Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command of The Royal Canadian Legion www.ns.legion.ca 51 Our 2nd letter is from Captain Henry H. Pineo, Waterloo, N.S., 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles, written just prior to his death on 21 July 1916 at Ypres, Belgium. Captain Henry H. Pineo, of Waterloo, Kings County, killed at the front on July 21st, had many friends in Halifax and throughout the province, to whom extracts from a letter written by the late officer some short time before his death to C.J. Burchell, K.C. of Halifax will be of interest. After referring to several personal matters, the letter proceeds to say: The atmosphere here is not conducive to a logical turn of thought along anything but military lines. I am writing this in a dug-out within a mile of the line, and we have frequent visits from the big shells. A nine inch chap struck just outside our door a little while ago. I am glad it did not hit our roof. It is such little things that make our life interesting. I have been acting company commander for over a week now, and it keeps me pretty busy, but the more one has to do over here the better. I am in the very best of health and as happy as can be, but would much rather leave had not been stopped. I was due to go on the 19th and was looking forward to a very pleasant week in London, but it’s all off now. A month in dear old Nova Scotia this summer would certainly look good to me. I think I would give a year of my life to even spend Apple Blossom Sunday at home. Don’t think I want to throw up my part in this scrap, for I am more in earnest every day but I am still young enough to have the homesick feeling once in a while. It certainly does us a lot of good over here to read of the support you are giving at home, and the way that recruits are being raised is simply marvellous. I am afraid they will all be needed, too, but we shall hope not. It takes more than we had imagined to make up for the years of Hun preparation. Two of my friends in another battalion were blown to pieces about a week ago, and such things make one feel that he would glory in being an old fashioned Iroquois Indian chief, with a Hun for a victim. I know I will tire you with this piffle, but please pardon me if I do. I just felt like writing a bit tonight. I am, Very Sincerely yours, (Sgd.) Henry H. Pineo. continued ... continued ...
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