Private Raymond Duval, MM, was a soldier of the 14th Battalion (Royal Montreal Regiment) CEF who served overseas during the last two years of the First World War. He participated in some of the fiercest fighting seen by Canadians during the war and was decorated for bravery at Passchendaele. Determined to preserve his memories of the First World War, he maintained a daily record of his experiences. Here is what he wrote precisely 100 years ago today:
Tuesday April 3, 1917: Got up feeling ok again boat drill this am and went on duty from 12 to 4pm. Nothing out of the ordinary today guess will write a few lines to my Little Wife
Author's note in 1954: Eventually, we were in water considered dangerous off the coast of England, and tight regulations were enforced, such as sleeping fully dressed and ready to abandon ship at a moment’s notice.
