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 38:
Pte. Richard Mercer to William and Georgina Mercer
- May 8, 1918
Verdrel, France
France[227]
May 8/18[228]
Dear Father & Mother:-
Have not received any mail from you for a couple of weeks but suppose
my mail is held up somewhere. Am having a fine time down here and
such lovely weather. I think I told you in my last letter that I
was down the line again at the Reinforcement Camp[229].
My Battery was full up when I got up there so expect to be here for a few
more weeks[230].
I hope I do anyway. I am not in a very big hurry to go up again.
In fact they could keep [me] here for duration if they like. I was
offered two trips[231]
yesterday but I didn't think it worth while so didn't take them.
Perhaps I was foolish but it doesn't matter[232].
Received a letter from Mr. Joyce a few days ago. He wants me to go
and see them on my next leave. The Bishop won't let him join up so
he has to be content and stay. I hav'nt received the parcel you sent
me some time ago. I will tell you sometime when I get a chance of
what happened to a lot of the letters and parcels belonging to our Brigade.
I also lost a parcel from Hilda with two hundred cigs and a razor strop.
Hoping you are both well.
Your Loving Son
Rich
P.S. Have just written to Halsalls for a pound. Please send
it on to them. Rich
Footnotes
[227] At this time Private Richard
Mercer is not with the Borden Motor Machine Gun Battery which is stationed
in Verdrel, France. The Ludendorff Offensive has paused until Operation
Blucher begins on 29 May 1917. On this date the War Diary stated,
"Fine. Machine Gun Training Capt. French W.J. attached from C.M.G.C.
R.D. (Motor Br) and assumes Command of this Battery with Capt. Inch R.F.
attached to 1st C.M.M.G. Bde. ('A' Battery), signed Capt. French W.J.,
Commanding Borden M.M.B. BATTY"
[228]
There is a hand-written set of comments on the letter possibly written
by Georgina Mercer. The first reference has a comment that states
"Envelope dated Army P.O. June 11" and the second comment states "We think
it is June". It appears these notes relate to a possible mistake
in the date of the letter sent by Pte. Richard Mercer. The original date
has been used in this instance.
[229]
After being wounded a second time during the Ludendorff Offensive near
Villers-Brettoneux in April 1918, Pte. Mercer is delayed from returning
to his Brigade which is over-manned at the moment. Having seen his
Battery virtually wiped out in a matter of hours, he has no illusions about
war. Very, very few friends remain in the Brigade and he would now
be among a lot of strangers. The name and location of this Reinforcement
Camp where he has been accommodated requires more research.
[230]
This comment indirectly provides some indication of the expected and normal
attrition rate of the Borden Battery of 56 men.
[231]
At present it is not certain what the term "trips" means. It is possible
it is either reference to another posting or he had the opportunity to
undertake some motorcycle dispatch riding.
[232]
The tone of this letter now presents a ‘laissez-faire’ attitude
with the patriot soldier has been replaced by a tired young man.
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