BX July 4, 1916
High Tribute to Major Ballachey – Private E. Clark Says He was Best Man in 58th Battalion
The following letter, written on June 17, somewhere in France, by Private Edward Wells Clark to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Clark of Glassco’s, tells of the battle in which Major P.P. Ballachey met his death:
Well mother, I have seen and been through something in the last two or three weeks. I suppose you have seen by the papers that we have been in some hot places lately. I do not know how anybody ever comes out alive. I cannot tell you anything about it, but will if I have the luck to come home. I suppose you have seen about Major Ballachey, the best man we had in the 58th Battalion, the only one we saw for two days, and he came right into the thick of the battle, but got hit on the last day we were there. There is only about one-quarter of the 58th left and I am one of the lucky ones for once.
We are going away, back for a month’s rest and we sure do need it too. In this letter, you will find part of a German coat. I shot him with my own rifle. He was an officer, but what rank I do not know, as I did not have time to find out. Our machine gun was put out of action in the last mix-up, but we still went through, as you will see by the papers. We go what we went after and some more.
Well, mother, I am sure satisfied to come home any day, believe me. Remember me to all, with love.
Your son,
E. Clark