THE VOICE OF CANADA.
(To THE EDITOR OP THE " 81.2E111'0321 SIR,—Not long ago you published in your columns a letter from a Canadian soldier that exhibited the loftiest motives, though' simply expressed. I attach herewith another one, which I trust you may not think unworthy of a wider audience. It was pub- lished in. the issue of Canada for December 16th, 1916.—I am, Sir,
Deputy Director of Transport, British Red Cross Society.
"The following are extracts from a letter to his father, written on Juue 30th, by Private. B. S. Taylor, a member of the staff of the Union Bank of Canada, Winnipeg. Private Taylor joined the filth Battalion in June, 1915, went Overseas in October, 1915, was drafted to reinforce another battalion, and fell in action while advancing with the Canadians at Courcelette on October 3rd last. He is buried at Courcelette :- 'Speaking of troubles, I think that at once brings one to the very point of everything. The Canadians in France have a high standard of courage and bravery. I consider myself as brave as the average—probably no braver, but as brave. I consider myself as intelligent as the average Canadian—and probably not more so. For that reason I think my thoughts end views at present are a fair sample of the thoughts and views held at present by the average Canadian soldier. We are here fighting for an ideal. We are not here for glory. There is no glory in. slaying a fellow man—a fellow creature created in God's image. We are not here for fun or our amusement. There is no fun or -amusement .in modern warfare. We are here fighting for peace, for the fellow- ship of man in its fullest meaning—for the ereual rights of the --- - weak both for men and for nations. When I joined the Canadian Army 1 did so after a careful survey of the question from all sides and angles. I will not mention now the causes of the war; they are too well known to need repeating; sufficient that Canada and the Allies are right, and my duty lay as a Christian and a gentleman to try and do what I could, as well as I could, to help bring the war to a successful conclusion. And the big idea I want to impress on you is that if it is my lot to die, I am satisfied. "Is life so dear as to be purchased at the price of slavery? "said Patrick Henry. " In what cause could man die better than that of principle? " Yes, it is really a privilege to help in this great cause, and if necessary die for it. If I lived to be a thousand years Old, I could never spend my life in a better way than in sacrificing it for the same principles as those involved in the present war. And that. I -am satisfied, is the view held by the great majority of Canadians here.'" [" Ali! brave new world that hest such [young men] in it! "- ED. Spectator.]
Previous page
