Surivivors

Dear: Andrew Harrison

           I have not sent a letter in what seems like forever! Over the past few months have been a lot different than what I am used to. I am so used to reacting to everything like it is a life threatening situation and I am still trying to adjust back to every day life. On multiple occasions I have reacted in ways which were not 'correct'  in the town, but they would have been correct in the war. I constantly have a fear that I am going to get shot by a machine gun or I am going to be hit by an artillery attack. My fellow soldiers have been experiencing soldiers too and I think we just need to adjust back to everyday life. Even sleeping is not the same. During some nights, I dream that I was killed in some shape or form and I wake up covered in sweat and either gasping for air or having a terrible pain in my chest. Throughout the day, I sometimes have flashbacks from near death experiences and I have screamed in public places. I have tried turning to alcohol to deal with this because nothing happens while I am drunk, but the afterwards is a different story. The tramautic incidents that replay over and over in my head come back way more vivid and I find that it is a lot worse than usual. I think I will start to seek medical help tomorrow to try and cope with these. I have not had a good night's sleep in what seems like forever. I will write back tomorrow to inform you on anything new.

Love : Gordon Harrison

Here's a picture of me after the war. I'll be home in a couple months.

Battles

Dear : Andrew Harrison

          During the past four months of being in the army,  I had to participate in one of the most important battles. It was near the town of Passchendale and no one has been able to take that land point from the Germans, but we succeeded. After three years of failed attempts from their countries,Canadian forces were able to take it over. Not even England was able to take over that point. Although our general, general Currie said that it was impossible to take over that position, we were ordered to attack anyways and we manged to take it over and holds it until reinforcements came. The journey getting to their throng hold was tough, it was constantly raining and there was mud everywhere. Trekking through the mud was extremely difficult and by chance I was not shot in the process of all of it. I left that battle with only a few bruises and scratches, but mentally, I've seen some things that I wish I had not saw. A lot of fellow soldiers died in the process. There is only about a fifth of us left and I will not see many of the same faces again. All of this was done to gain only seven kilometers of distance. I am not sure if it was worth it because a lot of soldiers died in the process, however it is already done and nothing can be done to reverse time. I just hope that these brakemen did not die for nothing and that they all rest in peace. I will keep you updated on new and important events.

Love : Gordon Harrison


Here's one of my fellow soldiers being carried back on a stretcher. May he rest in peace.

Trench Warfare

Dear : Andrew Harrison
             It has only been a short time since I have entered the trench and the living conditions are just awful. The trenches are filled with the stench of rotting meat because we have no ways to dispose of human remains. We do not have time to give them a burial that they deserve, but instead they are just in a giant pile. Our living conditions aren't favourable either. We have to do everything here. We have to eat, sleep, and even go to the bathroom. The stench of everything is just horrific. Everything is always wet because of the rain and we have no protection against the rain. A few of my comrades have what is called 'Trench foot' which is basically when your foot starts rotting off. The only way to prevent this is to keep your feet clean, however we cannot because we must keep our boots on at all times and the rain keeps soaking our feet. My feet are always wet and my clothes are constantly covered with mud. Apparently this trench hasn't even moved from it's original position and they have been in a stalemate for quite awhile, but countless lives have been lost due to these battles, but that does not change the fact that we have to constantly be aware for artillery attacks. None have hit since I arrived, but this can only go on for so long. When I can, I shall write back to you to keep you informed.

 Love : Gordon Harrison

Here's a picture of the trench.

Meeting Arthur Currie

Dear : Gordon Harrison


          I have never felt so honoured in my life. After a battle near the town of Passchendale, I was able to meet someone who I respect greatly, Arthur Currie. He commanded the battle and led us to a seemingly impossible victory. When meeting him, I was overcome with joy because I admire commanders so much. The battle of Passchendale was a bloody one and a lot of Canadian soldiers lost their lives, but Arthur Currie made their lives worth something. We gained seven kilometers of land and this was only his first time commanding Canadian troops. I had the opportunity to talk with him when he was alone. We shared our war stories and talked about our family back home. I got to learn a lot about his personal life and I am so happy that I got to meet a commander with such importance. Every war commander must be extremely intelligent.The amount of knowledge of war that they must know is astonishing and applying it to an actual battle is simply amazing. I only wish I had the leadership skills that he did, but at the same time I do not. War is a terrible place, but if I was intelligent enough to command an entire army, I might consider it. I don't know if I should feel content or miserable because I got to meet such an important person of war, but I also will not be seeing some of my friends again.

Love : Andrew Harrison

Here's a picture of Arthur Currie.

Propaganda

Dear : Andrew Harrison

        All over town, there are these posters that are being placed. They are everywhere! I've seen them on the way to the store and on the walls of a lot of buildings. They all advertise the ongoing war happening right now. I think they are being placed everywhere because not enough people are signing up for the war. They are even trying to promote war on the television and radio. Although I rarely listen to it because I do not have the chance, whenever I do, I hear about how honourable war is. I can not help but feel guilty when reading or hearing about the war because a lot of them ask why are you not in the war. I know I can not participate in the war because of my age, but in a short time of a year, I will be of age and I shall be able to enlist. I wish my birthday was sooner because all of my friends are going to enlist in the next month or two. I have heard rumors of some people being able to fake their documentation to get accepted and I might just try. I mean, if I am going there next year, why not get a head start? I'll write back if I get any results. 

Love: Gordon Harrison

 Just one of the posters that I've been seeing around town.

Life in the front lines

Dear: Andrew Harrison

        I've been working at the front lines of the trench and I'm lucky to be alive. Our commander told us to ' Go over the top' which means we basically rush into No Man's Land and try and overtake the enemy's base. No Man's Land got that nickname because death was almost certain. We had to run across an open field while the enemy fired shots at us. While running across that strip of land, many of my fellow comrades were shot and died. Some died instantly, however, many of the soldiers got shot and died a horrible death by bleeding out. I managed to make it back to the trench just barely. Almost everyone in our unit was killed because our commander set us up for suicide. Although I made it out alive, I still have to worry about my hygiene because I was shot in the arm. There have been numerous cases where a soldier makes it back with a gun wound, but still dies through infection. The doctors in this trench are going to do what they can today and hopefully I can pull through this. With our rotations in hand, I am working in the back of the trench now and I will be receiving metal treatment

Love : Gordon Harrison


I'm really glad that I made it out of these trenches alive. No more dealing with this.

Medical Treatment

Dear: Andrew Harrison

            The effects of war come in all shapes, sizes and forms. I am currently recovering from the bullet wound in the hospital and everyone here does not have just a physical injury. A lot of patients here are for some sort of mental injury. The doctors are calling it 'Shell Shock'. The most common effects of 'Shell Shock' are hysteria, blindness, deafness and limping. The doctor's way of treating this is disciplining the soldiers. Electrical therapy seems to be popular among that too. I over heard one of the nurses talking and saying that shell shock occurs because of a lack of discipline.There are just so many sick and injured people here; way more than I could ever imagine and I am just in one hospital. There are dozens upon dozens of them and they are all full. Looking at some people's injuries, I cannot imagine what they went through. Some are burned, shot or they are missing body parts. This room feels like death. No hope and just misery. I am so blessed that I am one of the few people that have an injury that is not too bad. All I can do is prayer for those who cannot.

Love : Gordon Harrison


These are the doctors and nurses who will treat me.