Destrubé family - letter from Georges Destrubé in France to his brother Maurice in Alberta, [1916]
Destrubé family - letter from Georges Destrubé in France to his brother Maurice in Alberta, [1916]
Description:
Item is a partial letter written by Georges Destrubé to his brother Maurice in 1916 from the Front. In it Georges describes his experiences at the front and about his love for his family.
Subjects:
World War, 1914-1918; Destrubé family; Destrubé, Georges; Destrubé, Maurice
Date:
[1916]
Collection:
Destrubé family fonds
Page Title:
Letter from Georges, p. V
Date:
[1916]
Transcript:
[Centre:] IV V
dammed hard sight to
see the occasional casualty
that occurs around one.
not those that are killed
outright but the poor
devils you see carried
away groaning on a
streacher with a hopeless
wound in the stomach
from which he is bound
to die in a few days.
It makes anyone feel
horrible to see it, but it
does' nt affect me to see
a dead man unless he' s
been on of our particular pals
At times we' ve seen
some bally awful trenches
[Centre:] < del> IIII 4< /del> VI
is [illegible] at first, but
since then they have
been better - especially
this last time.
By the way Maurice I
hope you have perminently
settled that point that
seems to worry you so much
- re enlisting. You know
my views on the subject so
I wont go over them again
also you know Papa' s &
everyones. Arthur F. put
it in a nutshell & "them' s
my sentiments." We all
know that you would
willingly face whatever
there may be to face, but
we all agree your
[Centre:] VII
place is by your dear Maggie' s
side - godbless her!
Your recent letters have
interested me very much
Maurice, you both must be
awfully busy, but there' s
a lot of interest in it when
you are doing so well
I sent Mag one or two little
souveniers when we were last
in the fairly large Town
that is not far away
from here.
Maurice, old chap, I dont
write often to you personally
but it does not mean that
dear Mag is the only one that
I long to see < del> at< /del> in your
little home at Rife. I would
[Centre:] VIII
love to be there awhile
even if there was no dear
Maggie there & have many
a long chat & look around
- but I believe you
understand me.
Of course it is the thought
of Mag that makes my
heart bleed & long more
hopelessly than anything
else - (but then it is
always a woman that
plays the devil with a
mans emotions). The
other affection - brotherly
affection is saner & quieter
but none the less real
[Centre:] IX
It may happen that I may
never see her again but
then there are many things
more important < del> thats< /del> than
my welfare or life - her' s
for one - her happiness that is
linked in with yours.
As for me I will always
realize that if any of us
3 must "go under" it should
be me for I have started
life off badly & made a
mess of things with
my usual [clumsiness?].
In things of the heart I' ve
always been a blunderer & messer.
[Centre:] X
I' m very blameworthy in
being so fond of your dear
beloved Maggie but you
know there' s no harm meant
or envy in it. I look
up to her & revere her
as something far above
me & infinitly precious & that I' m not allowed or
worthy to touch, & God
knows I' d die for her
20 times over.
Goodbye Maurice
& love to both of you
Georges