Letters From the Front

Major Albert Edward Kimmins, 1st Battalion Western Ontario Regt.

1st Battalion Training at Valcartier

The Dundas Star Published: September 17, 1914

The following letter was sent by Major Albert Edward Kimmins, 1st Battalion Western Ontario Regiment, to Lt. Col. William E. S. Knowles. At the time of the letter Major Kimmins was in training with his men at Valcartier Camp in Quebec. Before the war, Major Kimmins was the General Manager of E. D. Smith & Sons, fruit dealers, Winona, Ontario. Major Kimmins had 15 years experience with the 77th Wentworth militia regiment which had its headquarters in Dundas, Ontario. Mr. Kimmins was a mason and was active in musical circles. (Source: Toronto Star, April 26, 1915).

Lt. Col. W. E. S. Knowles was a Dundas Ontario barrister and a prominent member of the 77th Wentworth regiment. The 77th was reassigned to the 1st Battalion Western Ontario Regiment while they were training at Valcartier.

During the early months of the war a number of former 77th Regiment men sent letters home to Mr. Knowles in Dundas. The Dundas Star newspaper was looking for war news that was directly related to Dundas men, and frequently published the letters to Lt. Col. Knowles.

Major Kimmins was killed in action during the 2nd battle of Ypres. This was the first major engagement for the 1st battalion men. The 1st and 4th battalions were ordered to counter-attack following the notorious gas attack. They had been in reserve, and at midnight they began a march which took them from reserve and across the canal. The planned attack was delayed several times. When the counter-attack occured during the early morning hours, the men were quickly mowed down by the German machine gun fire. Kimmins body was not found and he is remembered on the Menin Gate, Belgium, and on the Stoney Creek Ontario war memorial. He left behind a wife and two children.

Kimmins' story was also told in the account of the Canadians at Ypres by historian Daniel Dancocks.

M. I. Pirie

Dated: September 7, 1914

WORKING THE BOYS HARD

Long Days of Hard Training at Valcartier

The following brief extracts from Major Kimmins' letters to Col. W. E. S. Knowles, give evidence that every effort is being made at Valcartier to get the troops in good military training:

No. 1 Battalion,
1st Brigade,
Valcartier,
September 7th,

Had all the first batch inoculated again, and all the balance done for first time. Raining again all afternoon. Heavy downpour, with thunder. I thought this ground would take all the water you could pour on it, but I find there is a limit. It is becoming waterlooged and we are getting it in our tents. I can hardly conceive a more miserable outlook than this place in this kind of weather. The tops of the mountains are covered with clouds, and when not raining, a damp Scotch mist over everything. Impossible to dry clothes from yesterday's soaking.

Sept. 11th,

Just a few lines written after 11 p.m. Hill is giving us all that is coming to us. Out for musketry 7 a.m., got in from battalion in attack, 9:30 p.m. Had a lecture from which we broke up at 9 p.m. All the camp work to do after that.

Insurance Agent Johnson has been here for three days, and got everything settled. He will give you a good idea of what we are up against.

Sept. 12th,

I am afraid there are some of your letters unanswered, but we are having some of the longest days that the militia have ever been called on to perform. The old time camp of instruction was like a Sunday school picnic by comparison.

To-day we are the duty company and as most of the men are doing fatigues, I am taking a little time to catch up.

I have not yet located the knives sent by the Mayor, but will hunt again when I am down to the office to-day. Neither has the foot powder come forward, but when you consider that my trunk was seven days reaching me, you need not wonder about smaller parcels.

Some of our men have been rejected medically, and when they are returned I would suggest that those out of work be given jobs at Niagara. I will give you records of each man.

Sept. 13th,

We have just come in from church parade, and for a chance had a perfect day for a Sunday. Mr. Frank Lennard, Sr.,¹ dropped in quite unexpectedly. Needless to say there was one man in the bunch who felt happy.

¹Mr. Frank Lennard was a Dundas businessman (Lennards Knitting Mills). He later visited the wounded 1st Battalion boys from Dundas when they were in hospital in England.

Transcribed by: M. I. Pirie