These are letters that I have written based on my knowledge of George Walter Finnie, they are a work of fiction and not actual letters that he and his father wrote.
Papers on, and leading up to, George Walter Finnie's death.
George Walter Finnie's attestation papers.
George Walter Finnie
Bramshott camp in England where George Walter Finnie would have been training before he caught pneumonia.
George Walter Finnie's gravestone in Whitley (Milford) cemetery in Surrey England.
George Walter Finnie was born on July 24, 1885 in Omemee Ontario, he also had a twin named Elizabeth Maude. His parents were Edward and Mary Jane Finnie. Before the war he was a clerk in a local bank or office. He lived at 211 Barnardo Ave with his family until February 11, 1916(date of attestation papers). George Walter Finnie went overseas to the Western Front although he soon caught pneumonia and therefore didn’t fight in any battles. Although the battles that took place while he was overseas were The Battle of St. Eloi Craters on April 6, 1916, The Battle of Mount Sorrel on June 2, 1916, The Battle of Courcelette on September 15, 1916, and The Battle of Thiepval Ridge on September 26, 1916. Before George Walter Finnie caught pneumonia he was a gunner in the 13th brigade, in the 57th regiment, and an acting bombardier in the 52nd battery. He was admitted into the Canadian Military Hospital in Bramshott on February 11, 1917 and he was severely ill by March 6, 1917. He died of pneumonia on March 10th of 1917 at the Canadian Military Hospital in Bramshott, and was later buried in the Witley (Milford) Cemetery in Surrey England. He is commemorated on the 5th page of the Peterborough book of remembrance and page 237 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.
Joining the Colours-1914
There they go marching all in step so gay!
Smooth-cheeked and golden, food for shells and guns.
Blithely they go as to a wedding day,
The mothers' sons.
The drab street stares to see them row on row
On the high tram-tops, singing like the lark.
Too careless-gay for courage, singing they go
Into the dark.
With tin whistles, mouth-organs, any noise,
They pipe the way to glory and the grave;
Foolish and young, the gay and golden boys
Love cannot save.
High heart! High courage! The poor girls they kissed
Run with them : they shall kiss no more, alas!
Out of the mist they stepped-into the mist
Singing they pass.
Everyone Sang-1919
Everyone suddenly burst out singing;
And I was filled with such delight
As prisoned birds must find in freedom,
Winging wildly across the white
Orchards and dark-green fields; on - on - and out of sight.
Everyone's voice was suddenly lifted;
And beauty came like the setting sun:
My heart was shaken with tears; and horror
Drifted away ... O, but Everyone
Was a bird; and the song was wordless; the singing will never be done.