Letter from Herbert C. Patterson to Ernie (October 16, 1916)
Description:
A seven page letter from Herbert C. Patterson to Ernie, dated October 16, 1916. In the letter Patterson describes what association work is like on the front lines and some of the horrors that he has seen and heard about in his time with the troops.
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Herbert C. Patterson graduated in 1915 from Springfield College, then the International YMCA College. After graduation he became the overseas representative for Canadian National Council Y.M.C.A. with Canadian troops of the 59th regiment during World War I. After the war, he spent most of his career with the Montreal YMCA, specifically the Westmount Branch. He died in 1964.
Tommy was slang for British solders during world war I because examples of recruitment papers shown to those who enlisted had the name Tommy Atkins, thus the name. The Americans also referred to the British solders as Limeys because of the fact that they used lime juice on there ships to prevent scurvy.