Somewhere in Flanders: A letter from Captain Samuel Monteith Loghrin

This letter was written in the trenches in Flanders. The 18th Battalion had been at RIDGEWOOD in Brigade Reserve up until January 15, 1916 when it relieved the 19th Canadian Battalion at VIERSTRAAT.

On the 16th of January a compatriot, Lieutenant Ambery was promoted to Captain that day but Major Sale was killed by rifle grenade and then died of his wounds that day. Major Milligan (mentioned in Loghrin’s previous letter) went on leave as well as 7 other ranks.

From the war diary the front in their area was relatively quite. From the 15th to their relief on the 21st 9 men, one officer (Milligan) and 8 other ranks were killed.

Below is a letter written by Captain Loghrin relating to some of his thoughts and ideas. I have copied as is leaving the editing from the original source in place as well as the notes. An explanatory paragraph will follow in italics with additional information, if needed.

18/1/(19)16

“Some-Where-In-Flanders

Dear Mother,

I have an hour or two to spare and can write a few letters!  I am afraid you are not a very regular correspondent.  But one thing I know for sure is that if you wrote every time you think of Don¹ and I you would hamper the mails.  Don is right in the pink.  His rank as lance corporal has been confirmed (and) with some more experience and a short course of instruction I hope to see him get another promotion.  But rest assured of this, he has to earn it or he won’t get it because he happens to be my brother.  But one thing is in Don’s favour; he is very popular with the men.”

As mentioned in the notes below, Donald Monteith Jeffery, was the half-brother to Captain (later Major) Loghrin and it is interesting to note his comments about potential perceived favouritism about any promotion his half-brother would receive.

“Major E. is sick in hospital with rheumatism² and I am in charge.  This is the 2nd time he has been away from the company.  Charlie Lale a great friend of mine died in the ambulance on the way to 15 hospital last night.  He was hit by what is known as German Sausage last night when on duty in front line.  The shock more than his wounds finished him.  Shell exploded about a foot from him.  The amount of explosive material in them is so great that it simply shatters the nerves and this in turn affected his heart.  Such are the chances of war and we have to take whatever comes our way.  It is raining today.  In this country it rains when it snows at home.  It might have been better here but we are all in good health and able to “Carry On”.”

Major E is most likely Major Emmerton. Major Emmerton suffered from rheumatism and was in and out of hospital in an attempt to resolve this and stay in the line. See this letter for more information.

Charlie Lale is, in fact, Major Charles Edward Sale, the officer who died on the 16th. Most likely Major Sale died from the concussive effects of the explosion.

“Anne³ must be a grade A housekeeper by this time.  Hope mother you are letting her do all the work.  That is the proper way to train a daughter.  About the husband question wait till the war is over.  All the real men are employed in Belgium or on the way there at present.”

This is an illuminating comment. Open to several interpretations the delineated roles of men and women, which the First World War would help change, are expressed very clearly. Coupled with that Captain Loghrin makes it clear that for Anne to pick a potential partner that partner’s willingness to serve will determine that man’s value.

“Some time ago I received a letter and picture of Jane’s baby; he is certainly a husky looking infant.  I have mislaid their address in Chicago.  Tell Annie to send it to me.”

“I wrote Bill* a long letter the other day.  Great to know he has changed his mind about enlisting.  Two of your sons are quite enough on this job.  I had a parcel one day last week from the Liverpool Street people** – a pair of socks were enclosed for Don knitted by Maude^.  I will have to question that lady about cradle snatching.  Don’t laugh!”

This passage is very ironic given the previous paragraph regarding Anne. On one had Captain Loghrin expresses the machismo and hyper nationalism common at that time during the war but then, when it applies to a family member, Captain Loghrin’s experiences in the war compel him to express the exact opposite moral and ethical valuation. It is not known at this time if William Nelson Jeffery served in World War 1.

“The Hamilton’s of Glascow [sic] are writing to Don regularly.  He will spend his leave there.  That is if he is fortunate enough to get leave.  Who got elected Mayor of Stratford?  What happened (with) the Local Option campaign^^?  Tell Ann to wake up and write me a long letter telling me all the news.”

“So far I have been very fortunate regarding sickness.  Never been one day out of business but I don’t want to brag.  My turn may come soon enough.  I have become a confirmed tobacco smoker since joining the army.  It used to be that I could do without tobacco at times but now I am a constant user. We have more tobacco than we can smoke.  The government are certainly treating us well in the matter of supplies.”

“Because of the way the Germans use poisonous gas we have to keep watching the direction of the wind all the time.  When on duty you are like the skipper on board ship.  The Huns tried it once here about a month ago but we were ready and our fire simply knocked them cold.  They did not leave their own trenches,”

This passage indicates that the Canadians/British used artillery fire on the German trenches to suppress the attack.

“With love and Best Wishes for a Happy New Year.

I am
Your loving son
Sam”

  ¹ Donald Monteith Jeffrey, Sam’s half-brother.
² This word is unclear in the original longhand.
³ Anne Frances Jeffrey, Sam’s half-sister and Fannie’s youngest daughter; she was 20 years old at this     time.
* William Nelson Jeffrey – Bill was the oldest of Sam’s half-brothers; he was 23 years old at this time.
** Lizzie Loghrin, Martha Loghrin and Isabella McLellan were spinsters who lived at 42 Liverpool St. in Guelph.
^ Maude Loghrin, Sam’s 1st cousin, was another spinster who at this time lived with her mother on London Rd. in Guelph.
^^ This was a vote as to whether the municipality would go wet or dry; Stratford voted overwhelmingly wet in 1916 but overall the province voted in favour of prohibition.  Information from www.visitstratford.ca/media/pdf/liquor.pdf .

Below is the 18th Battalion War Diary during the dates related in the above letter: