Rochester Cathedral and Castle Across the River Medway
Author of Letter: Noah C Draper, 30 yrs old
Dated: Feb 11, 1916 (should be 1917 as Noah only joined in Nov 1916)
Mailed from: Chatham, England
Attached to: HMS Pembroke (Royal Naval Barracks)
Profession: Farmer, Temporary Sailor
Rank: Ordinary Seaman, Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reserve
Addressed to: Mrs. N.C. Draper, Keswick, Ont.
Relationship: Wife
Writing instrument: Fountain Pen with Black Ink
Writing Paper: 1 sheet 9" x 6" medium weight, smooth, linen-look, folded into a 4-page booklet form. Noah hasn't numbered the pages, and he's using a form he's used often before where his first page is the front "cover", then he's opened it and written on the right side, then moved over to the left side - turned the page sideways - and written there, and finally, he's closed it and written on the back. For clarity, I'm posting the pages in the order they were meant to be read.
People mentioned in this letter:
Ethel* - Ethel Isabel Draper, 27 yrs old, (Noah's wife of 6 yrs)
Alice - Alice Alma Prosser*, born June 1915, daughter of Ethel's sister Sadie*
Katie - unknown at this time
Places/things mentioned in this letter:
- U.S.A. entering the war (USA entered WW1 on April 6, 1917)
- hut - the barracks
- ditty box with shaving kit & little things like photos
- Rochester* - city in Eastern England
- Rochester Cathedral (see postcard at top of post)
- English church** - the Church of England
Word or Phrase Use:
ect - the abbreviation for the Latin phrase of et cetera which means "and all the rest" or "and so on and so forth." Modern dictionaries say it should be abbreviated as etc and that ect is simply a spelling error. However, I've noticed that many senior members of our society, as well as those on the other side of the pond, both in Great Britain and in Europe, spell it as ect like Noah does.
Legend:
* Look under the Categories/Labels in the right side column for more posts on this
person/place/thing, or use the search box in the header at the top of this page
** see History Notes below
| Feb 11/16. Mrs. N.C. Draper, Keswick, Ont. Canada. My Dear Wife & children;- Well Ethel Sunday is around once more & I am not sorry to see them pass as it brings this war so much nearer to an end. Well I suppose by the time you receive this the U.S.A. will be in the war. I hope so in the interest of humanity. I hope the children are all well also Allice is out of all danger, there is three men |
| out of our hut in the Hospital but they are all improving. Have not received any photos yet suppose you have sent them before this. the photoes of us just fit nicely in my ditty box, I keep my shaving outfit & little things in it but there is a place in the lid for photoes w. paper & ect. so I can keep them clean. Well I have not heard from the others yet but expect to soon. No I have not got Katie's adress yet & do not think I will have a chance to see her even when I do get it. as we will |
| have no more leave. only Sat. after noons or else Sunday from 9 am. untill Monday at 7 30 a.m. so one can not go very far. Well I walked up to Rochester again today (alone) and went to the cathedral it was built about 400 years before America was discovered & is a grand old place. I could enjoy spending a few months here in peace time with you, but don't think we will ever do it. as train travelling is about your limit. Ha.Ha. Well if ever you get a chance to go into an English church you |
| you want to go. and see the form of course it may not be the same there as hear. but they always read the prayers out of the prayer book & always the same ones just now. & it seems funny to me I can assure you. after being used to our churches. This after-noon I went up to see the boys in the Hospital & stayed with them for an hour or so then came back to Chatham & went to the photographers to get some pictures for a fellow & they were good so I got some taken, Snapshots & will get them tomorrow night. & will send some in my next letter well I guess I will close for this time Bye Bye love to all. from your loving husband N.C. Draper xxxxx |
History Notes
There is 1 History note for this letter of February 11, 1916 (1917):
History Note - English Church
Noah is a Presbyterian and states several times in his letters that he would prefer not to go to the English Church because they read the same prayers over and over from the same books, whereas he's used to prayers spoken from the heart instead of by rote. He calls the Church of England the English Church which was also used on Upper Canada and Canada West census records, as well the records of the vast prairies called the North-west Territories before they became individual provinces.
Previously, Noah has mentioned the English Church when he attended St George's Chapel at HMS Pembroke, as well as the Presbyterian Church in Chatham, which he said is about a mile and a half from the barracks. For more information and images, see:
- WW1 Letters Home - Jan 7, 1917
- WW1 Letters Home - Jan 14, 1917
History Note - English Church
Noah is a Presbyterian and states several times in his letters that he would prefer not to go to the English Church because they read the same prayers over and over from the same books, whereas he's used to prayers spoken from the heart instead of by rote. He calls the Church of England the English Church which was also used on Upper Canada and Canada West census records, as well the records of the vast prairies called the North-west Territories before they became individual provinces.
Previously, Noah has mentioned the English Church when he attended St George's Chapel at HMS Pembroke, as well as the Presbyterian Church in Chatham, which he said is about a mile and a half from the barracks. For more information and images, see:
- WW1 Letters Home - Jan 7, 1917
- WW1 Letters Home - Jan 14, 1917
