We Remember

Thomas P. Mason

Rank: 
Private
Regimental number: 
7157
Unit at enlistment: 
2nd Border Regiment
Force: 
B.E.F.
Volunteered or conscripted: 
Volunteered
Survived the war: 
Yes
Wounded: 
Yes
Commemorated at: 
St. Luke Anglican Church
Birth country: 
England
Address at enlistment: 
168 Bruce Street, Brantford, Ontario
Next of kin address: 
168 Bruce Street, Brantford, Ontario
Trade or calling: 
Moulder
Religious denominations: 
Anglican
Marital status: 
Married
Age at enlistment: 
28

Letters and documents

BX January 19, 1915

Letter From the Trenches – Brantford Soldier, Writing to His Wife, Predicts That War Will Soon End - British and Canadian soldiers in the trenches alike seem to believe that the war will not last long. Practically every letter received from the trenches in Belgium from former Brantfordites bears this out, and Pte. Tom Mason, of the 2nd Border Regiment, a Brantford reservist, in writing here corroborates the feeling that victory is not far off.

December 29, 1914
 
Pte. T. Mason 7157
13th Platoon, D. Co.
2nd Border Regiment,
British Expeditionary Force
 
My Dear Wife and Child,
 
Just a few lines to let you know I am in the best of health, and I hope you are the same.
Later – I have sent you two postcards - one that the King sent to all the troops at the front, and one from Lady ---- so if you receive them put them away.

Later – I am writing this letter in the trenches, and it is cold, but not as bad as it has been. I do not mind it, but the rain is awful, and it rains every night. We have been in the trenches up to last night and we have to wade through mud up to our knees and sometimes more, as we have no room to throw the slush out. It is a nice moonlit night and I am writing you this by the light of the moon.

I received the postcard last time I was out of the trenches and when we go out tomorrow night I expect we will get Princess Mary's Box, and by what I hear, it is a nice one.
By the look of things here the war will not last so long, so keep your heart up, I will soon be home.

From your affectionate and loving husband
Tom

BX June 1, 1915

One Foot Wounded – Pte. Mason is in Base Hospital But His Condition is Not Thought Serious

Although no official word has yet arrived in the city from Ottawa, the information reached here today by letter that Pte. Tom Mason, who left here with the first contingent of the Dufferin Rifles, had been wounded in the right foot and sent back to the hospital. His condition is not believed to be serious. Parts of two letters received in the city are given as follows:

My Dear Wife and Child,

Just a couple of lines, hoping this finds you in the best of health, as I am in a clearing hospital at present, wounded, but it is nothing to shout about, as it is in the right foot. So do not be alarmed about it. It is a bit painful, as it has gone clean through, but there are plenty that are a lot worse off than I am.
 
Dear Wife and Child,

It will be a bit of a pleasure to get away from the firing line, as I have gone properly deaf with the bursting of shells. Where I am now, I can still hear them, but not as much as if I were where they are bursting. This is all I have to say at present.

With best love,

Tom 

BX September 22, 1917

Veteran Returned

Tom Mason, one of the first of the British veterans to leave this city in August 1914, returned to his home, Bruce Street, this morning. He came in on the 9.30 T.H. and B. train, but was not met as no word had been received that he was due here.

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