Etc. -- John Doudney Killed in Action, 1915
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The following lightly edited transcript is of a page 1 article in the 
8 Jul 1915 issue of the Simcoe Reformer
[Some paragraph breaks inserted by the transcriber]

Sergt. McMaster tells of Casualties
Ptes. Sloat and Doudney killed, others wounded

The following letter from Sergt. M. McMaster, who is in charge of the first contingent from Simcoe, gives further particulars of Norfolk County boys who have been sacrificed for the honor of Canada and the Empire. The letter was written to Mrs. Sloat from France, June 15, 1915.

"I received your letter today, and am sorry to have to inform you that poor Nile did not live long after being injured. I did not see him myself, but one of the men was with him at the finish.

"His injuries were in the stomach and he was scarcely conscious. Beyond asking for water he did not say anything. Poor boy, he was a good soldier and one of my friends, but not directly under me or I would have seen him.

"Since that battle we were in another one for ten days with less casualies. Norfolk County lost another good man -- Jack Doudney. He was in the stretcher bearer corps, and had his head shot clean off while carrying a wounded man to safety.

"Some of the wounded at Langemaek are back with us again. Lankey, a chum of Nile's got shot through the neck and was back in three weeks. Cormack, another Simcoe man, came back today, and has gone right up to the firing line.

"I am writing this in an open field about four miles from the trenches. One cannot hear anything but the roar of the big guns. They are going off on all sides at the rate of almost sixty a minute.

"I have been to the trenches twice today, and we were shelled both times, but with no more serious loss than that of a horse.

"By the time you receive this letter, you will have seen something of the 4th Batt. again in the papers. We are not allowed to write much, but our next move is a big one.

"Please excuse more and accept my deepest sympathy with you and yours in your bereavement, but remember Nile was a little hero and a good soldier."
 


Jack Doudney












Also see     
Who died first?     

The following transcript is from page 1 of the 24 May 1917 
Simcoe Reformer
. [Paragraph break inserted by the transcriber]

PRIVATE JOHN DOUDNEY 

British boy who enlisted at the first call. He went with the First Contingent and was killed in action in the operations around Ypres, on May 2[9], 1915, two years ago today. 

He was an employee of the Dominion Canners, an English lad by birth, and without relatives in Canada. He was the second Norfolk man to fall in the war.
 
 
 
 

Also see John's Attestation Paper: side 1 | side 2



 
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