The Simcoe Forester: Aug 13

Aug 13 – France

Dear mother and sister

Just a few lines to let you know I am quite well hoping this letter finds you well. I would have wrote you before this but have been a little busy lately. I know by what you see in the paper you will be worrying about me. Now do not be worrying for I am quite well and going strong.

It has been some little time since I had a letter from you but hope to get one soon. Hope you are getting along fine. Have you got the harvest in yet. How was the oats pretty good.

I bet you have had a busy old summer of it. Never mind I will be home soon to help you. How is Alexs hope they are well.

This letter is going to be short. I will write you a big long letter soon and tell you oceans of news. I must ring off from your ever loving son and brother Bruce

xxxxxxxxxxxx

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Every Remembrance Day we hear about how hard it is to keep the stories of veterans alive, particularly those from the two World Wars. For the next 156 days or so I'm going to post actual letters my great-great uncle wrote home to his mother and sister while serving in WWI. It's my way of remembering, and honouring his memory. It's not a spectacular story full of combat action, although there is some of that. It's an account of an ordinary 20 year old from a small farming community in central Ontario enlisting and serving for a country he loved. Its about farming, it's about war, but mostly it's about being away from home.

James Bruce Speerin was born in Moonstone on February 7,1896. He was a farmer, working the same farm his father did before him.

On January 4, 1916, weeks before his 20th birthday, Bruce enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Forces. He was part of the 177th Battalion, who were recruited from the Simcoe area and part of the Grey & Simcoe Foresters. He trained in Barrie and Orillia and learned to be a Machine Gun Fighter in Toronto. The 177th sailed to England in May 1917. He was part of the 4th Battalion, and fought on the Western Front, in France and Belgium. When he was demobilized in March, 1919 he was just 23.

Where was he on November 11, 1918 when WWI ended? Well, that's skipping ahead.

The Cast

Bruce Speerin - Farmer, WWI Soldier with 177th Battalion
Lizzie Speerin - Bruce's younger sister
Sarah Speerin - Bruce's mother, widowed several years before
Clarence Speerin - Bruce's cousin, served with 157th Battalion Willie Speerin - Bruce's cousin, Clarence's brother, served with 152nd and became a Sargeant.
Allie (or Alex) Speerin - Bruce's older brother
Annie - Allie's wife

Other people were friends and family of the Speerins, in Moonstone, Ontario, a community just outside of Orillia.

The Simcoe Forester

Aug 13 – France

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