Letters From the Front

Pte. Harold Compton

Pte. Harold Compton, 60th Battalion, front line experiences.

Toronto Evening Telegram Published: December 6, 1916

Pte. Harold Compton was killed on November 26th, 1916. His brother, Pte. Charles Duncan Compton, 18th Battalion, was killed in action at Vimy Ridge on April 9th, 1917.

Transcription of the beginning of the newspaper account that published Compton's letter:

HAROLD COMPTON KILLED

Had Two Brothers Serving With the Colours.

Signaller Harold Compton, 696 Ashdale avenue, who is today reported to have been killed in action, was born at Beverley, England, 19 years ago, and had been in Canada about two years. Prior to enlistment with the 95th Battalion, from which he was subsequently transferred, he was employed on a farm at Indian River, Ontario.

Writing to his father on October 14, he said:

(text of letter - see below)

A brother of Signaller Compton, Percy, is a member of the Royal Field Artillery from England, while a younger brother, Charles, who is only seventeen years of age next birthday, is a signaller with the 124th Battalion.

Dated: October 14, 1916

"We are only company signallers now and have to do working parties. We were out digging a trench one night and Fritz gave us a pretty lively time, sniping and whizz-bangs. He must spend lots of money on the flares he sends up in hundreds. I was out on outpost and had quite a good view. It looked pretty, but it is not very nice to be in it. The other night we were carrying out a wounded man and Fritz could see us all the way out. He sniped at us and sent over quite a few whizz-bangs. One of them exploded at the other side of the stretcher to me, about five yards away. How it missed blowing us all up I do not know, but none of us got a scratch."

Transcribed by: M. I. Pirie