The war was already in full force in Europe when David Edward Hogue I became one of the many of thousands of Canadian men who volunteered to enlist in the Canadian Army during WWI. On January 14, 1915 David Hogue enlisted in the 49th Battalion, Alberta Regiment, only 10 days after the 49th began recruiting. He would be deployed to Europe less than four months later on May 2, 1915. What follows are some of the letters David Hogue – or Dave or Pappa to his wife and children – wrote home to his beloved family. These letters are valuable documents for our family because they offer a glimpse into an important historical moment though familial eyes. These letters also fascinate and delight with their personal observations of family members some of us have known and loved, but before we even knew them. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, these letters touchingly reveal the thoughts and feelings of a brave soldier who is lonely for his wife and 
children -- a caring father and husband who is aware of the void left by his absence, is concerned for his family’s welfare, and is tenderly thoughtful for the details of their everyday lives.July 11, 1915
St. Martins Plain, England
Mrs. L.E. Hogue,
Dear Wife, Your welcome letter reached me on Thursday. Am pleased to know you are all in good health when writing and that little Mary was getting better again. I hope she is alright again and gained up in flesh, and I hope for your sake and for all your sakes that Val will get into steady work. He soon should be able to get a good job with a threshing outfit if nothing else. What are you doing with the garden? I am very sorry now that we rented the shack and garden at all. I had letter from Father, and Ethel wrote me a few lines, too. They said they had just got a letter from you. Mother was very delicate. I am afraid, Lou, that I will never see her again in this world. I feel that I should have gone to see her, but you know how I was fixed. Well Lou, I know you have your trouble, but try to be as patient as you can and I think you will be rewarded in the end. If it were not for you and the children I would have got into trouble in this outfit long ago. I have no black marks against me yet, but the insolence of some of those young pups of N.C.O.’s is hard to bear. But I am trying to stick it out for your sakes. The worst of it is that the fellows that behave the worst generally get off free. But I mustn’t worry you with these little things, only I’m feeling rather blue today and very lonesome for you all. You asked me what I thought of your birthplace. Well, Lou, I haven’t been around much yet. In fact I seldom leave the camp except on route marches, but it is a fine country. But I can’t say that of all the people. It is disgraceful the way the women and men carry on here; there seems to be no shame or modesty in some of them. We are about 17 miles from Canterbury. I intend to go there sometime to see the old Cathedral with a young fellow named Martin. It will be some time yet till I get a week’s leave. I don’t know if I can afford to go up to Cambridge or not. It costs quite a bit from here, but I think I will try when I hear from them. Well I can’t write much this time; I have a bad headache. But my thoughts are always with you. My love to Nettie and Louie and Leslie and Wilfred. Remember me to Val and Nellie and I hope to hear good news from you this week. Goodbye this time with Love to you from, Dave.
St. Martins Plain, England
Mrs. L.E. Hogue,
Dear Wife, Your welcome letter reached me on Thursday. Am pleased to know you are all in good health when writing and that little Mary was getting better again. I hope she is alright again and gained up in flesh, and I hope for your sake and for all your sakes that Val will get into steady work. He soon should be able to get a good job with a threshing outfit if nothing else. What are you doing with the garden? I am very sorry now that we rented the shack and garden at all. I had letter from Father, and Ethel wrote me a few lines, too. They said they had just got a letter from you. Mother was very delicate. I am afraid, Lou, that I will never see her again in this world. I feel that I should have gone to see her, but you know how I was fixed. Well Lou, I know you have your trouble, but try to be as patient as you can and I think you will be rewarded in the end. If it were not for you and the children I would have got into trouble in this outfit long ago. I have no black marks against me yet, but the insolence of some of those young pups of N.C.O.’s is hard to bear. But I am trying to stick it out for your sakes. The worst of it is that the fellows that behave the worst generally get off free. But I mustn’t worry you with these little things, only I’m feeling rather blue today and very lonesome for you all. You asked me what I thought of your birthplace. Well, Lou, I haven’t been around much yet. In fact I seldom leave the camp except on route marches, but it is a fine country. But I can’t say that of all the people. It is disgraceful the way the women and men carry on here; there seems to be no shame or modesty in some of them. We are about 17 miles from Canterbury. I intend to go there sometime to see the old Cathedral with a young fellow named Martin. It will be some time yet till I get a week’s leave. I don’t know if I can afford to go up to Cambridge or not. It costs quite a bit from here, but I think I will try when I hear from them. Well I can’t write much this time; I have a bad headache. But my thoughts are always with you. My love to Nettie and Louie and Leslie and Wilfred. Remember me to Val and Nellie and I hope to hear good news from you this week. Goodbye this time with Love to you from, Dave.
July 18, 1915
St. Martins Plain
Mrs. L.E. Hogue,
Dear Wife, I am starting a letter to you, but may not finish it till the Canadian Mail comes in, it did not come in last week and I am anxious to hear from you, and to know how you are all getting along now. This is the mail that should be the answer to our first letter from here. I have just answered Father’s letter which I got a week ago. I also got a letter from Will and Olive and she said she was going to write to you. Well Lou, how are you all now anyway? I would give almost anything to run home to see you all sometimes and if I come out of this alive, as I hope to do, I will never tie myself up to anything again which will keep me away from my family. I feel my responsibility more as I look around here and see the children that are going astray, especially young bits of girls, but then someone had to enlist and I would rather go myself than be forced to go.
July 21st
Just received your letter yesterday, but had not time to answer it as we have been on muster parade and all day route marches all this week so far. Well I was awful glad to get an answer to my first letter from here and to know that you are all well and hearty. I hope the garden comes along again, it will be something to help a little but I’m afraid we will lose out on the lot. You didn’t say if Nell and Val were with you still or had moved into the shack. I am glad the baby is alright again. Well, by all accounts the flood must have been a bad one there, and it is going to make things harder still this winter. A lot of men seem to think that owing to the shortage of money and hard times that the contributors to the Patriotic Fund will not be able to keep up their subscriptions and there is bound to be a reduction if it is not cut off altogether soon. I think myself that it will be cut down soon, so I need hardly warn you to be careful as possible with it. You didn’t tell me if you were getting everything alright. I hope you will send me a statement of everything, as I do not even know why the Can. Rev. Agency want $20.00 at the present time, or if they sent a statement or itemized account, but it relieves me to know that Mr. Keefer has sent you word. Well, Lou, I don’t know whether I can afford to go up to Cambridge from here or not. It is not so much the by fare, as other expense things are just as dear here as over home in most things. But I would like to go. I haven’t spent much yet, nor had a pass of any kind since leaving Edmonton so I suppose I should see a little of the country anyway. Well as you say, the British are not making much headway yet but I think they will make a big move soon, and as you can see, the Canadians will have to do all or more than their share of it, but we do not know when we will get to the front, but think it will be here soon. I am sorry to hear that Bert Hickman has been killed. It is a sad blow to his family. Well Dear Ones, I wish I could slip over to Strathcona tonight but my thoughts are with you anyway, so we will hope to meet again soon. Thanks to the girls for writing. Am blessed to know that Louie did so well on the exams, but sorry Nettie can’t work steady, but she must try and save all she can for it will be harder times yet. It is dark now. We have no lights here, so I must close as will have to post tonight to catch mail boat. Kiss the children for me. My love to you all. From, Dave
St. Martins Plain
July 25, 1915
Mrs. L.E. Hogue,
Dear Wife, I am starting letter to you today, but will not mail it till yours comes in. I have first come of Church Parade. We had quite a walk. It is a nice morning but it has been very wet lately. I do not like the climate here at all. It is raw and disagreeable. There are plenty of airplanes around today. I saw six at once today. We may have to go to a military funeral on Tuesday, but I am not sure yet. Poor old Major Willson’s wife died yesterday at Folkestone. She has been over here some time and attended the Review here a few days ago. The poor old man will feel it badly. I think he had two children by his first wife. He was married to the present one six years ago. She was about 45. I think he is 66 or so. All of us have collected enough to buy a nice wreath for her. Well I think that we will soon be moving from here but we don’t know yet if we will go in drafts or not. We haven’t been to the rifle range either. You will get far more news over there than we do here. There’s nothing in the papers here.
July 27th, 5 PM
We have just got back from Mrs. Major Willson’s funeral. She was buried in St. Martins Church Cemetery close to camp here. The service was held in the church which is a very old one (over 600 years). The officers of the 49th were pall bearers and there were a lot of lovely wreaths. She was a Red Cross Nurse and ranked as Lieutenant. The poor old Major is badly cut up. I think there was a daughter here with him by the first wife. Well Sunday afternoon a young fellow named Martin and I went over to Canterbury to see the old Cathedral. It is a very interesting old place. The old part of it was built about 460 AD; more was added to it in 900 and 1200. We were in time to hear part of service and were shown down into the crypt, the cloisters and the Chapter House. The old architecture is wonderful. It was here that the Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered as he came through a doorway. There is a shadow on a pillar which is still taken for his ghost at night. I could tell you a lot about it, but it is hard to explain it on paper. But it will interest the girls as they have taken it in History. Well the last mail is in today again, but still no letter for me although nearly all the boys have a letter from Canada today. I guess you must have missed the mail that caught the last boat. Don’t forget to let me know how everything is and how Val and Nellie are getting along. I hope he gets work as I am afraid the Patriotic Fund will soon play out. But we will have to make the best of things. If you all have good health it will not be so bad. This will be an answer to the girls’ letters, too. I am sending them a song written by a Private and some four-leaf clovers I picked one day on a route march while taking a rest, but I forgot to press them. I forgot to say we got our new issue of clothing and it will cost me about $1.70 to get mine altered, but we have more clothes than we know what to do with in the tents here. Kiss the little ones for me. My love to you all, and don’t let them forget poor old Pappa Dave. Best wishes to Nell and Val, and goodbye for this time from Dave.
August 1, 1915
St. Martins Plain
Mrs. L.E. Hogue,
Dear Wife, Your welcome letter of the 11th just came to hand yesterday and am pleased to know you were all well at time of writing and hope you all keep healthy and that the weather is nicer now. So Nell and Val are in their own house now. How did you get on about the rent? Do you think they will get anything worthwhile? I hope they do for, although I wouldn’t want to see them stuck. I am beginning to get anxious for the rest of you, for as you say the Patriotic Fund may be reduced or cut off at any time. You see nobody is making money now to keep up with the subscriptions to it, and the number of recruits is increasing every day, so of course the expenses are increasing also. I wish you could send me a statement of what money you got altogether since I joined as I’m trying to figure out how they are handling the money here. Some of us married men get more than others. Yes, I wrote to Mother some time ago, also to Will. I’m afraid poor Mother is getting pretty weak now. It was awful good of them to send you the butter. How was it that Val did not join the bunch of mechanics who come over here? Well I haven’t much to tell you this time. We are still here sometimes learning how to dig trenches and going out on route marches, both in daytime and at night. I was on guard last night but was lucky enough to get off at 6 AM. Part of the guard had to stick it from 5:30 PM last night till 5:30 PM tonight. I must tell you that we were issued with new shoulder badges with Canada worked in red yarn. I sent my tunic to get fixed and the tailor lost them, so he gave me a pair that an N.C.A. had in the 12th battalion who was back from the front. Fred Richards got a letter with one of those big bills of the 63rd called Exemption Trips to Berlin. Did you ever write to your Aunt Alice? I don’t know whether to go up there or not. If not, I may be able to send you a little money soon; we were paid today (Sunday). Well this is all now. I thank the girls for their kind little letters and hope to hear from you all in a day or two again. Kiss the kiddies for me and love you all from Pappa Dave.
August 8, 1915
St. Martins Plain
Mrs. L.E. Hogue,
Dear Wife, Your welcome letter of July 18th to hand, and am pleased to know that you are all like myself in good health, when we hear of so many we know being cut off in their prime, we have much to be thankful for. I was shocked to hear of young Jimmy Dargavell dying so suddenly and then Roy Hunter so soon after his brother. It makes us think that we should live so as to be ready to die when the call comes. Well we are still here, but it won’t be long now till we move to the front, whether to France or the Dardanelles we don’t know yet. We have been taking a musketry course at the ranges last week and have not finished yet. We also had a preliminary and final review before Mr. Bonar Law and General Sam Hughes. It rained in torrents, and we had to stand there for hours in mud and rain so you have an idea what we looked like. The Allies are not making much headway just now, it seems to be the Germans who are gaining ground at present, so don’t be disappointed if the war is not over this year. I wish it was so that we could get back again, but it is cheering to get letters like your last one. I know you will do your best in my absence. Did you get any notice from Mr. Cheadle about the C.O.Y. dues? I don’t know if we will have to pay from August 1st or not or whether we are still exempt. I hope Val gets something steady to do, for your sakes as well as their own, as you will need all the spare change you can save up before long. So if he gets his money try to straighten things up with him before he gets a chance to booze it up. I suppose that Nellie will feel more at home now that they are by themselves. Does Leslie bother them much? I often worry over the little beggar. He is so mischievous. The little lad Wilfred won’t get into so much trouble. Say Love, it you send the money to our folks, send it to Mother, as I think it was some of what she saved herself. I have a little saved myself now, but we married men don’t get much and I’m not sure yet if I can get a 6 day pass or not. Has Larry Holliday joined or not? You didn’t say if Val tried again or not. Well this is about all now. There isn’t much to see or speak of here. I’m sorry there is danger of a potato rot and that your garden has suffered by the rain. Some of the grain is already cut here, so the summer will soon be over again. My love to the little lads and yourself. May heaven bless and keep you all. From your old Dave.
August 8th
Miss Nettie and Louie Hogue,
Dear Girls, Just a line to you as I’ve run out of paper and this is dirty, too. You should be having nice weather now, and you Louie will soon be thinking of school again. Will you be in a higher grade now? I suppose Nettie that it will keep you busy writing letters now that Fred Hart has gone down country. You are not making so much now. Well you won’t have to work so hard. I haven’t got those snaps your mother and you promised me. Have you all been berry picking this year or not? I like to hear from you girls too and any news items you can give. Goodbye this time, with love to you both from Pappa.
St. Martins Plain
August 18, 1915
Mrs. L.E. Hogue,
Dear Wife and Children, Your welcome letters just came to hand yesterday and note with pleasure that you were all well then, and that the weather was improving. I am on the transport service for a few days until the regular men take their course in musketry. This is my first day and I haven’t worked very hard so far and having some time to share, I thought I would answer your letter, am glad to hear that Val has got a little money but don’t think you will get much of it somehow. I may be wrong but it seems to me he is not making much effort. Since writing you last I have been informed that the Women’s Volunteer Corps they are raising there will never have to leave home. I was aware of that at first so if Nettie still has a notion of joining she do so on condition that if they were ever called on to go abroad she would not volunteer for that service. A little of the discipline will be a good thing and the drills and physical training is very beneficial. So you are busy picking again. How did you get out there and how did you make out for a tent? Where did Nettie stay while you were away? Did any of the Glover’s come down yet? I am very sorry to hear that Carry Bonsteel is sick again. I’m afraid she will never be cured permanently. When you write to Mrs. Davis give them my sympathy and regards. Also tell Mrs. Davis to thank Mrs. Reed for us for keeping the old place in good repair. I should write to both Mr. Keefer and George Bonsteel, perhaps I will this week yet. It grieves me to think that poor old Mother is so delicate now and that I couldn’t get to see her before I left. Well Lou, I hope this war will be over but don’t be disappointed if I am not home for Xmas for I don’t think it will be over in another year myself but hope I’m mistaken. You have seen by the papers that the Royal Edward, the C.N.R. Boat has been sunk by a German Submarine and that over a thousand soldiers were lost. It is a very sad and severe blow, but it is marvelous that there have been no losses before now. The Germans have been gaining ground in Russia lately but eventually they will have to give in. There was an air raid at Dover a few days ago. That is only a few miles from here, but only a few were hurt or killed. They can’t do much damage as the coast is too well watched. Don’t fail to let me know what the Can. Per. Mort. Co. does, and have you heard anything fro the C.O.Y. about the dues? Well I don’t think because I get a little dismal at times that I’m always blue; it is only sometimes. And I am enjoying good health now as I had for some years, but I would like to drop in to see you all again for a few days, but don’t think scared or wanting to back out you know. I’m not built that way. Tell Louie that I haven’t seen much of England yet, in fact have been nowhere to speak of. So Nettie had a good time at the lake. Well she must be careful there as there are a number of drowning accidents there every year. It is a good thing that the garden is not all spoiled. I think that this is about all for the present. Hope it finds you all well. Love to all the children and your self. Remember me to Nellie and Val and the baby, and goodbye for this time from Pappa Dave.
Don’t forget the address: A.32786
Moore Barrack Hospital
September 15, 1915
Mrs. L.E. Hogue,
Dear Wife, Just a few lines as I can’t sit up and the Sister wouldn’t let me if they knew it. Well I was better last week then got worse again, had a pretty bad time but feeling a little better today, but can’t sit up yet. Have no appetite. Get nothing but a little broth and milk; can’t drink milk. Got your letter alright, am glad you are all well. I guess you are getting the money alright but the Can. Per. Coy. has done us a dirty trick and I haven’t been able to see after it. For one thing the application is in my name and they have switched it over to you, making you responsible and that payment should not be made till 1st December instead of June. So Val is working at last. Well I hope he gets it steady. Tell Leslie I got his letter and will answer when I get better. Can’t write to girls either just now. Hope your mother gets better. Can’t send you any news about 49th as we are quarantined for 10 days, as a young fellow developed measles or scarlet fever in this ward and they took him out, so none of our boys has been to see me. But I heard the Colonel got threw off his horse and hurt pretty badly. Plenty of zeppelin raids around the coast now but they don’t give out much information about them. It will be a long time yet before I’m fit for duty so I’ll try for sick leave and take a trip. Well this is getting too much for me so will have to close. With best love to you all, and may God keep you safe and well, from Dave. P.S. Say Lou I wish you would let Louie or Nettie address this letter. You get my no. wrong every time some way and it takes it a few days longer to reach me. I dropped a card to Geo Bonesteele about the last of August. I hope Carry is better. Say, as soon as the potatoes are fit to dig, try and get them up. Be sure they are dry and put them away like I did, if possible. You might get old Jim, you know who I mean, to dig them. Bye-bye, Dave
David Edward Hogue I died of stomach cancer on October 6, 1915, three days before his Regiment, the 49th Battalion,
was deployed to France.
Note:Dave Hogue was not the only loss in WWI to the Hogue family. Elizabeth (Lizzie) Hogue- Schackleton lost her son Freddie in France on November 10, 1918, one day before the armistice was signed. Freddy was buried at Wood Cemetery in the village of Marcelcave, 24 kilometers east of Amiens, France. The cemetery has 50 graves, three of which are for unknown soldiers.
St. Martins Plain
Mrs. L.E. Hogue,
Dear Wife, I am starting a letter to you, but may not finish it till the Canadian Mail comes in, it did not come in last week and I am anxious to hear from you, and to know how you are all getting along now. This is the mail that should be the answer to our first letter from here. I have just answered Father’s letter which I got a week ago. I also got a letter from Will and Olive and she said she was going to write to you. Well Lou, how are you all now anyway? I would give almost anything to run home to see you all sometimes and if I come out of this alive, as I hope to do, I will never tie myself up to anything again which will keep me away from my family. I feel my responsibility more as I look around here and see the children that are going astray, especially young bits of girls, but then someone had to enlist and I would rather go myself than be forced to go.
July 21st
Just received your letter yesterday, but had not time to answer it as we have been on muster parade and all day route marches all this week so far. Well I was awful glad to get an answer to my first letter from here and to know that you are all well and hearty. I hope the garden comes along again, it will be something to help a little but I’m afraid we will lose out on the lot. You didn’t say if Nell and Val were with you still or had moved into the shack. I am glad the baby is alright again. Well, by all accounts the flood must have been a bad one there, and it is going to make things harder still this winter. A lot of men seem to think that owing to the shortage of money and hard times that the contributors to the Patriotic Fund will not be able to keep up their subscriptions and there is bound to be a reduction if it is not cut off altogether soon. I think myself that it will be cut down soon, so I need hardly warn you to be careful as possible with it. You didn’t tell me if you were getting everything alright. I hope you will send me a statement of everything, as I do not even know why the Can. Rev. Agency want $20.00 at the present time, or if they sent a statement or itemized account, but it relieves me to know that Mr. Keefer has sent you word. Well, Lou, I don’t know whether I can afford to go up to Cambridge from here or not. It is not so much the by fare, as other expense things are just as dear here as over home in most things. But I would like to go. I haven’t spent much yet, nor had a pass of any kind since leaving Edmonton so I suppose I should see a little of the country anyway. Well as you say, the British are not making much headway yet but I think they will make a big move soon, and as you can see, the Canadians will have to do all or more than their share of it, but we do not know when we will get to the front, but think it will be here soon. I am sorry to hear that Bert Hickman has been killed. It is a sad blow to his family. Well Dear Ones, I wish I could slip over to Strathcona tonight but my thoughts are with you anyway, so we will hope to meet again soon. Thanks to the girls for writing. Am blessed to know that Louie did so well on the exams, but sorry Nettie can’t work steady, but she must try and save all she can for it will be harder times yet. It is dark now. We have no lights here, so I must close as will have to post tonight to catch mail boat. Kiss the children for me. My love to you all. From, Dave
St. Martins Plain
July 25, 1915
Mrs. L.E. Hogue,
Dear Wife, I am starting letter to you today, but will not mail it till yours comes in. I have first come of Church Parade. We had quite a walk. It is a nice morning but it has been very wet lately. I do not like the climate here at all. It is raw and disagreeable. There are plenty of airplanes around today. I saw six at once today. We may have to go to a military funeral on Tuesday, but I am not sure yet. Poor old Major Willson’s wife died yesterday at Folkestone. She has been over here some time and attended the Review here a few days ago. The poor old man will feel it badly. I think he had two children by his first wife. He was married to the present one six years ago. She was about 45. I think he is 66 or so. All of us have collected enough to buy a nice wreath for her. Well I think that we will soon be moving from here but we don’t know yet if we will go in drafts or not. We haven’t been to the rifle range either. You will get far more news over there than we do here. There’s nothing in the papers here.
July 27th, 5 PM
We have just got back from Mrs. Major Willson’s funeral. She was buried in St. Martins Church Cemetery close to camp here. The service was held in the church which is a very old one (over 600 years). The officers of the 49th were pall bearers and there were a lot of lovely wreaths. She was a Red Cross Nurse and ranked as Lieutenant. The poor old Major is badly cut up. I think there was a daughter here with him by the first wife. Well Sunday afternoon a young fellow named Martin and I went over to Canterbury to see the old Cathedral. It is a very interesting old place. The old part of it was built about 460 AD; more was added to it in 900 and 1200. We were in time to hear part of service and were shown down into the crypt, the cloisters and the Chapter House. The old architecture is wonderful. It was here that the Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered as he came through a doorway. There is a shadow on a pillar which is still taken for his ghost at night. I could tell you a lot about it, but it is hard to explain it on paper. But it will interest the girls as they have taken it in History. Well the last mail is in today again, but still no letter for me although nearly all the boys have a letter from Canada today. I guess you must have missed the mail that caught the last boat. Don’t forget to let me know how everything is and how Val and Nellie are getting along. I hope he gets work as I am afraid the Patriotic Fund will soon play out. But we will have to make the best of things. If you all have good health it will not be so bad. This will be an answer to the girls’ letters, too. I am sending them a song written by a Private and some four-leaf clovers I picked one day on a route march while taking a rest, but I forgot to press them. I forgot to say we got our new issue of clothing and it will cost me about $1.70 to get mine altered, but we have more clothes than we know what to do with in the tents here. Kiss the little ones for me. My love to you all, and don’t let them forget poor old Pappa Dave. Best wishes to Nell and Val, and goodbye for this time from Dave.
August 1, 1915
St. Martins Plain
Mrs. L.E. Hogue,
Dear Wife, Your welcome letter of the 11th just came to hand yesterday and am pleased to know you were all well at time of writing and hope you all keep healthy and that the weather is nicer now. So Nell and Val are in their own house now. How did you get on about the rent? Do you think they will get anything worthwhile? I hope they do for, although I wouldn’t want to see them stuck. I am beginning to get anxious for the rest of you, for as you say the Patriotic Fund may be reduced or cut off at any time. You see nobody is making money now to keep up with the subscriptions to it, and the number of recruits is increasing every day, so of course the expenses are increasing also. I wish you could send me a statement of what money you got altogether since I joined as I’m trying to figure out how they are handling the money here. Some of us married men get more than others. Yes, I wrote to Mother some time ago, also to Will. I’m afraid poor Mother is getting pretty weak now. It was awful good of them to send you the butter. How was it that Val did not join the bunch of mechanics who come over here? Well I haven’t much to tell you this time. We are still here sometimes learning how to dig trenches and going out on route marches, both in daytime and at night. I was on guard last night but was lucky enough to get off at 6 AM. Part of the guard had to stick it from 5:30 PM last night till 5:30 PM tonight. I must tell you that we were issued with new shoulder badges with Canada worked in red yarn. I sent my tunic to get fixed and the tailor lost them, so he gave me a pair that an N.C.A. had in the 12th battalion who was back from the front. Fred Richards got a letter with one of those big bills of the 63rd called Exemption Trips to Berlin. Did you ever write to your Aunt Alice? I don’t know whether to go up there or not. If not, I may be able to send you a little money soon; we were paid today (Sunday). Well this is all now. I thank the girls for their kind little letters and hope to hear from you all in a day or two again. Kiss the kiddies for me and love you all from Pappa Dave.
August 8, 1915
St. Martins Plain
Mrs. L.E. Hogue,
Dear Wife, Your welcome letter of July 18th to hand, and am pleased to know that you are all like myself in good health, when we hear of so many we know being cut off in their prime, we have much to be thankful for. I was shocked to hear of young Jimmy Dargavell dying so suddenly and then Roy Hunter so soon after his brother. It makes us think that we should live so as to be ready to die when the call comes. Well we are still here, but it won’t be long now till we move to the front, whether to France or the Dardanelles we don’t know yet. We have been taking a musketry course at the ranges last week and have not finished yet. We also had a preliminary and final review before Mr. Bonar Law and General Sam Hughes. It rained in torrents, and we had to stand there for hours in mud and rain so you have an idea what we looked like. The Allies are not making much headway just now, it seems to be the Germans who are gaining ground at present, so don’t be disappointed if the war is not over this year. I wish it was so that we could get back again, but it is cheering to get letters like your last one. I know you will do your best in my absence. Did you get any notice from Mr. Cheadle about the C.O.Y. dues? I don’t know if we will have to pay from August 1st or not or whether we are still exempt. I hope Val gets something steady to do, for your sakes as well as their own, as you will need all the spare change you can save up before long. So if he gets his money try to straighten things up with him before he gets a chance to booze it up. I suppose that Nellie will feel more at home now that they are by themselves. Does Leslie bother them much? I often worry over the little beggar. He is so mischievous. The little lad Wilfred won’t get into so much trouble. Say Love, it you send the money to our folks, send it to Mother, as I think it was some of what she saved herself. I have a little saved myself now, but we married men don’t get much and I’m not sure yet if I can get a 6 day pass or not. Has Larry Holliday joined or not? You didn’t say if Val tried again or not. Well this is about all now. There isn’t much to see or speak of here. I’m sorry there is danger of a potato rot and that your garden has suffered by the rain. Some of the grain is already cut here, so the summer will soon be over again. My love to the little lads and yourself. May heaven bless and keep you all. From your old Dave.
August 8th
Miss Nettie and Louie Hogue,
Dear Girls, Just a line to you as I’ve run out of paper and this is dirty, too. You should be having nice weather now, and you Louie will soon be thinking of school again. Will you be in a higher grade now? I suppose Nettie that it will keep you busy writing letters now that Fred Hart has gone down country. You are not making so much now. Well you won’t have to work so hard. I haven’t got those snaps your mother and you promised me. Have you all been berry picking this year or not? I like to hear from you girls too and any news items you can give. Goodbye this time, with love to you both from Pappa.
St. Martins Plain
August 18, 1915
Mrs. L.E. Hogue,
Dear Wife and Children, Your welcome letters just came to hand yesterday and note with pleasure that you were all well then, and that the weather was improving. I am on the transport service for a few days until the regular men take their course in musketry. This is my first day and I haven’t worked very hard so far and having some time to share, I thought I would answer your letter, am glad to hear that Val has got a little money but don’t think you will get much of it somehow. I may be wrong but it seems to me he is not making much effort. Since writing you last I have been informed that the Women’s Volunteer Corps they are raising there will never have to leave home. I was aware of that at first so if Nettie still has a notion of joining she do so on condition that if they were ever called on to go abroad she would not volunteer for that service. A little of the discipline will be a good thing and the drills and physical training is very beneficial. So you are busy picking again. How did you get out there and how did you make out for a tent? Where did Nettie stay while you were away? Did any of the Glover’s come down yet? I am very sorry to hear that Carry Bonsteel is sick again. I’m afraid she will never be cured permanently. When you write to Mrs. Davis give them my sympathy and regards. Also tell Mrs. Davis to thank Mrs. Reed for us for keeping the old place in good repair. I should write to both Mr. Keefer and George Bonsteel, perhaps I will this week yet. It grieves me to think that poor old Mother is so delicate now and that I couldn’t get to see her before I left. Well Lou, I hope this war will be over but don’t be disappointed if I am not home for Xmas for I don’t think it will be over in another year myself but hope I’m mistaken. You have seen by the papers that the Royal Edward, the C.N.R. Boat has been sunk by a German Submarine and that over a thousand soldiers were lost. It is a very sad and severe blow, but it is marvelous that there have been no losses before now. The Germans have been gaining ground in Russia lately but eventually they will have to give in. There was an air raid at Dover a few days ago. That is only a few miles from here, but only a few were hurt or killed. They can’t do much damage as the coast is too well watched. Don’t fail to let me know what the Can. Per. Mort. Co. does, and have you heard anything fro the C.O.Y. about the dues? Well I don’t think because I get a little dismal at times that I’m always blue; it is only sometimes. And I am enjoying good health now as I had for some years, but I would like to drop in to see you all again for a few days, but don’t think scared or wanting to back out you know. I’m not built that way. Tell Louie that I haven’t seen much of England yet, in fact have been nowhere to speak of. So Nettie had a good time at the lake. Well she must be careful there as there are a number of drowning accidents there every year. It is a good thing that the garden is not all spoiled. I think that this is about all for the present. Hope it finds you all well. Love to all the children and your self. Remember me to Nellie and Val and the baby, and goodbye for this time from Pappa Dave.
Don’t forget the address: A.32786
Moore Barrack Hospital
September 15, 1915
Mrs. L.E. Hogue,
Dear Wife, Just a few lines as I can’t sit up and the Sister wouldn’t let me if they knew it. Well I was better last week then got worse again, had a pretty bad time but feeling a little better today, but can’t sit up yet. Have no appetite. Get nothing but a little broth and milk; can’t drink milk. Got your letter alright, am glad you are all well. I guess you are getting the money alright but the Can. Per. Coy. has done us a dirty trick and I haven’t been able to see after it. For one thing the application is in my name and they have switched it over to you, making you responsible and that payment should not be made till 1st December instead of June. So Val is working at last. Well I hope he gets it steady. Tell Leslie I got his letter and will answer when I get better. Can’t write to girls either just now. Hope your mother gets better. Can’t send you any news about 49th as we are quarantined for 10 days, as a young fellow developed measles or scarlet fever in this ward and they took him out, so none of our boys has been to see me. But I heard the Colonel got threw off his horse and hurt pretty badly. Plenty of zeppelin raids around the coast now but they don’t give out much information about them. It will be a long time yet before I’m fit for duty so I’ll try for sick leave and take a trip. Well this is getting too much for me so will have to close. With best love to you all, and may God keep you safe and well, from Dave. P.S. Say Lou I wish you would let Louie or Nettie address this letter. You get my no. wrong every time some way and it takes it a few days longer to reach me. I dropped a card to Geo Bonesteele about the last of August. I hope Carry is better. Say, as soon as the potatoes are fit to dig, try and get them up. Be sure they are dry and put them away like I did, if possible. You might get old Jim, you know who I mean, to dig them. Bye-bye, Dave
David Edward Hogue I died of stomach cancer on October 6, 1915, three days before his Regiment, the 49th Battalion,
was deployed to France.
Note:Dave Hogue was not the only loss in WWI to the Hogue family. Elizabeth (Lizzie) Hogue- Schackleton lost her son Freddie in France on November 10, 1918, one day before the armistice was signed. Freddy was buried at Wood Cemetery in the village of Marcelcave, 24 kilometers east of Amiens, France. The cemetery has 50 graves, three of which are for unknown soldiers.
