Perspectives On The Front

This is a vignette that might well evolve into a longer narrative for the image and emotion it creates – and the story it hints to – but for now we’ll just focus the spotlight for a brief moment on this love and concern conveyed in this letter from his wife Elizabeth.

Elizabeth Mayse, wife of Corporal (Reverend) Amos William Mayse (#291494) of Winnipeg, Manitoba, in October 11, 1917 was writing to appeal for his return home. At the time, Reverend Mayse serving with the 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles, was in the Canadian Military Hospital in Basingstoke, recovering from multiple shrapnel wounds on his arms and legs sustained in July.

Serving in the Imperial Forces in the Boer War, Mayse was wounded severly in the face and never recovered from the nerves effects – something that had reoccured with his severe wounding in France.

Elizabeth’s letter was a plea from the heart – one that combined worry about her son and love for an invalided husband.