Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command of The Royal Canadian Legion www.ns.legion.ca 49 Letters from the Front - WWI During any conflict, letters from home, or letters from loved ones at the front or anywhere away from home, are the lifeline to that individual or family. The following are 2 excerpts from newspaper clippings during WW1. The first letter is from Lea Misner, Stanhope PEI, who fought with the 55th Battalion in France. Mr. John Misner, of Stanhope, has received the following letter from his son, who was badly wounded and who is now in an English hospital: DEAR FATHER – Just a few lines to let you know that I am feeling not too bad after all I went through. My wound is healing up fast, of course, I am still in bed, and likely to be for a while yet. I was in a hospital first in France, then they sent me across to England and we are in a good hospital here. I have a lovely Sister and nurse to wait on me, and the people are awfully nice; they bring me cigarettes and fruit, etc. Well, I was in Belgium five months; had some pretty rough times of it, saw some big fighting, and was in it, and did my share. I saw a lot of Germans, and must have shot a lot of them, for I took good aim. I was in that big battle at Ypres in June, and in another big one in May, but it only lasted three days. I came through them well until the 11th of August. I was sent to Hill 60, and was there one day when the row commenced, and about half past seven one of our fellows got hit, and the shelling was so bad we could not get to our stretcherbearers, so I volunteered for one to go, and on my way back I was hit in the back. That was about eight in the morning. A corporal friend of mine tied a bandage around my waist, and I had another spell shooting; then I got sick and went and lay down until dark. I could not eat. The doctor says I saved my own life by not eating, but I drank about a gallon of water. Then walked about three miles, and that was the last I knew till I woke up in a hospital in France. I was awful sick for a while, my temperature was 105, but it is back to normal again, thank God. This is a navy hospital I am in. Tell the girls I don’t feel able to write them now. Well, dad, I think this is a rather long letter, so, I will say goodbye. From your loving son, Lea. continued ...
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