Letters From the Front

Dated:

NEWS REGARDING MAJOR SANDEMAN

These letters speak for themselves:
Pine Lake, Alberta
August 16th. 1915

Dear Mr. Carswell,

I enclose a letter I received from Miss Sandeman, sister of Major D. R. Sandeman. This letter really gives the first authentic information that has been received concerning the above-mentioned officer. I thought your numerous readers, many of which knew the Major personally, would like to see the account, and I hope you will see your way to have it published in your paper.

Yours truly, A. D. Currie.

Memo, re. Major D. R. Sandeman and Lt. W. Fitzpatrick, both of the 5th Battalion.

Statement by Capt. Wm. M. Hart, M.O., 5th Battalion.

On Saturday morning, April 24th, Major Sandeman was brought into my aid post, located about 10 kilometres east of Ypres and about 100 yards east of the spot known as "the bombarded cross roads." He had been wounded by a high explosive shell. I dressed his wounds in the face, right hand, both legs and feet, as well as a small wound over the stomach, which latter did not seem to penetrate. I then laid him on my Wolseley pelise in the adjoining room. He was quite conscious.

Lt. Fitzpatrick was brought in on a stretcher unconscious, I think on the morning of Sunday, the 25th of April, but I am not certain of the exact time. He was suffering from wounds in the right hand and in the head. His wounds were dressed and he was placed in the same room as Major Sandeman.

On Sunday night, the 5th battalion was ordered to retire and did so past my aid post, and I sent with them, and in charge of my stretcher bearers, all wounded able to walk with or without assistance, and all others for whom we could find means of conveyance. I remained with Pte. Hosie to complete the dressing of wounded not already attended to. There were some 16 or 18 wounded at the aid post at that time.

Just before dawn, on the morning of Monday, 26th, as no word of ambulances had come, Pte. Hosie¹ and I started out in the direction of St. Jean in order to send a message back for ambulances from the 2nd Brigade Headquarters. Pte. Hennesey, who was shot through the abdomen, and two others shot through the legs, begged very hard to leave with us. Accordingly we assisted them down the road and placed them in shell-proof "dug-outs" in some buildings near the "Bombarded cross roads." Before leaving the aid post I promised the wounded that I would either send back aid to them or return myself, unless the enemy should in the meantime get between us.

The last thing before leaving I went in and had a look at Major Sandeman and Lt. Fitzpatrick. The former was restless and not unconscious but apparently delirious. Mr. Fitzpatrick was unconscious. His breathing was stentorious and his pulse feeble, and his whole condition impressed me that the end was drawing near.

It was found impossible to bring the ambulances along the road on account of a very large elm tree brought down by shell fire. Accordingly on Tuesday morning, the 27th, after daylight, I attempted to make my way back to the aid post. I came suddenly on the enemy at the bombarded cross roads and was made a prisoner. I endeavored several times to secure permission to go to the aid post, but was not allowed. However, a German Marine M.O., who spoke English well, promised me that he himself would attend to those wounded. All wounded whom I saw and spoke with while being taken back through the enemy's lines reported good treatment.

While in Germany, and since my return, I have been unable to secure any authentic information regarding either of the above-mentioned officers.