Source: Remembering the Great War by the WR Record
Family Search: When John Andrew Gehl was born on 27 September 1888, in Heidelberg, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, his father, Reinhardt Gehl, was 41 and his mother, Mary Ann Woods Trussler, was 35. He lived in Wellesley Township, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada in 1891. He registered for military service in 1914. In 1915, at the age of 27, his occupation is listed as carpenter. He died on 24 April 1916, in Ieper, West Flanders, Belgium, at the age of 27, and was buried in Voormezele, Ieper, West Flanders, Belgium.
“The following letter was received by Mr. Jack Reid from his friend Lance Corp. Jack Gehl. The letter is written somewhere in Belgium on the firing line, and reads as follows:—
Somewhere in Belgium, Jan. 12, 1916
Dear Jack, Received your most welcome letter some time ago and was very glad to hear from you.
Well Jack we have not had our six week’s rest yet, but we expect to get it before long. I am glad to hear that the Officers of the 118th Battalion are mostly local men; but I think that a battalion is better with strange officers. By the way is Archie Lockhart a major or a captain. Well Jack what do the Berlin people think of the soldiers since they got them in the W.G. and R. No doubt you have heard that Jack Gerbig and Carthy from Berlin have been bowled over. When Carthy was killed I was only about ten feet ahead of him, but I was not hit, although I was a little bit scared.
At present we are in a bush in Brigade reserve which consists of fatigues mostly night work. We are having quite fair weather, although it does rain almost every day. There has not been any snow so far, although we would love to see a good snow storm to remind us of Canada. Gee, I wish that I was back and you and I could have some good times again.
How is the grocery business these days. Eggs here are ninety cents a dozen, some price eh? but we do not worry about that for we simply do without them. Well, Jack, I think I will close, hoping this will find you in the best of health as it leaves me the same, although there are some insects that persist in sharing my shirt with me. Hoping to hear from you real soon again.
Yours Sincerely, Jack.”
Berlin News Record 01 February 1916. Page 1.
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 
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