The Diary of James Patrick, 1918-1919

James S. Patrick. Diary of James S. Patrick, 1918–19. Black ink on white lined paper, 150 pages. Leather-bound diary. ©Archives of Ontario, Toronto.¹ ©Transcription MLC Research Centre. jkw/blt/ak/ig

keywords: American, barrack, breakfast, burial and funeral rituals, chink (racist slur for Asian people), dinner, drill, fatigue party, field punishment (F. P.), food, game, gun, hospital, Japan, mail, march, play, read (books and letters), refugees (in Russia), rifle, roubles, Russia, Russians, Vladivostok (far-east Russia), vodka, work

summary: James S. Patrick (1898-1959) supplies descriptive detail and compelling narratives in his brief war diary. After training during the summer of 1918 at Petawawa, Ontario, he records leaving Canada from Victoria, B.C., in December 1918. Sailing on the S.S. Jesse, he chronicles his arrival in Russia in January. From January to April 1919, Patrick details the events of serving in Siberia including drills, training, and fighting. Living in the military barracks near Vladivostok, he decompresses through reading and playing games, breakfast and dinner, as well as alcohol consumption. Toward the end of his war diary, he records what he calls “salient facts,” exposing the deplorable poverty in Russia and accusing the military hospital of performing routine operations on patients without anaesthetics. In late April 1919, he sails for Canada on the S. S. Monteagle.

Transcription:

305 501 [Sij A.S.A]

32^nd Bat² [g te] Art. Bgde.

C. E. H. C. E. F.³

J. S. Patrick

P 3 [board] #3 Com. [Gen./Drp]

B. EI France

Cp. Army Post Office

London

Mrs. George [Palmer]

111 Springhurst Ave

Ottawa, Ont

[unintelligible scribbles]

James

Jimmy

Jim

Jimmy

[written in pencil underneath]

Mrs. Fay

476 Lisgon Street

Bottles for [Scra???]

Jas Russell

266 Brebeouf [sic] St.

#345363 [Driver] J. S. Patrick

85^th Battery C. F. A.⁴

Canadian Forces in Siberia

Enlisted May 27^th 1918

Left May 29 for Pta.

Trained Summer of 1918 at Petawawa⁵

Left Pta. Oct. 2^nd 1918

Left Canada Dec 21^st 1918

(S. S. Jeesta) Arrived in Russia Jan. 12

Served Winter 1918 – 1919 Siberia

Sailed for Canada April 22^nd 1919

(S. S. Monteagle) Arrived May 1919

Discharged

20 December 1918.

Friday.

We left New Westminster at 8 am and took street car to Vancouver where we embarked on “Princess Charlotte” for Victoria.

Victoria isn’t such a bad little place. There are a lot of big buildings but it is very much quieter than Vancouver.

We slept in a big building at the Willow’s which is an infantry camp. They gave us what was called breakfast and we got ready to leave again.

26 December 1918.

We were around Victoria for a whole day waiting for the boat to come in. It arrived about eleven o’clock at night and we embarked immediately. That was Saturday night and Sunday morning when we woke up we were going down the coast of Vancouver Island and making way into the open sea. Since then we have been going north and will stop to coal at some northern port in Japan.

It has been getting colder every day and has snowed several times. The wind is very cold and never stops blowing. Christmas Day we had worst weather of the whole trip, as far as we’ve gone. Sometimes the waves sweep the whole deck but there is usually time to get below out of the way.

We lose about a half an hour every day. When we cross the 180^th meridian we lose a day. It is most likely New Year’s that will be lost. That means we will go to bed on the 31^st of Dec. and the next day will be the 2^nd of Jan. When coming back to Canada we will have two days the same when crossing the same place.

I will try to describe our bunk-room, dining-room and sitting-room. There are tables from which we eat at meal-times and use the rest of the time for writing and playing cards on. There are hooks driven into the rafters about two feet apart. At night we unearth hammocks, which we were given on embarking and swing them from one hook to another about six feet from the first. When everyone has gone to bed the room is a solid mass of swinging hammocks and they don’t swing much, with the hooks two feet apart and the ends all interlocked with those of the rows on either side.

29 December 1918.

Sunday.

Last night a fellow fell down the stope-hole and died shortly afterward. He was buried this morning about ten this o’clock. The service was R. C.⁶ and very brief. The body was sewed up in a canvas sack and although the sack was weighted the body didn’t sink for several minutes.

Weather is lovely today. The air is dry and cold and the sky, at times, is absolutely cloudless. The wind has changed and is against us again. The water, which was of a greenish hue seems to have changed to a deep blue. There was a church service this afternoon at 3 p.m. and enjoyed it very much.

Money is very scarce on board. I am the only one at our table who isn’t broke. Those who did have a little money when we came on board, lost it playing poker and shooting craps.

_____________________

Passed the 180^th meridian, skipped Monday Dec. 30^th.

31 December 1918.

Tuesday.

It is very cold this morning and had been snowing quite a lot. We were given life drill⁷ and nearly froze before being dismissed. This was my turn for “mess-hog” but a “kind” fellow who was broke did it for a “consideration.” The chinese kitchen where all the bread and cakes are made is right next to our bunk-room and once in a while we benefit by it. This afternoon the chinks⁸ were making little current buns for New Year’s (tomorrow) and one bunch of fellows got talking to the orientals at the door of the little cook-house while another gang helped themselves to the buns through a little glassless window. Our table never runs out of grub. When we go through our ration of bread too soon it is a simple matter to pinch a couple of loaves from the chinks and butter and jam we pinch from the A. S. C.⁹

1 January 1919.

Very cold and no heat. The steam steam-pipes burst and the steam is turned off until they are fixed. A little friction with the orderly sergeants. The Inf. officers and N. C. O.’s¹⁰ try to ride us but we show them where they get off at.

2 January 1919.

Thursday.

The sea has quietened down a little but all the spray which happens to reach the deck freezes and I am afraid our boat will be pretty well camouflaged with ice before we reach Japan. The steam-pipes still remain steamless so tonight we freeze some more. The boat took a pretty bad roll early this morning and a lot of the fellows got soaked and grabbed their life-belts. We made little headway yesterday against the wind. In 24 hours we only made 16 miles.

3 January 1919.

Friday.

The weather is unchangeable. It still remains cold and windy. I stayed downstairs most of the day but went up in the evening for air and got caught in a wave. We are travelling up the coast of the Japanese Islands and although are only 35 miles from land have still 800 miles to go.

4 January 1919.

Saturday.

The day started with a lovely sunrise and kept nice all day. We are making good time now and expect to be in Japan on Tuesday. It snowed a little this afternoon but not steadily. Rankin bought out the chinks and started a canteen of his own. It is doing good business with men from other units as well as our own fellows. He proved his originality by selling onion sandwiches. All the fellows are writing letters to be sent from Japan. The “Y” people are doing good work in giving out writing material.

5 January 1919.

Sunday.

Mess-hog today and although it was cold standing in the bread-line, there were no waves coming over. We had about the best meal of the voyage at noon roast lamb and plum pudding. It snowed a good deal and is wet. We were issued with mixed candy which was given by the people of Vancouver. Bunch of our fellows going on guard tomorrow but as they are taken alphabetically it missed me. We had church parade and life-boat drill—too much work altogether in one day.

6 January 1919.

Monday. (Fifteenth Day)

Waves are mountains high and the whole ship is hanging with icicles. Was caught smoking between decks and may be up for office in the morning. We are only making four hours an hour. Real good supper—cold meat, pickles, jam, bread, tea and pineapples (a treat). 9 pm.

The wind has gone down and the sea is like a mill-pond. The moon and stars are standing out already on the inky sky. We ought to make good time tonight and if remains calm we may see land tomorrow.

7 January 1919.

Tuesday. (Sixteenth Day)

Weather is lovely today. The sea calm and the sun is shining bright. I wasn’t up for office. It seemed that the orderly officer didn’t see me and the sergeant let it go. But Mac was up and got seven days. F. P. no. 2.¹¹ I guess he’ll be scrubbing decks tomorrow morning.

7 pm. We can now see the mountains on the Japanese Islands looming up on the horizon. 8:30 There is a lighthouse in sight and several shore-lights are to be seen. One boat of some kind passed us. We expect to be in port at 5 pm tomorrow. I am in my hammock now which accounts for the unsteadiness of my pen.

8 January 1919.

Wednesday. (Seventeenth Day)

Anchored in a little bay at place called Muroran¹² at sunrise. It is comparatively warm here for this time of the year. The scenery is picturesque and and [sic] has an oriental air about it. There is a town of some kind and according to the smoke-stacks they must have an industry here. There are a lot of fishing boats and junks around. We have started to coal now. It is brought out on barges towed by steam tugs. The barges are loaded up with baskets holding about half a sack of coal and Japanese women carry them up a gangway to the chute. The japs wear gaudy clothes and soft leather shoes like moccasins with a separate place for the big toe. Those things are bound on their feet by strings of basket grass. They mostly all have a scharf [sic] over their head and secured under the chin. Several of them wear puttees. They sing weird songs while they work. It is still dark but they are docking by the light of open fires on the barges and an electric search light from the ship. Mostly all the officers have gone ashore but I guess we’ll have to be content to look at Japan from a distance. The bay is full of ships waiting for coal. It seems that there is a shortage but they had to supply us.

9 January 1919.

Thursday. Muroran Port, Japan.

(Eighteenth Day).

They are now loading coal from both sides of the ship. One of the japs fell down the stoke-hole—I guess there isn’t much chance of him living. This town has a population of about sixty thousand and has a large smelter near the shore. 9:30 pm. A lot of the fellows jumped on a barge and got ashore. There have been several japs selling whisky around so quite a number of the fellows are feeling good. I managed to get hold of a pipe from one of the coal heavers. We will probably be coaled up tonight but some parts of the engine are being repaired ashore so we may not leave until tomorrow night. The weather is much the same as yesterday—bright and fairly warm.

10 January 1919.

Friday. Muroran Port.

(Nineteenth Day)

I am on fire piquet today and just came off first shirt. Steamed out of harbour about noon. The weather is ideal—no wind, warm sun and a cloudless sky.

7pm. We are hugging the coast of the northern island of Japan. There are a lot of little villages and lighthouses near the coast but apart from that it looks lifeless and barren. We have only four hundred miles to go and expect to be in Vladivostok¹³ by Sunday. I have enjoyed the trip but will be glad to set my feet on dry land again. One of our fellows pinched a tin of jam and we had afternoon tea. It seems that I never stop eating—I guess it’s the sea air.

11 January 1919.

Saturday. (Twentieth Day)

I’m “mess hog” today glad it will be the last on board. We had a medical inspection this morning. The fellows who were caught ashore were up for office and remanded to be brought before the O. C.¹⁴ of the ship.

3 pm. I am on the bow of the ship looking out onto the sea of Japan¹⁵ and it is as smooth as the canal. We are near Vladivostok and are going slowly to prevent arriving at night. 7 pm. It is very mild now but snowing heavily. The fellows up for office got 14 days F. P. no 2. It was worth it. I would have gone but I had no money—all of it being invested in the canteen.

12 January 1919.

Sunday. (Twenty first Day)

After going through icefields and coming into a pretty large bay, we are at in Vladivostok. It is a dreary looking place and the city is rather scattered. 8 pm. We are anchored in the dock but no orders have yet been given concerning disembarking. We saw several of the boys in our advance party and although tired of the place seem contented with conditions. Jim Kenney¹⁶ was on guard and looked very well. It is about 15 or 20 below zero but doesn’t feel very cold. We were issued with fur hats and look like a bunch of cab drivers. They are made of muskrat and very warm.

13 January 1918.

Monday.

We slept on board and will most likely stay here until tomorrow. Jim Kenney was on board this morning and said that the barracks were good and the rations are better than in Canada. The chinks and Russians are unloading the cargo. The hatches are all opened up and our bunk-room is freezing. I was glad to see that a lot of boxes in the hold were labelled Soldiers Comforts. It looks good that someone is thinking of our comfort—the army never does.

14 January 1919.

Tuesday.

We came off the boat this morning about nine o’clock. It was some march to the barracks. We had six miles to go and only halted twice. I’ll never forget it. The roads are all made with cobble-stones and so slippery. We were loaded with four blankets, haversack, mess tin, and water bottle. It isn’t such a bad when men are in condition but we hadn’t done any work for about a month. Arriving at the barracks met a lot of the fellows. They are all sick of hanging around here. They say there is nothing but guard work and the town is not worth going into.

15 January 1919.

Wednesday. East Barracks.

Fine and cold.

Slept well last night—I doubled up with Mac. Had a little P. T.¹⁷ and are off till this afternoon and perhaps for all day. We had a dandy breakfast. The coffee is the best I’ve tasted in the army. I went over to the yankee “Y” last night. It is a good place for visiting and there’s lots to read. The “[Ph?? ti??les]” arrived this morning and I may get some mail tomorrow. I have been reading all afternoon and having a general rest. We haven’t been issued with any new kit yet but hope I get it tomorrow. I like this place and hope we stay here.

16 January 1919.

Thursday. East Barracks.

Unchanged.

Had a great sleep and dandy breakfast. Got. P. T. from an imperial man—best instruction since I enlisted. Perfectly satisfied here. The barracks are, I am told, belong to the russian regulars. They are low solid brick buildings and plastered inside. The beds have iron frames and are inlaid with nice soft boards.

6 pm. Had a steam bath at the hospital this afternoon. It was great to get cleaned up and get into the clean underwear which was provided for us. On our way to the hospital we saw one of the mounted police beat up a chink for lashing his (the chink’s) horse. That is the only way justice is meted out here.

17 January 1919.

Friday. East Barracks.

Reveille flew this morning as usual at 6 am but of course as usual we did not get up till 7. The breakfast was not bad but might have been better. I was on a fatigues party after P. T. and so missed foot drill. In the afternoon the parade played foot ball but I was at the Q M’s¹⁸ drawing the new blankets for the battery. The walk to the Q M’s was about all the exercise I had but I figure that I had enough in Canada to last for a while. It has been rather mild today, about twenty above zero. We haven’t been paid for five weeks but [wear] my money felt as a relic of a bygone age.

18 January 1919.

Saturday. East Barracks.

Had P. T. as usual then played football until 11 am. Had kit inspection at 11:30 and that ended the days work, if any of it could come under that heading. Wrote letters in our Y then had mess. At night went over to yankee Y. It is nice there—so many books to read and games to play. The yankees are very agreeable and don’t look on us as intruders although the recreation room is strictly theirs. Had a ration of rum this aft but I gave mine away. This is the laziest time I’ve had since joining the army.

19 January 1919.

Sunday. East Barracks.

There is a bitter wind this morning apart from that the weather is fine. [Lot of] the fellows got drunk on vodka last night and kept us awake. Young [Murt?ase] got poetical and babbled on like Walt Mason.¹⁹ Dan Grosbeck nearly raised the roof with his wild war whoops. Went to church parade in the morning and Yankee “Y” in the afternoon. Heard a good lecture at the “Y.” Came back to barracks and wrote a letter to [B]—. Some guy had got stewed and spread my kit all over the floor. Issued with two packages of cigarettes—the name “Pirate” is enough.

20 January 1919.

Monday. East Barracks.

Very cold and windy. Medical inspection at 10 am, then played football for about 10 minutes when fortunately the ball bust, and our morning’s work was done. Paid at three in the afternoon. It was merely an advance so they didn’t settle all but gave us 100 roubles. I must have about 300 coming to me yet. I went over to the yankee “Y” and wrote a letter home which I’ll endeavour to get past the censor. Had a good meal at the yankee chinks it is a better place than our own but much dearer. After colecting [sic] my debts and spending quite a bit I have 166 [pye] 20 [ops].

21 January 1919.

Tuesday. East Barracks.

P. [T.] as usual at 8 am. Played football and had several little arguments on the field which nearly led to a scrap. Had signalling class in the afternoon then a lecture on the old, old question. Went to our “Y” and sang with the bunch for a while but that wasn’t much of a success so went into the chink’s place and had a meal. Bought a pipe and tried hard to get it going the rest of the night but it went out every few seconds. I must have used more than a [ton] of matches. Tried to sell the pipe but the highest bid was 1 [pye].

22 January 1919.

Wednesday. East Barracks.

Foot drill in the morning. Football in the afternoon then got issued with our winter equipment. I got a good sheepskin coat, one [?] [got] one. I like the shoe packs. The moccasins are alright but there is no snow. The weather couldn’t be better. I never saw weather like this in Canada in January. I got my ration of rum tonight but instead of giving it all away I first took a little sip of it just for curiosity and it made me pretty sick. My head started to whirl and my stomach turned. So after this I’ll give it all away without sampling it.

23 January 1919.

Thursday. East Barracks.

The weather is lovely. In the morning we did practically nothing. In the afternoon we went for a route march up a mountain to a russian fort. We saw the gun emplacements which overlooked the bay. There were several tunnels which led under the hill. The walls were solid concrete and had heavy iron doors. There was a little shell-proof [O]. P.²⁰ with a roof like an umbrella. I was all in when we got back and don’t feel very good yet. Besides being tired I feel sick. I haven’t shaven for nearly a week but nothing has been said yet so I won’t shave till I have to.

24 January 1919.

Friday. East Barracks.

P. [T.] and foot drill in the morning. In the afternoon we had signalling from a captain in the Signal Corps.²¹ The C. B.²² being halted Mac and I went in to town for the first time. We went to the American Y there and had some of the fine russian pastry I’d heard so much about and met a lovely russienne at the counter who made my heart go about twice the normal speed. She fascinated me more than any girl I ever met. She spoke english perfectly with a beautiful accent. I was spell-bound under her gaze and would have done anything in the world for her had she only asked. She started a conversation about my capacity for pastry and I’d be eating cake yet if she hadn’t left the counter to see the movies which were being shown in the body of the hall. She was beautifully dressed and was evidently just helping the american ladies who were doing the work for soldiers. We went into several places for eats and got home about nine. We shaved before going to bed—the second time since we came to Vladivostok. I certainly wish I had taken up French more during my youth. It is used quite a lit [sic] here but if could only speak a little russian I wouldn’t pick…

25 January 1919.

Saturday. East Barracks.

I was on a fatigue party in town. We finished up about eleven o’clock in the morning and stayed up town. Went with [Poat?es] and Taylor to a classy café and had a swell meal. Then went to the american Y and wrote a few letters. Went to see a mosque and saw several “devotees” worshipping the various shrines. Had a hair cut in a japanese joint and got my head all perfumed up. Had supper at the classy joint where we dined at noon. There were people of every nationality there. Most of the men, of course, were soldiers. Some of russian officiers wore immaculate uniforms and yards of gold braid. The girls we [sic] nearly all good-looking and some of them really beautiful. The young girls all smoked cigarettes, inhaling every puff. Coming home we were shown around several of the joints which are out of bounds for the troops, by an M. P.²³ In one of them some of the girls danced to the time of an accordion. They did a [kind] of a waltz first then some native dance they have. It certainly has been an eventful day all through and in a mixture of purely english and an odd russian word I was able to make myself understood in most cases. The weather is lovely.

25 January 1919.

Sunday. East Barracks.

Was on the same fatigue party as yesterday and got finished before noon. The other fellows went back home but I stayed up town. Dined at a high-class place and was watching what was going on around me. When a person meets a friend they always shake hands. Sometimes a man will kiss a lady’s hand but not always. The men have a solemn look on their face and set a [sic] though they were on the stage. The women and girls smile a great deal showing their little teeth and putting a lot of expression in their eyes. The little parties have a custom of moving from one table to another. I ordered ham and eggs, cream puffs, tea and cigarettes. The ham and eggs came in an aluminium dish like a flat mess tin. The [sic] weren’t turned over and most of it was raw except for the yolks. The ham was mixed here and there throughout and the whole thing had to be eaten with a spoon. The tea was nice with a slice of lemon and some sugar. The cream puffs were better than the ordinary kind we have in Canada. The cigarettes all have a cardboard holder attached and are in a paper packet. In the afternoon I attended a band concert given by the “Y” and afterwards paid a visit to Kopek Hill.²⁴ I have had the place described to me by fellows who had been there but it was even worse than I expected. There were girls of all nationalities in the houses which I visited. Most of them were russian but I was speaking to a swede, a spanish girl and several japanese. Of course there are no white girls in the japanese houses they don’t mix at all even in that low sphere. Some of the jap girls were only about 14 years of age and quite pretty. In the house I saw some real good dancing by russian sailors, Cossacks and some girls of the said “house.” There were quite a number of jap soldiers around and several of them who were slightly “vodkad” almost fell on my neck and kissed me. They like the Canadians but not the americans and they know the difference.

27 January 1919.

Monday, East Barracks.

P. [T.], signalling and footdrill in the morning. Mounted guard at 4 pm. It is a twenty-four hours guard and I’ll be off all day Wednesday. There is a pretty big piece of ice down in the valley and some of the fellows were playing hockey with skates and outfits given by the “Y” people. The guard house is a cold and bare room. There is no [story] in it like in the prisoner’s room. It is pretty cold and will likely be a pretty cold guard through the night. We use or rather carry Lee-Enfields²⁵ and fired bayonets.

28 January 1919.

Tuesday. East Barracks.

I finished my guard alright and feel a little tired. The whole city “celebrated” the death of Prince John.²⁶ Being on guard I missed the parade and wasn’t sorry because its no joke walked ten miles even to sympathize with king, but the fellows said it was nice to see the body guard composed of troops of all nationalities. The weather now reminds me more of descriptions of California than siberian weather. It hasn’t rained, snowed, or even been cloudy since we arrived in the country. About nine o’clock “Mac” and I went to have a meal at the chinks place. Our entire fortune was five roubles and the object in view was “a meal.” We both had three eggs with potatoes and coffee which came to exactly five roubles. It was then that “Mac,” who had had a couple of shots of rum, decided that a meal wasn’t complete without pie. So after we had paid the five roubles and sat for a while Mac informed me of the chinks that we had paid eight roubles and were waiting on our pie. It took us quite a few minutes to convince the chinks that the pie was coming to us and after the fellows around us refused to pay their bills until we were squared we got the pie; so we both had a “meal” on five roubles.

29 January 1919.

Wednesday.

No duty today so I had a good rest. I went to the hospital in the morning for a steam bath and left my old underwear there and got clean stuff. In the afternoon I slept for a while then we [sic] down in the valleys and had a game of hockey. I didn’t play long before I felt my toes getting numb and when I took off my socks I found that three of my toes were frozen. I got them thawed out but they still burn. It is much colder today.

30 January 1919.

Thursday. East Barracks.

Paraded sick this morning and got M & D—had cold in the chest. In the afternoon we got paid and after that Poaps and I went to town. We went to several stores and bought a few articles which we needed and some other things. I bought a dirk and a piece of ivory work. We ate in style ad came home in a “drosky.” The driver wanted ten roubles for two of us but I finally brought him down to seven for three of us. The driver was vodkad and sang in russian all the way in. He kept beating the little till we tried to persuade him to stop. When I came back I found I’d spent about 140 [pye].

31 January 1919.

Friday. East Barracks.

I was on a fatigue party and got to parade most of the morning. In the afternoon we shovelled for a while at the rink we are making for hockey. At 3 pm we—McDonald, MacKinnon & I—went to town. First we went to a place and had our picture taken then went to a little bookstore. After a while we went up to have a look at Kopek Hill. We left that disgusting place and made our way to the café. After having dined we went right home “à la drosky.” I couldn’t beat this fellow down at all and had to pay twenty-five roubles [sic]. The weather is much the same as usual.

1 February 1919.

Saturday. East Barracks.

J’ai en P. [T.] comme de coutume et puis est [?] éte au patinoir que nous faisons. Nous avons beaucoup travailé jusque midi. Vu que c’est aujourdui [sic] le Samedi nous avons l’aprèsmidi à nous-mêmes. La plus part des hommes sont parti a la ville et quelques-uns d’eus jouent “hockey” près de la caserne mais je m’amuse à lire. 10 pm Je viens d’entendre que nous sommes en quarantaine pour la prévention de “spinal meningitis.” J’ai éte à les vues [machine] à notre theatre. La [machine] étais bien opere maid les vues étais mauvaise. J’ai puis [une] ration de rum ce soir. C’est la prensiers fois que l’ai pris.

2 February 1919.

Sunday. East Barracks.

I was feeling quite happy last night after taking our ration of rum. I had a pretty big ration and it made me rather talkative. We had church parade this morning but the sermon wasn’t much good. In the afternoon I sat around the Y for a while then went down to the sink but couldn’t get a pair of skates so just watched the hockey. When I came back I had supper and a miserable meal it was too. It is now a little after six but I am actually in bed. I’ll write a letter to [Y.] then try to sleep away my listlessness. If we don’t move or do something soon I’ll go nutty.

3 February 1919.

Monday. East Barracks.

On water wagon fatigue and would rather be on parade. Had medical inspection this morning. Had dinner at the chinks’ place and was given the job of pumping for the water wagon. It was the worst job I have had yet. There were four of us and we quit at 4:30 refusing to work any longer. It is now about 7:30 and there is “absolutely” nothing to do. I sat and talked with a bunch in the barrack room then went into the “Y” canteen. The weather is lovely. It is neither cold nor mild and puts the winter of Canada in the shade. I hear there is mail today,

4 February 1919.

Tuesday. East Barracks.

Went to bed last night about 7:30 and woke up this morning at 7:20. Had signalling class till 11 am, dinner then signalling till 3:30 and dismissed. Canadian mail in today I got five letters. I wrote letters after supper till 7:30 then went to the movie show in our theatre. It was a good show. The name of the feature was “The Vampire”²⁷ then there was a comedy in which Billy Richie starred. Came from the show and reread my letters then made my bed and turned in. The weather is the same as usual.

5 January 1919.

Wednesday.

R. T.²⁸ and signalling in the morning dismissed for the morning at 10:30. Had dinner and went into the “Y.” Stayed there till 1:45 and came into the barracks room to find that they had fallen in at 1:30. As it happened I hadn’t been missed. There was nothing to do so I went down and helped around the rink. We pushed a water cart in to the well in town and fill it up to be drawn back by a single horse. We went into the Victory Cade and had something to eat. I met the celebrated [Shorty] for the first and she spoke a little French. After supper we got our rum ration. I managed to get somebody else’s too.

6 February 1919.

Thursday. East Barracks.

After P. [T]. John Bull and I just ambled off. The parade went down to the rink but Bull and I went for a walk along the road to [Gor??as??]. On the way we met a company of americans out for a route march and while resting by a little bridge fell in with three Canadians. We got back about 11 am and ate at the chinks’ place. Owing to the hockey game there was no parade in the afternoon. I went down to the rink at 3:00 pm. and watched for a while then got a pair of skates on and played with a bunch during intermission. Came back at 5:00 pm. and ate supper at the chinks’. At 7:15 I intend going to the movie show (7:00 pm). 9:30 Had a lovely time at the show.

7 February 1919.

Friday. East Barracks.

Four of us were taken off morning parade and sent over to the V. D.²⁹ hospital with some stuff from the L. M. stores and after we had delivered the goods we went to town for the rest of the morning in spite of the quarantine. I tried to get the pictures that we [sic] to be ready today but found that the plate didn’t turn out good. Went to a military supply store and bought belt with crest. Saw a russian funeral. The body was in a shallow casket and fully exposed. The casket was set on a relief which looked like a circus float. It was a young fellow who had died and his wavy hair was blown over his face by the wind. All the mourners were walking behind the hearse in sections of fours. I caught a street-car obtaining a good foothold on a ledge full 2 inches wide and having two fingers firmly wedged in a ring at the head of the car. Arrived home in time for dinner and was told I would be on guard tonight. 6:30 I am on guard now and will take my first beat at 8:00 pm. We have a little stove in the guard house which makes quite a bit of difference but it is a cold place at any time. (Later) It is a pretty cold night for guard but the moon is shining brightly which makes it very light outside. A big load of boxes just came up from H. Q. and I got a box from Gertie and one from the church. Everything is going well except that two prisoners escaped. One of them came back at 1:30 am the other is still missing.

8 February 1919.

Saturday. East Barracks.

Came off guard at 4 pm and had supper at 5. Received eleven letters and started right away to answer them. It was all pretty old mail that had been held up at New Westminster.³⁰ I went to our movies at 9:15 and saw “My Old Dutch.” ³¹ It was a pretty sad picture to show out here when we have nothing to do and the least little thing plays on the mind. We got our rum ration when we got back and I managed as usual to get a little more than my ration. The rum makes a big difference on a fellow when he has nothing to do and all day to do it in.

9 February 1919.

Sunday. East Barracks.

After being on guard I was excused from church parade and didn’t go. Went in a bath parade to the hospital and had a good steam bath. There were a lot of imperial men there and a bunch of them had just come off the train from Omsk.³² They were as lousy as pet coons and I kept away from them. Poaps and I went off before the parade was [??ved] [?] [?] to go back. We went into the Victory Café and had dinner. Got back to barracks after 12 am [sic] and spent the rest of the afternoon in [counting].

10 February 1919.

Monday. Easy Barracks.

After P. [T.] there were no parades at all so I slept and read nearly all morning. Had dinner then was put on a fatigue for about an hour. There were ten of us and our job was picking up tin cans around the barracks. We had two big boxes which we put all the tins in and carried them up to the top of the hill. Had supper at 5 pm and read for a while then went to the Y a [sic] wrote some letters. Returned to barrack room talked with Poaps for a while then made my bed and retired. We had a little now but not enough.

11 February 1919.

Tuesday. East Barracks.

P. [T.] then breakfast. Fell in about 4:30 and played football till 10:30 then dismissed for the morning. In the afternoon we got skates and sticks at the “Y” and had a good game of hockey at the rink. I played right wing for our side. We beat the others about 9 to 5 I think. It was the first real exertion I had had for a long time and I was in soft condition. I perspired so much that I had to change when I came to barracks. There is no show tonight so I am going to bed now (8 pm).

12 February 1919.

Wednesday. East Barracks.

This has indeed been a big day. In the morning we played hockey and were dismissed at 10:30. In the afternoon there was a big game between East Barracks and the Stationary Hospital. The E. B. team is composed mostly of battery men and played a good game winning 6 to 2. [Ike] Culloch was the best man on the ice. Lt. [H????es] was pretty good but was half-lit. The big vaudeville show came off tonight and was exceptionally good. Lt. Massey³³ was the best on the stage. Jim Henney was pretty good too. Just after supper I was down at the rink skating for about an hour. I met a little russian girl and skated with her for a while. Her name is Nina something and I am going to meet her again.

13 February 1919.

Thursday. East Barracks.

No parade in the morning. In the afternoon we played hockey at the rink. As soon as I got back was warned [for] guard up town. The guard is Poaps, McKinnon and I with Bds Phillips in chard. We are now at H. Q. and have taken over the post. It is upstairs and at the entrance of the H. Q. offices. There is usually one interpreter right there beside the post so I may manage to pick up some russian. The food as far as it has gone is much better than at East Barracks but hope we soon go back as I like a sleep at night. It snowed a little and has now become much milder.

14 February 1919.

Friday. H. Q. Vladivostok.

This is St. Valentine’s Day. My midnight relief was 2 – 4. Went to bed at 4 and was wakened at 7:30. Had breakfast, washed, shined my boots and buttons and mounted at 8 am—pretty quick work. Was relieved at 10 am by Poaps and am now in the guard house. The building we are in and now occupied by H.Q. is an old theatre and the guard house is what was once the orchestra pit. This must have been a classy theatre from the paintings on the walls and the artistic work which adorns the stage. This guard work is very monotonous and if it lasts long I’ll be [wearying] to get back to E. B. There are too many officers around for my liking. I hate to be paying compliments all day long.

15 February 1919.

Saturday. H. Q. Vladivostok.

Had quite a time last night taking care of a vodka crazed man. We finally got him asleep on the floor where he remained insensible until almost ten in the morning. I had a good breakfast, about as good as I’ve ever had in the army and after being paid (80 pys) I had dinner up town. We can go out anytime during the day while not on duty. I walked around the town a bit but today happened to be a holiday and all the stores were closed. I went down to the “Y” and looked over some magazines and got back to H. Q. in time to mount at 2 pm. Some of the fellows from the battery who are attached came up here for pay today and was glad to see them. The weather is like late spring.

16 February 1919.

Sunday. H. Q.

Got up at 7 am and had breakfast. Mounted guard again at 8. Relieved at 10 and went up town. Nearly all the stores were closed but had something to eat and walked around town taking in the sights and as much fresh air as is possible it [sic] this town. Went on guard again at 2 and the time passed quickly, as I was exchanging words with a russian who was fixing the lights. It happened that the Bdr³⁴ and other two fellows were all out at the same time in the afternoon when I was on and the M. P.s brought in a guy who had gone nutty. Luckily Poaps wandered in and said he was Bdr, taking over the prisoner. Poaps had now relieved me and I am alone in the guard house with the nutt.

17 February 1919.

Monday. H. Q.

Went for a walk around town, bought a few things and ate. Got back to H. Q. at 1:30 and found that we were relieved by the [??]. We got all our stuff together and left it in the guard room. The four of us went up town and visited the circus and the japanese bazaar. Got back to H. Q. after five and got our kit rifles and walked back to East Barracks. Arrived back at 8 pm. Mac came around to my bunk and got me to go out for a walk with him. It was a lovely night. The air was soft and the moon was shining beautifully. We passed two russian girls who were strolling along arm in arm singing softly in their own language.

18 February 1919.

Tuesday. East Barracks.

Being just off guard I was excused duty went out for a walk in the morning. The weather is just something like one would expect in June. Didn’t feel like eating any dinner and after dinner time I went to the hospital with Poaps and MacKinnon and had a bath. Got back to barracks in time for supper. After supper I went out for a walk around the main road. I met two americans who were so vodka-ed that they couldn’t walk. They told me they had to get to barracks about two miles at 7:30. I didn’t want to see them stuck so I went up with them one on each arm. On the way they gave me a spiel about how they loved the Canadians and arrived on time.

19 February 1919.

Wednesday. East Barracks.

No duty again today. So I went out for a walk in the morning after P. T. After meandering around the country roads I made my way to [Ah Jan’s] place for a piece of pie and some coffee. After being satisfied I went in the back behind the curtain to see him. She didn’t have much to do so I stayed in there about 2 hours. She seems to take to me which may, or may not, be a compliment. She talks cheery and there is lots of fun in her but it doesn’t stop there. Her morals are rather stretched. I was warned that I would be admitted into No 11 Stationary Hospital for a slight operation tomorrow. Went up town in the afternoon and got the mail for the [bty]³⁵ & Col. Got a ride on a French truck, saw Billy [sic] Burke in “Peggy”³⁶ and came home in a street car. Window broke with crowding.

20 February 1919.

Thursday. No. 11 Stationary Hospital.

Admitted to Stationary Hospital at 9 am. Was operated on about 10:30. Being given no chloroform it was very painful. I was on the table about half an hour. [Was] [in] the surgical ward. It contained about twenty beds nearly all occupied. It is a bright and cheery place but rather stuffy. The R. C. chaplin [sic] Father O’Brien was visiting this morning. He is a very nice fellow and speaks to all religions the same. The food is very good and good drinking water is obtainable. Some pretty and young ladies there in all came to visit the ward and I was very glad to see them. I was kind of hurt though for I was the only patient missed.

21 February 1919.

Friday. N 11 S. H.

Stayed up most of the afternoon although I didn’t get up till noon. The protestant chaplin [sic] came in this afternoon. He is a rather quiet fellow but spoke very nicely. We have two orderly attendants. One is a very nice fellow and the other makes himself disagreeable to us by giving orders when he has no right to. Although the M. G.³⁷ put “bed” on my chart he says I’ll have to get up and do some fatigue work. The [stationary] here is rather rough and ready. I wish I was back to barracks again. The weather seems to be the same as ever—warm and sunny.

22 February 1919.

Saturday. No 11 S. H.

Got up this morning about 2:30 washed and ate. Had bandage taken off and piece of gauze put on. Read a good part of the morning and had dinner by chance about 12. The fiendish and inhuman orderly in charge of the ward told me I’d have to eat at the table and because I was unable to move from bed with the pain he wasn’t going to give me any dinner at all. The other fellow brought me something. I was sent to the cook-house to peel potatoes and had a long interesting conversation with a philosopher named Semen. He was a university graduate and had been 7 times around the around the world.

23 February 1919.

Sunday. No 11 S. H.

Not much doing. Read nearly all morning and peeled potatoes in the afternoon with Semen and a french-canadian who spoke no english as co-spud-peelers. Was moved to the next ward and away from the low specimen of humanity who works unfit patients that he may sit around and smoke. Had an interesting evening listening to the tales of flying from an aviator in the french army—he speaks french only. Had a sleepless night again and my longest stay in bed was from 4:50 am till 7. This ward is the same size as the other but is only about half filled.

24 February 1919.

Monday. No 11 S. H.

Had breakfast in my old ward but came right back here and read all morning. I forgot to say yesterday that several ladies visited and gave us nut bars. They talked very pleasantly mostly in english and some in french. Went into my old ward and watched some of the games then started a game of checkers with the frenchman in the aviation. He spoke french all the time and I learned a few idioms which I had never heard before. I went to bed about 10:30 but couldn’t sleep. One time when I woke up I stated chewing gum to pass the time away, then dozed off and swallowed it.

25 February 1919.

Tuesday. No 11 S. H.

Wrote several letters in the morning and in the afternoon I peeled potatoes and read magazines. In the evening I went into the old ward and ran the gramophone for a while. It is one of those little tin affairs and scrapes terribly. I watched some of the poker games. They all played for matches; none of them seem to have any money. I started to read “The Mill on the Floss”³⁸ but my eyes got tired so I went to bed. It took me quite a while to get settled in bed so I don’t think I’ll sleep very well.

26 February 1919.

Wednesday. No 11 S. H.

Didn’t sleep very well last night. Got up about ten times in the night. Arose at 7:30 and as I expect to go out today shaved before breakfast. I got back to the ward about two minutes after the rations came up so I didn’t get much to eat. One of the patients developed measles and we were quarantined until everything was changed and the ward disinfected. Had a hot bath in the afternoon. At night we managed to secure a gramophone from another ward and passed the long evening playing the records over. [Dip.] O’Neil and Bdr McGurk³⁹ visited me in the afternoon and I was very glad to see them

27 February 1919.

Thursday. No 11 S. H.

Was up about twenty times during the night and arose about 7:30. Washed and had fairly food breakfast at 8. Helped wash the dishes and got through about am. Today the weather is glorious—just like summer. Was visited by M. O.⁴⁰ and told I wouldn’t get out yet. Dinner at 12 and washed dishes again. Played checkers and went out for a walk in the afternoon. The sun is warm but the air kind of chilly. Supper at 4:30 and afterwards went into the next ward having a long talk with the frenchman. Came back to my ward at nights out and went to bed in the dark.

28 February 1919.

Friday. No 11 S. H.

Had a good sleep last night and arose at 7:40. Very good breakfast this morning. Visited the M. O. but he did not say anything about sending me out yet. Had dinner and not a bad one at all. Some ladies old and benevolent called this afternoon. They left their junk on my bed while they moved up the ward distributing kind words, nut bars and magazines. They must have thought they gave me my quota at first as they packed up their stuff and melted into oblivion without presenting me with one of the coveted nut bars. I received five letters this aft and answered four.

1 March 1919.

Saturday. No 11 S. H.

Lot of the fellows moved out from our ward and only seven left. It is much better especially the eating part of the business. One of the [A???n] Col fellows was admitted today for eye treatment. I went out a walk with two other patients this morning and besides getting the fresh air we visited the american dock. Saw a lot of boats in dry-dock and one pre-historic submarine. When I came back I found that two fellows had called to see me. Had supper and washed up the dishes. In the evening I stayed around the ward talking with a french on the old subject of going home. Retired about nine to my white sheets.

2 March 1919.

Sunday. No 11 S. H.

The signallars [sic] who just arrived in Vladivostok came here this morning for a bath and I was talking to a bunch of them. [Laseau] from 6 [?] was there and was glad to see him. We had our usual busty Sunday morning changing linen and clothes. I didn’t feel like going on church parade. Went out for a walk in the afternoon getting back about 3:30 just in time to be sent to the kitchen to peel potatoes. I didn’t mind it as the cook gave us some cocoa and toast. Had supper then sat on the bench in the hall talking to two other patients until about seven when I decided to write some letters. Weather beautiful.

3 March 1919.

Monday. No 11 S. H.

One of the ear patients made an awful racket last night, but apart from that I slept well. Was visited this morning by Allan and Mac and they seemed pretty sure that we were going home in April. After dinner I went out for a walk down by the bay and saw where the french troops are quartered. They live in box-cars on a siding. There is a stove and bunks in each car and they seem quite comfortable. I started speaking in english and they thought I was speaking russian so I tried my french which seem to be improving. Weather is as usual.

4 March 1919.

Tuesday. No 11 S. H.

[Bunsk] came up for a bath this morning. McCullock and MacKinnon came to see me. Went out and talked with the french. [Serge] was there and he gave me some packets of gum—is going to send up my store of apples which the battery sent over to us. Went for a walk down by the bay and saw a military funeral parade coming over from Russian Island. Some british colonel died. Slept most of the afternoon and read until about 8 p. m. after supper. Three of us went up and had a shower bath just before going to bed.

5 March 1919.

Wednesday. No 11 S. H.

Got up at 7:30. Went for the rations washed the dishes and mopped out the hall before I was through. Some of our fellows came up for a bath and brought up my hare of the apples. There wasn’t much doing in the morning until dinnertime came along. In the afternoon I went out for a walk with a corporal form our ward and we looked over a couple of ancient submarines which are on the bank of the bay. He knew quite a bit about them and did some explaining. After we went along to the siding where the frenchmen hang out and I got talking to one young fellow. He showed us his rifle and equipment.

6 March 1919.

Thursday. No 11 S. H.

Arose in time for breakfast and after mopping out the hall I ambled around the hospital grounds. It was much colder than it has been for several days. Has [sic] a pretty good dinner at 12:30 then went for a walk down by the dock. Met an american sergeant with whom I had quite a long conversation. He was a regular with 32 years service and had a lot to say about Uncle Sam. Had supper at 4:30 and after washing I went out a little while for the air. Got talking with a young russian and he certainly could use his little bit of english to good advantage.

7 March 1919.

Friday. No 11 S. H.

Stayed in the ward all morning. After dinner I went down to the dock as usual and visited the frenchmen. Was in one of the boxcar homes nearly all afternoon. The fellows are very nice and they showed me a lot of stud they had collected during their long journey from France. After supper I played Rummy for a while then got into a very exciting game of Fan-Tan. I was pretty lucky in the first couple of hours but through a streak of bad luck one of the other fellows won more games than I. Retired about nine. Weather same.

8 March 1919.

Saturday. No 11 S. H.

Breakfast at 7:30 and did my fatigue. Played cards all morning and dinner then played cards till supper-time. After supper I shaved, had a bath and went to bed early.

9 March 1919.

Sunday. No 11 R. H.

Played Fan Tan all day except when at church service and at meal times. Had a visit from several english-speaking ladies in the afternoon and got a couple of nut-bars. Went to bed about 9:30. Weather as usual just like summer. [end 81]

10 March 1919.

Monday. No 11. S. H.

Went out for a walk in the morning and getting into a comfortable place in the sun, read most of the time. After dinner went with one of the other fellows down towards town to see a fire at a british ammunition dump; they say it was set by a bolshivik. When I got back Mac was there to visit me. He said that the battery had been issued with rifles and 180 rounds, divided into four fighting parties and had been “standing to” all night last night expecting a revolution in town. Two [c???et] meetings were broken up by the Czechs.

11 March 1919.

Tuesday. No 11 S. H.

Played cards all morning and after dinner went for a walk at the railroad track. Saw some pre-historic boats and engines but outside of that there wasn’t much of interest to be seen. The old orderly got another job and we got a young fellow in his place. He is not much good around the ward so we are all sorry that the other fellow went. I was told that I’d be discharged tomorrow. I was longing to get back to the [bunch]. The weather is lovely; the sun shines all day and the air is very mild.

12 March 1919.

Wednesday. No 11 S. H.

Got my clothes and kit and was discharged from hospital at 1:30. Walked back to East-Barracks and got there about 2:30. Had quite a time finding a bed and place to put it. Got a hair cut which I badly needed. Borrowed 20 [pye] till pay on Friday. Went into the prisoners joint and got my identification disk which I had ordered before going to No 11. They run a regular library here now so I got a book out. Everything is much the same but of course they are standing to as a result of the Bolshevik demonstration in town. I have a light night over my bed—good for reading.

13 March 1919.

Thursday. East Barracks.

Arose 6:45 am and washed, dressed, got cleaned up before breakfast. Breakfast wasn’t bad—beans, bread, butter and coffee. Excused from P. T. so went for a walk. The others went to the hospital for a bath but as I had one yesterday stayed around the barrack-room. No parade called in the afternoon. Eleven volunteers were called from the [Arms] Col. to go up to Omsk with an ammunition train. They got the required number and amongst them Sharp and [Kenney]. I think they are crazy to go when there is a prospect of going home in a few weeks. After supper I bummed around the barrack-room and [?].

14 March 1919.

Friday. East Barracks.

Was sent over to [V. D.] hospital to relieve [Guardin] on guard there, he is on the party going to Omsk. Got paid at 10 am, by missing last pay I had 200 [pye] coming. Drew it all and went down town after doing my first shift. This is a permanent guard for a week; three hours on and nine off. We have a good guard-room and spring beds. When up town went to the canadian “Y” having supper there then to the International “Y” and saw some movies. Started for Hosp. about 7 pm, met two of our fellows en route and arrived about 8. Have a slight head ache perhaps due to the hot sun today. Beautiful moonlight night; ideal for guard.

15 March 1919.

Saturday. Hosp. Guard.

Went to town with Tanner and Doc Winters. When coming back, the juice of the car system went off and while waiting for the return of the juice caught an american truck. In the afternoon [Hunter] shot a little pig about ten lbs. They cleaned it and we have arranged with the cook to cook it up well for a big feed tomorrow night. We each gave 6 [pye] towards having some other stuff. After supper went over to the barracks and spent the evening with Mac. We were in the quarter-stores when the Capt. came in. Mac and him seem to be pretty thick but I never liked being in the company of officers so left early.

16 March 1919.

Sunday. Hosp. Guard.

Slept till 8:30 and in so doing missed the usual morning meal. Stayed around the guard-room all morning. [Kenney] and [Guardin] came in to see us before leaving for Omsk. Had dinner and mounted guard at one pm. Had our pig supper at 5 pm and it was some meal. Went over to the barrack with Hunter after supper. Bought some chocolate and stuff at the canteen. There wasn’t much doing so I came home early. This isn’t such a good night for guard as last night. The moon was shining great then but the sky was overcast tonight at least when I came in to the guard room.

17 March 1919.

Monday. Hosp. Guard.

Everything went well on guard last night except that [?anney] acted a little [crazy] from the effect of the odd shot of vodka, then Bill ([???] Col mascot), who was sleeping with Alan had a bad dream and sent up a terrible howl. Went over to the barrack room with Hunter before dinner. Came back to Hosp. and went on duty at one pm. The wind and dust was so bad that I had to wear my issued snow-goggles. After supper played checkers and read for a while. The rest of the fellows are playing poker for cigarettes now and seem to be having an interesting time. Just heard that our unit has been quarantined for mumps.

18 March 1919.

Tuesday. Hosp. Guard.

Went over for the mail which just arrived in the morning. There were only three letters for me but they were from the parties I’m most interested in so I am satisfied. Hunter shot at another pig but the sights had been left at about 2000 yds so he missed a mile. Came back and had dinner at the hospital. After supper read and engaged in a lengthy discussion on an old subject. There must be something doing as the [O. C. of C. B.]⁴¹ is inspecting the [books] at E. B. on Thursday and the General on Friday. The weather remains the same.

Japan 日本	Canada 加奈陀
France 仏国	Germany 独逸
Good morning お早う	Name O Saito お さいと42

Muroran

Japan

Thursday Jan 9. 1919.

Jan 9. 1919. Notes

Muroran Port

Japan

[???]

Kiss me.

Chutoui mina.

home.

doma

I love you.

Ya loublou vâss

I don’t understand.

Ne panimiya

Thanks.

spasseba

Landed in Siberia Jan 14th 1919.

Vladivostok

Karashow

(alright)

My first word of Russian.⁴³

A few salient facts concerning the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Siberia.

Reveille⁴⁴ is a call seldom heard by us and never responded to. They say it is blown at six and I’ve heard that it was a pretty call. I usually wake up at the sound of mess-call and get up shortly afterward. We write “On Acting Service” but that is as far as the active service goes. We are on parade four hours during the day and most of that time play football or hockey. We have absolutely nothing to look ahead to except our return to Canada and we never know when that will be. The meals have been getting worse every day. They seem to think that if we don’t work it follows that we don't have to eat. We get bacon, bread, lard and coffee for breakfast. What a meal if we had to do morning’s work! We call ourselves the artillery, but have neither horses nor guns. The only thing that breaks the monotony is the rum ration. I intend to save mine up and have a real happy time by swallowing about a water-bottle full. There are parts of Russia where there is a decent class of people but here in Vladivostock we have the scum of all the Russian Empire. The most of the people have neither sense of morality nor cleanliness. Homeless refugees are huddled together in public places; eating when they are given some food and washing never. It doesn’t seem to matter whether we go on parade or not. I only fall in with the parade when I feel like it. They have a hospital here, at least they call it that. The M. O.s must have a good time and I am sure lead a very quiet life. We seldom see any of them around and when they do come around it’s up to the patients to attract his attention if they want his services. In operating they’ll give you chloroform if you are having a leg taken off or something in that vernacular, but if it is for a minor operation they lay you on the table and carve away. There is a Czech hospital nearby and the number of deaths per day averages pretty high. They have a little morgue close to the hospital which seems to be kept fairly busy. Sometimes they take the patients over there before he is quite dead. So long as they think he is just about pegging out the poor fellow goes to the dead house and never comes out alive. It is said that they dose them and finish them off if not quite dead but couldn’t say for a fact.

19 March 1919.

Wednesday. Hosp. Guard.

Went exploring over the mountains in the morning. There are fortifications made of concrete and underground passages, by the hundreds. Made a detour and landed eventually at East Barracks. Stayed there till the canteen opened then went back to hospital. Went up town about 2:30 catching a canadian truck. Did a little shopping and had something to eat at the canadian “Y” then took street car for the hospital. There is quite a reflection in the sky towards Second River⁴⁵ or there may be a fire at our barracks there. [Weathers] yaks.

20 March 1919.

Thursday. Hosp. Guard.

In the morning after breakfast I went for a walk over the mountains by the american barracks. Climbed up to the top of a big hill facing the sea. There was a fortress there where a little bunch of the signallars [sic] had taken up their abode. It is a regular station where they send and receive messages from H. Q. and Gornastai Bay.⁴⁶ Went home by way of E. B. After dinner Smith took a shot at a pig and wounded it. When supper was over I made several attempts to write but somehow couldn’t get going. Went to bed about ten. Weather is very warm for March.

21 March 1919.

Friday. East Barracks.

Were relieved from our good job about ten this morning. Heard three shots fired close to hospital last night (3:15 am). Drunk chink rendered a dismal melody about 3:45 am. Got back to barracks 11 am and got a box from the “Sisters.” It was full of chocolates which were in excellent condition. Stayed around barracks all morning and went down to see a football match between the “Kent” sailors and Gornastai Bay. “The Kent” won 3 – 0 although the Bay played well. After the mess at night I went into the chinks and had a meal—the first one today. I don’t know what’s the matter but I can’t eat. Weather fine as usual.

22 March 1919.

Saturday. E. B.

No parade this morning but was put on a fatigue to pull down the boards of our late rink. Finished up before noon and ate at american canteen. Wrote a few letters in the afternoon and went out for a walk up to the No. 11 hospital. Couldn’t get it [sic] to visit the patients without a pass. At night went to a concert at our show. It was put on by the canadian Y troupe made up of talent from our units. Spr. Farney was the best of the bunch and sang some songs of his own among them “She sleeps on the swamp by the swill.” Came back to barrack room and retired about ten.

23 March 1919.

Sunday. E. B.

We had church parade at 9 am and attended as usual. Went over to the american canteen for dinner with Hunter and a signallar [sic]. After dinner started out along for a walk and landed at the signallars [sic] barracks about 2:45. The barracks are situated on a peninsula facing the open sea, and although it is far from the city I’d rather be there. Met two of our fellows out there and came in with them. We stopped off at the “Y” (american) for a while and as it happened we were just in time for afternoon tea which is served here every Sunday. Got back to barracks at 5 pm and stayed in.

24 March 1919.

Monday. E. B.

Arose at 7:45 and missed breakfast. Ate a little at the chink’s place. Was on a fatigue cleaning up for the inspection by the general. It rained (first time since we came here) so the inspection was called off. No parade after dinner so I played checkers in the “Y” then went for a walk. Went out to the peninsula and followed the path right around by the sea. Came in as far as the american “Y” and had supper there. After I went in to see their show. It was [“Fite Nite”] and I enjoyed it alright. Came home about 9 pm and made my bed in time for lights out. The roads are pretty muddy all around from the rain.

25 March 1919.

Tuesday. E. B.

There was a bath parade in the morning so I had a good clean-up. Was warned for main guard about noon and mounted at four. We have only one prisoner and he doesn’t give much trouble: in fact, he sleeps in the guard and does all the work there is to be done. All went well on guard and I gave a couple of fellows who were pretty well vodka-ed a scare. They came along about mid-night talking loudly and I jumped out coming down [to] “on guard” and giving my challenge in a ferocious voice, to say the least. They anxiously replied.

26 March 1919.

Wednesday. E. B.

It was bitterly cold last night but warmed up a bit today. There was a big inspection so I was glad to be on guard and miss it. Everything went about as usual and I finished guard for another week. Saw a football game with E. B. & “the Kent”. The Kent beat us 4 – 0. After supper went to the “Y” as usual and listened a while to the canned music then wrote a few letters. Made my bed and retired fairly early. The weather is agreeable at all times but we are all dying to get home.

27 March 1919.

Thursday. E. B.

Excluded duty after on main-guard so in the morning Tanney⁴⁷ and I went for a walk over by the peninsula. We visited several forts and big guns with [?] fore of about [12] in. Returned and ate at the ‘Y.” Paraded in the afternoon to get forage hats. Didn’t eat at mess-room just made some toast “a la baionette”. After supper bummed around with Mac for a while, then went in to the theatre and listened to a band concert by the american 31^st [Quf] band. I enjoyed it very much, but for the fact that I had a man boarded for home labeled insanity sitting beside me it would have been a perfect evening. Made some toast then retired. Wrote this while in bed.

28 March 1919.

Friday. E. B.

Started out at 8:15 for town in a fatigue party to unload beer for the sergeants mess. Tanney and I took to [lost?] cases pretty early in the morning and by noon we were sort of lit up. Had dinner at the canadian “Y” and apart from dropping my plate of meat and smashing it everything went [joke]. In the afternoon we carried more beer and naturally drank more. I pretty near got mixed up with a bunch of russians from my repeated attentions to a russian girl. All was a sort of haze after that but I remember some of things I said and did when I returned. All ended well.

29 March 1919.

Saturday. E. B.

Got up fairly early feeling good and after breakfast straightened up everything on a general inspection. As there was no parade Poaps, Tanney and I went up town about 10:30. We visited China Town and although I have been in several dirty holes around here this time put everything else in the shade. We went into several of the joints and was severely disgusted before we got out. Ate some cakes for dinner. Went to the show at canadian “Y” and saw movies and a hypnotist. Started for home about 9 pm and arrived home after 8. Were pretty hungry so we made some toast and cocoa. Wrote a letter and retired. 9:45

30 March 1919.

Sunday. E. B.

Arose too late for breakfast. Got cleaned up for church parade at 9 am. the chaplain never was much good but this morning he preached his worst as yet. He is the most uninteresting preacher I have ever heard. A Mongolian troupe of magicians passed here today: they were pretty good. Went up town (without pass) about one o’clock and went to an instrumental concert given by the prisoners of war and it certainly was good. Ate at the “Y” and afterwards went through the british cruiser Kent. We got two fellows to show us around and it was all very interesting especially the guns. We caught a canadian horse transport that took us right home. Arrived home 9 pm.

31 March 1919.

Monday. E. B.

Had [P. T.] and games in the morning from 8:45 till 10 and infantry drill on extended order till 11:30. Warned for guard and mounted at four. On last beat. Drew a Red Cross issue from orderly room in the afternoon. The orderly officer didn’t turn up. It was a little imperial guy—must have been up town. We have four prisoners; two of them wailing for office and two for G. C. M.⁴⁸ Lot of rumours going around today because they asked for the names of the M. S. A.⁴⁹ men and volunteers. It is said that the M. S. A. guys are going home first. The enlisted man always gets the worst end of the deal anyway, or that is most likely. The weather is fine and looks pretty good for guard.

2 April 1919.

Wednesday. E. B.

Went on [P. T.] parade at 9:30 and had dinner at 12 as usual. After dinner we had a garrison parade in marching order and an inspection by O. C of E. B. When the inspection was over we were given a lecture on protecting an army at rest. I don’t know what the idea is but it seems foolish to give us stuff like that when just waiting on a transport to take us home. Had supper at [Ah San’s] place and afterwards bummed around the barracks and the new bar-room. There are quite a number of the fellows the worse of the selling of beer between 7 and 9 every night. An american mail boat came in but carried no canadian mail. The weather today was lovely and sky cloudless.

3 April 1919.

Thursday. E. B.

Arose at 7:40 too late for breakfast. Was out on bunkroom orderly but taken off and sent to Base H. Q. about 10 pm. Took street car and delivered my message 10:45. After that I spent a couple of hours around town at various stores. Ate dinner early in the afternoon. No parade in afternoon at all so stayed around bunk-room. Ate supper at Ah [San’s] place and bummed around the place with Mac for a while. At 6:30 was detailed to go on a special guard at No. 11. S. H. The engineers are on strike and the troop put some of the C. A. M. P.⁵⁰ men in the [engine-room]. The strikers threatened to come around and beat up the “scabs” so we are here for their protection. Are carrying our tin hats which were issued today.

4 April 1919.

Friday. E. B. No. 11 S. H.

It snowed pretty heavily last night and made it kind of sloppy for guard duty but no bolsheviks showed up so we spent and [sic] uneventful night. At the C. A. M. P. mess food not bad. Mail came up about 2 pm. I got four letters. After supper Edward and I almost got acquainted with two Russian girls who live in the hospital grounds. We’ll make another try tomorrow. Went on guard again from 7 till 9 (pm) and all went well. I stayed in the boiler-room most of the time discussing the question of going home and other important things with the fellows who is acting [stokes]. It is getting slightly colder.

5 April 1919.

Saturday. No. 11 S. H.

Arose at 8:40 and of course missed my breakfast. After doing my two hours from 9 till 11 I took up a position on top of a box facing the sun and whiled away a happy hour in peaceful slumber. Got dinner at 12 and in the afternoon just bummed around the hospital grounds. I had some fun with a couple of girls who work on the laundry. They speak a little English and since we see them so often that they condescend to speak. Went on duty from 7 – 9 pm and all went alright. It is a little colder although the sun was very warm today. Am going for something to eat before returning. 9:15.

6 April 1919.

Sunday. No. 11 S. H.

Missed breakfast again and just got dressed in time to mount guard at 9 am. Had dinner in C. A. M. P. mess room then went East Barracks there wasn’t much doing there so came back and stayed around the Hosp. Went into my old ward and had a game of cards with one of the old fellows and some new ones. About 10:30 pm Joe and I went out to a little café and had something to eat. Also had a few coffee royals. When we were coming back about 12:30 we fell down a sort of trench by the side of the road and got our selves pretty dirty. There was no use going to sleep before my next beat at 1 am so I stayed around till then. [end 114]

7 April 1919.

Monday. No 11. S. H.

Arose this morning at 8:50 and had quite a rush getting out in time. It had been raining a thick drizzle all day and is generally disagreeable out in every way. Went up to barracks for some oil to clean my rifle and came right back. Cleaned my gun and then “Doc” Winters and I went out to a chink barber’s and had our hair cut. I didn't want to take any chances so washed my head thoroughly with warm water. There wasn’t much doing since today was a holiday in the laundry. They seem to be having about ten holidays a month in this country. Came off guard at 9 and after writing a few letters I went right to bed.

8 April 1919.

Tuesday. E. B.

The weather has been lovely today—quite a difference from yesterday. The strikers came back to work this morning so we were no longer needed for guard. The captain in charge gave us some Red Cross stuff before we left. There was nothing doing around here this aft. After supper Mac and I went out to the Joint which I had been to with Joe [Bery] and got “lit up” for fair. We were all over the place and I was right in the kitchen in rear and started to love up a pretty girl who wails on the tables. An american sgt.-major brought us home and we raised quite a disturbance before I was put in bed. We were just celebrating and have both sworn off.

9 April 1919.

Wednesday. E. B.

Two of us got permission to go to a Russian bath-house right after M. D.⁵¹ and we got a good clean up. [Guhter] Edward and I went up to that joint to get something to eat. The girls knew me and I felt ashamed of my conduct last night. They said we were singing all the old [Pta] songs with a couple of Sammies.⁵² In the afternoon I stayed around the barrack-rooms. Had supper in the mess-room and after Mac and went for a walk away up the road by Gornastai first then went up P. S. A. and ate at the Liberty. I tried hard to get that blonde to give me her picture but nothing doing. We met a jew whose home was in London Eng. and he explained the entire Russian situation to us. We got home just as Lights blew.

10 April 1919.

Thursday. E. B.

Had breakfast in the mess room and it was tolerable. It had rained a good part of the night and snowed all day. There were no parades except that in the afternoon we laid our kits out for [kit] inspection but they only got through the Amm Col⁵³ ours will likely be finished by tomorrow night. Canadian mail arrived and I got six letters. Went to a band concert in the evening. It was put on by the [3]1^st Inf (american) Band and was very good. I have been in all day so I hope the weather clears up tomorrow. [Biders] for or rather concerning embarkation came out tonight.

11 April 1919.

Friday. E. B.

Stayed in bed until somebody pulled me out at 8 am. Too late for breakfast so I got a couple of eggs at the chink’s. Had my kit checked off in the morning and did nothing else all day. Went to a movie show at the theatre at night and enjoyed it. We are pretty sure of going on the “Monteagle”⁵⁴ and seem to be just waiting on her coming in. The days are longer than ever since the news of going home. The weather is better than yesterday but the roads are so wet that I stayed in all day around the barrack-room.

12 April 1919.

Saturday. E. B.

Nothing to do in the morning but sign some papers concerning gratuity. Went up town about noon with McCulloch. He was to H. Q. with a dispatch and had a pass but I hadn’t. Made a general “detour” of Vladivostok; probably our last. Got home about 6:30. Went over to american “Y” but there was no show came back right away. Was sent to Officers Quarters with McMullock’s mail and was well treated by the batmen. Came back feeling pretty good. Some of the fellows put me into a pallaisse⁵⁵ [sic] and tied the end. After struggling a while I was freed. The fellows who went up the line with McMullock are back and will go with us. Weather lovely.

13 April 1919.

Sunday. E. B.

Went to church parade in the morning and stayed around till dinner. In the afternoon Bill Tanney and I went down to see the A. S. transport Sheridan and went all through her. There were some women and pretty american girls there; one of them took a snap of us. Went through the prison camp which belongs to the americans and had 540 prisoners. Came home just in time for supper. I have to be on time for meals these days as my roubles are nil. Saw some of our mail on a flat car guess it’ll be up tomorrow. Called on Mac at 7:40 and he got a loan of the LM’s .45 then went for a walk out by the american hospital. The air was lovely and we felt the benefit of the walk.

14 April 1919.

Monday. E. B.

Got up in time for breakfast although it wasn’t worth it. There was no butter so they gave us some bread, coffee and jam. Nothing doing all morning. Dinner wasn’t bad. Had a little P. [J.] after dinner and I came back to find some mail in. I got seven letters. Pretty good supper. Played cards a while then went to theatre but had seen the picture before. Came back and made some toast before going to bed. It has been pretty damp the last few days and started to rain about [1] pm. We expect to leave about Wednesday.

15 April 1919.

Tuesday. E. B.

Breakfasted at the mess-rooms and after getting on a bath parade it was cancelled on account of pay parade. Got paid ten dollars american money. Received a parcel from home. Got my breeches which were being [pegged], they look alright to go home in. A guard was detailed to go down to guard the “Monteagle” tomorrow morning. Went out for a walk alone at night. It was a lovely night. The air was clear and the moon was full. Came back and made my bed. My stuff is all ready and my kit bag packed. Several of the fellows have been out having a good time and are making a noise.

16 April 1919.

Wednesday. E. B.

Had a bath at russian bath in the morning. Moneagle [sic] arrived this afternoon. I went out for a walk after supper and after visiting the prison camp & went up to Liberty café and made a damn fool of myself. Met Mac, McK, and Taylor—they brought me home. Swore off the stuff for good. May god help me to lead a better life than during these last few months.

17 April 1919.

Thursday. E. B.

Got up early and still felt pretty queer. Ate a little breakfast and went for a walk up over the hill by the Yanks. Was put on bunk-room orderly and did a little work. In the afternoon went down to bath along Mac—didn’t bathe myself. Turned in the balance of our equipment. After supper went for a walk with Bill Tanney and travelled quite a pace getting back about 8 pm. Went to the theatre and saw part of a vaudeville show put on by the [G. T.] troups [sic]. Massey was called up from the audience and gave some original stuff. Back to bunk-room 9:15 and went to bed right away.

18 April 1919.

Friday. E. B.

Had eggs for breakfast—something to remember. Muster parade at 9:30 but not told about embarkation as we expected. Had some [P. T.] [from] [Gerry]. Had a bath in the afternoon. Went to the movies at night. The show was very good but I missed a little at the first. Had it all explained by Poaps who was the inventor of the plot to scare me off the booze. I got a scare all right and it will last for a long time—at least. The weather is pretty good as usual. We expect to leave here any day now.

19 April 1919.

Saturday. E. B.

Went out for a walk up as far as the bridge by “K” Company americans and got back by ten am. The “Y” had a place opened up specially for us before we go where they sold Japanese goods brought direct from Japan at cost prices. I spent my entire fortune ($8.00) on some real good stuff. After supper went over to the american “Y” with Curtis [Berril] and Moffat. There was a lecture given by an american who escaped from a german prison camp. He left the States in May 1918 so didn’t go through much but being a Yank shot a pretty good line.

20 April 1919.

Sunday. E. B.

Was on bunk orderly so didn't go on church parade. Had our last medical inspection before embarking at 2:30. Went down to the american dock to see the Monteagle. Came back in time for supplies. After supper went to the theatre and a bunch of us were singing for a while. Went out for a walk with Mac. This being Easter Sunday there was a lot of celebrations. Every house we passed was all lit up and we could hear the men and women singing in drunken melody. Not only the russians but everybody we met seemed to be drunk. We found one Yank in the ditch and set him on his way.

21 April 1919.

Monday. S. S. Monteagle.

Arose before reveille and had breakfast at 6:45. Fell in about 8 am and marched to the boast. Embarked without any delay. The quarters are just about the same as coming over but cleaner. Allingham was down to see us off in [civvies]. We pulled out of the harbour about noon while the american 31^st Band was playing. When we passed the Kent they had the hands on deck and played The Maple Leaf forever.⁵⁶ When passing some of the american signaling stations we were wished Good Luck over the flags. We have hammocks as before. It is not about 8 pm and we are nearly out of sight of land. There is very little wind.

22 April 1919.

Tuesday. S. S. Monteagle.

Making pretty good time. She is riding steadily so far. It is windy and has rained nearly all day. Feeling fine.

23 April 1919.

Wednesday. S. S. Monteagle.

Weather beautiful—sea calm—making time.

24 April 1919.

Thursday. S. S. Monteagle.

Beautiful day—good food—Feeling better than in many months.

25 April 1919.

Friday. S. S. Monteagle.

Wind is still behind us and all is jake.⁵⁷

26 April 1919.

Saturday. S. S. Monteagle.

Rather foggy in the morning—wind changed slightly. Pretty cold on deck—man died last night.

27 April 1919.

Sunday. S. S. Monteagle.

Very calm today—church parade in morning.

28 April 1919.

Monday. S. S. Monteagle.

The sea is like a mill-pond—as usual.

29 April 1919.

Meridian Day.

Sea a little rougher—bunch drunk some vodka brough along—big night. Raining part of the morning. Better, afternoon—a little foggy.

30 April 1919.

Wednesday. S. S. Monteagle.

A little calmer—life boat drill in the morning—made some eggs sandwiches at night.

1 May 1919.

Thursday. S. S. Monteagle.

Windy today again—all jake.

2 May 1919.

Friday. S. S. Monteagle.

Pretty strong. Hardly any supper—made a raid on the officer’s kitchen—got some pie chicken and ham—hash thrown overboard because a chinked spat in it.

3 May 1919.

Saturday. S. S. Monteagle.

District parade—saw sailing boat on the horizon—the boat sent out S. O. S. and we left our course to go after her—the captain was sick—started on our way about 4 p.m.

4 May 1919.

Sunday. S. S. Monteagle.

Church parade—sighted land in the afternoon—pretty rough.

5 May 1919.

Monday. S. S. Monteagle.

Came up Straits of Juan de Fuca⁵⁸ and stopped at the Quarantine station about 12:30—Victoria at 2.00—left there for Vancouver at 3:30—weather is lovely and the scenery enjoyable—Vancouver at 10 pm—anchored in harbour.

6 May 1919.

Tuesday.

Came off boat right on to the train nearly missed it in seeing [Helen]. Pulled out about eleven am. At Kamloops⁵⁹ we were given a good reception and apples candy cigarettes now in bed on upper bunk.

7 May 1919.

Wednesday.

Good sleep. Stopping only at Field we arrived at Calgary [11].15. Red Cross people gave us “something for nothing” and we stayed there 20 minutes. Saw cow moose near the “Three Sisters.”⁶⁰ Forgot to say we passed the Great Divide⁶¹ at 11 am. Stayed in Medicine Hat⁶² from 10 till 10:30 and got good welcome. They gave us cigarettes and oranges. Enjoying this trip to the fullest possible.

[pages 134 – 136 left blank]

Three laws and the golden rule.

Morgan Robertson.

Miss Helen McDowell.

735 Hamilton Rd.

Vancouver, B. C.

Miss Ada McLaughlin.

Cordova St.

Vancouver, B. C.

Miss May [Dauagh]

Arlington Ave.

Ottawa.

Miss Gertrude Black.

111 Pretoria Ave.,

Ottawa.

Miss Sadie Laughren

Bassano,

Alta.

Box 212

Miss Ethel Findlay

193 Concorde St.,

Ottawa

Miss Agnes Turnbull

223 9^th St.

(At the “shack”) New Westminster

B. C.

Miss Minnie Johnson

419 9th St.,

New Westminster

B. C.

(Nov. 11, 1918)

Bomb. A. S. Patrick

32^nd Battery

8^th Army Brgade

C. F. A. C. E. F.,

France

Miss Grace Wintemate

410 St. George St.,

New Westminster

Phone 453 (Nov. 11, 1918) [bottom right corner of page is torn]

Miss Jean Polson

324 19^th Ave. W.

Vancouver

B. C.

(Rink)

Miss Evelyn Chafe

1617 Fell Ave.

North Vancouver

B. C.

[torn page cut off words] theatre)

Miss Winnifred Jack

180 Carter St

Ottawa

Miss Dorothy Dewar

132 Cartier St.

Ottawe

Miss Mary McLord

85 Springhurst Ave.

Ottawa

Lillian Brennan

8^th

Fairview

Vancouver

B. C.

Miss Ina Cassan

174 Rue Murray

Ottawa

60 phone

Miss Lorna Mann

457 Metcalf

Ottawa

[page 145 left blank]

27 [Bozed] [written in pencil]

345363 [Jon]

“B” Subsection

1^st Battery

C. F. A., C. Q. [E]. [F.]

Vladivostok

Siberia

Feb. 2, 1919

McDonald 15 [pye]

MacKinnon 10.50

---

1. Digital reproduction received by MLC on 3 July 2019 via Lindsey Winstone, archivist, reference@ontario.ca; 416-327-1600. ↩︎

2. 32^nd Battery, Canadian Field Artillery. Organized at Barriefield, Ontario, August 1918 and arrived in England 14 February 1916. Guide to Sources Relating to Units of the Canadian Expeditionary Force: Artillery. Library and Archives Canada, https://bit.ly/3fmhOlm.↩︎

3. C. E. F.: Canadian Expeditionary Force.↩︎

4. C. F. A.: Canadian Field Artillery.↩︎

5. Petawawa: Garrison Petawawa, a Canadian army base in the town of Petawawa in southeastern Ontario.↩︎

6. R. C.: Roman Catholic.↩︎

7. Life drill: Lifeboat or muster drill is an exercise conducted to familiarize crews with safe evacuation practices in the event of an emergency.↩︎

8. Chink: A pejorative and racist word for a Chinese person.↩︎

9. A. S. C.: Army Service Corps.↩︎

10. N. C. O.: Non-commissioned officer.↩︎

11. F. P.: Abbreviation for “Field Punishment.”↩︎

12. Muroran: Port city on the south coast of Japan’s Hokkaidō Island.↩︎

13. Vladivostok: A major port city in southeast Russia near the border with China.↩︎

14. O. C.: Officer Commanding.↩︎

15. Sea of Japan: Sea which stretches between the Japanese archipelago, the Korean peninsula and the Russian mainland.↩︎

16. Jim Kenney: Gunner James Pritchard Kenney was born 19 December 1893 in Aylmer, Quebec, and enlisted in the 2^nd Depot Battalion, Eastern Ontario Regiment on 26 April 1918. He was transferred to the Siberian Ammunition Column on 16 September 1918 and was discharged on 11 June 1919. “Personnel Records of the First World War – CEF 491841,” Library and Archives Canada, https://bit.ly/2ICTOOT.↩︎

17. P. T.: Physical Training.↩︎

18. Q M: Quartermaster.↩︎

19. Walt Mason: A Canadian-American comedian and poet, known for his extremely popular “Rippling Rhymes” news column.↩︎

20. O. P.: Observation Post.↩︎

21. Signal Corps: Military branch responsible for communications.↩︎

22. C. B.: Counter-Bombardment or Confined Barracks.↩︎

23. M. P.: Military Police.↩︎

24. Kopek Hill: A district in Vladivostok known for movie theatres, cafes and brothels.↩︎

25. Lee-Enfields: The standard rifle used by the British and Canadian military in the first half of the 20th century.↩︎

26. Prince John: The youngest son of King George V and Queen Mary of England. He died 18 January 1919 at the age of 14 due to a seizure caused by his epilepsy.↩︎

27. The Vampire: 1913 American silent drama film, The Vampire, was directed by Robert G. Vignola, starred Alice Hollister, and was based on the 1897 poem of the same name by Rudyard Kipling.↩︎

28. R. T.: Reserve Training.↩︎

29. V. D.: Voluntary Aid Detachment: volunteer nurses and orderlies with typically less training and education than regular nurses and orderlies.↩︎

30. New Westminster: City in British Columbia, Canada.↩︎

31. My Old Dutch: 1915 British silent drama film, My Old Dutch, was directed by Laurence Trimble, starred Albert Chevalier and Florence Turner, and was produced by Turner Films.↩︎

32. Omsk: City on the Irtysh River in Siberia, Russia.↩︎

33. Lt. Massey: Lieutenant Raymond Hart Massey was born 30 August 1896 in Toronto, Ontario, and enlisted in the 50^th Battery, Canadian Field Artillery on 8 November 1915. He was transferred to the 85^th Battery, Siberian Expeditionary Force on 11 October 1918 and was discharged on 12 May 1919. “Personnel Records of the First World War – CEF 137271,” Library and Archives Canada, https://bit.ly/3nvJ1ow.↩︎

34. Bdr: Bombardier; a military rank equivalent of corporal.↩︎

35. Bty: Battery.↩︎

36. Peggy: 1916 American silent comedy film, Peggy, was directed by Thomas Ince, starred Billie Burke, and was distributed by Triangle Film Corporation.↩︎

37. M. G.: Medical Guard.↩︎

38. The Mill on the Floss: A novel by George Eliot (a pen name for female author Mary Ann Evans) published in 1860 by William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh and London.↩︎

39. Bdr McGurk: Corporal William James McGurk was born 31 October 1894 in Mayfield, Ontario, and enlisted in the 2^nd Depot Battalion on 28 February 1918. He was transferred to the 1^st C.O.R., Siberian Expeditionary Force on 3 March 1918 and was discharged 19 May 1919. “Personnel Records of the First World War – CEF 154311,” Library and Archives Canada, https://bit.ly/3nvrnky.↩︎

40. M. O.: Medical Officer.↩︎

41. O. C. of C. B.: Officer Commanding of Counter-Bombardment or Confined Barracks.↩︎

42. The chart represents Patrick’s efforts to learn Japanese. He has not reliably reproduced the kanji symbols; “O saito” means “please.”↩︎

43. Patrick has attempted to phonetically transliterate several Russian phrases with varying success.↩︎

44. Reveille: Bugle, trumpet, or drum signal to wake up army soldiers.↩︎

45. Second River: English translation for the Vtoraya Rechka, an 81-kilometer-long river in East Russia.↩︎

46. Gornastai Bay: Barracks a few kilometers from Vladivostok.↩︎

47. Tanney: Private James William (Bill) Tanney was born 13 June 1896 in Pembroke, Ontario, and enlisted in the 74^th Depot Battery on 25 April 1918. He was transferred to the 85^th Battery, Siberia, on 16 September 1918 and was discharged on 13 June 1919. “Personnel Records of the First World War – CEF 267480,” Library and Archives Canada, https://bit.ly/36OPcNM.↩︎

48. G. C. M.: General Court Martial.↩︎

49. M. S. A.: Military Service Act, a conscription bill passed by Canadian parliament in 1917.↩︎

50. C.A.M.P.: (Possibly) Canadian Alternative Military Program.↩︎

51. M. D.: (Possibly) Morning Duty.↩︎

52. Sammies: WWI slang for American soldiers.↩︎

53. Amm Col: Ammunition Columns.↩︎

54. Monteagle: S.S. Monteagle was a Canadian Pacific line steamship built in 1898 by Palmer’s Shipbuilding & Iron Co. Ltd.↩︎

55. Paillaisse: A thin mattress usually filled with straw.↩︎

56. The Maple Leaf Forever: A Canadian patriotic song by Alexander Muir, written in 1867 for Canada’s confederation.↩︎

57. All is jake: American slang meaning “all is fine.”↩︎

58. Straits of Juan de Fuca: A body of water about 150 kilometers long which runs along the southern coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia.↩︎

59. Kamloops: City in central British Columbia.↩︎

60. Three Sisters: Trio of mountain peaks near Canmore, Alberta.↩︎

61. Great Divide: A hiking trail in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.↩︎

62. Medicine Hat: City in southeast Alberta.↩︎