Letters From the Front

Lance-Corporal R. C. Hill

Ill at 1st General London Hospital, Camberwell, S.E.

Toronto Evening Telegram Published: May 3, 1915

The specifics in this article and letter seem to indicate that the soldier in question is Robert C. Hill, 9861. Link. Several issues point to this conclusion: enlistment in September 1914 is early enough to see him at the front, Toronto address, etc. However, for Hill (9861), his previous service is stated as 12 years with the Norfolk Regiment, while the soldier in this letter was previously with the 10th Grenadiers of Toronto. Further research would be required to completely confirm that they are the same individual.

Transcription of introduction:

SICK IN LONDON HOSPITAL

Lance-Corporal R. C. Hill Was With 10th Royal Grenadiers.

Lance-Corporal R. C. Hill, of the 10th Royal Grenadiers, who prior to the war was employed in the Commercial Dept. of the Consumers' Gas Company, writes the following interesting letter to The Telegram from the 1st General London Hospital, Camberwell, S.E.

Dated: May 3, 1915

I am just writing a few lines to tell you that I am scanning over The Telegram which has been sent me by the Red Cross Society of Canada. I am sorry to say that I have been invalided home from France through sickness. I have been under an operation, for which I am not sorry, as I am now going on fine.

In the same hospital there is another of my battalion who was wounded while we were in the trenches at a place called Flue Baix.¹ His name is Armitage, a Toronto boy, and the Sister took me to see him. Of course, he was surprised to see me. He was one of the old company boys of the 10th R.G.2 and we had a long chat. He thought he was going to lose his leg, but has not done so up to the present.

¹Probably means Fleurbaix, France.
²Royal Grenadiers. They have their colours and a stained glass window in their honour at St. James Cathedral, King Street, Toronto, Ontario.

Transcribed by: M. I. Pirie