BX May 27, 1915
Another Batch of Gossipy Letters From Boys at the Front – Privates William Harris Symington and Ross Bernard Gage and Lance Corporal Frederick Herbert Easterbrook Write Thrilling Stories of Fierce Fighting at Langemarck Where the Canadians Covered Themselves With Glory
Further stories of the terrific fire which the Canadians underwent at Langemarck have been received by relatives of Brantford men who participated in the gallant charge of the Canadian Force. Pte. William. H. Symington, Lance-Corp, Frederick H. Easterbrook who enlisted at Lethbridge, having left Brantford some three years ago, and Pte. Ross Gage of this city are the writers, and the excerpts given herewith are exceedingly interesting and well worth a perusal.
The letter from Lance Corporal Frederick Herbert Easterbrook, who left Brantford some three years ago, and who joined the 10th Battalion at Lethbridge, was written to his father here, J. Easterbrook, 3 Esther Street, and read as follows:
May 5, 1915
Belgium
Dear Father,
I suppose you have been putting in a lot of the time looking for my name in the papers, but I am thankful to say I am all right so far. How we got through the world’s famous charge I don’t know. Our battalion the 10th was chosen to lead the charge, and our company (A) formed the right of the first line, so we saw the best of it all right. The 16th Battalion was with us, and the way the Kilts fitted around the roads was worth seeing. They are a fine bunch and we never want to fight hand in hand with better comrades.
We took and held the woods, but it was well for us that the enemy did not know our number. Two battalions of us drove out and held back 10 or 12 battalions of the Germans. I was about 20 yards from their trenches when they started firing, and as luck would have it there was a hollow for us to lie in until their fire slackened. I guess their magazines all got empty about the same time and that was our opportunity, which we made good use of.
We were relieved on the morning of April 24 but developments kept us going three more days without an opportunity for sleep or food. I picked up several things including a helmet but was glad to discard them all. We didn’t think that we possibly could have stood it, but we apparently were in better condition than we thought, we are all in now, though. Our last ounce of energy is spent, and we expect to go to billet tonight for a rest. We lost our equipment in our packs and after two weeks without soap, towel or razor, a rest and a clean up will be quite welcome.
The first man I saw when we got back from the captured woods was Charley Bloxham, an old Brantford boy, who is in the 10th. Sammy who enlisted with me, came safely through, though I felt certain he was hit when we were advancing under machine gun fire, as I missed him for two days, but he turned up again all right. Remember me to all old friends and tell them I am well.
Sincerely yours,
Lance-Corp F.H. Easterbrook,
A. Co., 10th Batt., 2nd Brig.
1st Canadian contingent
BX October 25, 1916
From Private to a Lieutenancy – Frederick Herbert Easterbrook Receives Commission After 19 Months in Trenches – Enlisted in West
The many friends of Fred Easterbrook will be glad to hear that after 19 months with his company in the trenches, never missing a day, with the exception of a 7 day leave and the time taking his course, a record very few can show, received on October 1 his commission of lieutenant, being assigned to A. Company, 10th Battalion C.E.F.
Lieutenant F.H. Easterbrook is a Brantford boy and was at one time with the Duffs. Being in Alberta when the war broke out he was one of the first to join the 10th Battalion. The following is part of a letter just received:
Dear Father,
We have been in action again with a vengeance, but came out very lucky. I myself was unfortunate enough to get buried through a shell bursting too near me, and while the shock caused the blood to ooze from my face for a few seconds, I was not hurt any – just a shock. A digging party, and I was on again. I am glad to say that 19 months in the trenches have not begun to affect my nervous system.
Fred
Lieutenant Easterbrook, who is a son of John Easterbrook, Esther Street, and a brother of George Easterbrook, Clarence Street has had many thrilling experiences, and has accumulated a goodly number of souvenirs of the fights he has participated in.
BX September 25, 1918
Frederick Herbert Easterbrook is Now Camp Commandant – Music for the Sunday Parade at Bramshott was of the Solo Variety
Captain Fred H. Easterbrook, who some months ago refused an appointment in Canada, is now camp commandant of the Bramshott area. He writes of conditions at Bramshott to Mr. Thomas Darwen of this city as follows:
September 2, 1918
Headquarters, Canadians
Bramshott, Hants
Dear Tom,
It’s several days since I received our letter, but there isn’t much time just now for answering my letters and I am catching up on this mill today. From now on I hope to be able to answer anything that comes along without much trouble.
The news gets better every day now, and we are all looking to the time when we will be able again to get up well before breakfast and chase the Hun a few more miles. There is quite a lot of excitement each day in the reserve battalions trying to find out just who has been in it and what they have been doing. However, there isn’t much to find out, and we just watch the casualty list and try to form our own conclusions as to what’s been doing.
I have changed my job during the last few weeks and am now camp commandant of the Bramshott area, and being new to it all, I have been a busy man. However, there are quite a few good things attached to the job, inkling a horse of my own, and the odd ride in the car. I am fond of the English roads in an auto, as they are pretty well kept and the cars are pretty good ones too. Come over some Sunday afternoon and I will take you out for a run. Don’t be afraid that you will be upset though, as there is a man with each car.
I suppose that the old choir will be getting stronger again for the winter by now. I would like to be there again on Sundays, as there is nothing of that kind here. All we do is to go on church parade in the morning, and no choir is needed as there is always the band there to give all the music that is necessary, and sometimes, more than we want. Our special bandmaster sometimes composes his own pieces and tries them out on us. The bass drummer is an enthusiast. The other Sunday we got a new piece for the first time and everything went fine until the trio part came. The cornet got tangled up in some run, and left the clarionet and drum to fight it out between them. The red found this out at once, and feeling a little bashful left the field to the drum. However, Mr. Drum had not scruples an but for the fact that his instrument is strongly made, something would have “gone bust,” but strength prevailed, and we were treated to one of the nicest drum solos that you could desire, performed in extra special fortissimo. We hardly knew what to expect on the way home again, but we went back to one of the good old tunes that everybody knew, and the troops went along “Jake.”
Such is the experience of one of our Sunday morning parades. These are the times that I would like to hear that old organ of yours going. I wonder if the coal shortage will keep it silent again this winter?
I hardly think that I need say that I am keeping well. In spite of the fact that there is no sugar here, I am just in as good condition as ever, and expect to remain so for some time to come.
Heaps of thanks to those who have signed their names to the card which I received. Tell ‘em all to sing their “grandest,” and not to try anything like the drum solo, or I won’t like them a little bit.
Cheer-i-o!
Yours to all points of the compass,
Fred H. Easterbrook
