“I cannot go into details but of late it has become easy to shoot down in cold blood a Hun with his arms above his head.”[i]
It is not clear, without context, where Lt. Samuel Gladstone Stokes’ anger at the enemy has come from. His latter, dated April 18, 1918 has some very strong words.
Since arriving at the 18th Battalion on December 9, 1917, the Battalion has been relatively inactive. Casualties have been low, in fact, January 1918 resulted in one death due to wounds and the other to illness. February was much the same, with the Battalion in training and holding the line but the War Diary of the Battalion and the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade indicate a low level of combat.
The activity in March 1918 had it in the line from March 1 to 6 and then in reserve with training and parades and the odd working party from March 6 to 21. The German attack of the BEF on March 21 (Operation Michael) changed the level of alert for the Battalion and it “stood to” on March 22, 23, and on March 24 marched from Le Pendu Hoc to “Stewart Camp” were it “stood to” on March 26, being, as before, ready to move off in one-hours notice. The rest of the month involves similar activities.
March casualties record four deaths. One soldier who died in Canada of dyspnea. One soldier was executed[ii], and two other soldiers were killed in action.
April 1918 offers a sudden increase in action and activity. On April 2 the War Diary relates that 3 other ranks are killed and 30 wounded “owing to erratic shelling” and probably exacerbated by the lack of cover noted in the War Diary. Funk holes had been order built but this cover was inadequate given the results in casualties to the 18th. In fact, twenty-three soldiers died in the first six days of the month.
It was on the night of April 5, 1918 in which Lieutenant Stokes experiences war in such a manner to reflect in the words of his letter. The 18th Battalion War Diary records:
A patrol of 18 men under Lieut. S.G. STOKES and Sgt. K. Burns set out 5 pm to clear out the trench running SW through N.19.a.60.85 in order to establish a protection on the flanks of both our front and support lines. They successfully bombed down about 150 yds but with area a short distance and established a post at N.19.a.70.90. They inflicted many casualties on the enemy all of whom belonged to the 15 R.I.R. which identification was normal. The party carried out this piece of work without casualty.[iii]
The letter is written thirteen days after the action while the Battalion was in Brigade Reserve at Berles as Bois and offers a raw and visceral expression of arms and the results of combat and its publication, without apparent censor or edit, portrays the feelings of a young officer, perhaps in his first combat assignment. Something happened that resulted in the explosion of vitriol expressed to his mother, something that was sure to shock event the most patriotic parent.
France, April 18, 1918
Dear Mother –
Just a line again to say I am alright, although I have one peach of a cold – voice practically gone entirely, but so it goes. We still must carry one as there is no rest or quitting in these momentous days as the Boche has got to be stopped and surely it is going to fall to the lot of the Canadian corps to play a large part in the coming retaliation, for mark me, retaliate we will and it will not be an eye for an eye, but two eyes and a tooth for every scratch. I believe I mentioned the fact that I gathered a souvenir – a rifle automatic revolver[iv] off a Fritz warrant officer who I killed myself, and what ever happens to me I want John[v] to treasure the thing as a reminder that Samuel G. did a little at least, for the cause, which we all know and realize now is the fight of civilisation against barbarism, and remember, all of you, to make it a part of your creed to hate anything German, because whatever you may read or hear of in the papers about the character of the Hun generally just put me on record as having seen and experienced to a degree just what a despicable creature the Hun is. I cannot go into details but of late it has become easy to shoot down in cold blood a Hun with his arms above his head. They are snakes absolutely.
Well folks, I guess this is all for this time and if what I have written seems rather callous and brutal, just remember that the reasons are adequate and if you had been with me during the past weeks you would feel the same as I. At one time I was fed up and sick of it all but now I want to stay here and kill or be the means of killing Huns and I hope my luck hold for some time yet. Bloss Scott[vi] got hit and is in England. Pray for me mother as I do that I may be returned to you all again.
Your loving son,
GLAD
Source: The Advertiser-Topic. Petrolia, Ontario. May 16, 1918. Letter published by Lt. S.G. Stoke. Found at 149th Battalion CEF – Lambton’s Own Facebook Group
There have been letters reviewed in the past that reflect strong feelings against the Germans. In this case Lt. Stokes is advocating retribution of such a strong nature that it breaks the moral and ethical rules of war. What was it that he saw that garnered such a strong response that was expressed privately in a letter, to be published later in public. Perhaps this letter was published with the consent of the writer and reflects the feelings of the editor and audience of the Advertiser-Topic. The use of the word “retaliation” is used for deliberate effect and his feelings are so strong that that retaliation will exceed that of Exodus 21:24 as the comparative retaliation he wishes on the “Hun” is far from proportionate, as advocated in Exodus.
Lt. Stokes recognizes his fervour and ends the letter with a brief statement of purpose. To kill. A sentiment that most certainly would have shocked his mother, if not the readers of the letter.
Yet it is emblematic of war and its violence and speaks to the pain a soldier experiences from the outcome of combat. Lt. Stokes’ expression is raw. Though not immediate (assuming he is referring to the events that transpired on March 5, 1918) the raw emotion portrayed in print is not far lost even after 100-years has transpired.
Lt. Stokes may have got his wish as his service with the Battalion would continue throughout the rest of the war until he was transferred from the Battalion on February 14, 1919 just after he was awarded the Military Cross.
[i] Emphasis mine.
[ii] Private Edward Fairburn, reg. no. 227098.
[iii] It is interesting to note that on that date the Battalion did suffer five casualties but no connection to this operation was found.
[iv] Possibly a Mauser C96 semi-automatic pistol with a rifle-stock.
[v] Unknown. Possibly a brother.
[vi] This is Bloss Earl Scott, who joined the 149th Battalion on September 16, 1916, eight days after Lt. Stokes. He eventually served with the 2nd Canadian Pioneer Battalion and was wounded with a GSW on April 5, 1918.
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