BX July 5, 1915

Starling Lucky Man – One of Reservists Who First Left Brantford, He Has Come Through Scathless

Pte. George Starling, one of the reservists to leave Brantford first, is alive and well, though somewhat pinched by the stress of winter fighting in the trenches. This is the information contained in a letter to The Expositor, written by James Cutbush, who left Brantford last November, and who is with the British forces in France working at his trade as a carpenter. The letter follows:

June 13, 1915
Somewhere in France

Dear Sir,

An old Brantfordite, having left Brantford for England last November, I started work in France at my trade (carpenter) under British military law, and have been in this country four months. I did not run across any of the Brantford boys until tonight. I took a stroll to Lady Angela Forbes’ soldiers’ buffet here where the soldiers were having a bit of a sing-song amongst themselves, and I was more than surprised when one of the “Tommies” came and tapped me on the shoulder and said: “I beg your pardon, but I think I have met you before.”  I said “Yes, you have in Brantford, Canada.”  Well, he was George Starling, a bricklayer by trade. He was called up on the reserve at the outbreak of the war, with P.C. Cobden and another fellow, I think also of the police force. He is here on leave for a few days rest. He has been at the front since August; he left Cobden at Euston station (London), and has not seen either of them since. He has been very fortunate so far, coming through without a scratch, only looking a little pinched through the hardships of the winter in the trenches when he was up to the knees in water at times. I am writing this at Starling’s request and he wishes to be remembered to all his old Brantford friends, and chiefly Mayor Spence. I might also add I think it might interest a few Brantford people that whilst on a visit to Boulogne one Sunday I was surprised to see a car drawn alongside presented by Major R.W. Leonard to the Canadian government, or words to that effect, and it was well loaded up, too, doing useful work.

Sincerely yours,
Jim Cutbush