– Documents:
- two sided note from Countess Philippe de Beaumont.
The letter translates: 10 Aug 1918. “My dear Colonel……. I would be very happy to have your latest news, for all of us, following with great pleasure and interest the good work you have done after leaving us. We hope to see you again and we send our best regards…. Comtesse de Beaumont”
2. Envelope:
- date stamped 12 Aug 1918. It is also stamped by an Army censor whose surname is clearly Woodbridge but whose initials are not clear. As censors generally tended to be officers, the only CEF officer named Woodbridge was Capt FG Woodbridge of the 26th Bn but he was wounded in 1916 and didn’t return to service. There are a number of ORs named Woodbridge but unless the initials on the envelope can be confirmed, it could be any of them
- The envelope is addressed (translation) to “ the Colonel of the 48th Highlanders Canadians” who the sender knew to be Lt Col Bent. However, Bent did not receive the letter as he had been seriously wounded on 8 Aug 1917 in the second day of the Amiens offensive, was hospitalized and would not return to the battalion until 3 Oct 1918. Capt Maybin assumed command in the field on 8 Aug but was replaced 10 August by Maj Bell-Irving of the 16th Battalion who temporarily became Officer Commanding the 15th . Irving turned command back to Capt Maybin on 22 Aug and Maybin in turn turned it over to Maj Girvan upon his return from the UK on 26 Aug.
- The sender information on the envelope is “ Envoye par la C.tesse de Beaumont” – translation is “ sent by the Comtesse of Beaumont” – Countess Philippe de Beaumont. In early August 1918 the Canadian Corp (including the 15th Battalion) was repositioning to the Amiens area in the lead-up to what would the battle of Amiens 8-10 August . On 4 Aug the unit arrived and was quartered in the town of Selincourt. Bn HQ was quartered in the summer Chateau Selincourt owned by Countess Philippe de Beaumont.
- The battalion departed Selincourt on 5 August 1918 and continued towards St. Fuscien and from there to Boves and eventually to the assembly area for the 8 August offensive.
