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 51:
Georgina Mercer to Pte. Richard Mercer - April 1, 1919
Theodore, Saskatchewan, Canada
Box 173
Theodore Sask.
Canada
April 1st 1919
Dear Rich
Am writing[296] this
in hopes it will catch you[297]
if you have not already set sail for Canada. I think you will be
back before May. I hope so. Alan got home early in March -
so guess you missed seeing him in France.
Dennis[298] had two
weeks leave & is now in Germany, Harold Ashdown[299]
has got the Sec. Tres. for Municipality. Wish you had been here because
you could have got it for John Smith said so. The Post Office here
is to go to a returned solder - we wonder what you views are - anyway get
back as soon as you can. Harry Austin[300]
is expected soon - he was in Ripon Yorkshire.
Harry Pendleberry & Nettie Mason[301]
are to be married next Monday April 7th. I told you this in my last
letter.
Let us hear from you when you land in Winnipeg[302]
- try to meet you in Yorkton - Uncle Raymond was here on Sun- for the day
- he says he will come down with you from Yorkton - am beginning to realize
you may be with us soon - and naturally beginning to get elated.
Our dearest love to you. I have a feeling whilst I write this
that you are on the Ocean now.
Your Loving Father and Mother.
PS Hoping you are well we should have a lot to talk about.
Footnotes
[296] This is the only surviving
letter from Georgina and William Mercer to their son. By regulation,
all letters from home were destroyed at the Front after being read.
This prevented information from falling into enemy hands and being used
for military intelligence. The fact this letter survived indicates
the letter did not reach Pte. Richard Mercer in France, was not opened
and therefore not required to be destroyed.
[297]
On 29 March 1919, and a few days before his mother letter is mailed to
him, Pte. Mercer (911016) is given a " A Medical Examination Upon Leaving
the Service of Officers and Other Ranks Who Have No Disability" by Dr.
James O. MacDonald, Capt. MD/MC at Seaford, England. His physique
is listed as "Good", weight is estimated at 170 lbs, height 5'8", vision
is 6/6 in each eye and hearing is 21 ft in both ears. Five (5) medical
conditions/injuries are noted (measles, German measles, concussion, impetigo
and G.S.W. Forehead) with the comment "recovered". Both he and
his mother's letter will pass each other on the Atlantic Ocean. [G.S.W.
= gun shot wound]
[298]
"Dennis" is her nephew 2/Lieut. D. (Denis) H. Emery, Essex Regt. who suffered
from trench fever in the later stages of the war, recovered in southern
France in an officer's convalescent hospital and is on occupation duty
in Germany.
[299]
According to the Theodore and District history book, Harold Ashdown's parents
came to Theodore, Saskatchewan from Manitoba and originally were from England.
The family was related to the hardware store millionaire from Winnipeg.
[300]
Harry Austin grew up in Theodore and worked as a carpenter. During
the Great War he spent 36 months in France and was wounded twice.
When he returned from active service he married Flora Henderson of Theodore
and became involved in managing lumberyards.
[301]
'Nettie' may have been one of the daughters of the Mason family of the
Theodore district, who came to Canada from England in 1909 and settled
in the Sheho area. northwest of Theodore.
[302]
Winnipeg is the headquarters for the 10th Military District. The personal
effects of Richard Mercer include the "Canadian Expeditionary Force
Discharge Certificate for Private Richard W. Mercer (911016) was issued
as part of 'Demobilization' by Lieut. Wm. Halladay. War Services
Badge, Class "A" Number 185375. Military District No. 10."
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