BX September 17, 1914

Will Fill Up Gaps

Chief Slemin has received word from Constable Cobden, who as a reservist of the Coldstream Guards returned to the Old Land to join his corps. He states that all the Coldstream Guards battalion are now at the front, and the reserves expected to leave at any moment to fill up the gaps caused by the losses of war.

BX November 23, 1914

Further Word From Constable Cobden – Desperate Fighting Described – Chief Slemin Receives Message From Former Member of Local Police Force – Fear That Constable Blanchard is Dead or a Prisoner of War is Repeated

Further accounts of the desperate fighting in which the three Brantford members of the First Battalion of the Coldstream Guards. Corp. Cobden, Ptes. Barnes and Blanchard participated. Pte. Blanchard either losing his life or being captured, and Pte. Barnes being wounded very severely, and later dying, is given in a letter received by Chief of Police Slemin from Corp. Jack Cobden, a former member of the local police force.

The terrific nature of the struggle in the battle of the Aisne, in which the British troops won high honor by their fighting qualities, is graphically described, and the letter will prove most interesting to all Brantfordites, and especially those who knew Jack Cobden.

November 7, 1914
First Batt. Coldstream Guards
On Active Service

Chief Slemin

Dear Sir,

I am in hospital at present, I was wounded in the battle of Ypres, in the head and finger. I was also buried in the trench by one of the German shells which the boys call coal boxes. If it were not for the German shell fire we would be over their infantry and cavalry weeks ago, but their artillery fire is very deadly. They have as many guns as we have rifles. On Saturday our line was not very strong and they charged us at dawn. They came on in thousands, at least 20 to every one of us, so we were obliged to retire, but not very far. Of course they captured our trenches, and I was forced to leave my pack behind in a hurry. They had just passed over our trenches when our artillery got range and mowed them down by the hundreds. They were in such masses, but they don’t seem to mind the waste of life. Their losses are shocking. If we advance we go three paces apart, but they come on in a compact mass, and if you aim low it is hardly possible to miss them. I saw on Monday, Nov. 1, one of our lyddite shells burst and mow a whole line through them, but it was closed up again instantly. The slaughter is dreadful. Their losses were far greater than they publish.

I am very sorry to inform you that poor Jack Blanchard, with several others, was cut off from the rest of us and was either killed or taken prisoner. That was on Saturday, Oct. 31. We have seen or heard nothing of him since. Of course you know that Arthur Barnes was very seriously wounded a month ago at the battle of the Aisne. He received three bullets in the leg between the knee and the thigh and a big piece of shrapnel in the stomach. I don’t think that he would recover.

I have rather a good souvenir, I was standing in a trench on Nov. 2, a few minutes before I was hit, and a big bullet struck my water bottle hanging by my side. I still have it, and will try to get it home. The best of it is that I got it from a German officer of the 80th Regiment.

I am now in hospital, but expect to be out in a week or two, at the most. I left my razor and things in the pack I left in the trenches. I suppose the Germans will be having a cheap shave while I have to let mine grow.

I thank you for your kindness to my wife and family while I have been away, and hope soon to be back again in a police uniform.

Kindest regards to all the force not forgetting Sergt. Wallace and Sergt. Donnelly,

Yours sincerely,
John L. Cobden

(Passed by Censor 998)

BX January 12, 1915

Constable Cobden Gives Thrilling Account of His Experiences at the front – Former Member of Brantford Police Force Writes in Detail of Fierce Fighting in Which He and Other Brantfordites Were Engaged – Was Promoted for Bravery but for Some Time Has Been in Hospital. 
 
The following interesting letter has been received from Corporal John Cobden, formerly of the local police force by Chief Slemin:
 
Corporal J. Cobden
1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards,
Hospital of St. John and St. Elizabeth
40 Grove End Road,
London, N.W.
 
December 23, 1914
Wednesday
 
Dear Sir,
 
I now take pleasure in writing you a few lines to tell you a little of my experiences, from the time I left Brantford, as I am now in England and my letters are not censored as they were before. When I wrote I couldn’t tell you very much on that account. On leaving Brantford we went to Quebec and across the river to Camp Lewis. There were between 4,000 and 5,000 reservists there. We were under canvass for four or five days and then we left on different steamers for England. We came on the Teutonic and arrived in Liverpool in seven days. From there I went to London on a special train and we had a fine reception, for we had a large Union Jack in front with Canadian Contingent Army Reserves across it in big white letters. Arriving in London I passed the doctor at Millbank hospital, was declared fit for active service and then I went to Chelsea barracks and was given my kit and rifle and bayonet, and a ticket for Windsor barracks, where I arrived after dark. I was at Windsor a week to practice firing and field training and route marching, then we went by train to Southampton and on to an old troop ship called the Turcoman. It took us about 49 hours to go from Southampton to St. Nazaire France. Landing there we marched seven miles to a rest camp, where we remained for four days. Then at 2 a.m. we were paraded and marched to the station and we entrained. We left at 4 a.m. There were between 2,000 and 3,000 men, all different regiments. The 1st Coldstreams were 200 strong as the battalion had been out from the start and we were for reinforcements. We stopped at several places on the way up and we were given all kinds of fruit and food all the way up, by the French people, who crowded all along to see us.
 
First Glimpse of War’s Ravages
 
After passing Paris about 65 kilometers, we had our first glimpse of what war meant, which was a building blown all to pieces and 15 wooden crosses on graves.  We crossed a bridge, which had been blown up by the Germans in their retirement. We were two days and two nights on the train, then we arrived at a place called Braisne. It was still dark when the train came to a standstill, and we did not get out until daybreak. Then as soon as it was breaking day we heard the sound of heavy gun fire, and it was terrific. Near us was an ambulance train full of wounded men. I forgot to mention on the way up we passed two lots of German prisoners; one lot in charge of our troops and the other in charge of French – about 300 in all told. Well we formed up at Braisne, and it was raining hard and very miserable. We marched 14 miles in the rain. We were drenched, but in the best of spirits.  We passed graves and trenches all along the way, and away on our left we could see the shells bursting. We were all very eager at this time. We passed through a small village called Pourk, I believe. There was a canal running through here, and there were lots of horses floating near the bank and the smell was awful. Well here we found the battalion, 500 strong, out of 1,200 when they came over. We then made them 700 men. We slept that night in a barn. The German heavy shells were falling in the village, for those large shells fell four miles this side of the firing line.
 
Ordered Into Trenches
 
We were roused at 4 a.m. It was very dark and we were issued with rations and formed up. I had been posted together with Barnes and Blanchard, in my old No. 1 company. I met many old comrades, one in particular named Rogers, who was an ambulance driver on the Birmingham police, since he left the guards, and was then called up. We marched off at 4.20 a.m. and went four miles and relieved the Berkshire Regiment in the trenches, while the Berks took a rest. At daybreak I had my first experience of German shelling. They came over by the score. All day the noise was deafening, but we new ones soon got used to it, and at dark, when we took the wounded back, for they had to lie in the trenches all day, there were one officer and about 22 wounded and two killed. It wasn’t many, in proportion to the number of shells they sent over. We were in these trenches three days and three nights.
 
On Outpost Duty
 
On the third night our section was sent out in front of the trenches on outpost duty; one corporal and three men. This outpost duty means you go between the German and out trenches, and it is nearly the worst thing in the war for you are between two fires and you must watch for them in the darkness in case they attack. We were fortunate enough to get relieved just before midnight by the Berks again. We had not had a warm drink during this time, as we were in a turnip field and we could not get our cookers up, just bully beef and biscuits.

Well we marched back to Bourg and had some hot tea and then we slept in the school room, on some straw. We slept all day, and then at 4 p.m. we were given rations and at six in the evening we fell in and marched the whole of the First Brigade, 14 miles to Tyronne Ridge, or the village of Vandressie, where we again took the trenches, relieving the 1st Queen’s West Surrey Regiment. This was the Battle of the Aisne. We were formed in four double companies, No. 1 and 2 and 3 and 4. There were two rows of trenches. The firing line or front trench was 100 yards in front of the reserve trenches. No. 1 and 2 went in the front and 3 and 4 in reserve, and so we worked 24 hours in each two companies. The shelling here was terrific. We were on lookout every other hour, or every other man on sentry, all along the trenches. We had four rows of barbed wire in front of our trenches and they used to try and break through every night and morning. In front of our trenches they lay dead for three weeks before we could bury them, and they hung on the barbed wire. We buried 12 Germans, who had been brought in and they were hardly buried before one of their big shells fetched them out again. We lost poor Barnes at this place. He died two days after he was hit. He was a sleep in the trench for we had been in the front for 24 hours and we were tired, for we never had our clothes or boots off. I was in the next hole to him, and when he was wounded he said “For God’s sake, shoot me Jack, I can’t stand the pain.”  The wound in the stomach you could easily put your hand inside. We lost about 58 that day when Barnes was hit. I felt it for the first time. I was having a wash one day when the man next to me had his nose cut clean off and never hurt him elsewhere, by a shrapnel shell. There were horses lying dead round there by the dozen.
 
Long Stretch of Duty
 
We occupied this position for four weeks and three days without relief. I forgot to state on my third week out, I was promoted to corporal, after a charge. I shall not go into this as it was not much. We surprised them, killed a few and only lost two men and several wounded. But these charges occur very often for they come in such hordes, shouting and singing hymns and there are so many of them. But it takes a lot to make our fellows run; it is generally they who run at the finish; they don’t like our cold steel.
 
A Saw Tooth Bayonet
 
They have an awful bayonet that has a saw at the end of it, and when a man gets this in his stomach, it generally brings more out than they put in, and they use the dum dum bullets, for we have had several shot in the head, just a little hole in front and when it came out you could put your hand inside; it makes an awful wound. We lost a lot in killed and wounded of course. I am only mentioning my own battalion. I could mention a lot about other regiments, but it would take too much time. For instance, two of the King’s Royal Rifles were carrying a wounded comrade, and a shell fell nearly under the stretcher and blew them to pieces. It was a sickening sight but as soon as you get used to it, as one of our officers said, always hope it is the man next to you who goes next.
 
German’s Fine Spy System
 
They have a fine spy system. When we left the battle of Aisne, word was passed along the trench that we would be relieved by the French troops at 8 p.m. Exactly at 8 about 50 heavy shells fell on the road in our rear, and killed 54 French and wounded about 100 of them, and so we did not get relieved until about 3 o’ clock in the morning. We then marched to a small village about ten miles back and bivouacked in a barn. I was then able to take my boots off and wash my feet and change my shirt. I was beginning to think my feet were growing through my boots, and nearly half of the battalion had lice. It cannot be helped, no matter how clean you try to be, they will come.
 
A Message From Home

Well we rested for 24 hours and then we packed up. Blanchard received a letter from you at this place. Of course we both read it, as it was the first Brantford letter we had received, and we were very much cheered when we knew the police commissioners had provided for our wives. We then marched five miles to a place called Fiennes and took a train from there to Paris and then from Paris to Hasbrouck, where we rested in a Catholic school for it is no fun to travel about 300 miles in a cattle truck in a slow train and 46 in each car. Hasbrouck is near the Belgian frontier. We rested here two days and two nights and then marched into Belgium. We went about 17 miles full pack order and it was rainy all the way. At last we came to a big rag factory, where my battalion slept all night upstairs, for all down below were full of old men and women and children of all ages and sizes. It was a sickening sight. One old lady about 60 years old who could speak English gave me a splendid rosary for a souvenir, which I still have. We left there at 4 a.m. and once more on the march to a place called Langemarck, where we advanced in the open and entrenched the Black Watch and the Cameron’s and Scots Guards on our left. We made some good trenches.
 
Long Term of Duty
 
At 6 o’ clock I was sent out in charge of three men on an outpost duty to watch a main road halfway between our trenches and the German lines, although they had not entrenched at this time, I remained on outpost duty. We left there at 4 p.m. and were relieved, but I was told to come a little further back into a ditch and was still left out there. The men grumbled, for without a doubt out post work is the most dangerous of work, for you have to warn your battalion of the enemy’s approach. We were there until about 11 when one of our aeroplanes passed over and a few minutes later we were drawn in, and the German cavalry were massing in front. We ran in to the trenches and had just got in when they came.
 
Attacked By Enemy
 
We poured in such a hot fire that they swerved off to our left and then ran into the Camerons. I never saw one return, you can guess the result. Soon after their infantry crossed our front at 500 yards. They were running like a lot of wild men. We fired hundreds of rounds into them, and they still ran along. We were only a single row of trenches, and if they had charged us we would have had to retire. As it was, they were piled up all over. They then began to entrench where I had been on outpost duty. After they had entrenched we knew they were there and the third day the fire from rifles and cannons and machine guns was terrible from both sides. My friend Rogers had a bullet break his ankle bone. I had a good hole in the ground and I could lay full length under where I had dug, so that I was shrapnel proof.

We had some wounded in a barn of a farmhouse, and the Sergt. Major was with them, when a big shell went through the roof and killed four, and wounded 14 of them again, and broke the Sergt. Major’s hip bone; besides this No. 3 company lost 182 men.
 
Blanchard’s Close Call
 
Blanchard nearly got cut up that day. He crawled along an advance trench about 100 yards and they fired on him all the way, but never hit him. That night we were relieved by the French troops again and we marched eight miles and slept in a big windmill. Blanchard made a bed outside, as did several others for there was not enough room. Blanchard had another brother, Albert in our company and another in the Wiltshire, and he also is out there. We were roused at 4 a.m. and once more on the march to Messines, near Ypres. After marching for about three hours we met some of our cavalry with 100 German prisoners. Several were old men and at least 20 percent were not above 17 years old. We were under shell fire all this time.
 
Things were Real Warm
 
We were opened out in sections to advance, and reinforce the Bedfords who were hard pressed and we had half a mile to go right in the open. We advanced by rushes of about 100 yards, while the enemy poured shrapnel and machine gun and rifle fire at us. We lost a lot of men but we got there. I was dropped down once and scraped a hole in the mud and stuck my head in and a bullet went through my hat and continued through my pack. If I had been an inch higher it would have gone straight through my head. Every few yards somebody or other would groan out, “I’m hit, come and bandage me up.”  But we had to let them lie there. We lost two officers at Langemarck and now we had another killed here, and my platoon sergeant was hit, but we reached the Bedford’s’ trenches and secured the position. One poor fellow who was wounded managed to get out his equipment and staggered across towards a farm. They turned a machine gun on him and brought him down and when we picked him up to bury him at dark he had 19 bullet holes in him. That will tell you how impossible it is to pick up the wounded. I helped bury 18 of my company that night. At 8 p.m. we marched off to the right another mile to reinforce the Queen’s West Surrey Regiment. It was awfully wet and miserable here and the trenches were miserable. I had to make the trench deeper. We were attacked at dawn, but we drove them back once more. That night we went further to the left and entrenched.  I had 11 men and myself to look after 100 yards of trench. We were lucky they did not attack that night. The next day we were reinforced by the Gloucestershire Regiment, with two machine guns. It was a fair night with a slight fog, and it was very quiet until daybreak, when all of a sudden we saw them coming. We poured an awful fire into them, but they came on.
 
Last Saw Blanchard
 
Then it was a hand to hand go. The last I saw of Jack Blanchard he had a crowd around him – just a glimpse when they were upon us and past us on the right. The Gloucesters were on the run and at last we broke. My rifle was smashed at the bolt. I turned and ran, leaving my pack behind. And I did run. I guess I could have beaten Bobby Kerr then; but my puttee came undone and over I went. Up again, and I caught my puttee string in my hand. There was a big Prussian Guard just behind, but he was brought down for we were close to the reserve trenches by this time. I made sure I was to get that bayonet, and I don’t think I was ever so short of breath before. This was a bad day for us. We lost 350 men and all our officers, and this is where poor Blanchard was missing. To be correct, this was the 29th of October. I was mixed up in them for you don’t know or don’t care much. Well, we held them in check, for they ran up lots of reserves, but it was an awful sight; the dead and wounded were everywhere. I believe 3,000 alone passed down the main Ypres road that day to the hospital. We collected the next day in the reserve trenches and got some hot tea, but by night we were only 73 men all told.
 
Wounded First Time
 
We rested Saturday, but had two more wounded from shell fire. We then retired a mile to rest as there were not enough to go in the firing line on Sunday. We were reinforced with 80 men and two officers who were wounded and then came back on Sunday. It was November 1st. We went to the trenches once more. There were so few of us I did not think I would come back. They started to shell us at daybreak. They blew every house down first and then turned their attention to the Scots Guards and blew them out of the trenches and then came our turn; both our officers were killed in a few minutes. I then got a bullet in my water bottle on my side; then my finger nail cut nearly off, and then a bullet went along my skull, just as I was taking aim to fire.
 
Buried in Trench
 
This finished me for a while, but I managed to get away up to the Scots Guards by crawling along the trench, when a big shell struck the front of the trench and buried me and two Scots Guards. They dug me out first, but the other two were smothered before they were dug out. I had my pack and kit off and laid there over an hour, when I was carried back to the ambulance and taken to a hospital at Ypres. I left Ypres that night by motor ambulance and was taken to Saint Omer. Was there three days and then taken to Boulogne, where I was in the hospital four days I believe, and was then taken by train to Rouen hospital where I was three days more, and was afterwards taken to Le Havre, onto hospital ship No. 2 and taken to Southampton and thence to London and into this hospital, where I have been five weeks today. My head and hand are better, but the shock when I was buried has injured my spine, but it is going on nicely. I have been up three or four times now, and we had a splendid Christmas in this hospital. I received Princess Mary’s Christmas box, one from the King and Queen and one from Queen Alexandra, which I shall send on to my wife as soon as I am able.
 
Visit From Jim Mounce
 
I had Sergt. Jim Mounce to see me yesterday, which was quite a surprise for me on Christmas Day. I have now two large abscesses under my arm, which are very painful. I had them lanced yesterday and they are much easier. I have written this bit by bit, and I have told you the exact truth of some things I have seen so if you care to publish this letter you may. I hope all the men on the force are in good health. Give them my kind regards. I possibly may have to go out again when I am well once more, but I really don’t want to go, as it has given my nerves a bad shake.

Well I must draw my letter to a close, as I am sure you will be tired of reading it. Kindest regards to you sir.
 
Believe me, I remain your obedient servant.
J.L. Cobden

BX February 18, 1915

Only Two Now Remain of Section of Fifteen – Toll of War has Been Heavy – On Nov. 1 at Roll Call There Were But Corp. Cobden and Three Others of Squad of Coldstream Guards and Since Then Two of the Quartet Have Been Killed.

The tremendous losses in the Coldstream Guards, one of the regiments that have been in the fighting from the very commencement of operations of the British Expeditionary Force, is indicated in a letter received yesterday afternoon from Corp. J.L. Cobden, a member of the local police force and reservist of the Guards, by Mayor Spence yesterday afternoon. Of his section of 15 men, only two are now left, Corp. Cobden being yet in the hospital. Cobden is being well looked after through Queen Mary whom he once waited on, and Her Highness Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein, whom he once served as a footman, but he longs to be back again in his home here. He expects to be back in the firing line in the spring. His letter is as follows:

5831 Cpl. J.L. Cobden,
First Coldstream Guards,
Hospital of St. John and St. Elizabeth
40 Grove End Road,
London N.W.

His Worship Mayor Spence

Dear Sir,

I hope you will pardon my writing to you once more, but I have just had a cutting from the paper sent to me and I see you have kindly written to me, but they have been unable to trace me. I was moved from No. 5 Stationary Hospital, Boulogne, two days after I wrote to you and was taken to Rouen, where I remained in the hospital for three or four days and then was taken to Havre and crossed over to England on the same hospital ship that the Germans tried to torpedo the other day. I have been in the above hospital ever since. It is a Roman Catholic Hospital, but the sisters and nurses are splendid. We have practically everything we want here.

Three weeks ago, I had H.H. Princess Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein to see me. She is a daughter of Princess Christian, daughter of Queen Victoria. I was footman to her for one year before coming to Canada. We had Queen Mary and King George to see us shortly before and Queen Mary remembered the time I waited at lunch on them at Windsor in February 1908. She told Princess Victoria and since then I have had everything I could wish for, in every way. Her maid brings me a large parcel every week, so that I am well looked after. Of course nothing could compensate me for being from my family and I look forward to my return to them and Brantford once more. 

I have been in the hospital since Nov. 2, and the doctor has every hope that I will be completely better in the spring at the latest. I had an awful experience in that trench. I have had one of the men in my section who has had the bone taken out of his arm from the elbow to the wrist, and he told me I was unconscious for nearly two hours after they dug me out. I have the Scots Guards to thank that I am here today. I happened to have a water bottle I took off a German officer who was killed, and it was half-full of rum and it came in handy. I bought a flask of brandy from Mr. Coulson, Market Street, in case of need and I carried it up till Oct. 29 when we were driven out of our trenches. I left my pack and the brandy also, though I had given a drink or two to my wounded comrades. That day Blanchard was missing and nothing has been heard since, but I shall know for sure this week as a friend of mine is making enquires at the war office. I will let you know the result as soon as I know officially, if he is alive or not.

I am able to walk about. I get up every day now at 2 p.m. and stay up until 6 p.m. I can’t lift my legs up very well, yet, and it is very painful to try and get up steps. I have had several nice drives over London. Whenever it is a nice day different people bring either carriage and pair or a motor car to take us out. The chief constable wrote me a nice letter and told me of your kindness to my wife and family, for which I sincerely thank you. I also thank the board of police commissioners for what they have done for me. I have not received the razor which you so kindly sent, as it was registered, though I am bound to receive it, or it will be returned to you again.

The people here seem very interested because I come from Canada and I am perfectly sure when any of the Canadian troops come home wounded they will have all kinds of visitors to see them. I suppose when I am better I shall have to rejoin my battalion once more, though I would rather return home, but it has to be fought to a finish now for the havoc in Belgium and France is terrible – hardly a brick standing anywhere.

It is much easier for our fellows now in the trenches, as we have lots of men out there and they get relieved every three or four days for rest, but when I was out we were in the trenches or taking different positions all the time and we often used to wonder if they wanted to kill all the Coldstream Guards, Black Watch, Cameron Highlanders and Scots Guards, which constituted the first brigade, I had 15 men in my section at one time but on roll call on Nov. 1, I had only three and myself left, and I see that two out of those were in the list of killed the other day. The German losses are something terrific, but I earnestly hope it will not last long, so that we will be able to return to our homes one more. 

Your obedient servant,
J.L. Cobden

BX February 23, 1915

Have No Word of Blanchard – Relatives are Trying to Trace Him Through Constable Cobden – Chief Slemin Gets Another Interesting Letter

Two letters from Constables Cobden and Blanchard, late of the local police force, who went to the front as reservists of the Coldstream Guards, were received by Chief of Police Slemin this morning.

The first was from Mrs. W. Blanchard, sister of Constable Blanchard asking to be put into touch with Constable Cobden, as relatives had been unable to secure any information respecting the whereabouts of Constable Blanchard. They had applied to the war office, but there it was reported that his name was not on any casualty list and that they had no word of him at all. The war office promised to notify them when such word was received, as Constable Cobden was with Blanchard in the fighting. Mrs. Blanchard, who resides in Chippenham, Wilts, desires to get into touch with him.

The last word received here about Constable Blanchard was that he was taken prisoner by the Germans.

Now Able To Walk

A letter was received in the same mail from Constable J.L. Cobden, who is still in the Hospital of St. John and St. Elizabeth, London. He states that he is now able to walk about a little, though his legs are still very weak under him. He is shortly to undergo treatment in electric baths for his back, which was injured when a German shell blew up in the trench he was in, burying him in it.

Cobden noted that in the same hospital, on the next floor, was a chum of his in the Coldstream Guards, who was brought to the hospital the same time as Cobden was, but neither knew until very recently that the other was there. The other man told Cobden that he was unconscious for two hours after being dug out of the trench by the Scots Guards.

Cobden remarked in his letter that during the fighting in Flanders and France they had lost track of the dates, as they had been fighting so regularly, having no men to relieve them that they were all tired out. He is getting along very nicely now, and expects that he will again go to the front with the troops.

BX May 31, 1915

More Letters Received From Brantford Boys – Former Constable Cobden Has Been Running in Luck Since He Was Invalided to England – Pte. Lemon Tells of Narrow Escapes

Corp. J.L. Cobden seems to have fallen in luck since being wounded in the early fighting in Flanders last fall. He writes to Chief Slemin here, telling of his good luck. The letter in part reads:

May 16, 1915
The Shieling,
Hindhead, Surrey,
England

Dear Sir,
    
I am improving rapidly, and have no doubt but that I will shortly have to return to the front. I reported myself at the barracks, Windsor, on May 5, and was given a further extension of 28 days’ sick leave.

My wife arrived here safely, and is in very good health. Mrs. Rome, the lady I am with has offered to pay the return fare home for my wife if she would come, and more she has given us both a home with her and we are now at her country house. She has been very good to us in every way. It has cost her $90 for the doctor alone, but he stated that I will be troubled with pains for seven or eight years. I really can’t march yet, but I may have to go back.

I have tried all means to hear about Blanchard, and I am afraid that he is dead. I do not want to go back there, but duty is duty, and if I have to go I must make the best of it. I enclose a letter from Sergt. Davis, 80 Spring Street. He stated that on May 2, Jim Mounce and Steve Cara were well. He says the battalion in which the Brantford boys are in led the attack, and have since been named the Mad Fourth Battalion.

Your obedient servant
J.L. Cobden

BX May 6, 1916

Cobden Now With Military Police – Former Constable Will Soon Be Fit To Come Back on His Old Beat Here

The following extracts taken from a letter recently received by Chief of Police Charles Slemin from one of the first members of his force to leave for active service. Constable J.L. Cobden, who left here in August, 1914, being a British reserve, and was wounded in November of the same year, explains a little of his doings since he was incapacitated. Constable Cobden, or as he is now known, Corporal J.L. Cobden of the Coldstream Guards, is at the present time with the Garrison military police at Grosvenor Square, London, England, and hopes to soon be able to return to the city and take up his duties as police constable. After enquiring after the members of the force, Corporal Cobden writes as follows:

Dear Sir,

I saw in the papers that Stewart and Borthwick had joined up and I was rather pleased to see this, for it shows that they want to do their bit for the old country at this great crisis. I have been moved from my hospital work to London, after nine months time in which I learned a lot that will be very handy to me when I return to my work at Brantford. They moved me to London because I had had police experience and I like it very much, although I have a rather hard time to do the work. We only do from four to six or seven hours a day, but it affects me quite a bit. However I am pleased to say I feel better and I believe in about another six months or so I should feel quite able to do my work on the good old Brantford force again.

I just long to return again, but I must wait very patiently until we have finished with our friends the Germans. I really cannot understand why any of the men of military age can walk about perfectly fit and not volunteer to take up arms against these murderers of women and children. It seems hardly possible they can do such things and we have large numbers of them over here. I wonder what the Canadian people think of our religious conscientious objectors over here. I wish I was detailed off as their drill instructor. I would certainly give them a little extra drill. Of course, I have gone as far now as I shall rise, for being that I am unfortunately unfit for the front again. I can hardly get any more promotion. I wish I were fit again, but of course you must know your drill thoroughly to hold the rank of sergeant in this regiment. I often wonder if I could transfer to the Canadian army, for I still have one year and six months to do.

You might let Stewart have my address, as I should be pleased to see him and my old comrade Borthwick when they arrive in England, or any other Brantford boys who come over. In the second bed from me and a fellow worker is a sergeant-detective of the Birmingham police force. He belongs to the Coldstream Guards and has been wounded in both legs, but is able to get around again all right. He has been given home service. A great many of them are on the different police forces. We have one here from Toronto in the Grenadier Guards and one from Vancouver.

I was very sorry I never received the razor you had sent to me. I suppose somebody else got it, but it cannot be helped. Kindly remember me to the men on the force. With kindest regards to yourself and the men, I remain your obedient servant.

J.L. Cobden