Letters From the Front

Dated:

Private Wm. Elder of the 4th University company, reinforcing the Princess Pats, recently invalided to England on account of a rather severe wound received in battle, writes to his mother, Mrs. M. M. Elder, in part as follows:

London, October 11. Since last writing you the following interesting event has happened. On Tuesday General Turner, V. C. General Officer commanding the Canadians in England, held an investiture here. About 29 of us from many different units received decorations before a very large review.

We were called out of our various battalions and formed in line, 20 paces from the General, in front of the parade. Then singly we marched forth while the General pinned the medals on us after which he shook hands, congratulated us and wished us every success. After every man had been decorated all the men gave three cheers led by the Brigadier General. Of course we consider it a very great honor to be decorated by such a distinguished personage.

The medal is a very nice one indeed and I am very proud of it. Unfortunately the Order of Merit, i.e. the account did not come down with it but it is for something like this: “This man did valuable work in daylight reconnaissance in locating the enemy and enabling his party to return to our lines without a casualty”. I know the Order of Merit will read very differently, but it was under this that I was decorated.

To any save soldier this will not have much significance, but really it means a great deal considering the nature of the patrol and that personally I was the only one of the party to meet the enemy.

Mr. Elder has fully recovered from his wound and expects to receive a commission and intends joining the aviation corps.