Editor’s Note: During the First World War, Pte Cecil Minary served in the CEF, beginning his military training at Camp Hughes prior to being shipped to England for additional training. He saw his first action in France soon after Canada’s involvement in the Battle of Vimy Ridge in April 1917. His great-great-niece Kendra Minary from Souris spent the COVID pandemic going through the original letters he wrote home from England and France prior to being KIA on Aug. 28, 1918. The Lewis gunner died on the battlefield after his crew was hit by a German artillery shell. The Stag’s website will share Kendra’s great-great-uncle’s letters with our viewers here to give you a peek at what a soldier was contemplating with pencil and paper while in the UK training or in France in a trench waiting for the next attack or counter-attack. Pte Minary’s letters are transcribed as they were written by Kendra, so this includes his spelling, grammar and punctuation mistakes. Of note, from his letters home he rarely described his clashes with Fritz, instead preferring to enquire about life on the family farm in Nesbitt or what his family and friends were doing back in Manitoba. Unlike some some soldiers who would share their war stories in their always censored letters, Pte Minary had his own distinct writing style no matter if the letter was for his his dad, sister or a relatives. He also made the job of Army censors easier by not including war details which would be censored by being blacked out. That’s the reason why his letters are “somewhere in France” once he left England for the Western Front. Those original letters are stored at the Wawanesa Museum.

#829297 South Camp
A Coy 144th Battn C.E.F. Seaford
C/o Army Post Office Sussex
London England Jan 7th/17.

Dear Dad and Mae.
Well hear (sic) is the old boy again feeling the same as usual and hoping you all are the same.
The mail this week has been pretty good, there were two letters for me on Wednesday one from Annie and Lucy Prette and the other from Annie then this morning there were two more one from Annie and Lucy and from you too.
So I guess they have got out of there (sic) Xmas mix up which is about time they did, then three more of my Xmas boxes come this week, the first on New Years morning from Margaret Smith the second Wednesday evening from Edyth Durnin which was a surprise for she never told me she was sending one, it had been on the road since Nov 16th, the third one came Thursday noon from Aunt Bell Lloyd, so I was jake this week.
I had a pretty easy time of it this although I was on duty both New Years and Saterday, (sic) They had me on line orderly for the Brigade horse stables there was only half an hours work each day and you had to use your imagination some at that, but they took me off that this morning, I don’t know what is on next week, but my name was called out for the ranges. I don’t know what for unless they intend to make a sniper of me for I was not on the casualty list once the last time.
I have not got that leave yet and it does not look as though I am going to get it either, for from tonight all leave is cancelled in England, I don’t know what for unless they intend to finish Fritz.
The weather this last week was great no rain at all except one night, the rest were calm with the moon shining nice and bright, just like some of our nights in September.
Some difference to your forty-four below, for there has been no frost hear at all lately, I only hope it holds out this next week for it is not very nice to get soaked through out on the ranges.
Well dad the work over here is not killing me at all I’m afraid if you met me unexpectedly you would hardly know me at all, I weighted (sic) New Years night a hundred and sixty one pounds. Almost twenty pounds heavier than when you saw me last.
Say Mae you seem to be getting along fine at the piano, I would just like to be there to hear you play, and so you went to Whitemouth for Xmas I’ll bet you had a good time, I’m sending you your present today so hope you get it all right.
The rest of them seem to be having quite a time going to all the dances. I just wish I could be there for one of them I’ll bet I could put in a good night of it.
I hope dad that you do go to Ont for it is long enough since you were there.
Say Annie who was that girl who said that I was the best looking soldier she ever saw, just tell me for it would not hurt my sanity any as she is not the only one who said it. Well this is all the news this time so will close.
With love to all
From Cecil