Dan's Notes: Wow, I never thought I'd find this again! I wrote this for my ISU in grade 9 history class when we were studying Canadian envolvment in the first world war. I got an A+ on the paper, so I figured it deserved to be here. This was long before I got a taste for writing, and I understand that I probably made a thousand mistakes in regards to dates, places, and so on. Hope you enjoy.
A Surviving Son
(C) Copywritten 1997
Dearest Mother:���������������������������������������������� ����������� ����������� ��Salisbury Pl.� Eng
����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������   �� �� Jan 4. 1915

���� Forgive me for not writing to you earlier but adapting to the lifestyle of that of a solider has excited me greatly. I made many new friends since I left your gentle embrace. Lots of them, like me are ecstatic about going against the filthy Germans. Oh how I can't wait to get out there and show those ugly creeps what Canadians are made of, also to prove to those uptight twits we call our officers that we could win this war without their so called help.
���� Many of those among the training ground say that the war will end by Christmas, although I find that hard to swallow. All I want is to send as many of those Germans to hell as I can until I am content and then return home to your loving arms.
���� My friend Alan, claiming to be a war expert, has told me of what he feels the war will be like. He speaks of days when we firmly destroy the enemy by lunch time and spend the rest of the day smoking and singing. You know, I'm surprised he has not been promoted to an officer by now.
���� The training method here in England confuses me. These so called exercises that we are forced to engage in seem pointless and childish to me. Men running around attacking bags of sand at five in the morning is, to me, hardly any way of preparing for war. I can't say I care too much for the food here either. When I can get some, it is usually rotten, stale or just pain disgusting. How one can live off food like this is above me.
      Sometimes I think back to when I was a little one and I used to say "Look mom, I'm invincible". It seems that hold habits die hard, BECAUSE I AM INVINCIBLE! And when we win this war, I promise you and sis that I will return to you, alive and well.

����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� XXXLove
����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� � ��������� ��DanXXX

Dear Amanda:������������� � ��������������������������������������������������������� ����������Ypres, Belgium
����������������������������������� �����������������������������������������������������     ������ ��������� April 30, 1915

����� My sweet sister, how long has it been? I hope that you receive this letter, as I know you must be worried sick about me. You and mother have left my mind not but once. This war has turned out to be a vicious series of violent terror and destruction. I am hopeful that one day I can return home to you and mother.
���� I no longer fear hell, for the conditions that this war is putting me through are unreal: night and day of constant bombardment by the enemy artillery, not to mention the smart ass attitude of the officers. Blasted old farts all feel they are better then us.
���� This old town, Ypres, which I only arrived in two weeks ago, has been infected by the barbaric virus of the war. The enemy has been coming up with new ways to raise hells population by using these gas bombs filled with what I call "the cloud of the devil." I prey every night to the lord to protect me in this slaughter feast.
���� I trust you are taking good care and mother for I wish to see you both in good health when I get back. The nurses here have been sweethearts to the bitter end. They all seem you remind me of you, making me feel even stronger.
���� A lot of my former companions have perished in this bloody war, and I fear that I may not have much time left before I am sent over the top, but the thought of losing you has kept me going strong.

����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� XXXLove
����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� � DanXXX

Dear Amanda:� ����������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������� The Somme, France
����������������������������������������������� ����������� �����������������������������������������    ������ Sep. 15 1916

����������� It has been a long time since I have written to you, my darling sister. Last I can recall it was in Belgium a year and a half ago. Now a new battle has begun in this, the Somme. This fight, like all the others, has already claimed the lives of many of my friends, leaving me lonely with my thoughts of you and mom. The war has taken a new step by introducing these war tanks, basically moving artillery. These metal beasts blow enemies to bits in a matter of seconds, adding to the carnage. Every death, every scream drives me deeper into insanity.
���� The trench are no picnic either, oh no. Sleeping three hours a day in a soggy disgusting hole in the ground and eating nothing but bully beef has made me regret ever turning away mother's spinach.
���� Perhaps the enemy has had second thoughts about this war, but more likely they are just bloodthirsty monsters looking to cause nothing but unnecessary pain and suffering. I must have been insane to think that this war was going to be a harmless adventure and I wish the day would come when I could return home to you and mother.
���� How is mother? Please tell me that you are doing your best to take care of her and tell her that I want a fresh batch of her blueberry muffins on the table, hot and moist when I get home. I will try my hardest to make my next letter come sooner. Perhaps I can return home to you myself one day.

����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� XXXLove
����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� �� DanXXX

Dear Frederick:�����������������������������������������������������������������������  The Somme, France
����������������������������������������������� ����������������������� ����������    ������������� �Sep. 17 1916

���� My dear brother, how have you been? I hope that your health has improved. Oh how I wish I could be there with you, but this blasted war seems like it will never end. The poor condition of the trenches combined with the constant fighting has drained my health away and I fear that I will not see your face again.
��� It was only two days ago that our officers gave the order for our first tank attack. These metal war machines make all in their way tremble in fear. Many of the Germans had penetrated into our trenches that day. They are getting smart! This new gas they have has made our commanding officers worry. Its effects make what you have look like a skin rash.
��� It was on that same day that I witnessed at lease twenty-five new privets retire at the hands of a German shrapnel bomb, only a week after they arrived here. Their sacrifice my have very well saved my life, for I only took a few nails in the back of my neck. Later I tried to get to the blasted medic, but along the way I came across what must have been nation of Australian corpses. Finally when I did get to the medic, it took them two hours to get all the nails out and I swear I screamed the whole time.
��� Feel grateful, my brother, that you were not dragged by the ears into this massacre. Be sure to do your best to get well and will try my best to make it back to you alive and in one piece.

����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� XXXLove
����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� � DanXXX

Dear Mother:��������������������������������������������������������������� ��������������� Vimy Ridge, France
�����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������    ��� April 10, 1917

���� It has seemed like centuries since I last wrote to you. I prey that you are still doing well. We are struggling for victory here in France. We have just started an assault on Vimy Ridge, an area which the Germans have infested since the war began. A new strategy has been put into place. For the first time, all of the Canadians, every single one of us, are joining up together to take out the enemies. Also, we have been practicing strategies night and day. One of our new officers has shown us some neat tricks, like putting machine guns on motorcycles, and using microphones to pinpoint the enemy artillery. All of this has given me a sense of victory, for this battle at least.
���� Yesterday, I met a nurse that shared your name, and she seemed to resemble you completely. When she was around, I felt as though you were right here along side of me. Damn, I miss you so!
���� If she is there, please say hello to my darling little sister, who I can't stop thinking about. This war must end otherwise I fear I may not be coming back.
��� My friend Joe wishes to give his deepest regards to you, as his own mother passed away some time ago. Be sure to thank him, for he has saved my hide more then a few times in battle.
��� Sadly, I must close, for if an officer comes by and finds me taking too much time trying to help bring peace to my tortured soul, I may be severely punished!

����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� XXXLove
����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� � DanXXX

Dear Mother:��������������������������������������� ���������� ������������ ����������� ����Passcendaele, Belgium
������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������   ����� ��� Oct 27, 1917

���� How have you been? If this war keeps me from you any longer, I swear I will flip and kill my commanding officers!
���� Someone once wrote, "Hell is the impossibility of reason."That's what this place feels like, hell. I hate it already and it has only one day since we got here. We were told to take this place to destroy some sort of sub station. What they failed to mention was this place is nothing short of a vast wasteland of mud! I have already seen the earth claim the life of two young soldiers, and I pray that I never have to go out there, ever.
     As we did in France last Spring, we have been training for weeks and I think even some of the screwed up privets are getting restless. Some are even looking forward to some bloodshed. Not me though! I would prefer an assassins bullet to this mayhem.
����� I'm sure my little sister is growing like a weed. Why, I'll bet she is twice the size I remember her being. Joe sends his regards, although it looks like he won't be making it very much farther, you see he got a good face full of gas a while back and the medics say his lungs can't get much worse.
���� Be brave, my dear mother, for I am going to make it back to your arms!

                                                                          XXXLove
����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� � DanXXX

Dear Amanda:������������������������������������������������������������� �� �������� ����Mons, Belgium
����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� ���������������     Nov 12. 1918

���� Oh my dear young sister, the day has finally come! The war has ended and I am still alive and moderately healthy. I swear that every Sunday I will be in church thanking the lord for sparing me. The rotten Germans have retreated back into there filthy sewers were they will stay! Fate has delivered me from this nightmare and now it is only a matter of time before I return home to you and my dear old mother. Oh how I can't wait to be back among my family.
���� A couple of days ago the stinking Germans thought they could take our happiness away from us. We were sent to get them out of this town. Personally, I think it so stupid to lose twenty-six men just to get a town back that the British lost four years ago. What ticks me off the most is that all of my friends have perished, and now, because of our officers, I have no one to celebrate with until the ships come. Just think, Joe was doing better and would have made it through this war but no, we have to risk our asses just to please those jack-a-ninny officers.
���� Ironic is it not? Four years ago, I was going on and on about being indestructible, now here I stand, one of the few lucky souls who survived the war.
���� Surly you have grown up by now and I can't wait to see your beautiful face again. As I close, I would like to thank you and mother for keeping my spirits high through these past few years. See you soon!

����������������������������������������������������������������������������������� XXXLove
����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� � DanXXX
This is my writing. If you want to rip it off, there really isn't much I can do to stop you, but you will be shunned in your next life. If you have something to say about it or want to comment, critisize, or question something, then head to the guest book and speak your mind there, or e-mail me personally.
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