9, June 6.

H.T/N.M

No. 1885 Pte. A. Halliday.

Translation code telegram received this date, please:-

Synoptical, London.

Following for Officer Commanding
2 Battalion letter received from
Private A Halliday alleges
without clothing and starving
to death full stop he warns
friends not to volunteer and
does harm please hold
investigation.

Governor.

Capt.

Paymaster & O. i/c Records

******************************************************************
12, June, 1916

Pte. Halliday states that he cannot write and that a comrade wrote to his mother for him making the statements to which attention is directed; he also states that the whole thing was meant for a joke to induce his mother to send him money and that there is no vestige of truth in any of the statements made to his mother.

Please telegraph as follows:-

Halliday confesses that there is no word of truth in his complaints and that they were made to cajole his mother into sending him money.
Commanding 2nd Battalion.

I am obtaining a confession in writing from Halliday and will send it to the Governor.

(Sd.) C.W. WHITAKER

Commanding 2/1st. Newfoundland Regiment, Newton on Ayr, N.B

*****************************************************************

13, June, 1916

2294/80

His Excellency

         Sir W.E. Davidson, K.C.M.G. & c. & c.,
Governor of the Colony of Newfoundland,
Government House,
 St. John’s, Newfoundland

No. 1885, Pte. A. Halliday

Sir,-

I have the honour to confirm exchange of telegrams with Your Excellency:-

Received 9/6/16

Synoptical, London.
Following for Officer Commanding 2 Battalion
letter received from  Private A Halliday
alleges without clothing and starving  to
death full stop he warns friends not to
volunteer and does harm please hold
investigation.

Governor

Dispatched 13/6/16 ( No. 326):-

Governor, St. John’s.
With reference to your telegram 8th June-
Halliday confesses that there is no word of
truth in his complaints and that they were
made to cajole his mother into sending him money.

Synoptical

And enclose copy of No. 2210/222, 9 & 12/6/16.

 I have the honour to be,
Sir,
Your obedient servant,
Capt.

Paymaster & O. i/c Records.

2210/222
O.C
2/1 Newfoundland Regiment,
Newton- Ayr,
Scotland.

*************************************************************************

The Honourable

            The Colonial Secretary.

Cf. My Tel. 127 of 8th June and Reply Tel. 13th June. This discreditable affair, characteristic of others which disturb our peace of mind should (I think) be circulated to all Committees:-

(1)   Chairman Standing Committee, (2) Ch. Finance Committee, (3) Ch. Recruiting Committee, (4) Major Montgomerie, (5) Deputy Paymaster.

 Would you kindly circulate accordingly if you approve of this course.

Governor

20 June, 1916

Source: The Rooms, Provincial Archives, St. John's, NL

 


 

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