contained in a letter received by Mrs. J. Huggins, 17 Elliott Avenue, from her son, George, with the Duffs at Salisbury camp. He tells an interesting story of how he spent his six days leave in the arsenals and other centres of military activity. Another interesting letter, along similar lines, has been received by Mrs. Robt. McCartney, 18 Mt. Pleasant Street, from her son Bob, a fellow member of Huggins. The letters follow:

January 8, 1915

4th Batt. A. Co.,
Canadian Contingent,
Bustard Camp,
Salisbury Plain

Dear Mother and Dad,

Received your letter and silk handkerchief, which was very nice, especially the Canadian coat of arms. Of course you know all of us Canadian boys are proud of little Canada. They talk of New York and London, but Brantford is good enough for me any day in the year and after we take Berlin, I'm coming back as soon as possible.

Well, I got six days leave of absence and went to London to see all the places of interest we have heard so much about. It is useless to go into detail about the trip, as nearly everyone has heard all about St. Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Tower Bridge, etc. However, I had some time and enjoyed myself immensely. Tom Walton went to London with me and then proceeded to Northampton which I believe is his home town. I then picked up a fellow who belongs to the same company as I and as were both green Canadians we struck up quite a friendship. We stopped at the Union Jack Club three nights and two other nights at a hotel as the club was full up. One thing surprised me – there are very few ice cream parlors over here but I managed to strike one in London and filled up on David Harums and banana splits. I met a Canadian business man here, who comes from New Brunswick and he was kind enough to show me through Fuller’s confectionery factory, when I told him I was interested in the art of candy making. His name was Turner and it was very good of him to take me up to the place but he said that he was patriotic enough to waste a little time on us fellows. The work is very much the same as in Canadian factories except that the machinery is much different from ours and really I don’t believe they make as good a chocolate centre as we do.

Well as soon as I came back, or to be precise, I had just finished my Christmas dinner when they sent me down to Salisbury town 12 miles from camp (I know it is 12 miles because I walked it once) on picket (or picquet, I don’t know which is right) duty which is practically the same as military police. We were there for a week billeted in private houses, and believe me, the food was O.K. Also we had a real bed to sleep in. Salisbury has Paris beat for girls, exceptionally nice girls too. Rather! By Jove, don’t  you know I was charmed to meet so many little chickens, but we will not say anything about that except that I have half a dozen addresses to write to but you know I'm a very busy man (or boy) and don’t think I will have time.

Well to continue the sad narrative I returned to camp and was again paced off to Rollestone Camp on canteen picket which is guarding a wet and dry canteen. Ye gods and little fishhooks, I never struck such a soft job in my life. The hours on duty were from six to seven in the morning; twelve till one, noon, and five until eight at night. In the meantime we lived in a hut, cooked our own food and slept on the floor which was a luxury when you consider that we had a real roof over our heads. I was cook one day (we all took turns at the job) and believe me I turned out some meals: bacon, toast and tea for breakfast: boiled potatoes, parsnips, roast and fried mutton, to say nothing of some gravy I mixed up with flour. You know the kind that mother makes. Some banquet eh?  Then supper consisted of fried mutton, more toast bread, jam, cheese and cocoa. Of course we don’t get good stuff like that in camp. We have been here since October 22 and have only had two kinds of jam, viz. some kind of dope they call damson and apple; and apple and damson. Don’t think I’m kicking, because I’m just the most cheerful kid that ever shouldered a musket. The job at Roles one lasted a week and then back to camp and brigade drill. It’s very interesting drill even if they do give us some hard work-outs occasionally. Well, good-bye for now.

Your affectionate son,
Bob McCartney

BX March 30, 1915

It All Depends Over Whose Trenches the Shells Burst – “It’s Fun to Watch Them Explode Over German Lines, But Not So Amusing When They Hit Close to Your Own” Writes Pte. Robert Henry McCartney

Canadian shells bursting over the German trenches were quite amusing to the boys from Canada who were in the Allies trenches, but it wasn’t quite so amusing when the German shells started bursting over the Canadians, sprinkling them with dirt. Those are the naive remarks passed by Pte. Bob McCartney, now at the front with the First Contingent, in writing home to his mother, Mrs. Robert McCartney, 18 Mt. Pleasant Street.

Scarcity of writing paper and tobacco are all the complaints made. Food is plentiful, and good, while cigarettes are served out in large quantities. Few of the Fourth Battalion had been wounded or killed at the time the letters were written. The letters follows:

March 3, 1915
Dear Mother,

Received your letter dated Feb 10 alright. I suppose you have already heard all about us being in France. We have been in the trenches once, but everything was very quiet. The snipers were always busy, but they don’t do much damage. We had a fine stretch of trench and were quite comfortable. Food is plentiful, in fact, we are living better now than we did at Salisbury Plain, and we are getting all the cigarettes we want, but I only wish the Canadian people would get wise to themselves and send over some chewing tobacco for us that chew.

No I didn’t get the box of chocolates you spoke of. I guess it was only a rumor. Well, I have to close now. Will write more next time. Love to Dad and yourself.

Your affectionate son,
Bob

A Second Letter

March 11, 1915

Dear Mother,

I received your letter dated Feb 10, 1915, while I was in the trenches. We are now having a few days for resting and cleaning our clothes and equipment. It is very muddy in the trenches and we were a disreputable looking bunch when we came out. The “Germs” snipe continually, but they don’t get many hits.

We all thought it was some joke when our artillery was shelling their trenches, and we could see the earth fly up, but when their shells started bursting just in the rear of our trenches we weren’t quite so amused. However, we had only two men wounded while we were in, which is considered a small casualty list. In fact, our battalion has been very fortunate up to the present.

We do our own cooking in the trenches and have little dug-outs for sleeping in – when we sleep.

Say, this is all the writing paper I have, and if you want me to write letters you better send me some; also some handkerchiefs, as I used my last one for a gufi rag. Well, I’ll have to close now, hoping both you and Dad are well, as this leaves me.

Your affectionate son,
Bob

BX April 8, 1915

Tells of Life in Trenches – Pte. Robert McCartney Writes Interesting Letter to his Parents in West Brantford

Mr. and Mrs. R. McCartney, 18 Mt. Pleasant Street have received another interesting letter from their son, Robert, who is with the first Canadian Contingent, in which he describes life in the trenches.  He says:
 
March 20, 1915
 
Dear Mother and Dad,
 
Received your letter dated February 20.  We had no casualties in our company, but I believe there were one officer and three men wounded in the battalion.  We have been very lucky up to the present time, but no doubt we will have our turn.  Of course it has been very quiet lately.  Nothing but snipers and a few stray shells.  On St. Patrick's Day the German artillery fired over 20 shells at a British bi-plane which was flying over their trenches without hitting it.  Some of our aviators are very bold, flying quite low over the enemy's trenches.

When we are off duty in the trenches we snatch a couple of hours sleep in our dug-outs.  Our dug-out accommodates six men, but only three or four would be sleeping at one time.
This Hotel de Mud, as we christened it was very narrow and about half of me hung outside.  However, we are pretty comfortable, as we get lots of straw from a stack just a short distance back of the trench.

We cook our meals on little fires made in old pails punched full of holes. At night some of us go out scouting for wood and we usually return successful to say the least.
 
In the day time the Germans snipe continually and of course, we snipe back at them.  Sometimes our artillery shells their trenches and earth can be seen flying in all directions.

When we are not in the trenches we live in barns or deserted houses, which is all right if there is plenty of straw about.  We rest and clean up.

In your letter you said something about not writing often enough.  Well sometimes I haven't any paper, and other times I don't feel like writing, but will try to write once a week at least.

Several of us fellows who chew tobacco have had nothing but cut smoking tobacco to chew since we arrived in France, so there is a chance for some of Canada's philanthropists to get busy.

Your affectionate son,

Bob McCartney
 
P.S. - Your letter was addressed to B Co., instead of A Co. I am not with the Brantford company

BX May 8, 1915

Was Wounded At Langemarck – Robert McCartney Wrote Home a Few Days Before the Big Battle

Soldiers are like other young men – pay day comes and goes and within about three days they are “broke.”  That admission is made by Pte. Bob McCartney, son of Mr. and Mr. R. McCartney, 18 Mt. Pleasant Street in his last letter, written on April 17.  That was a few days before he was wounded in the battle of Langemarck, his name since having appeared in the casualty list.  His letter reads as follows:

April 17, 1915

Dear Mother and Dad,

I received your parcel and letter today.  Believe me that tobacco was all right.  I’ve only had one plug of Canadian tobacco until today. The handkerchiefs and writing paper were just what I needed.

Well, we have been away from the firing zone for a couple of weeks, getting in shape and getting wise to a few things that will likely prove useful some day.

Yes, we get a bath and a change of underclothing about every two weeks.  Pay day comes twice a month, and, of course we are usually broke about three days after.  They say that money talks, but believe me it does not make much noise in these parts.

We had a big athletic day yesterday – all sorts of races, boxing, and of course the usual greasy poll.  “Wag” Bremner (since reported wounded) was in the boxing competition and beat up some other fellow.  He had his nose slightly damaged in the argument.

Love your affectionate son,

Bob McCartney

BX May 18, 1915

Private Robert Henry McCartney is Eager To Return to the Fray – Mother of Brantford Soldier Who was Wounded Receives a Cheerful Letter From Her Boy – Received Bullet in the Leg But is Getting Along Nicely.

Bob McCartney, otherwise known as Private Robert McCartney, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert McCartney, 18 Mt. Pleasant Street, is irrepressible – wounded in the leg, he is still as cheerful as ever, and expected, according to his last letter, received yesterday by his parents, to be back in the scrap against the “Germs” – a pet name for the Germans – within a short time.  His letter is as follows:

May 2, 1915
Cardiff, Wales
3rd General Hospital

Dear Mother and Dad,

I suppose I should have written before but I have been moving around so much lately that I haven’t had much time.

No doubt you have all heard about our little battle with the “Germs” by now, so I will not bother going into details of the fight.  The papers all have an account of our work, and besides, I was wounded (nothing but a bullet through the leg) quite early in the battle.  I stuck with it for a time but eventually had to creep, crawl and hobble off the field.  The artillery, machine guns and rifles of the enemy kept up a regular storm of bullets and shrapnel.  We had a great number of casualties, but I guess the Germs had a few too.

After visiting various dressing stations and field hospitals, I finally landed in Rouen; 48 hours after I was wounded.  They kept me in bed for two days and then said I was to be invalided to England, and believe me I wasn’t sorry to hear that.  I was to get a little holiday and rest.  Well we were taken aboard hospital barges and towed down the river Seine, which took another day.  The weather was fine and warm.  We lay on deck in the sun and enjoyed the scenery which was beautiful – Chalky cliffs, green fields and all that stuff that authors rave about.  We arrived in Havre in the forenoon and went about the hospital ship “Asturias” and had an uneventful but somewhat foggy voyage across the channel.  Arriving at Southampton we entrained and rode to Cardiff, where we were taken to a general hospital.

In a couple of days I will likely go to a convalescent camp, as my leg is healing up fine.  It was a clan wound, and I was in perfect condition physically, so it will not be very long before I am out in France again taking part in the big scrap.  Remember me to the boys.

Your affectionate son,
Bob.

BX May 19, 1915

Robert Henry McCartney Says There Should be no Trouble in Getting Men to Enlist

There should be no trouble in getting men to enlist, even at the chance of getting wounded, following on the reading of one paragraph in a letter received on Tuesday morning by Mr. and Mr. R. McCartney, 18 Mount Pleasant Street, from their son, Pte. Bob McCartney.  He says, talking of being in a convalescent hospital, “Just imagine nine of us wounded soldiers and 23 nurses here looking after us!”  Bob says he is having the time of his life, but expects soon to get back to the front.  The letter reads:

May 5, 1915
Knighton, Wales

Dear Mother and Dad,

Just a few lines to let you know that I’m having the time of my life – at least the best time I’ve had since war was declared. Frank Betts and I are down here in a nice little two-by-four town in a nice little convalescent hospital living the simple life. Say, its swell. We lie outside in the sun most of the day trying to smoke ourselves into a state of insensibility. The rest of the time is spent in eating and sleeping. Believe me, it’s great to be back in God’s country for a short time and sleep in a real bed and get away from the bully beef and biscuits. Our hospital is situated on the side of a hill, at the foot of which is a sleepy little village, and all we do is wander around through the woods breathing the pure air and far from the maddening crowd’s ignoble strife.

The nurses and everyone is very kind, in fact they can’t do enough for us.  Just imagine nine of us wounded soldiers and 23 nurses here looking after us.  We had rhubarb pudding for dinner; some class, eh?  Do you remember those little currant cakes that you made in days gone by that I was so fond of?  Well, we had some for tea.  Gee! They tasted swell.  Just reminded me of home that much that I ate six and then felt ashamed of my appetite.  Take it from me I have some appetite, too.  I never was healthier in my life and my weight must be nearly 160 pounds.

The wound is healing up fine and I can walk with scarcely a limp now.  Gee, it was a joke getting a soft one like that.  Possibly you have noticed how a fellow carries his left leg over to the left when he’s laying down firing a rifle.  That was the position I was in when a bullet came along and went through my leg.  That was early in the morning and I was too excited at the time to feel much pain or bother about bandaging it up.  About noon a large shell burst just behind me.  It nearly shook the liver out of me and almost buried me.  All of us were nearly blind and our heads were nearly bursting from that poisonous gas the Germs used.  Well by that time the pain in my leg was almost unbearable, so I crawled into a ditch and bandaged it up and managed to crawl and hobble off the field.  But mine was nothing.  If you had have seen some of the poor fellows it would have broken your heart.  Well, I’ll close now, with love to Dad and yourself.  I’ll soon be back at the front again taking my chance.  I’ll get a few of them yet.  My regards to R. and J. Welsh and the rest of the boys.

Your affectionate son,
Bob

BX September 16, 1915

Great to Meet Friend From One’s Old Town – Pte. Robert Henry McCartney, Whose Wounded Leg is Now Healing Nicely, Tell of Pleasure of Meeting Third Contingent Men at Shorncliffe Camp – French Dogs Were Never Hit

“A number of the third contingent are over here and I have seen some more Brantford boys.  The fellow who wrote that song ‘Gee, but it’s great to meet a friend from your home town” sure was some guy.  They should give him an Iron cross.”

In this manner does Pte. Bob McCartney, of the 12th Battalion, First Canadian Contingent, in a letter to his parent’s here, expresses his delight at meeting some of the old boys at Brantford.  It will be remembered that Pte. McCartney was badly wounded at the Battle of Langemarck, where so many gallant Canadian boys fell, and was taken over to the camp hospital at Shorncliffe for recovery.  He states that he is feeling better, except that his leg is a bit stiff and sore at times.  “It is not likely that any of us fellows who were wounded at the Battle of Langemarck, will go back for another month.  Quite a number are all broken up and have been sent back to Canada.  My nerves are all gone.  I can hardly write, but we should worry about that!  A couple more weeks and I will be as good as ever,” he cheerfully says.

Dogs Never Hit

In another letter written from Shorncliffe camp to Mr. and Mrs. R. McCartney, Pte. McCartney, who was an old Expositor employee, tells of the dogs that used to follow his platoon when in France.  The dogs, though they would even follow the men into the trenches, were never hit.

In another letter Private McCartney tells of a stag party held by the Brantford boys of the 12th and 19th and 36th Battalions.  The letter reads: “After partaking on an excellent supper and renewing old acquaintances we adjourned to the corporal’s mess room where we held a regular old stag party.  We smoked and swapped yarns and then went over to one of the huts.  A fiddle was brought and we danced until about eleven.  Some night!

No Cream Pie

“I wish I could get some of that cream pie.  They don’t make them over here and you can’t get any fancy dishes of ice cream.  Why this country is about 100 years behind Canada, as far as restaurants or confectionery stores go.

“I saw Col. Colquhoun (Mac) yesterday.  He is over here on short leave.  Came around and shook hands with all the boys.  Although he looks quite a bit older he appeared to be fit.  Nearly everyone looks older after they have been through a couple of hard scrapes,” he concludes.

BX April 25, 1916

Receives a Promotion

Pte. Bob McCartney, son of Mr. and Mrs. Robert McCartney, 19 Carlyle Street, has been promoted on the field of battle, and is now Lance-Corp. McCartney. Writing home on April 7 he said:

“Everyone is expecting big things out here this spring and no doubt there will be a big change here. It will be a big job, but we’ll win. I don’t think Hunnie can stand the strain; he is sure to crumple up on some front. The guns are continually bombarding on this front, night and day they keep pounding away at the Germans and of course, Fritz sends some back. They got the range of our billets last night about six o'clock and made it decidedly uncomfortable for a while. Luckily there were only a couple of our battalion wounded. We are used to narrow escapes, but it’s very annoying when they shell us in billets."

BX May 23, 1916

Ducked Hun Shell Broke his Watch – Lance Corporal Robert Henry McCartney an Expert in Hitting the Ground when Big Guns Start.

In a letter received by Mrs. R. McCartney, dated April 30, from her son, Lance-Corp. Robert McCartney, some experiences at the front are told.  He says in part:

April 30, 1916

My watch is broken, but I expect a pass soon and will get it fixed in England.  We were going down a road on a working party one night when Fritz started shelling very close.  We all plopped in the road and the glass of my watch got broken and the hands were pulled off. Fortunately no one was hit.

Dodging trench mortars, shells, etc., makes a fellow as quick as lightening, but I’m just as lazy as ever.  I have not got those parcels yet. I’m nearly dead for a smoke.  Try smaller parcels.  I believe big parcels are a temptation that is not resisted by some of these people down the line.

Talking about war, the Germans sprang a mine on the Canadians and bombarded heavily.  We occupied the crater which the mine made and repulsed the German attack.  We were rushed up under a brisk shrapnel fire to reinforce.  Luckily we had only two or three wounded going up.  Considering the amount of iron junk that was flying around it was a wonder we didn't lose a lot.  Major Jones led us up and displayed considerable coolness under fire.  I don’t care much to talk about this war stuff.

BX June 16, 1916

Expected Doings

Mrs. R. McCartney, 19 Carlyle Street, has received a letter from her son, dated May 27, which was written in the trenches, this being the first time that he has done this, though almost two years away. He stated that they expected doings, and so he was taking the opportunity which he could make, rather than wait until after the battalion had gone back to the rest billet. That his expectations were realized was only too true, for within five days the Germans made their attacks which gained a good deal of ground, later recovered by a gallant attack by the Canadians.

BX December 12, 1916

Corporal Robert Henry McCartney On Leave At Last – Local Man Thrice Wounded is Promoted – Two Stripes

After having been thrice wounded, Corp. Bob McCartney has at last received a leave and at last reports was in Plymouth having the first break in 17 months of fighting or convalescing.  He writes home as follows:

Dear Mother and Dad,

Just a few lines to let you know that I have got my leave at last and am enjoying myself.  We had a pretty rough time of it in the Somme, but I am away from there at present.  No doubt it will soon be our turn to go down there again.  I’m pretty well fed up with this war, and think it about time they gave some of the old first contingent a little rest or one of the soft jobs that appear so plentiful.  It’s all right to smooth things over, but a person can’t live forever out here without being hit.  If I get wounded again and make England, I have that letter from headquarters, and I’ll make them stick to their promise.

By the way, I’m a corporal now, and am quite a sport with two gold stripes up, for being wounded, and two corporal’s stripes.

This is the first time I've been on leave in 17 months and believe me I am going to have a big time.  We only get leave once in a lifetime, so I’m going to enjoy myself, for no one knows what may happen tomorrow, but hope for the best, as I've always felt confident of coming through.

Your affectionate son,
Bob McCartney

P.S. – I’m in Plymouth

BX January 16, 1919

On the Way to the “Fatherland” – Sergeant Robert Henry McCartney Tells of His Hike Through Belgium

Sergeant Robert H. McCartney has written letters to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Robert McCartney, 63 Oxford Street, with the heading “Somewhere in Germany.”  They have had a narrow glimpse at the work of the army of occupation.

“This is a joke war at present,” he writes at first, “Except that we are doing some hard hiking.  In fact it is more or less of a touring expedition.  We are quite close to Namur, and before long we will be in Germany.

“We have had some receptions in the towns around the ports.  The Belgians seem quite pleased to see us after being with the Boche so long, and in some places we were received like long-lost brothers.  Incidentally there are some very pretty girls in these parts and it is very nice to be treated as a brother.

“I expect to go on leave soon, within a week or two and intend on visiting Paris this time, as this will probably be the last opportunity we will have of visiting that famous city.  I wouldn't like to go back to Canada without seeing it.”

In a second letter he tells of crossing the German frontier on December 4.

“We are now in a little town called Sechtem,” he says, “a couple of miles from the Rhine.  Some of the people we have met over here are quite friendly, at least to our faces, but I don’t know what they really think of us and don’t care.  Others appear quite hostile, but we have had no trouble yet and I don’t think we will have, as they appear quite tame.

“It has certainly been some hike to the Rhine, over 200 miles, I should judge, the way we came, and it has taken all the spare fat off us.  But everybody is feeling as fit as anything.  We have had some very good billets in the towns where we have stopped over night and I have nearly always managed to find a bed to sleep in which is really a luxury after some of the flops we have had in the trenches.

“I haven’t heard anything about coming home yet, except that no one over here will likely start before peace is signed, and then they are going according to service, so that I will probably be in the first lot to go. I would rather get home in the spring than the winter as things will be opening up better and there will be a chance to get settled into something good before next winter,” he concludes.