The father in this letter blamed the doctor's that
completed the medical exam on his son for his ultimate death as he thought
that his son was not fit for duty and it would seem that the son himself
thought that he would not pass the exam but felt obligated to offer
himself for service anyways. This once again shows the sense of patriotism
that Newfoundlanders had towards their King and Country during the First
World War, that even though he was not well he felt obliged to offer
himself. A lot of the men that did not come forward at first to join the
Regiment were often tormented and peer pressured into joining the
Regiment.
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Delby’s Cove
June 21st 1918
To the Colonial Secretary
Dear Sir
I am in receipt of your letter of the 14th
of June I am very thankful of such remembrance from you it was more than
kind of you.
Dear Sir
When my boy told me he was going to offer him-self
for his King and Country I told him he would not be accepted owing to ill
health and he told me he did not think he would be accepted but it was his
duty to offer him-self more over two doctors told me he was consumption
he was a very sickly boy that we was taken great care of don’t know how
the doctors came to pass him if, there is a right & just law. The doctors
that passed him should pay a penalty for so doing his mother his very ill
now on the thoughts of her sick boy that was taken from her he told me on
his death that he felt a lot of his side and he told the doctor about it
and the doctor did not examined him only told a officer to put him on duty
he just reached home on leave taken very ill to his bed & died a few days
after I know it is every able body mans duty to do his duty for his king
and country I myself is not able to do any hard work although he was all
the help I had I know that God will judge the doctors according to these
deeds with a righteous judgment.
May the God give you the riches desire of heaven
Yours truly
John McGrath
Delby's Cove
Source: GN 2.14.134 The Rooms, Provincial Archives,
St. John's, NL |