Search The Archive

Search form

Collection Search
Date: June 25th 1915
To
Mrs. G.V. Strong
From
Ronald Garratt
Letter

RONALD V. GARRATT WRITES OF MAJOR BOLSTER.

When the records of the terrible war are written, it will be found that among those that went to the front from our proud Dominion none fought more bravely and more steadfastly than the officers and men from Cobourg and Northumberland County. Lieut. Doxsee died encouraging his men to be brave and do their duty. Capt. Hodge has made a name for his machine gun section that is known the whole length of the British line, which he has transferred twice since going into active service. Lieut Craig, although wounded, stood at the post of duty continuously, caring for those more sorely injured, and won in a high degree the respect and regard of his men and the Brigade to which he was attached. Major (Rev) William Beattie has been indefagible in comforting the wounded and the dying, looking after morale of his whole brigade, and in sympathetic communication with the bereaved in Canada. Captain Snelgrove was wounded in a gallant charge, to which special reference has been made by eye-witnesses at the front. Lieut MacNachtan has showed that he possesses in no small degree the fighting blood of his sires, while our other officers, non-commissioned officers and privates have acquitted themselves nobly. Frequent mention has been made of Major Bolster and this has recently been again referred to in a letter received by his sister, Mrs. G. V. Strong, Port Hope, from Ronald V. Garratt, written from Northern France. He says:

I can quite realize your anxiety and the strain of suspense. And while we have shared your anxiety to a large extent, the one fact that endeared the Major's memory to us was not the actual fact of his injury, it was, the matter of the fall. None know better than any of us who have passed through the tide of awful strain what mental suffering fell to the Major's lot as he found himself forced to retire. I myself, realized this early in the day when I heard him ask an officer of another Battalion if it was true he was to be left in the trench with a handful of men. Despite his many cares he preserved a helpful cheery nature and was calm to the very last, and to this we are all indebted. To me and undoubtedly to many others it has all a source of real inspiration. If I should receive definite word of Major Bolster, I shall be happy to let you know right away.
RONALD V. GARRATT.
Northern France.