Archie Hubert Law Nov 2, 1894 – Oct 30, 1917
P.P.C.L.I. (Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry) Canadian Expeditionary Force
“You can hear them big shells leave the guns and then you hear them come through the air and then there is a big bang and you get under cover for the pieces of shrapnel drop all over…” Archie Law, Belgium, Christmas Day 1915
From somewhere in Belgium
December 25th, 1915
Dear Sister & All:
I now write you a few lines to let you know I am well and hope you all are this small. Well Mable this is Christmas Day and it is nearly over now and I have been thinking of you all to-day so I though I would drop you a line on my new pad. We were given a wallett yesterday with a pencial and this little pad and several post cards we were allso given a box of tobacco and a box of candy so I think they used us pretty well. I have not received any of the parcels that was sent me for Christmas only the box of candies Jeff sent me. I do not know what has become of them I suppose I will get them all at once now after Christmas is all over. We all got a present from Mrs. Capt Eve of Montreal I got a book and it is a good one to we allso had a can of plum pudding given to each one from Mrs. Major Gualt instead of having turkey as I had a year ago. I had Irish Stew and plum duff for dinner. I had the pleasure of attending church this morning they took us down in motor Lorries it was the English church and we had sacrement we have made it as bright a Christmas as possible but it is much different then last year. Last night Xmas Eve I was out on a working party and the bullets were falling around us and I was just thinking what I was doing last year I remember we done our delivering on sleighs and Xmas Eve I was in the store, never thought I would be over here now, but you never can tell.
We have been out on working party three times now and each time have been under fire. The first time was the worst we were going through a town which has been shelled to pieces and we have not marched through this town very long when the huns dropped a shell and tore the corner out of a building and we had a lively time for a while. You can hear them big shells leave the guns and then you hear them come through the air and then there is a big bang and you get under cover for the pieces of sharpnel drop all over however you can hear them coming but a rifle bullet you can’t hear it until it drops beside you. We were in tents first but changed to dugout yesterday. The camp we left were like Salisbury for mud it was kneedeep some places. I was certainly glad when this is ended and we can get home again. The soldiers that are in Canada this winter are lucky. I met several boys from home here this week and had a good talk with them they were out of the trenches on there six days rest. They do six days in and six out. They are looking well.
I hope you have all had a good and enjoyable Christmas this year and I was surely thinking of you. I guess you are about having your dinner now and I have just had my tea and am putting in the time writing. I hope all the children are well and that Santa Claus was good to them. Well dear sister I wil close with love to all and remember me to anybody I know and the children I send my best love.
As ever
your brother Archie
PS Tell Miss Taylor I am well and I send my best regards to her.
Submitted by Donna Bickell
On July 28, 1915 Archie enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Archie Arrived in England Sept 1915 and on November 24, 1915 he was transferred to the P.P.C.L.I. This letter was written by Archie to his only sister on December 2th, 1915. On October 30, 1917 Archie was killed in action in Paschendale, France, were he is buried in Flanders Fields.
Archie was born in East Whitby Township, Ontario, Canada. His parents were Thomas Law and Mary Elizabeth (Nee Welsh), his mother died of TB on April 13, 1898 when Archie was very young. His sister Mabel whom he refers to in this letter was left at age 12 to help her dad raise the boys, and they became very close to her. Archie was educated at Thornton Carness Public School, in East Whitby Township.