June 1916

[Written on Y.M.C.A. stationery]

Grosevenor Camp

Capt W.A. Wililams, Co 149 Batt

London, Ontario, June 4th, 1916

To. Miss Madeline G. Lucas

Arkona, Ontario

Dear Madeline,

Your kind and welcome letter was received. Glad you are well and that you are so cheerful at this particular time. I am well only a very heavy cold which makes one feel so miserable. As I am writing a very heavy storm is raging and the lightning lights the tent up quite bright. The rain is falling in torrents and the boys are mostly in their tents, some went up town in the afternoon and are not in yet. The band boys are in the tents just back of my tent and they are kicking up some noise. They play sadly tonight, due to being away from home or because of the rain. This is one great camp and the several here makes one great military appearance. Some 10,000 in a square mile. We are right in the centre of them all. We are just north of Carling Heights.

One camp is low and wet and just looks like a lake. I hope it soon quits raining as we are tired of the wet. This will be one uncomfortable night for the boys as I believe some are being flooded out. D. Coy is on good ground and O.K.

I must tell you I was to church parade in the morning and it was great, 2000 of us lay down on the ground and listen to our chaplain. 140 Bn & 168 Bn. We sure have a good Bn and they say in London we are the best. The Officers are tallest and biggest of any Battalion. Now I cannot telly much more about the 149. Gordon Brown is now a Sergt and Huntley is Corporal now. No boys got passes but Donaldson and I hear McKee and Wyatt are home again. Say they make me tired and they just hate me I suppose if they had never signed up they would be so much better off. They can thank me for getting a girl because of signing up. Several will be home next Sunday. Nearly all wanted home and we wouldn’t grant passes. Only 10% will get passes next week. I will explain the camp to you when I come home also my place and the lieutenants we have.

Now Madeline I will change the tune right here and give you a little information. I will be going home Monday 2 P.M. June 12 and expect to be off for 1 week. My application has been approved of by Col. Bradley and is now sent to Headquarters. I was up town yesterday and done some buying for the occasion. I will be already soon as I get leave. You pick out where to go as I have no time and no place. You would like th names of those I wish to have go. The first list will be the ones I wish.

J.Y. Williams    R.R. 8 Watford, Ontario

E.H. Williams    R. R. 8 Watford, Ontario

H.Y. Williams    R. R. 8 Watford, Ontario

Mrs H.Y. Williams    R. R. 8 Watford, Ontario

Pte A.C. Williams    D.Coy 149 Bn, Grosvenor Camp, London

2nd list

Mrs Robt Jones    R. R. 8 Watford, Ontario

Mrs Wm Ross    R. R. 8 Watford, Ontario

Margaret and Lola Ross    R. R. 8 Watford, Ontario

If you should have a large wedding which I ams sure is not the case, I would ask you to consider Fuller Bros. also Mr & Mrs W.M. Shore. Warwick. Now this is all I have to say which explains all. Be sure and have some nerve tonic for me as I will collapse for certain. Be sure and have the ring and papers handy before I tremble. Madeline I am sure you will be more grit than I. Oh say you ask Rev Fair or write me and I will phone him. This will be about all as far as I know. Tell Lyda she can drive us to the station. I guess it’s not safe to let two drive a car. I hope she doesn’t think I would be angry over that little mix up.

You spoke of Sarnia. This will be read on your return. Please write me if any information needed. This will be my last letter as I am sure busy. Madeline do me a favor don’t out class me too far by such expensive dress. I trust you will be in the best of spirits when I next call on you Monday or Tuesday evening. I will close wishing my dearest friend every success.

I remain as ever,

Your loving friend, Will

P.S. 9:30 P.M. Everybody is in for a time tonight. Tents flooded and another storm coming up. W.A.W. 

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Arkona, June 12, 1916

To Miss Madeline Lucas: —

The pleasant duty has been assigned me by my companions of the D.A.M.I.D.K. Club of presenting you this token as an evidence of our lasting esteem, friendship and love. We could not consent to part with you without leaving in your hands some memorial, however trifling, of deep and abiding gratitude for your unceasing efforts to give us pleasure, so we ask you to accept this little gift.

When in future days you look upon this memento, let it be a pleasant token of the deepest love and reverence of our young hearts.

D.A.M.I.D.K, we part companionship with Madeline as she goes to her home and various duties. We part friends and carry with us pleasant memories of her happy face here. May her future life be as happy and pleasant as have been the past years she has been with us. And now with thanks for the past and good wishes and success for the future it is ours to say “Good-bye”.

Signed on behalf of the D.A.M.I.D.K.

“Miss” Lena Oakes, President

“Miss” Iva White, Secretary 

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Wedding Invitation 14 June 1916

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20 June 1916 [unconfirmed] Sent to Mrs W.A. Williams at Arkona

A newspaper clipping dated June 20.

“Large Preparations for Coming Season” announcing guests at the Imperial Hotel in Grand Bend to include W.A. Williams, captain 149th Bn among others. 

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Watford. Ont.
June, 25 / 16


Dear Brother ;-

I received the card you sent me awhile ago and would have answered sooner only you being home so soon after you got all the news and I hadn’t anything to write. I would like to hear from you and Alf often for everybody asks about yous and they seem surprised when I feel them I never hear. Alf has never sent a line this way but I got a letter from Port Huron saying they hear regular so I suppose he is alright. I heard last night that the 149 is going to Camp Borden right away. I was wondering if it was so or only talk. I was in hopes you’s would be in London the most of this summer if you get away up there. You’s won’t have much chance of getting home very often.

We have had a few days of fine weather last week and I was making use of it to draw out manure and I will finish that job in about three more days and road works starts on Thursday so that will take all this week.

Aunt Emily didn’t feel like going to Church today so I got ready and went down home this forenoon and found Pa alone keeping back. Mrs Rose and Margaret went out to Thedford with Davidsons but we got along alright and I was glad I went. I went to Watford last night with Harry and Rosa and he let me run the car out to town. This is the first time I have run it for about two years but I think I can manage it alright if I had a little practice. I don’t know whether Pa will learn to run it or not. He said today he wished I could run it for there is some places he wants to go and he can’t depend on Harry to take him for Rosa will only let him go where she wants to go. I was in hopes we could get to London to see the camp grounds while you are there but if they leave soon we won’t be able to get down.

How is Madeline? I suppose she is in London with you. I didn’t get a chance to ask her to come and see us but I suppose she knows we will be glad to have her come anytime she can come. Did you hear that Grace has another boy? It came Friday morning. I guess Dick thinks he is doing his bit for his country but I think it would be better for him to slack off and use some of his energy at something else.

I am sending some of the Church statements. You can give one to Alf and one to Fred Adams or let Alf give it to him so they can see what they give. I have lots of them so I will put one in for you. If you have time to look at it you will see how things are going now. They use envelopes now and it makes a lot of work keeping the books but last vestry meeting they passed a motion that I get five dollars a year after this so it won’t be so bad.

Well Will, I haven’t anymore news to tell you so I will close hoping you and Alf are well and that the camping conditions are getting better so it won’t be so hard on you. And write soon and let me know how you are getting along. I count Madeline too. Although it seems strange to think she is my sister-in-law tell Alf to write whenever he can. 

I remain your loving Brother. 

E[ugene].H. Williams

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[Addressed to Mrs W.A. Williams, 606 Princess Ave. London, Ontario]

Arkona, Ont. June 25, 1916

Dear sister how are you we are all well ma and pa went to church this morning and there is only lida and charlie and me home ma and charlie and I are going for a ride today and we are going sunday school this afternoon and next sunday the sunday school goes in at ten o’clock ma was just writing you a letter today we are going to school monday tuesday and wednesday. Jack and Mary were [?] yesterday and they will be back to moro.

we read your dear letter yesterday charlie is working in the basket factory he got a dollar and 60 cents saturday night next saturday is the first of july and mabe lid is goin to go to london to see you when are the 149 your to leave London how is will getting along I am coming to london in summer holidays I want ada and J[?] to come out sometime we are all going to church to night it is Mr fairs farewell. I will close now so good bye from arnold 

[Ed. note — I’ve transcribed Arnold’s letter as written to preserve the boyish charm of his writing.]

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