Charlton
Sebring A Good Soldier
Letters from his Officers and a "Pal"
Mrs. Alma Sebring, widow of
Sapper Charlton Sebring, whose death at the front was reported in
The Reformer a week or two ago, has received the following
letters.
Mrs. Sebring has asked us
to thank the people who, since the news of her husband's death
reached Simcoe, have been so kind and sympathetic to her in her
sorrow.
Dear Mrs. Sebring: -- You
will no doubt have by this time been officially informed of your
husband's death, which occurred on the night of the 10th inst. A
bomb dropped by an enemy aeroplane fell close to his hut, in which
he was sleeping with two friends. and mortally wounded him. He
died apparently without pain a few minutes afterwards.
As an old member of my
company, before the breaking up of the 123rd Canadians, I was well
aware of his high standing with the officers and men of the
company.
He was a brave and
efficient soldier and his loss will be keenly felt by all. On
behalf of the remaining officers and men of the old company, I
extend our heartfelt sympathy in your loss.
E. Breen, Major, Ninth, C.E.F.
France, 11 Aug 1918
---------
---------- ----------
3rd Brigade, Can. Engineers
France, 11 Aug 1918
Dear Mrs. Sebring: -- Before this reaches you, no doubt you will
have received official notice of the death of your husband, Sapper
Charlton Sebring, (796612), who was killed by a bomb that fell
from an aeroplane near to where he was sleeping on Saturday night.
In the presence of his
commanding officer and several of his comrades we reverently laid
away his body yesterday, in a new British plot, not far from the
place where his life was given, and the location of his grave will
be carefully registered so that it may be found at any future
time.
It was not my privilege to
have known you husband, as I have only recently become attached to
this brigade, but I am able to assure you that his loss is greatly
regretted by all his associates in his battalion and throughout
the whole brigade.
I trust that you may find
some consolation in the thought that his life was given in the
realization of a noble cause, and in so serving to the point of
supreme sacrifice he was following in the footsteps of the One who
gave his life for the redemption of mankind.
May the conscious
companionship of the living Christ be the source of continuous
comfort to you in the loneliness of these days.
Very sincerely yours,
F. W. Anderson, Captain, Chaplain
---------
---------- ----------
France, 11 Aug 1918
Dear Madame: -- I am taking this liberty of addressing you by
letter with the intention of breaking sad news to you, that of the
death of your husband, Charlie Sebring, one of my chums, doing
service with me in France.
He was suddenly killed in
his sleep by the dropping of a bomb into the bivouac in which he
and two companions were sleeping, they also being instantly
killed.
Nothing can greatly
minimize the force of the shock caused by the receipt of such
unhappy news, but I know, Mrs. Sterling, that it will be a source
of some solace to you to know that he did not suffer.
I was thankful to note in
fact, as he always hoped to spare all his people bad news.
Therefore, he would be glad to know that I could tell you of
his instant death, since the fates had ordered that he was to die
out here.
We dreamed dreams together
of our return to Canada, he never being burdened with the thought
that he would fail to do so.
Charlie had many friends in
the company. These were not peacetime friends, that might hang
around one for money and to drink with one, but rather the kind of
men who in dangerous places, are strong and can trust each other;
when wet will halve their dry clothes; and when cold "double
up" and sleep together. In fact we can ill spare him.
In the last months we spent
much time together, he telling me of his friends, relatives, of
you, of his dogs, ferrets, guns and also of his friends the
Coates.
We worked together; during
spare times made brass bracelets out of shell casing, and I know
of the one made and sent to you. Therefore, I took off his own and
am going to send it to you when possible, as it is of the same
design and I know that will like to get it.
I think he had already sent
back to you some photos which you had sent him and if he has not,
they will be returned to you.
Sincerely sorry for you,
although helpless to assist, I remain,
Charlie's friend,
R. G. Baker
