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:
Friday March 30, 1917: Went on signal duty on Conning Tower from 4 – 8 am saw a steamer heading for Halifax also saw four big whales The 6” in gun on stern was fired twice for practice smashing a barrel. The cruiser stopped a strange working ship heading westward went to bed and will write some more to my little wife before going to sleep
