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Date: November 9th 1917
From
Carl Hetherington
Letter

Sergt. C.C. HETHERINGTON WRITES. (from England)

Sergt. Carl C. Hetherington, formerly of Seymour Township, who went
overseas with the 7th Heavy Battery draft, under Lieut. Ponton, wrote on Oct. 15th from England as follows:

It is always a pleasure to hear from Seymour, when one has spent 15 years of the best part of his life there. I sometimes wonder if ever I shall spend another term that will produce so many memories. The probabilities are against it. If the war continues that is sure. But please do not imagine that I am downhearted for a moment. I have made my choice and am ready to take my chances and bear the consequence. We have some fine fellows in our batteries - fellows it is a privilege to meet and to be associated with in any way. It is a chance of a century to be with these men, and share the joys and privations and sufferings, and death, if it is so decreed, in the greatest struggle for freedom in the ages. One meets so many nice chaps in this Canadian army from all parts of the Dominion that I could not help but tell you about them. I also think that the boys who are fortunate enough to return will think more of the friendships formed here than any others in this life, because we are so closely associated, so much a part of one another.

I spent six days' leave in London and one cannot help remarking how the English women have adapted themselves to all kinds of service. The way in which the more opulent class work voluntarily in the Y.M.C.A. and clubs so that soldiers on leave can have the best of everything at cost price, and always a kind word and a smile for one and all, has a wonderful impression on the most thoughtless person.

All classes and conditions of men are met with during a stroll on the Strand or Piccadilly. For instance, one day while riding on topdeck of a motor bus on Oxford Street, the traffic of busses, taxis and large drays was so great that we were barely moving when I noticed tucked away right in the centre of the jam an old woman riding on a long cart drawn by a donkey. A more non descript outfit one would not see even in the Blue Mountains of Ontario. My furlough in London had many very interesting features.
CARL C. HETHERINGTON.