Category:

WW1 Letters Home - Apr 3, 1917

5/22/2022

Veda Josie Perrault, 17 or 18 yrs old. Courtesy of Doreen Proctor Burnett.

Author of Letter: Noah C Draper, 30 yrs old
Dated:  April 3. 1917
Mailed from: H.M.S. Bacchante
Attached to: HMS Bacchante
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 with the inside page written across the short width and then down the length like foolscap. The pages are not numbered.

People mentioned in this letter:
Ethel* - Ethel Isabel Draper, 27 yrs old, Noah's wife of 6 yrs
Mother - Sarah Sophia Deverell* Draper, Noah's widowed mother
Eva - Eva Amelia Draper Perrault*, 40 yrs old, one of Noah's sisters
Veda Josie Perrault** 21 yrs old, daughter of Eva and Joseph Perrault
Percy* - Percy Roy Draper, 33 yrs old, Noah's older brother
Kiddies - JD* and Mildred/Midge* - Noah and Ethel's children
Sadie* - Sadie Eliza Nelson* Prosser* is Ethel's 21 yr old sister

Places/things mentioned in this letter:
African Church Service
Fruits and Flowers
Birkenhead - Across the River Mersey from Liverpool, England

Word or Phrase Use:
darky** - common usage at the time of these letters (see Historical note below)

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

H.M.S. Bacchante,
April 3. 1917.

Mrs. N.C. Draper,
Keswick, Ont.
My Dear wife
Well I suppose you
will be wondering where
I am, I am still in the
same port. as when I
wrote the last letter
but expect to move out
soon.
I was ashore to church
last Sunday & it was
the first time I ever
was at church where
there was not a white

preacher, there was about thirty
sailors there & we were the only
white people there. & you would
laugh to see the style of our
darky friends. there was a
choir of men & boys & they are
very good singers.
I have not been ashore only to
church but would like to go
ashore for a couple of hours
to see the fruits & flowers
growing in their natural
surroundings.
Say when did you send
that parcel I have not got
it yet so mabey it is in the
bottom of the sea, eh, We
have not had any mail since
we left Birkenhead but expect
some in a day or so. say did
you send them snapshots I
have not got them so you had
better send some more.

I have only had 1 letter
from Mother 1 from Eva &
one from Percy since I came
over to England so it is
certain that we do not
receive all our mail but
it is a wonder we get as much
as we do when you think of
what they have to handle.
I hope you are all well
as this leaves me, I suppose
your father is buisy sowing
by the time you get this.
Well I guess I will close
for this time, so ByeBy.
kiss the kiddies for
me, & tell Sadie I am
going to write her that
letter some time. Bye Bye Love (?)
N.C. Draper

History Notes

There is one History note for this letter of April 3, 1917

History Note 1 - Use of words to describe Africans

Although we don't know exactly where Noah is in early April 1917, we know he's aboard the HMS Bacchante on convoy escort duties with the 9th Cruiser Squadron which is headquartered on the African coast at Sierra Leone.

In this letter, Noah gets leave to attend the local church. As a Methodist, he is used to a service that is more spontaneous and lively than others, such as the RC or Anglican services, however this is his first attendance at the wonderful uplifting of voices and spirits of an African service. If you've ever seen and heard a Southern Gospel Choir, or listened to a Southern Baptist minister preach to his congregation, then you've only seen and heard a small portion of what Noah probably saw and heard that day.

Noah's comment that Ethel would laugh to see the style of the service and choir is based on her being a choir member and pianist/organist. In Ethel's Oct 30, 1911 Courtship Letter to Noah, they are discussing Noah's niece, Veda Josie Perrault (pictured above), who has recently entered Brandon College in Brandon, Manitoba. Ethel writes, "Is Veda's special subject at school Music. I like you do think that music is some thing worth while. I often wish that I had taken more time and so understood music better, I guess."

Noah refers to the African people as his "darky friends" which was in common usage according to what was written in newspapers and diaries of that time. In a future letter you'll see that Noah refers to them as Negroes, the anthropology classification. However technical, it's no longer in use. Time changes people as well as their opinions, most times for the good.

No offense is intended in the publication of these historic letters. Please note the following image which is a permanent feature on the right sidebar of this blog.

WW1 Letters Home - Mar 28, 1917

5/11/2022

Charles Joel Draper and Gertrude Loretta Canniff

Author of Letter: Noah C Draper, 30 yrs old
Dated:  March 28 / 17
Mailed from: H.M.S. Bacchante
Attached to: HMS Bacchante
Profession: Farmer, Temporary Sailor
Rank: Ordinary Seaman, Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reserve
Addressed to:  Mrs. N.C. Draper
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 with the inside page written across the short width and then down the length like foolscap. The pages are not numbered.

People mentioned in this letter:
Ethel* - Ethel Isabel Draper, 27 yrs old, Noah's wife of 6 yrs
Alice* Prosser - daughter of Ethel's sister Sadie and Cecil Prosser
George & Eliza - Noah's cousin George Draper & wife Eliza Hamilton
Charlie**: Noah's cousin Charles* Joel Draper & Gertrude Canniff
Mildred* aka Midge* - Noah and Ethel's eldest - born Sep 1913

Places/things mentioned in this letter:
Coast of Africa
Texas

Word or Phrase Use:
- 's - While posting these Courtship and WW1 letters, I have discovered that it was customary at the time to add an apostrophe and s ('s) at the end of a name to include the family. So when Noah asks about Charlie's, he's really asking how Charlie and his family are getting along.

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

H.M.S. Bacchante
March 28/17.

Mrs. N.C. Draper,
Keswick, Ont.
Dear Ethel;-
Well we are in port
again after 11 days trip
along the coast of Africa I
can not tell you where
but will not be here I
guess when you getthis,
it is some change from
Canada & I have been
bare footed for 3 or 4 days
& am getting so I like it.
Have not been ashore
yet. but hope to go before

we leave as I would like to see a
little of each country we touch
port at.
I hope you are all well as this leaves
me at present, how is Alice getting
along I hope she is better before
this. I suppose Cecil & Sadie
have moved by this. & also
George & Eliza have gone West?
How is Charlie's getting along
& how do they like the Canadian
winter? I have not written to
him yet but will send him
a card.
Well I see they have the German
troops on the move if they can
only keep them going it will
be worth while, eh. Hope the
U.S. soon makes up their mind
to come in & do a little bit for
the sake of humanity. you often
hear them spoken of among
the sailors as cowards whitch
we know is not so although it

does look as if they are
to proud to fight on
anything but paper.
Well I will be glad
when a mail boat
comes here as it will
shurely have some
mail for me, have not
had a letter for over
3 weeks, but we will
get used to that I guess.
Well I guess I will
close for this time
Tell Mildred I would
like to see her calf but
guess I will have to wait
a while. Bye Bye. Love & XX N.C.
Draper

History Notes

There is one History note for this letter of March 28, 1917

History Note 1 - Charlie Draper

Noah has once again mentioned Charlie in this letter: "How is Charlie's getting along & how do they like the Canadian winter? I have not written to him yet but will send him a card."

So when did Charlie return to Canada?

Charlie is Charles Joel Draper, eldest son of Stephen Draper and Martha Barnhart whom we explored in the last letter.

Charlie was born about 1873 and moved down to Texas sometime after the 1891 Canada census. Although I can't find him on the 1900 U.S. census, nor the 1901 Canada census, the local newspaper that serves the Keswick area shared this tidbit in 1901 about Charlie gifting Stephen with a cowboy hat.

On Christmas Day, Dec 25, 1902, Charlie married Gertie Loretta Canniff, a New Yorker living in the Houston area. The License clipping on the right is the only announcement I've found of their marriage.

Charlie shows up in the 1903, 1905, and 1907 Houston city directories as a painting contractor.

The 1910 U.S. census shows Charles Draper, Painting Contractor, married to Gertrude, and residing in Harris County, Texas. Their household shows 2 children: Clyde S 6 yrs, and Charles J Jr one month. And although the census record shows Charlie as being born in the US, it's not an error to be concerned about since a neighbour might have volunteered the info when the census taker came along.

And then I found a Border Crossing Manifest for a CJ and Gertrude Draper crossing from the US to Canada on April 15, 1916. The couple were coming from Texas with a destination of Keswick, Ontario. But there weren't any children travelling with them, and although their birth dates were close enough, the manifest stated that CJ Draper was an American born in the US.

That's interesting because a birth record for him hasn't shown up on any searches or family trees. Yet.

However, it was enough to confirm that Charlie and Gertie moved back to Keswick the spring of 1916.

When Stephen Draper died in February 1919 his obituary stated that Charles J is on the old homestead. (see clipping on right) That confirmed that Charlie and Gertie are living with his mom at Cedar View Farm.

In the March 15, 1918 issue of the Newmarket Era, an article caught my eye because of the title, Houston Woman as Steamboat Pilot.
I was interested in the facts since I was researching female steamboat pilots at the time, but the final paragraph totally surprised me as it came out of the blue..."Mrs. Griffin is a sister of Mrs. C. J. Draper of "Cedar View Farm" at Keswick, Ont."

More research not only confirmed that Gertie's sister Maud E Conniff married George C Griffin, owner of a Houston sand and gravel business, but that Maud and George were married on that same Christmas Day of Dec. 25, 1902 as Gertie and Charlie.

Interestingly, another tangible piece of evidence we have that Charlie and Gertie Draper were now living in Canada is from the Newmarket Era who printed a series of letters received from families of local boys serving overseas. A letter from Fred Hepple was published on Feb 22, 1918 and is too long to display here, but it goes like this:
The following letter was received by Mrs. C. J. Draper of Keswick:
Jan. 1st, 1918
Somewhere in France
My dear mother, and Mrs Chas. Draper, and all at home...
...I must not forget to thank Charlie and wife for contents of parcel, although I have never seen them and hold them as dear as you, and am waiting for that glorious day when I can have a good chat with Charlie."
It is signed, "Your boy, Fred Hepple."

I can only assume that the Hepples and Drapers are close friends in Keswick and that Fred was very young when Charlie, the oldest of Stephen and Martha's children, moved to the US. This would also explain why Fred mentions George and Eliza, Charlie, Stuart/Stewart, and Edith in his letters. (see WW1 Letters Home Mar 22, 1918 for more info on the family)

On the right, I'm posting a clipping of the second letter from Fred Hepple which was published in the Newmarket Era on Aug 23, 1918. In this letter, Fred is in Germany and in the final paragraph we find that he's sending his letters to the Draper family to be read to his own mom.

On April 3, 1919, following Stephen Draper's death, Ontario Land Records show that Cedar View Farm on Lot 3 of the 4th Concession at Keswick was left to Martha and the children they'd had together, with Charlie being considered the head of the family. The record also shows that in February 1924, Charlie paid off his siblings. The legal work was finalized on May 1, 1924 with the notation that George, Stewart, Almeda, and Edith had quit their claim...and Charlie was home to stay.

So how were the Charlie's getting along with our Canadian winter? I'll let you know when I find out.

Charles Joel Draper and Gertrude Loretta Canniff

The Newmarket Era. August 23, 1918

WW1 Letters Home - Mar 22, 1917

5/1/2022

Stephen Draper and Martha Elitia Rothwell Barnhart. Courtesy of Heidi Draper.

Author of Letter: Noah C Draper, 30 yrs old
Dated: March 22 / 17
Mailed from: Unknown port
Attached to: HMS Bacchante
Profession: Farmer, Temporary Sailor
Rank: Ordinary Seaman, Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reserve
Addressed to: Dear Ethel
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 wrote on the first page, opened it flat and wrote page 2 on the right side, then turned the paper sideways and wrote page across the width, and then finally closed the letter on the final page (beside page 1).

People mentioned in this letter:
Ethel* - Ethel Isabel Nelson, 27 yrs old, Noah's wife of 6 yrs
Alice* Prosser - daughter of Ethel's sister Sadie and Cecil Prosser
Ethel Maud* - Noah's sister who married William Albert Rigler*
Percy* - Noah's brother who married Parthena Fisher
Mr Butts - Noah & Ethel's hired* man back in Saskatchewan
George* & Eliza** - cousin George Draper & Eliza Hamilton (Sask farmers)
JD* and Mildred aka Midge* - Noah and Ethel's children/calls babies

Places/things mentioned in this letter:
Bacchante - HMS Bacchante*
Regina - Saskatchewan city 10 miles east of Noah & Ethel's farm
Indian Head - Saskatchewan town east of Regina on main highway
Winnipeg - Manitoba city east of Regina, Gateway to the West

Word or Phrase Use:

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

March 22/17.

Dear Ethel;-
Well we are still at sea
but the mail closes at
6 P.M. so the censurer
on board will be able
to get through them
all before they are
sent back. it is very
very hot here & I am
thousands of miles
from England. I am
feeling fine & hope you
are all the same I
suppose Alice is all

right by this time.
Say where are all the
boys from around there
are they in England or
France, have not saw
anyone from there
yet. but there is one
man on board here
from Regina & one
from Indian Head.
& quite a number from
the West of Winnipeg.
There may be some
mail waiting for us
when we reach port
I hope so any way.

Have you heard from the West
lately & are you going out
in the Spring. I have not
heard from Ethel or Mr. Butts
but the letter I had from Percy
he said he was getting
along all right. I suppose
George & Eliza have gone
home before this. how did
she like it in Ontario for
a change.

Well the war seems
to be progressing
very favorably for the
allies & I hope it will
soon be over but
you can not tell how
long it is going to
last. eh.
Well I guess J.D. &
Mildred will be a lot
bigger when I get back
even if the war was
to end at once. Well
good bye for this time
kiss the babies for me.
Love to all. N.C. Draper

History Notes

There is one History note for this letter of March 22, 1917

History Note 1 - George Draper and his siblings

You'll often see the names of Noah's cousins mentioned in these WW1 letters, and the previously posted Noah and Ethel's Courtship letters, as well as other siblings in the family of Stephen Draper and Martha Barnhart. Stephen is the brother of Noah's father, David Draper. David moved his family out west in 1903, as soon as Noah completed his schooling. Although Stephen lived on and continued the family farm/homestead in Ontario, his children bought farms in the west, and then spent many of their winters near family back in Ontario.

You can find posts on the history of these cousins through these links:

- History of Stewart Draper and Bertha Hamilton
- History of Edith Draper and Frank Kavanagh
- History of, and Letter from, George Draper and Eliza Hamilton
- History of George and Stewart's wives (Hamilton family)

These are the other children of Stephen Draper and Martha Barnhart:
- Charles Joel - History note of next week's WW1 Letter
- Almeda Roscilla - Post coming soon
- Lena Marie 1890-1900
- Ernest Emery 1892-1893

The links above discuss many relatives and friends in the lives of Noah and Ethel. For more information on a certain person, use the search box at the top of the page, or the category list on the right.

On a final note, I'd like to send a huge thank you to Heidi Draper for corroborating our family history and sharing a plethora of photographs, including many of the Barnhart family.

WW1 Letters Home - Mar 1, 1917

3/20/2022

HMS Achilles ca 1905-1920. Public Domain

Author of Letter: Noah C Draper, 30 yrs old
Dated:  Mar 1, 1917 (shows Feb ?, but should be March based on content)
Mailed from:  London
Attached to: HMS Bacchante
Profession: Farmer, Temporary Sailor
Rank: Ordinary Seaman, Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reserve
Addressed to:  Mrs. N.C. Draper, Keswick, Ont.
Relationship: Wife
Writing instrument:  Pen, black ink
Writing Paper: 1 sheet with The King George and Queen Mary Maple Leaf Club 1915 letterhead. Paper is ivory-coloured, thin and feels like newsprint, but pen strokes easily bleed through.

People mentioned in this letter:
Ethel** - Ethel Isabel Draper, 27 yrs old, (Noah's wife of 6 yrs)
the kiddies:
- Mildred* - Noah's daughter, 3 yrs old, aka Midge
- J.D.* - Noah's son, James David*, 9 months old aka Jay in early months
Percy - Percy Roy Draper*, 33 yrs old, Noah's brother, lives in Sask
Katie - unknown at this time
Alice - Alice Alma Prosser*, born June 1915, daughter of Ethel's sister Sadie

Places/things mentioned in this letter:
- in dry dock after being rammed by another boat (HMS Achilles)**
- Tower of London**

Word or Phrase Use:
"laying in the basin"
"I am glad I can say I am a Canadian"
kiddies

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

February 6, 1917

Mrs. N.C. Draper,
Keswick, Ont.

My Dear Ethel;-
Well I am in London on 3 days leave
expected to be at sea before this but
we were laying in the basin ready
to make the trial trip when one night
another boat ramed us & put a hole
in our side, (I was asleep & did not know
about it untill the next morning) so
we had to go back into dry dock & may
be there a week or two. one half of the
crew was given 3 days leave on Monday
& the other half today & given free tickets
so I came up here,
Have not heard from Percy yet so can not see
Katie, Ha Ha. but I want to see the tower
of London, West Minister Abbey & several
other places tomorrow. there is a party
leaving here at 9 30 am. tomorrow & returning
at 5 p.m. costs $1. Well I have not received that

parcel yet, mabey it will be ready waiting
for me when I get back, say Ethel have you
not got that letter where I told you I had
got the Photos I sent it nearly a month
ago. I got a letter from you yesteraday
tell Mildred that I have had milk
to drink since I wrote that other letter
altho I would like to have a drink from her
cow, & when her daddy gets back from this
war he will not leave again in a hurry
unless he has to. Ha Ha.
Well I hope Alice is better before this
I know how they would feel if they lost
her but we must hope for the best, eh.
There is quite a few Canadians here
at the club no one else is allowed here
& it makes one feel good to be among
the Canadians again for when all is
said & done they are hard people to beat
& I am glad I can say I am a Canadian.
Say dont make any mistakes about 1/2 sheets
of paper, see they are whole & then fill
2 or 3 for I like to get long letters.
Well I guess I will close for this time
as it is getting late will write
again on Sunday. Bye Bye.
Love to all kiss the kiddies for me.
x x x x N.C.D.

History Notes

There are 2 History notes for this letter of Feb 1 (Mar 1), 1917:

History Note 1 - HMS Bacchante & HMS Achilles Mishap

Although Noah has dated this letter at the beginning of February, we know it had to have been March because the HMS Achilles' ship's log shows the mishap happened at just after midnight on February 22, 1917:

22 February 1917
Liverpool
Lat 53.40, Long -3.00
12.07am: HMS Bacchante swung to ebb and fouled Achilles' stern, engines worked as required.

to It is interesting to note that Noah writes that another boat rammed them, while the Achilles' log states that another boat swung into them.

With the Bacchante back in dry dock, the crew has been given 3 days leave and so we find Noah in London. As for the wrong date, it's interesting to note that Noah's next letter shows February 4, 1917 where he is still in London, and attends church. Along with that letter tp Ethel, he included an Order of Service which is dated March 4, 1917. It's the confirmation that the letters were actually written in March vs February and will be included in the next post.

History Note 2 - Noah's London Postcards

Noah mentions wanting to see the Tower of London in this letter and either brought back or sent to Ethel the following series of postcards about his explorations while in London.

TOWER OF LONDON

TOWER OF LONDON. Byward Tower and Outer Ward. On the right is the flank of St. Thomas' Tower, and on the left the Beauchamp Tower of the Inner Ward.

TOWER OF LONDON. Gateway of Bloody Tower. Above the gateway of the Bloody Tower is seen the portculis, which is still in working order. This tower fully deserves the name of "bloody." for it has been the scene of death in all its forms.

TOWER OF LONDON. The White Tower. This massive Tower was built by William the Conqueror in 1078, and is the oldest portion of the Tower. Its walls are immensely thick, from 12 to 15 feet at the base, and rise to a height of 90 feet. The turrets that surmount each corner are a striking feature, and at one time cannons were mounted on the roof.

TOWER OF LONDON. St. John's Chapel in the White Tower. One of the earliest Norman Churches in England.

TOWER OF LONDON. In the Beauchamp Tower. Many of the stones bear inscriptions engraved by prisoners in former ages.

TOWER OF LONDON. Chapel of St. Peter-ad-Vincula. Beneath the altar lie the remains of Anne Boleyn, Katherine Howard, Lady Jane Grey, the Duke of Monmouth, and many others beheaded in the Tower.

Noah's next letter will show more sights of his London adventure.

WW1 Letters Home - Feb 1, 1917

1/23/2022

A promotional poster for the Sandow Trocadero Vaudevilles (1894), showing dancers, clowns, trapeze artists, costumed dog, singers and costumed actors

Author of Letter: Noah C Draper, 29 yrs old
Dated: Feb 1, 1917
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: 2 pages of 9" x 6" medium weight, smooth, linen-look, folded into booklet form, but with the inside pages written across the width instead of down the length like foolscap. The pages are not numbered.

People mentioned in this letter:
Ethel* - Ethel Isabel Nelson Draper (Noah's wife of 5 yrs)
Mr Butts*: The hired man on their Saskatchewan farm
**Sadie* & Cecil* Prosser: Sadie is Ethel's younger sister
Ethel's Father: James* H Nelson, Belhaven, Ontario, near Keswick
George* Draper: Noah's cousin, George* Milburn Draper. For more info on George, see his letter to Noah on my post, Sep 1912: Letter from George Draper.
Charley: Suspect this is Noah's cousin Charles Joel Draper, brother of George* Milburn Draper (above), and Stewart* Truman Draper, both mentioned in these letters.

Places/things mentioned in this letter:
- The War (WW1)
- Daily routine**
- Vaudeville show (see poster sample above)
- Wawanesa Insurance
- Vaccinations
- Weekly pay day
- London - Capital city of England
- Liverpool - maritime city in northwest England

Word or Phrase Use:
Noah consistently misspells many words such as the following and more:
- no apostrophe for contractions - dont, wont, isnt, havent...
- Saturaday vs Saturday
- navey vs navy
- roumer vs rumour
- shure vs sure
- payed vs paid

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

Chatham, England
Feb. 1/17.

Mrs. N.C. Draper,
Keswick, Ont
Dear Ethel;-
Well I recieved two letters
from you yesteraday and
was glad to get them you
can be sure. am expecting
quite a few now as I have
written two or three to all
of them.
Well Ethel there is some
roumer of us being sent
over to patrole the Pacific
coast, but you never can
count much on hear say in
the navey. altho you can
be shure I would not kick

Well I guess from now on the war will be
worse than ever as the Germans have
sent word to the neutral governments
that they intend to sink all boats
on sight with in the blockade limit.
Say I dont know as I ever told you
our routine here, We are called by
our own sentinal at 6 a.m. every
morning. we get up dress & lash
hammocks. wash & get ready for
breakfast at 7 oclock at 25 to 8 we
fall in outside of the hut all but
the cooks & Sentry, they tell off 6 men
to help the sentry wash the floor
& the others are sent out on the working
parties. untill 8 20 then the come back
to the huts untill 8 40 when we fall
in again & march down to the parade
ground, & have a little drill untill
10 minutes to nine when we all line
up for prayer which lasts about
5 minutes, then we drill or go rowing
or into the seaman room where we
are taught to tie knots, how to stear
a boat the different anchors. compass
& a thousand & one other things.

untill 11 20 when we march
back to the hut for dinner.
at 1 oclock we fall in again
and go through much the
same thing or go to the
gym. or swimming untill
2.35 when we get 10 minutes
stand easy. then we go
at drilling again. untill
3 45 then up to the hut for
tea. after which we are
free. we have supper at 730
and the hammocks come
down at 8 oclock but we
do not have to go to bed
untill 10 oclock, that is
our usual routine,
I was out to a show

in Chatham last night. it
costs about 22 or 26 cents
for a seat in the gallery it
was very good vauderville
there is 3 or four theaters
here beside picture shows
but I dont go very often.
So you got notice from the
Wawanessa about insurance
well dont pay it write and
explaine the policy and
tell them it is paid but
next fall when it is due
be shure to send them
the money. Say Ethel if
Mr Butts wants to quit why
not offer the place to Sadie & Cecil they could work it

the same way as Mr. Butts. & you
could go out with them to look after
things, it might be the best way, you
can speak to your father about it if
you like, & see what he thinks about
it. now do just as you think best
Ethel & things will be all right I know
& it might be a good thing & be the
means of giving them a start for you
know I would help them all Icould
when I get back.
We were all marched down to the
doctors and vacinnated
on Monday. My arm is beginning
to itch now so I guess it took all
right. although they say you
do not feel it for a week or so
very much. hope I dont have much
trouble with it.
Today is pay day. Friday. we
get payed 7 shilling a week I have
about 11 pound left am I not doing
well. Ha Ha.
Suppose you have seen George
by this time tell him to write
if he has time. I have not.
written to Charley yet but will

Sunday if I have the
time, think I will get
some snap shots taken
tomorrow, & will send
some through if we
are not blockaded to
closely. We will be able
to judge more of their
power to injure us by
sea in a month or so.
Well I guess I will
have to close for this
time, Say did you get a
letter adressed from
Liverpool. the told me it
was censured & stoped.
Well Bye By love to all.
X X X X X N. C Draper

History Notes

History Note 1 - Sadie & Cecil Prosser

As you can see from the surname, Ethel's younger sister, Sadie Nelson, married Cecil Daniel Prosser on Janary 14th, 1915. During the years between Noah & Ethel's Courtship Letters previously published on this blog, and Noah joining the RCNVR, Sadie, whose birth name was Sarah Eliza Nelson, began spelling her name Sadye, while others called her Sadie, a designation she carried throughout her life.

Cecil was the son of William Walker Prosser and Hester Soules, also of Belhaven, North Gwillimbury, Ontario. Sadie and Cecil were married in the Nelson home south of Belhaven by Cecil's great-uncle, Elder Daniel Prosser, a prominent minister in the area who would go on to become known as "Marrying Dan" due to his high record of marriage ceremonies. On Nov 14, 1929, after the Nov 4 death of Rev. Daniel Prosser, the Stouffville Tribune reported that people came "from great distances to be married by the same preacher that had married their parents."

History Note 2 - Daily Routine

For more info on hammocks and the daily routine at the Royal Navy Barracks at Chatham where Noah is awaiting orders for sea duty, check my post, WW1 Letters Home - Jan 3, 1917.

<<Previous

WW1 Letters Home - Apr 3, 1917

History Notes

WW1 Letters Home - Mar 28, 1917

History Notes

WW1 Letters Home - Mar 22, 1917

History Notes

WW1 Letters Home - Mar 1, 1917

History Notes

WW1 Letters Home - Feb 1, 1917

History Notes

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories

WW1 Letters Home - Apr 3, 1917

​History Notes​​

WW1 Letters Home - Mar 28, 1917

History Notes​

WW1 Letters Home - Mar 22, 1917

History Notes​

WW1 Letters Home - Mar 1, 1917

History Notes ​

WW1 Letters Home - Feb 1, 1917

History Notes

Recent Posts

Archives

Categories

History Notes

History Notes

History Notes

History Notes