Witness to War: Monday April 23, 1917

Witness to War: Monday April 23, 1917

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:

Monday April 23, 1917: Nothing doing yet this quarantine is getting on my nerves. No mail from Canada yet and am longing for news from my little wife. But there’s no use worrying it will come. Bill Geddes arrived today from Montreal and will rejoin us. Fine weather and really warm in the afternoon wrote to Stanley about going to Jersey also got a letter from him.

The RMR Foundation thanks Natalie Dyck for generously sharing her publication of “The Diary and Memoir of Private Raymond Duval” in order for us to be able to share his story with you 100 years on. You can learn more about Private Duval here.

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