Harold Vernon Delaney CEF
“If you see poor Frank Thomas’ sister, tell her I miss her brother very much. He was a nice fellow, and was killed in action as a brave soldier” Private Harold (Herald) V. Delaney of 24th Battalion, Sec, C. E. F. Sandling Camp, England Dec. 1915
Letter: Letters have been received from Private Harold (Herald) V. Delaney of 24th Battalion, Sec, C. E. F. Sandling Camp, England. He said they had a very pleasant trip across to England and he speaks of being in the best of health and enjoying himself. Private Harold V. Delaney of the 26th Battalion and son of Mr and Mrs. George Delaney, of Central Grove, Long Island, is reported among the wounded in Wednesday’s dispatches.
SOMEWHERE IN BELGIUM:
DEAR SISTER NELLIE –As it is raining, and I have nothing to do, I will take the pleasure of dropping you a line. I am well and hope you are the same. Today is our mail day. The mailman is after it now. I am looking for some today. I get lots of letters, more than I have time to answer. I got one from Ritchie last Sunday. I was glad to get it, because ”there is nothing like a letter from your own home town”. We are out of the trenches now for a few days’ rest, and a bath and change of clothes.
It has rained here for the past month or so, and we are in the mud above our knees most all the time. We have to wear our raincoats nearly every day. But I don’t mind, as it is all for the right, and as long as I keep well I shall do my little bit. How is George Hersey getting along? I know just what he has to do, because I have been through it all myself. Have any more of the Freeport boys enlisted? I don’t see how they can content themselves to stay at home when their motherland is calling for them. But I hope they are enjoying themselves. Yet there may be a time when they will be sorry they never answered the call, but I hope not. I don’t think the war will last much longer, and then we boys shall all return home again. I got over my slight wound very quickly.
If you see poor Frank Thomas’ sister, tell her I miss her brother very much. He was a nice fellow, and was killed in action as a brave soldier. I saw Harry Dickie and Royal Powell a few days ago, they are getting on fine. I am sending you a ring that is made from a bullet fired on the battlefield. I hope you will like it. I could send you lots of things from here, but they won’t allow it.
Well, I will have to close now. Remember me to all my friends in Freeport, and also to all the “Red Cross” workers around home. I think the work they are doing in Canada is wonderful.
Well, Good-bye, with love from,
BROTHER HAROLD
No. 69241,
26th N. B. Battalion,
“B Company,”
Army Post Office,
London, England.
Notes: Harold Vernon Delaney was born at Central Grove, Digby County, Nova Scotia, March 14th 1893. Son of George Delaney. He joined the C. E. F. at St.John, November 24th 1914. The letter was written in November/December 1915.
Submitter Derek Thurber
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