1st CMMGB: Pte RW Mercer - Letters from the Great War
1st Canadian
Motor Machine Gun Brigade
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Pte. Richard William Mercer
Personal Letters from the Great
War: 1915 - 1919
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Letter 32:
Pte. Richard Mercer to William and Georgina Mercer
- February 13, 1918
Vimy Ridge Area, Verdrel, France
France[193]
Feby 13, 1918
Dear Father & Mother:-
Thanks very much for your letters received to-day dated Jan 9 - 14.
I wrote you a couple of days ago telling you all about my leave.
Can't understand you not receiving any mail from me for so long.
Received a letter from Dona Tracy[194]
and Mrs. Jonathon[195]
to-day. I have received all parcels and monies from you. We
are having very nice weather quite lately for this time of year.
My it gave me quite a shock when I received the letter from Father to-day[196].
Well I have absolutely nothing to say this time except that I am quite
well[197].
Your Loving Son
Rich
911016 R.W. Mercer
Footnotes
[193] The Borden Battery War Diary
states "In accordance with Operational Order #3 of 6-2-18 from O.C.
Can. Corps M.MG. Brigade; consisting of 11 Other Ranks, proceeded to site
of proposed M.G. Emplacements to arrange for Dug-out accommodation for
the Battery." This order moves them into the Vimy Ridge sector where
they are retained for several weeks digging improved machine gun battery
positions. It is from this location the Battery is later sent in
March 1918 to undertake, perhaps its most important and costly role of
the war.
[194]
Donna Tracy is the sister to the late Private Tom Tracy who was killed
at Passchendaele, Belgium.
[195]
Mrs. Jonathon is unknown at this time but is likely from the Theodore district.
[196]
This comment tells us that William Mercer, father of Private Richard Mercer,
did not write very often - all letters sent to Pte Mercer were in the hand-writing
of and signed by his mother Georgina.
[197]
The Battery has been involved in endless training. During any extended
periods in the rest billets the battery would have kept battle ready by
the daily routine of the 'Syllabus of Training.' Their day would typically
start at 6:45 a.m. with P.T. (Physical Training) for half an hour. Breakfast
would follow. Beginning at 9:00 a.m., the day would be broken up and the
men would take part in such activities as musketry (rifle shooting), bayonet
fighting, and lectures on specific military topics (e.g. map reading) by
officers and NCOs (a platoon corporal or sergeant). The day was usually
finished off with sports. The evening could have activities planned or
the men would have time for themselves. All were expected to be bedded
down for the night by 9:45 p.m. TOM
ARNOTT Soldier 214384 - France and Flanders
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