Letters From the Front

Captain Archibald Smellie Brown

Impressions of the battle at Vimy Ridge

Toronto Star - June 16th, 1917 Published: June 16, 1917

Brown's letter was published within a newspaper article. A transcription of the introduction reads:

BRAVERY WINS PROMOTION

Lieut. Brown Wins Captaincy For Actions at Vimy Ridge

For his gallantry at Vimy Ridge, Lieut. A. S. Brown has been given the rank of captain and command of a company. In a letter written to friends in Toronto shortly after the engagement he says:

(see text below)

The article's conclusion:

Capt. Brown was attached to the 201st Battalion, but left Toronto last September with a draft of officers. He has been in France since October.

Note: he later served with the 58th Battalion.

Dated: June 16, 1917

"I am writing this letter in a German dugout - or rather it was a few days ago, for it belongs to us now. The poor old Huns got an awful shock. Now we can wander all over ground that a day or two ago belonged to them and we can look for miles at his trenches."

"Some of our fellows got a Hun machine gun and found three of our men in a German dugout. They had been wounded and made prisoners when the Germans left them. To their credit it must be said that the wounded men were well looked after. There are various German books and paper in this dugout, black bread and bombs galore. I slept last night on a most comfortable bunk with two German officers' greatcoats to keep me warm. We may be pretty tired and not particularly comfortable, but we're very elated."

Transcribed by: M. I. Pirie