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Date: September 23rd 1916
To
Mrs. Robinson
From
Lt. Col. Gascoigne
Letter

60th Canadian Battalion
(Victoria Rifles of Canada)

In the field,
Sept. 23-1,6.

Mrs. J. Robinson,
P.O. Box 84
Napanee, Ont. Canada

Dear Mrs. Robinson: -

It was with sincere regret that I was obliged to cable you to-day that your son Joseph had been killed in action.

We were in a particularly hot corner and your son was leading his men to their position in the trench preparatory to making an attack on the Germans when unfortunately he was shot through the heart and instantly killed.

His body is buried on the battlefield in France along with many other gallant officers and men who fell in the same attack and the services, I understand, conducted by the Minister who was in charge of the burial party, whose task it was to clear the battlefield.

Your son was a splendid soldier as well as a splendid man, always attentive and assiduous in his duty, well-liked and respected by his Officers and men.”

It was a grief to me to lose such a worthy Officer and I can only ask you to accept the deepest sympathy from myself and his brother Officers in your bereavement and I hope that your grief may be lessened some what by the fact that your son gave his life in the service of is country and was spared the agony which many other poor fellows go through when wounded before they pass away

Believe me,
Yours sincerely, 

[Gascoigne]                                                  

 Lieut. Col.
 Commanding 60th Canadian Bn – V.R.C.

Original Scans

Original Scans