Stanley Walpole Collection
Letter from Private F. L. Murphy in France to Stanley’s mother, Jane Walpole 15 June 1916
PTE. F.L. Murphy
No. 453089
“D” Co’y, 58th Battalion, C.E.F.
British Expeditionary Force,
France
Dear Madam:-
It has been on my mind to write to you ever since the death of your son,
Stanley, as I have felt that you would naturally be anxious to hear
something concerning him beyond the bare official communication sent to
you; and as we had been together since our first day in the Army-and had
grown to be regular “mates” during the few months previous to his
death, I have felt it my place to say a few words which will, perhaps,
help a little to console in your loss and, at the same time to convey my
admiration for the manly spirit, and good qualitites which I foud him
to possess.
We enlisted on the same day, June 8th, 1915, in the 109th and were
enrolled in the same batch. And from that day to the day he was killed
we were together in the same Platoon. I was interested in him from our
first meeting, and, while I admired, I could not help feeling it rather a
pity that such a young lad-particularly of his stamp-should be entering
upon this war business. But I would not have stopped him had I been
able.
The army life affords many opportunities for the sizing-up of men, and
it was not long before I saw that Stanley, while only a boy in age- and
while boyish, of course, in many of his ways-had the spirit and heart of
a man.
I remember when he took sick at Niagara and was operated upon for
appendicitis. He was only two weeks in the Hospital, on sick furlough a
week-and then back to duty. That showed his gameness, and the boys gave
him great credit. And I don’t think he had to be excused from duty a
single day after that in Canada, England, or in the trenches.
When we got in the trenches, we were better able to pick out those who
were “game”-to use the soldier’s word-and those who were not quite so
“game” and Stanley was one of the best. There was always hard work and
dangerous work and each man had his share to do regardless of age or
size, and he did his share with men twice his age and size. If it was on
sentry in the trenches, he was more likely to relieve his mate a little
before time than to be late. If there was on job harder or more
dangerous duty than another, he did not try to evade it, but took it as
it came. In many other little incidents common to the life here he
displayed the same spirit. He looked for no favors, as some young lads
are inclined to do, and received none. He did his “bit” all the time and
made no fuss about it. Also, he was always cheerful and ready for a
laugh. In fact, that was the only fault I ever had to find with him-for
he sometimes got on my nerves laughing at times when I felt a good deal
more like “grousing.”
As the original boys of our platoon became fewer and fewer, Stanley and I
were more together. He seemed to take a liking to me as I did to him
(although there was seven or eight years difference in our ages) and
when we were taking up our places in the trenches or billets, I usually
found him next to me or thereabouts.
He was killed by shell fire during the big fighting on June 12th. I was
staying in the same trench but was away at the time of his death and did
not know of it until some time later. I felt particulary bad about
Stanley’s death and could not be contented ’till I had written this
little appreciation.
I offer you my sympathy, and assure you that you have every reason to be proud of your boy-who lived and died like a man.
Sincerely,
PTE F.L. Murphy
No. 453089
“D” Co’y, 58th Battalion C.E.F.
British Expeditionary Force
France
The following letter will server to show the sterling stuff of which even our youngest soldiers are made. This brave young fellow (an English youth) was one of 70 men from St.James’ congregation who have enlisted. Five of these are killed and six wounded. He had been working for the Misses Bonis on the River Road, before he enlisted and they thought very highly of him. The letter is written by a thoughtful comrade of the deceased to his mother, who is connected with the Children’s Hospital, Toronto:-
Mrs. Jane Wapole,
C.o. Sick Children’s Hospital
Toronto, Canada
Biography of Stanley George Saunders Walpole, 1896-1916
15 June 1916 Letter from Private F. L. Murphy in France to Stanley’s mother, Jane Walpole
17 July 1916 Letter from Stanley’s brother – Marquis (Mark) Walpole, soldier in the New Zealand army, to their mother Jane Walpole informing her of Stanley’s death