Roy Ralph Whitehead

Rank:

Private

Regimental number:

10557

Unit at enlistment:

4th Battalion

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Birth country:

England

Address at enlistment:

14 Clarence Street, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

14 Clarence Street, Brantford, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Labourer

Employer:

Buck Stove Co.

Marital status:

Married

Letters and documents

BX November 10, 1914

Wrote to the Mayor

Mayor Spence has received the following letter from a friend of one of the Brantford boys, who went with the First Contingent, but who is at present confined in the hospital at Tidworth barracks, Andover:

October, 1914
Tidworth barracks,
Andover

Mayor Spence,
Brantford, Ontario,

Dear Sir,

I am writing for my friend who is not able to, and is here with me in the hospital at the base at Tidworth, 12 miles from his regiment. He was taken very sick some days ago and the doctors I heard asked him if he is willing to be operated on, if possible. He says he likes the hospital fine; and the nurses are using him fine here.

He wishes to be remembered to the boys of his town. I myself have already been to the front and got a severe wound in my left hand. The bullet pierced the centre of my hand, taking a large chunk out and breaking my bones, but I wish I was there again to get back at them. I will soon be better and I hope we go with your boys, for they are a fine body of men, and some fierce looking and able to fight.

Well, Ralph is feeling much better tonight, but he is asking the doctors to fix him up to go with the boys to get the Kaiser and take him to Canada.

I wish all our volunteers were like the Canadians. My regiment did away with quite a lot of the Germans. I, myself, was shot from Germans up in the trees, while we were marching. We thought they had retreated; not a sound, but they ran and hid in trees and barns. The cowards won’t come out and fight at all. They even shot women and children in their homes in France and then hid. Oh, such a dirty lot. It is worse than the Boer War in South Africa, but we will be in Berlin before Christmas.

Well, my arm is getting tired, so I close, as I have to thank Ralph for writing. I am a soldier of His Majesty’s Royal Irish Regiment.

Ralph wants me to tell you to address to the camp his address is:

Ralph Whitehead, No. 10557
4th Battalion, 1st Brigade
1st Canadian Contingent,
Base Co.,
Salisbury Plain,
Wiltshire, Eng.

BX August 21, 1914

Dragoons Grateful – Card of Appreciation Received From Contingent That Left Here Yesterday

The members of the 25th Brant Dragoons, who were the first volunteers to leave the city, are very grateful to the citizens who, despite the pouring rain, went to the station yesterday morning to give them a send-off.

The following letter has been received by The Expositor from one of the men, writing on behalf of the entire members that left:

Editor Expositor,

Dear Sir,

I and all the other members of the 25th Brant Dragoons are well. I wish to thank Mayor J.H. Spence for the gift of cigars. We smoked them on his behalf and the city of Brantford. Thanks from all the 25th Brant Dragoons.

Yours,

Ralph Whitehead

P.S. – I have four brothers at the front now.

BX November 10, 1914

Interesting Letters From Old Land – Members of Dufferin Rifles and Brant Dragoons Write Home Telling of Their Experiences at Salisbury Camp

Four interesting letters from today’s budget from the old land, giving various aspects of the war situation especially with regard to the Brantford boys in the First Canadian Contingent. The first two letters are from Lieut. Frederick W. Miller and Sergt. E. Prior of the Dufferin Rifles first active service company. The third is from Trooper Ralph Whitehead of the 25th Brant Dragoons, written while he was in the base hospital.

The third letter from Trooper Ralph Whitehead of the 25th Brant Dragoons was received by the Expositor as follows:

October 26, 1914
Base Hospital, Tidworth,
England

Editor of the Expositor,

I thought I would drop a few lines to you to let my chums in Brantford know how I am getting along. I was taken suddenly ill after being four weeks on the troop ship. We had to march 10 1/2 miles to Salisbury Plain Camp. It was during the night and we rested in the dark, lying on wet grass. I was taken sick, and had to be removed to the base hospital at Tidworth, where we Canadians who are ill are being cared for very well. We have many wounded men here, they having been on the firing line. They feed us four good meals a day. I was ordered seven days on water and milk, but now I am gaining and eating of light diet four times a day. There are in my ward, four Canadians and four wounded. Three of them were shot, one on Oct. 13, in the shoulder, and two with their arms half shot off.

We received a great welcome when we got to England, and marched through the streets in battalions. The streets were crowed with people, who came out to greet us and give us presents. The police were lined up the road, keeping it clear for us to march through. Each received from three to seven days' leave to visit our friends.

Yours as ever,

Trooper Ralph Whitehead
25th Brant Dragoons
Ward 8, Base Hospital
Tidworth, England