Dear Friend, Arrived London O.K. Everybody in first class condition. Expect to leave city soon. Compliments of the season to all. Write soon, Sid.

Transcription

1 Transcript Correspondence from Sydney Hampton to Mr. & Mrs. William Kidd, , A A (1) postcard Mr. W. Kidd D. Line, Amabel Room No. 11 [?] Barracks, London Dear Friend, Arrived London O.K. Everybody in first class condition. Expect to leave city soon. Compliments of the season to all. Write soon, Sid. A (2) letter Headquarter Staff 18th Battallion C.E.F. Wolseley Barracks London Ont. Monday March 1st 1915 Dear Friend, It is so long since I wrote a letter that I hardly know how to, start, but I am going to have a try anyway, I received your letter of Feb 22nd and say, you don't know how good I felt when the postman handed it to me it was the first letter I had received in two months. I suppose you will be having nice spring weather up there now. We are having lovely weather down here. The boys down here are all in good shape, and this is pay day which makes things all the better. I do not think that you could have found ten dollars in the whole Battalion yesterday. I pawned my watch for $1.00 on Saturday, and I had to lend half of that to a chum of mine who was also broke. So you see pay day brightens things up considerably. George is still holding his position as Adjutant which position I am sure he will retain right through the campaign. George

2 went to Toronto on Friday last and came back this morning. I am having a good time down here. I think I am amongst the best bunch of men that were ever brought together. They do not act like strangers at all, but just like one big family. They all seem to work together so nice. Say this is a great pen I am using. The darn thing just won't write. We do not know when we are going away, but hope it's soon as we want something new. Well I guess this is about all I have to say this time so hoping this will find you all well as it leaves me. I remain. Yours sincerely S. Hampton P.S. Write whenever you feel like it, a letter is as good as a ten-dollar bill to me. S.H. A (3) postcard Mr. and Wolseley Barracks London Ont. Dear friends: We have just received word to leave for Halifax on Friday. Of this week George has been sick, but is better again. Kindest regards to all from Sid. A (4) letter 18th Battallion C.E.F. Wolseley Barracks London Ont. April 7 th,

3 To Mr. and Dear friends: Just a line to let you know everything is fine down here and we expect to go very soon now. George arrived back O.K. and he gave me the present you sent me and I cannot express my thanks in words for your kindness. Say, that was the nicest sugar I ever tasted. I guess you will soon be busy with the seeding. We are having our final inspection today, which will prove whether we are ready for the front or not. I hope it proves we are ready, then we ll get something to interest us. Are any of the Elsinore boys joining the 3 rd Contingent? Well I guess I ll cut this out for now, so Bye Bye and write soon, regards to all, from Sid. A (5) letter Mr. and Headquarter Staff 18th Battallion C.E.F. Sandling Camp, Kent County England Wednesday, 5 th May, 1915 Dear friends: Here we are again, away across the briny and enjoying ourselves immensely. We had a splendid trip across the old Atlantic. We did not see a thing of the (Baby-killers) and we couldn t have wished for better weather. The change of air from the land to the sea hit some of us pretty hard the first two or three days, myself for one. I capsized completely on the second day. I wasn t responsible for my actions. This sea sickness certainly does get one s goat. I ate my first meal on the boat on the third day and I didn t bother sitting down to eat either. I had to make too many trips to the side for that. But it has been the making of me. I have gained both in health and weight from that day. I have an appetite like a horse and am always on the job when (cookhouse) goes. George is looking well and seems to be enjoying himself fine. I think this trip is doing us all a world of good. 3

4 Say, this is some country. There is hardly anything here but towns. In fact, in some cases, the north side of a street is in one town and the south side is in the next town. We are right near the sea and the air is fine. Everything around here has a military appearance. I imagine there must be about 2 civilians for every 100 soldiers in England. If some of those big babies that stand around street corners and stores in Canada were over here, they would go and bury their cowardly heads in a mud hole for shame. We have a nice clean little camp here, about [a] 2-minute walk to the station of Sandling, and 1½ miles to the town of Hythe. How is everybody around Elsinore? I hope I will be spared to come back and see you all again some time. Where is Walter now? I would very much like to know where he is. If you can get into communication with him, will you ask him to drop me a line, and I will try and keep him posted about our movements, and I hope we will be able to write and tell of our experiences in the field. I think I have told you all now, so will bring this letter to a close hoping it will find you all enjoying the best of health as it leaves us here. Remember me to all, won t you? Private S. Hampton, No A (6) postcard Ward 3, Moore Barracks Canadian Military Hospital Shorncliffe, England May 16, 1915 Dear friends: Just a line to let you know how we are getting along. I haven t seen George for 5 days. When I saw him last he had his new horse and seemed quite pleased with it. I will be out of hospital in two weeks. Gee, it s lonesome in here. We can hear the guns from here in France and expect to be over there helping soon. We are going to give those baby-killers hell, you see if we don t, sincerely yours, Sid A (7) letter 4

5 No , HQ Staff 18th Battallion C.E.F. West Sandling Camp, Hythe, Kent County England June 29 th, 1915 Dear friends: I received your letter OK and was pleased to hear from you again. We are getting along fine here. George seems to enjoy the life fine here, although he has to work pretty hard. I don t suppose there will be any change on the D Line 100 years from now. (Ha, Ha, Ha.) How is Will s shoulder? I hope it will be alright by the time this reaches you. A pike pole isn t very light when it falls on one, is it? We don t know when we are going to the front but hope to the Lord it s soon. This waiting is getting on my nerves. One of my brothers is in France now. My only sister was buried a few days before I went to London to see them. She took sick about the same time that I went into hospital but could get no word from them as my letters were going astray. So it was quite a shock to me. My mother has been in poor health for years, but she says that my return has saved her life. She certainly cheered up after I had been home a couple of days. She is very anxious to see Walter. I wish he would come over here. I know he would have the time of his life, and all his relations (of which there are a good many in old London) would be delighted to see him and would give him a splendid time, as they did to me. Our officers have planned a bivouack [sic] for tonight, but as it is raining now I don t think they will make it go. I have George s bed all packed ready to start, but I hope we don t go now. We might get good weather someday soon. How are all the folks at Elsinore? Give them my best respects when you see them. I met Clarence Porter of Elsinore a week or so ago. He is in the 19 th next to us. He is a fine strapping young fellow. Well, Bye Bye for this time. Write soon. S. Hampton A (8) postcard Sandling Camp August 12 5

6 Dear friends: You will no doubt wonder what has happened to me that you haven t heard from me sooner. But calm yourselves as everything is going fine with us. We are getting pretty stiff training these days, and are very busy. How do you like this card? I will follow it up with a letter as soon as I get time. We slept out in the open last night and returned to camp this morning. How are all the folks? Give them all my best respects. Bye Bye for this time, Syd A (9) letter NO 53040, HQ Staff, 18th Batt., West-Sandling Camp, Hythe Kent, England. August 16th 1915 Dear Friends: It is so long since I wrote you a letter that I am afraid that you will be thinking that I have forgotten you, but I couldn't do that. George is quite well and we are getting along fine. Do you know that William Fenton is with us? He is sitting at the same table with me, and is also busily engaged writing letters, and he wishes to be remembered to you. He is looking well and this life seems to agree with him, he is a fine fellow and gets along fine, He is in the Pioneers and sleeps in the same room with me. He and I went for a good long walk around the country last Sunday and went to an old ancient church at night. We have very comfortable quarters here and think the army is alright. We are very busy these days with Brigade training and maneuvers. Last week our Brigade (4th) had a sham fight with the 5th Brigade as our enemy. We outmaneuvered them after fighting hard all day. Say, it was splendid to see our artillery come into action. They came galloping up past us with their guns and tenders, and when they reached the top of the hill they swung the guns into position, took the horses off and opened fire, and all done while you could say Jack Johnson. Oh this is the life, and the real life too. I wish Walter were with us he would certainly enjoy this life. We are soon going to begin divisional training and that means a trip across the channel to meet our friend, the enemy. I only hope I get about half a dozen of the "Huns" before they get me. If I come back from this turn out I will come and see you, but I intend making my home in the west. I often dream of Canada, but alas I am awakened by the sharp notes on the bugle which tell us to get up and get busy. I do not think this war will last all winter, hope it doesn't anyway. 6

7 How are the crops this year? We hear that you have had some violent storms lately. I hope that they have done you no damage. Kindly remember me to all the folks and let us know how you and the children are getting along. Sincerely yours, Syd A (10) letter No , HQ Staff, 18th Batt., 4 th Brigade 2 nd Canadian Division, G.P.O. London, England Sept. 3, 1915 Dear friends: I received your welcome letter yesterday and was delighted to hear from you once more. You have no idea how much a letter from old Canada is appreciated by us. I was sorry to hear that you had not been well, but sincerely hope that this will find you in perfect health once more. How are all the folks at Elsinore? Remember me to them all. It seems too bad that so much grain has been spoilt in Canada this year. You were lucky to get yours in in good shape. I have seen George Pike twice since they came over. I often see Clarence Porter. He is in the 20 th and they are camped next to us. That report about the Canadians going to the Dardanelles was some rot. We are going to France, and very soon too. We do not expect to see old Canada again, not for a year or so at any rate. You know, the Germans are not licked yet, that is, not all of them. There sure must be an awful swarm of them in the country. Perhaps they are using incubators over there there doesn t seem to be any end to their resources yet. Oh yes, I have met some very nice girls over here. I got acquainted with another one today, and she s a peach. They certainly know how to use a soldier over here, and that s a whole lot more than a lot of Canadian girls know, especially in London, Ont. I do not know whether to bring one back from France or not. I ll see what they have to say for themselves first. Ha, Ha, Ha. Will Fenton is sitting beside me again tonight. He is also occupied in the same manner that of writing to friends, and he wishes to be remembered to you all. My brother Dick who is in France has got some of his already. He got wounded in the right hand about 3 weeks ago, and is still at the Base hospital. Oh those German Devils will have something to pay for yet. I swear to 7

8 heaven, if I ever get one alive I ll torture him as much as possible and then send him to meet his Maker. I was sorry to hear that Walter acted so towards you, when he was at Arthur s. I am quite sure that you could have given him no cause to act so. But give him rope and he ll pull round. How is Will getting along? Tell him I wouldn t mind if I was on the plough for a few days, it would certainly feel great. George is looking fine and is quite healthy and fit. I have heard quite a number of the men say that he is the most soldierly and best natured officer in the Battalion. Now I think that is a pretty good record, don t you? He and I get along fine and intend to stick as long as we can. He has been very good to me all the way through. I have had 3 passes to Old London, and there isn t much of the city that I haven t been through. The last time I was up (that was last week) I went with some friends to the Zoological Gardens, and the next day we went to Hampton Court. It is the grandest thing I have ever seen or even dreamt of seeing. We were all through the King s and Queen s Royal apartments. Even the beds and chairs and tables and all their toilet articles are there to this day, right from the time of Alfred the Great. I never wish to see anything grander than Hampton Court. The Royal Gardens around the Court are the most beautiful thing that anyone could imagine. Well now I think I have told you all now, so will say Good Bye for this time and hope that this will find you all well as it leaves me. I remain Yours Sincerely, S. Hampton P.S. That Red Cross scheme you have is a fine undertaking and I wish you every success in it. Charlie Carter sent me 1 lb. of tobacco last week, which was very kind indeed of him. I will show George your letter in the morning. We were inspected by the King yesterday and it was a great sight. The whole of the second contingent was on parade. We are seeing no end of great men over here. Lord Kitchener was there too, and the whole staff was mounted. A (11) letter No , HQ Staff, 18th Batt., 4 th Infantry Brigade 2 nd Canadian Division, B.E.F., France 11/11/15 : 8

9 Dear Friend: Am sending you these few lines in answer to your kind letter of recent date. George and I are both in good health, with the exception of slight colds, which are pretty hard to keep off in this country. Gee, we are having some great weather lately. It rains one day, and then the weather changes and it rains some more. But taking everything into consideration, we are not having too bad a time. George says he is going to write to you in a couple of days, and I believe he means it. Ha, Ha. There hasn t been much war along our part lately, only an odd casualty now and then. Tell Horatio that I thank him for his letter to me and that I will write to him as soon I can find something to tell him. It was awfully kind of him to write to me. We have been all very busy the last couple of days, constructing new dugouts. Everybody has to work these days. Even the Colonel was out today smashing up old bricks with an axe. We were laying a broken brick sidewalk along the front of our huts. Well now I think I have told you all that I can as this is likely to be read at the base and we have to be careful what we write about, otherwise I could give you something interesting. Am enclosing a card which I bought at a Belgian farmhouse about two weeks ago. Hope you will like it. Hope this will find Will all better after his accident. Yours truly, S. Hampton A (12) letter No , HQ Staff, 18th Batt., 4 th Infantry Brigade 2 nd Canadian Division, B.E.F., Flanders G.P.O. London, England Dear friends: Just a few lines to let you know that George and I are both quite well and to thank you for the socks. They were indeed a very acceptable present and I shall never forget your kindness to me. We are having frosty weather here now, which reminds us very much of old Canada. How is Will feeling now? I sincerely hope that he has got all better after his accident. I wish you could take a peep into our new dugout. We have a nice little brick fireplace opposite the doorway and the grate is full of red-hot coals, which are sending out a nice friendly heat. I think we will be able to live anywhere after this experience and wouldn t have missed this trip for anything. How are the children and the folks at Elsinore? Kind regards to all, from Syd 9

10 A (13) letter Belgium Jan. 7, 1916 Mr. and : Dear friends: I have just received the sox which you sent and hasten to thank you for the gift. They certainly come handy out here. Hope this finds all well and enjoying life. George and I are still going fine. Hope you had a good Christmas this year. We had a pretty good time at Xmas, everything considered. How is everything on the D Line? Well, there isn t much to tell you this time. Oh, say, that cake was something sublime. George gave me a big hunk of it. Gee, it was good. Sincerely yours, Pte. S. Hampton A (14) letter Belgium Feb. 16, 1916 Kindest regards to all. Dear friend: I suppose that by the time this reaches you, that you will have heard from Will Fenton. He said he would write and tell you about George being wounded. It is not a serious wound although he will be convalescent for a month or so. He stood it well and will pull up quickly. I am still with the Battalion and doing fine. Thanks very much for your letters. I am sorry I haven t written sooner, but if you will forgive me this time, I will do better next time. Sincerely yours, Syd. A (15) letter 10

11 Same Address, June 14, 1916 Dear Friend: Just a few lines to let you know I am going on alright and to ask how you are all getting along over there. It is some time since I heard from Canada, and I often wonder how things are going there. How is Mr. Kidd getting along? I hope he is keeping in good health. George is back in England again and is living with his wife and children at Evensfield, Ember Lane, Esker, Surrey, England. How are all the folks at Elsinore? Remember me to them all. How are Russell and Gordon coming on? I guess that Russell will soon be quite a help to his Dad. That was a bad job about Kitchener, wasn t it? How are the Carters getting along? Charlie wrote me some time ago and told me all about their misfortune. Have you seen Walter lately? He never writes me a line at all now. I saw his name in the lineup of the 160 th Battalion a few weeks ago. I m glad he has made a start anyway. I think this war will soon be over. We have just had 3 days [of] continual rain, Oh, it s lovely weather, believe me. The Sun is shining just now but it s more like a mischievous grin than real sunshine. I wish I was in Canada now. I am getting lonesome for the peace and quietude of old Bruce County. I am back at our transport lines now taking care of two saddle horses. Not a bad job. I would rather be back with the Battalion but my nerves are all gone and the least shell fire nearly drives me mad. I ll be glad when it s all over. I received a very encouraging letter from George a few days ago. Well, now I think I will close for this time, hoping this finds you all quite well. I remain, Yours sincerely, Sid. A (16) letter R.R. No. 2 France, August 28th 1916 Dear Friend, 11

12 Many thanks for your welcome letter of August 3rd. Was very glad to hear from you again. We have been on the move for days, but have now stopped for a few day s rest. France has Belguim skinned forty ways for scenery and life in general. I cannot tell you just where we are, but we are near a large place the name of which resembles very much the first name of your adopted girl. When you write just mention where you think we are and when I answer I will tell you whether you are right or not. I hear that George has a pretty good job in England, I hope he doesn't get the notion to come out here again. Everything has been going pretty smooth since I last wrote you. Billie Fenton and I are billeted near one another and I meet him many times during the day. He is sleeping next to me to-night. He says to tell you that he will write to you soon. He is in the best of health, and is pleased to know that you are getting along so well. I have just been looking through an old Tara Leader and read where some of the boys in the 160th and 147th are on a month s leave, pretty good idea alright, I think. Well I think this is about all I can tell you this time so will close hoping that this finds all enjoying the best of health, as it leaves me, I remain, Sincerely yours, Pte S. Hampton A (17) letter R.R. No. 2 Ward B, 1 st Western Hospital Fazakerley, Liverpool England Oct. 7, 1916 Dear Friend: You will see by my address that I am in hospital in England. Nothing serious, only a broken leg, the left one, which I got at Albert on the Somme, France, September 29 th. Am getting along splendidly. I hear Major Nelson is in Canada. How are you all getting on? I sincerely hope that this finds you all enjoying good health. How is recruiting in Canada now? I hear they are talking of conscription over there. How is Walter getting along? I would write to him if I knew his address. Will you tell him that I am getting on all right. I broke my leg the day after I wrote to you. It was 6 days before I reached here. Am getting the best of care here. Gee, it s great to get 12

13 out of that turmoil that is going on in France now. At present, I think it will be the last great struggle, the deciding factor. Trench fighting will soon be a thing of the past. Well, I guess I had better close for this time. Hoping to hear from you soon, I remain, Yours Truly, Pte. S. Hampton A (18) letter R.R. No. 2 #53040, N. Ward, Westminster Road Aux. Hospital Liverpool, England Nov. 22, 1916 Dear Friend: I received your kind letter of Nov. 3 rd and was certainly glad to hear from you again. I also received a letter from you and one from Arthur s a few days ago. Will you tell Arthurs that I will write them soon. They sent a very nice letter and asked if there was anything I needed. It was very kind of them indeed. We get practically everything we need in hospital, excepting good tobacco. The English tobacco is simply awful, but of course you cannot tell these people that. We just make the best of what is issued and say nothing. Everything else we get is fairly good, that is, for hospital fare. I am out of bed now and have been stumping round on crutch for four days. Quite a novel experience, I assure you. But I will soon be on my pins again, and will in all probability be back in France again in a couple of months. It is wonder full what the rest cure does for one. My nerves are getting strong once more and I feel almost as fit as when I left Canada. Will you tell George that I received his letter OK? It went to France and was shipped back to me with 14 others. It s a wonderful arrangement they have here for keeping track of men, and sending their mail to them. Billie Fenton is taking a two month course in shoeing at a veterinary school in France and says he likes it fine. Oh I wish you would tell George how much I thank him for his kind letter. I would write him myself but I don t know what address would catch him. Walter has arrived in England safe. He wrote me a letter shortly after he arrived. I don t know whether I will see him before he goes away or not. They seem to be having trouble about their pay in his Battalion so take it that he cannot pay his way just yet. How are your mother and father and Horatio? 13

14 A (19) letter No , Hut 14 G Division Woodcote Park, Epsom, Surrey England Jan. 22 nd, 1917 Dear Friend: Just a few lines to let you know that I will soon be on my way to Canada. I have passed three medical boards. The last one was on Friday last. I may have to wait for a week or so, but I expect that by the time this reaches you, I shall be on my way. Hoping this finds you all quite well, I remain, Yours Sincerely, Syd.0ikkkop-0oo-0ooo0oi-ooo00- okpp;;kpppppkkkp pppllppp pppjjnommkkkkkkojkoookjiooojoloiojooooooooooolll;,pp;;jiomkj uojjoo, poopoljijkkkoikjjj,lkomjiooklookmkjjmi 14