Zepplin Raids and Airplanes

In this letter, Bob shares a glimpse into the daily life of a Canadian soldier. Bob is adjusting to his new reality in England. The Zeppelin raids highlight the constant threat and disruption soldiers faced. This happened even in training camps. Imagine being roused from sleep in total darkness, scrambling to dress midst the chaos of an air raid. This would have been a stark contrast to their lives in Canada.

Bob’s casual mention of seeing aeroplanes ‘almost anytime we want to look’ is particularly telling. In 1916, aviation was still in its infancy. These machines would have been a novel and awe-inspiring sight for most people. For these soldiers, however, aeroplanes were quickly becoming a familiar part of their environment. They were a symbol of the changing nature of warfare and underscores how rapidly technology was transforming their world.

The simple act of walking a six-mile round trip for a bath in Godalming speaks volumes. It highlights the living conditions and the soldiers’ longing for basic comforts. Bob’s mention of Rod Erskine, who arrived with the same battery, emphasizes the importance of familiar faces and camaraderie in a foreign land.

This letter already starts to reflect how badly these soldiers wanted to keep moving forward. There’s a mixture of impatience to join the war at the front line and to go home. Bob and Murray would not end of returning home until after the war.