Letters From the Front

Dated: April 26, 1916

DIES A HERO'S DEATH

Word was received by Capt. and Mrs. Henry George Wednesday last from Adjutant-General at Ottawa, the sad intelligence of the death of their son Desmond St. Clair George, as follows: "Deeply regret to inform you 79577 Corp. Desmond St. Clair George, infantry, officially reported killed in action April 4th."

The following letter was received by Dr. George a few days ago;

Boulogne, France,
April 6th, 1916

Dr. George,
Red Deer, Alberta.

Dear Sir, - It is with the greatest regret possible that I write you of the sad yet glorious death of your dear son near St. Eloi. Corp. George was a Corporal in the graduate section of which I had command. We had just got up the delayed rations to one of the bombing posts, under very heavy shell fire and while there a high explosive shell burst very close to us. He was hit in the heart and was dead in less than a minute. I asked if I could give any message to you and mother. His exact reply was: "Tell them Mr. Bradburn, I die like a soldier."

Corp. George was beloved by all. I have the honour to say I had recommended him for a commission, which he would have received shortly.

I myself was wounded by the same shell and am now in hospital at Boulogne. The doctor states that I shall be able to return in about two months.

With deepest sympathy,
W. C. Bradburn,
Lieutenant, 31st Batt.¹

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Corporal George was the fourth son of Mr. and Mrs. George, and was a promising young law student with the firm of Greene & Payne, solicitors, he was 22 years old. He joined the 31st at Red Deer in November, 1914, and trained at Calgary, going to the front last summer. They had been in the trenches off and on, mostly on, since October, and Desmond had developed into an expert bomb thrower. Letters from other soldiers at the front spoke highly of him as "making good," he had been offered a commission in another regiment, but looked forward to promotion in the 31st, and so refused it. Only last month he had the pleasure of meeting several Red Deer boys with the Princess Pats and some with the 12th C.M.R., and Mrs. George only an hour or so after the sad news arrived of his death received a letter fom him dated March 24.

The city was profoundly moved on hearing the sad news as he was a general favourite and many flags were flying at half mast for several days out of respect for his memory.