[published in the Manitoba Free Press newspaper on November 3, 1928]

Note Written on Battle Eve Reaches Winnipeg Home 12 Years After Gallant Death

Twelve years after the death of a Winnipeg lad in action in France there has come into the hands of his father a letter written to the young soldier’s mother a day or two before – perhaps the night before – the First Canadian Mounted Rifles went over the top at Mouquet Farm, in the battle of Courcelette, in which the Canadians suffered heavy casualties. Lieut. Hart Leech, eldest son of J. Hillyard Leech, K.C. of Winnipeg had just finished his law course at the University of Manitoba and was about to go into practice with his father when he enlisted for overseas service.

Knowing that they were going into action on the Somme within a few hours, many members of Lieut. Leech’s company wrote notes to parents or friends in mid-September, 1916. Lieut Leech wrote to his mother – a brief, cheery note, in which he made light of what might be ahead of them, although one reads between the lines that there were no illusions as to what awaited them. The letter was never mailed. It may have been that the young soldier, on second thought, came to the conclusion that the matter was too sentimental, and that there would be “joshing” about the letters if the writers came safely through the battle. The note to Mrs. Leech was folded and placed in the soldier’s small notebook. After Lieut. Leech’s death in action the book was picked up and placed in the kit of an English officer, who was later wounded and given a new kit on returning to France. The result was that it was only a few weeks ago that the English officer, Edgar King, late captain in the Dorsetshire regiment, discovered that it was in his possession. Capt. King returned it, without delay, to Capt. Leech’s father at Winnipeg.

In the battle in which Lieut. Leech fell there were nearly 500 casualties affecting Winnipeg families. Among others to fall was Lieut. Leech’s chum, “Bobby” Rice, grandson of Rev. S.D. Rice, one of the pioneer pastors of Grace church.

The two letters are appended, the first being that of Capt. King to Mr. Leech, of Winnipeg, and the second that of Lieut. Hart Leech, written on the eve of battle in September, 1916, and hidden away in an English cupboard until a few weeks ago:

Letter from Capt. Edgar King,

50 Divinity Road,
Oxford,
16/X/28

Dear Sir–

On going through my old army valise last week, with the intention of destroying it, I felt a bulge, and slipping my hand through the torn lining, I pulled out – inter alia – the enclosed pocketbook. It seems a dreadful thing to reopen old wounds, but I consider it a sacred trust to forward it to you. The circumstances in which it came into my possession are briefly these:– I was in the line at Mouquet Farm (Pozieres) with my regiment (the 5th Batt. Dorsetshire Regt., 34 Brigade, XI Divn.) in September, 1916. We were relieving, I think, the 2nd or 1st C.M.R.s who appeared to have been practically slaughtered to a man, as they leapt over the parapet in a charge. I shall not attempt to describe the incredible charnel house the scene portrayed, but at nights, even now, if I have bad dreams, it is always of Mouquet Farm – it is stamped indelibly on my mind. The shelling was so incessant night and day, and the weather so appalling, it was practically impossible to attempt to bury the dead. Every shell hole had its complement of those who had gained Valhalla. My servant brought me this pocketbook, and I gave orders for it, and any other documents and identity disks to be sent to battalion headquarters for transmission. Apparently in the hurly-burly he put it in my valise; being badly wounded a few days afterwards (Sept. 16, to be exact), I spent many weary months in hospital. The valise and other impedimenta was so badly knocked about that I took out a fresh equipment on going to France the second time. The old valise has been lying perdu in a cupboard ever since.

I trust you will receive the pocketbook safely. In that unfinished letter your son shows the indomitable courage and capability of laughing at Death, that makes the tragedy of his death the more poignant. God keep his very brave spirit.

Yours sincerely,
EDGAR KING,
Late Captain, Dorsetshire Regt.

Letter Written by Lieut. Hart Leech in 1916,

Sept. 13/16

Dear Mother–

Just a wee note. I am “going over the parapet” and the chances of a “sub” getting back alive are about nix. If I do get back, why you can give me the horse laugh. If not this’ll let you know that I kicked out with my boots on.

So, cheer up, old dear, and don’t let the newspapers use you as material for a Saturday magazine feature. You know the kind: where the “sweet-faced, grey-haired, little mother, clutching the last letter from her boy to her breast, sobbed, ‘ ‘e was sich a fine lad,’ as she furtively brushed the glistening tears from her eyes with a dish rag, etc. etc.”

I’m going to tell you this in case my company commander forgets. Your son is a soldier, and a dog-gone good one, too. If he does say it himself as shouldn’t. And if he gets pipped it’ll be doing his blooming job.

In a way it’s darned funny. All the gang are writing post mortem letters and kind of half ashamed of themselves for doing it. As one of our officers said: “If I mail it and come through the show, I’ll be a joke. If I tear it up and get killed I’ll be sorry I didn’t send it.” S’there y’are.

[Editor’s note: Reviewed/updated July 2024. The originally posted version of the article did not include the letters from Capt. King and Lt. Leech (they were posted separately in the letter section). Updated to include the full article as published, along with the addition of JPG files.]