From Montreal To Vimy Ridge And Beyond; The Correspondence Of Lieut. Clifford Almon Wells, B.A.,

Of The 8th Battalion, Canadians, B.E.F., November, 1915-April, 1917

Lieutenant Clifford Almon Wells

• Publisher: Lucknow Books
• Year: 2014
• eBook ISBN: 9781782892748
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: Military Biographies
• Index: History

Clifford Almon Wells was born in Toronto, Canada, March 12th, 1892. His teaching career at Johns Hopkins University was bought to a end when he decided in the summer of 1915 that it was his duty to relinquish his position and take his part as a Canadian in the European war. In Sep. he enlisted as a Private in the 4th University Company, one of the reinforcing companies of the famous Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. Although without previous military training his advancement was rapid, later he was transferred to the 8th Battalion as 2nd Lieutenant.
His letters cover a period of eighteen months. They were written in railway cars and on board ship; in tents in England, Belgium and France; in huts, shacks, furnace rooms and ruined houses; in London boarding houses and hotels; in French farm-houses, and German dugouts; in the midst of the awful clamors and crashings and thunders of artillery, and within sound of the coughing of a sick German in the front line of enemy trenches.
He wrote of things which others have written about; of things which pleased him, and of other things which displeased him, most of these relating to the commonplace of life. But in addition to the commonplace there will be found in these letters a surprising variety of topics, and withal such graphic descriptions, thrilling or amusing stories, and information on many matters of interest to all who have friends overseas that the letters will both entertain and enlighten.
His last dated letter was written the 20th day of April, 1917, eleven days after the battle of Vimy Ridge. Thankful because he had had a part in that battle, exultant and confident in view of the great victory, but before this letter reached her she had received official notice that he had been killed in action the 28th day of April.

DECEMBER, 1916

Description of a Dugout—Poultry Running Wild—When He Blushed—Request for Maple Sugar—Happier at the Front than at Home as a Slacker—A Theatrical Company—”I Have a Motto”—Front Line Opinions of U.S.A.—A Cooking Experiment A Christmas Love-Message--Military Decorations—The Farmer’s Ruined Tree.

December 1, 1916.

DEAREST MOTHER,

A letter from you written September 1st has just arrived. Three months en route. It went to the 8th Battalion, then back to the base, then to the Entrenching Battalion, and finally here. My address is permanent at last, and so my mail will no longer be subject to such delays.

I wish you could see my present surroundings. I am in our Company Headquarters in the line—a dugout thirty feet underground with board floor, walls and roof. It was built by the French who originally held this part of the line. The room is about 8 feet wide, 15 feet long, and 6 feet high. The signallers occupy one corner of it with their telegraph and telephone instruments. A good deal of space is taken up with the timber props for the roof which makes the room seem smaller than it is. There are three entrances. One is continually banging one’s head in coming in and out of these dugouts, so I always wear my steel helmet or “tin hat,” which is really a splendid protection for the head against knocks of all sorts.

This part of the line is quiet enough for the sergeants and officers to be able to take turns on “trench duty”—that is in patrolling the front line to see that sentries, bombing posts, listening posts, machine gun crews, etc., are all attending to their business, and that everything is O. K. This is my night off, and so at 9.80 P. M. I am back in Company Headquarters writing this letter, and do not go on duty again until “Stand to” in the morning.

Down underground here the air is rather heavy, while outdoors it is a clear frosty night. After being outdoors all day one sleeps very soundly in a warm dugout (this one is warm), so I feel that I had better turn in and sleep while I can.

Good night, mother dear. With love to all,

CLIFFORD.

P. S. I may be going on leave before many weeks pass. Imagine seven whole days in England!

December 7, 1916.

DEAR RAE,

This is in answer to your letter of November 12, received a few days ago, and also to thank you for the two lovely handkerchiefs which I received last night. The latter will be very useful as I always need handkerchiefs.

We have been very fortunate as a battalion recently with regard to the weather. It always rains when we are back in billets, and stays fine when we are in the trenches. If it must rain, this is how we would have the rain schedule arranged. The battalion that relieves us periodically probably does not like it so well.

I shall have hundreds of interesting things to tell you when I get home, but for most of them you will have to wait until then, as we are not allowed to describe many things in our letters.

We are at present a few miles back of the line living in caves and dugouts in a wood. There are no civilians about here, and the poultry from deserted farms is running wild in the woods. The officers’ cook yesterday shot four wild hens with his rifle and gave us an elegant supper.

I am lying in a little bunk in a dugout ten or twelve feet underground and writing by candlelight, so if the writing is not good you will have to excuse it.

I have to get up early to-morrow, so had better close now.

Affectionately,

CLIFFORD.

December 8, 1916.

DEAREST MOTHER,

I have sent you a package of Christmas cards addressed to various people. Will you please see that they are all forwarded? I am not sending any Christmas presents this year. One has not much opportunity to buy things which it would be worthwhile to send. If I go to England on leave I shall take a few souvenirs with me, but shall have to leave them there in my trunk, as I cannot send them home by mail.

Your box of November 6th reached me safely a few days ago. The socks, chocolate, carbolic salve, etc., were all acceptable, and, I blush as I write the words, the insect powder has already proved its usefulness.

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I will tell you two luxuries which I should be glad to receive some day—a box of grape-nuts, and a small can or bottle of maple sugar. If you send the latter (or a tin of maple-enc. a mixture from which maple syrup can be made —I think I have spelled the name correctly; I shall get our cook to make some pancakes, and we shall have a real home-like dish.

Molly dear, I hope you will have a very happy Christmas. Of course, I should love to be at home, but yet I am happier here than I would be if I had remained at home. Next year I hope to be home. One never knows what will happen. I have been wonderfully fortunate hitherto. Next year, who can tell what kind of a job I shall have or where I shall be?

Take care of yourself, and take a nap every afternoon so that you will be well and strong when I come home again.

With oceans of love,

CLIFFORD.

December 8, 1916.

MY DEAR FATHER,

Just a note to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May 1917 be the happiest and most encouraging year of your

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pastorate in Westmount. On Christmas Day, wherever I may be, I shall be home in spirit, and shall pray that Christmas 1917 may find me at home in body too.

I am sending to each member of the family one of the Christmas cards which the 8th officers have had printed. I am sending one to grandmother too. I hope she will receive it safely.

I am in splendid health and am having many interesting experiences, which it will be a great pleasure to relate when I get home. Perhaps when I go to England on leave I may write more fully about some of my experiences than I can out here.

Hoping you are in the best of health, and that everything is going well at home and in the church,

I remain,

Your affectionate son,

CLIFFORD A. WELLS.

December 18, 1916.

MY DARLING MOTHER,

The parcel containing the two polo-caps and “John Inglesant” arrived yesterday. The former is just the thing to wear when asleep when it is cold, and will also be a good thing,

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I believe, to wear under my steel helmet. The book is just the kind I want, a long, interesting novel. It is one of the great novels in the English language although it is not very well known. I am looking forward to reading it with eagerness.

Your letter of November 21 is at hand. I am glad you like the watch holder and the photos. In the photographs I have not my Black Devil collar badges. Someday I shall have another taken just to show my badges, which I have received from England since I had the photos taken.

I have been having a very Christmas-y time this last week. I received a lovely large box from Emma, a cake from Mr. and Mrs. McTavish, a box from Miss Sims, my old teacher at Rosedale school. She must have received my address from another boy from Rosedale whom I met at Shorncliffe, and again out here not long ago.

I also received a letter from Mary, saying she had sent me a parcel, and one from Katherine signed “Kicking Katherine the Kolicky Kid.” She tells me that copies of some of my letters are read to the Current Events class at her school. What an awful responsibility I am incurring in writing letters! Please be

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very careful in the selections of which you make copies for circulation.

I see by referring to your letter that the polo-caps are from Mrs. Scott. Thank her very kindly for them. The tube of vaseline of which you spoke did not come with them. I should like some stuff for my hair. I told you I had it cut off short. Since then it has grown out long again, but without the slight inclination to part which it used to have.

I paid a visit to the P.P.C.L.I. not long ago, and had supper with my friend Ford. I met several of the 4th University Company, including Harry Nesbit, who wished to be remembered to you and father. I forgot that Reggie Jones is back with the battalion, and so failed to ask for him. The P.P.C.L.I. have a theatrical party, about 8 men, who do nothing else but give entertainments to the battalion when out of the line, and to other battalions when the Pats are in the line. I went to the entertainment the night I was with the battalion. It was really splendid. It runs two nights whenever the battalion comes out of the line. Half the battalion parades each night for the entertainment, otherwise everyone would try to go both nights. The men enjoy it immensely. The singing and acting

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were really excellent. One song in particular you would have enjoyed. It was sung by a man wearing his full equipment—rifle, bayonet, entrenching tool, haversack, pack, water-bottle, rubber boots slung over his shoulder, gas helmet, steel helmet, etc. He came on the stage looking as tired, bored, unhappy, and disgusted as anyone could, and sang a song the burden of which was,

“I have a motto—

Always merry and bright.”

The dismal expression of countenance and voice with which he sang made it extremely funny, and he was encored again and again.

I must close now, Molly dear.

With much love,

CLIFFORD.

December 22, 1916.

MY DEAR GEORGE,

I am sitting in a room in a farm house on the outskirts of a little village with a long winter evening before me, part of which I shall devote to answering your letter of Nov. 26th, which reached me to-day. I am in charge of the only troops billeted in this particular village, and

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so am in a position of solitary grandeur and unwonted independence. This, of course, is in the course of a short respite from the trenches.

The chocolates made by Miss Esther Ward have not reached me as yet. I shall acknowledge them gladly when they come.

You ask my opinion as to the “feeling among intelligent (sic 1) officers as to the attitude of the U. S. A.” I must preface my answer with the remark that when one is at the front he has little time or inclination for study or discussion of the world situation in general, and indeed is liable to know less of, a...

Table of contents

• Title page
• TABLE OF CONTENTS
• DEDICATION
• BIOGRAPHICAL AND EXPLANATORY NOTE
• ILLUSTRATIONS
• NOVEMBER, 1915
• DECEMBER, 1915
• JANUARY, 1916
• FEBRUARY, 1916
• MARCH, 1916
• APRIL, 1916
• MAY, 1916
• JUNE, 1916
• JULY, 1916
• AUGUST, 1916
• SEPTEMBER, 1916
• OCTOBER, 1916
• NOVEMBER, 1916
• DECEMBER, 1916
• JANUARY, 1917
• FEBRUARY, 1917
• MARCH, 1917
• APRIL, 1917
• MAY AND JUNE, 1917
• IN MEMORIAM
• REQUEST FROM THE PUBLISHER