 | "Address given to Noah at party" - If Ethel hadn't written that note on the back of this letter, I wouldn't have known about a farewell party for Noah Draper before he left for his WW1 tour with the Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve (RCNVR). |
Author of Letter: Unknown (suspect Belhaven, North Gwillimbury area)
Dated: Undated (suspect mid Nov 1916 as Noah shipped out on Nov 25th)
Addressed to: Mr. Noah Draper
Mailed from: Letter is an Oral Speech
Relationship: Friends
Profession: Former Farmer enlisted as Ordinary Seaman, RCNVR
Writing instrument: Pencil
Paper: 8" x 10" lined newsprint
People/places/things mentioned in this letter:
- old N.G.: The Township of North Gwillimbury - Noah was born and raised on Lot 12 Concession 4, North Gwillimbury
- the West/the great West: as soon as Noah completed school in 1904, his father, David Draper, moved the family to what would become the province of Saskatchewan in 1906
- Noah's wife: Ethel Isabel Nelson, born and raised a couple miles up the road from him (Lot 13 Conc 5). Noah and Ethel are the subjects of this blog's Courtship Letters which span from Feb 1911 to their marriage in Jan 1912
Cliche/Phrasing:
guardian angel - this seems such a modern term, it was a surprise to read it in this address
Dated: Undated (suspect mid Nov 1916 as Noah shipped out on Nov 25th)
Addressed to: Mr. Noah Draper
Mailed from: Letter is an Oral Speech
Relationship: Friends
Profession: Former Farmer enlisted as Ordinary Seaman, RCNVR
Writing instrument: Pencil
Paper: 8" x 10" lined newsprint
People/places/things mentioned in this letter:
- old N.G.: The Township of North Gwillimbury - Noah was born and raised on Lot 12 Concession 4, North Gwillimbury
- the West/the great West: as soon as Noah completed school in 1904, his father, David Draper, moved the family to what would become the province of Saskatchewan in 1906
- Noah's wife: Ethel Isabel Nelson, born and raised a couple miles up the road from him (Lot 13 Conc 5). Noah and Ethel are the subjects of this blog's Courtship Letters which span from Feb 1911 to their marriage in Jan 1912
Cliche/Phrasing:
guardian angel - this seems such a modern term, it was a surprise to read it in this address
Address give to Noah Clement Draper at his Farewell Party, 1916
| Mr Noah Draper. The object of this gathering of your friends is to show our appreciation of you as a friend, and as a man who sees his duty in enlisting in the army of our King to fight our battles and defend our liberties. We saw you growing up into young man-hood in our midst and go away as so many of our young men have gone, --To the great West, where we have followed your fortunes with interest, and rejoiced at your success. Though you have found success in the West and no doubt love the country We notice that when you were in need of a wife you came back home, even to old N.G. where the best is to be found. Our best and most sincere wish for you is that your guardian angel may never leave you, and that you uphold the best and noblest traditions of Canadian man-hood for King and home and country, and that you may return to us safe & sound and covered with glory. _____________________ |
Genealogy Notes
All of my research has not turned up a date or place for Noah's farewell party and if it wasn't for Ethel's note on the back of this address, I would wonder if it had been said to Noah before he left for war. However, my search will continue. Any pointing in the right direction would be appreciated.
