I Made It

August 3, 1919

Dear Diary #2

                Now that the war is almost a year in the past, I can say that being there was nothing like I expected. Truthfully, at first it had been exciting because it was a completely different experience and the feeling of closeness that we in a unit shared among ourselves was also comforting. But time and time again, I witnessed too many horrific scenes involving blood, hatred and deaths that heaven forbid Mary and Sammy should see in their lives.

                On top of feeling a heavy burden on my heart from being away from them in a lengthy period, I also miss many of the pals I made here. It brings me great grief knowing that they did not make it through this war. War— it’s a word that was taken much too lightly. None of us soldiers would have ever imagined our experience to turn out like it did. Although I’ve tried my best to put on a fearless front for everyone, honestly even I have wanted to break down a couple of times. I just knew I had to stay strong and it’s a good thing I had my pride to keep me going as well. Sure, we celebrated when we won battles but all of us always felt that we had lost more than we gained considering all the sacrifices that had to be made. Times of the war are still engraved in the back of my head and during the nights when I’m all alone with my thoughts, often a wave of depression uncontrollably takes over. As much as I try to forget and move on, I don’t think I’ll ever see the day when that happens. I actually thought that as soon as I’d get back home, suddenly I could feel refreshed and alright with everything that has happened. That was naive of me though. After going through such hard times, finally being reunited with my wife and son has still brought me an immense amount of relief. I really appreciate being blessed with the comfort of our own home and getting to eat delicious meals once again. Somehow I was unbelievably lucky to have survived all the terrors of the war and live to see the gradual but definite changes taking place in this country. During these past few years, the Military Service Act was passed making conscription mandatory for most 20- 25 year old males which I personally approve of. Despite how other civilians feel about it, I think that it would be detrimental if our soldiers lost a battle mainly due to a lack of volunteers available. Women were also given the right to vote recently which is another big difference that has been made since the war. After knowing all the hardships we Canadians had to face and overcome in the Great War, I can only sincerely hope for the brighter future of our whole country.

                                                                                                                                                          — James Carter



(Source:

• http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/articles/first-world-war-wwi)

Cost of War

December 16, 1918

Diary Entry #1

                I feel that I must write in order to release my frustrations and tension without troubling my own family. I simply cannot fathom the fact that we’ve lost more than 60 000 Canadians in this war. What comes to my mind when I think about 60 000 is twice the enormous amount of people that came with me to Valcartier in the very beginning. I imagine each and every one of them disappearing from the face of the earth and how there must be plenty others mourning for them right now. It’s incomprehensible how so many courageous people probably spent their last seconds in agony, thinking about their loved ones. This number even includes many good people that I’ve met in the span of the 4 years of war. In just four years, the war cost our country 3 million dollars. Sometimes I just wonder about the countless ways this large sum of money could have been used to improve our nation and contribute to very important causes. Instead we had to use it to support the killing of other people while sacrificing our own because we had no choice in joining the war for Britain’s sake. I cringe knowing that I ignorantly used to think this war would be some great big adventure when all it turned out to be was unnecessary bloodshed leaving me with painful memories.

 

Rest In Peace

                                                                                                         —James Carter 

(Sources:

• http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWcosts.htm
• http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/exhibitions/guerre/cost-war-e.aspx
• http://www.warmuseum.ca/cwm/exhibitions/guerre/war-impact-e.aspx)

Women's roles

November 13, 1917

Dear Mary,

                If you must know, my wound is feeling a lot better already.  Enough about that though, so you’re really telling me that lots of women back home are even taking over several types of men’s jobs? Now that you've mentioned it, I’ve also noticed that there are some women working here for the war. Sometimes there are female cooks at our camps and there are many female nurses in this hospital too. I think it’s quite an unusual and interesting sight to be honest. It’s a little hard to imagine that so many women would actually want to work at such dangerous places like a munitions factory though. I had no idea really but I’m glad that women can also contribute and pitch in more support for us in our battles.

 

 Woman as a bus conductor

                With this picture you sent me it must be true that women are eager to work and are regularly become employed these days. It’s understandable as tens of thousands of men have gone away for this war. It does worry me a little to think about the unemployed men out there but I’m really happy that there will be several job options open for you now too. Perhaps this war will be the cause of some custom changes in Canada. Speaking of women's roles, the nursing sister tells me it’s time to eat lunch so I’ll write some more next time. In the meantime, why don’t you go look for a job yourself, one you can handle while Sammy’s at school? Do whatever makes you happy.

                                                            

                                                                                        Lots of love, James Carter      


(Source: 

• http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/Wfirst.htm)