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Remembering World War I Yarmouth Connections
Osborne Jonathan Perry 938068 Private 44th Battalion / 52nd Battalion / 8th Battalion June 11, 1890 Carleton, Yarmouth Co., NS July 23, 1915 (official attestation) Shorncliffe, UK (July 23, 1915) Ontario 25 5 feet, eight inches medium brown blue Single Fireman Presbyterian Frederick Perry (Father) Carleton, Yarmouth Co., NS June 14, 1916 27 Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium Commemorated on Page 147 of the First World War Book of Remembrance Displayed in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa on April 4 and April 5 Listed on the Carleton War Memorial The Carleton Monument spells his name ‘Osbourne’ Osborne was the eldest son of Frederick and Joanna (Randall) Perry of Carleton, Yarmouth Co., NS. In Canada he served with the 96th Regiment of Lake Superior from December, 1914 through January 1915, with the 44th Battalion between March 1 and March 15, 1915, and with the 52nd Battalion from March 16, 1915. He departed Canada sailing on the SS Scandinavian arriving in England in June of 1915. In England he was transferred to the 32nd Reserve Battalion and taken on strength in France with the 8th Battalion on August 3, 1915 . He was killed in action on June 10, 1916 during an attack on the Bluff, at Ypres.
Osborne Jonathan Perry
Belgian, December 29, 1915   Dear mother and dad, – I received your letters out at Camp but in in the trenches again. This will be the last time you will here for me this year but I will be in a good place to start the New Year right.  Well, Mother, we certainly had some Christmas for a place like this. Of course we were at rest camp and the supper was held in a big YMCA tent that was there. The tent was well trimmed with Christmas lanterns. The supper consisted of roast pork, nice mashed potatoes, green peas, plum pudding, fruit, nuts and they passed around cigars after it was all over.  The battalion band was playing all supper time.  The officers all gave us a little address, wishing us a Merry Christmas and so forth. Then some of the boys sang some songs, did a little step dancing and we finished as usual with God Save the King.  I think all the boys had a very pleasant evening – of course, nothing like being home. I think all our minds went back to Canada where we ate our dinner last year. I know mine did, but I hope we will all be home next year.  Some of us will, at any rate. The boys in the trenches will be having their big night New Year's Eve.  I think all the people in Canada tried to make it as happy as possible for us all. All the boys, as well as myself,  get all kinds of boxes of good things, some from people we hardly knew. One Ladies’ society in Toronto sent all the 8th Battalion a dandy pocketbook, just fits our pockets right and good for carrying little things. We all got a pair of   socks from Canada, each pair filled with tobacco, chewing gum, etc. When the boys got those socks it put me in mind of a bunch of kids going through their stockings on Christmas morning and each one decided the stuff in his socks was the best.  We are still having nice damp weather, the ground not being frozen yet. You asked me how we kept a  fire in the trenches. We only have fire enough to cook our food which is to fry our bacon and boil a cup of tea.  There are all kinds of buildings around here shelled to the ground and night we can go and get the framework to do our cooking. I have not had a scratch of any kind yet, although close enough sometimes. Hoping this finds you all well.   I remain as ever.  Osborne Return to Casualty List Return To Links
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