Went to the front with the 1^st Contingent and who was in France until the first of  1917. He was admitted to the hospital in England. It was reported he was a timekeeper in a munitions plant in London. He was better known to his Chatham friends as “Sharpe”. He was the son of Ed Rayner of the Merrill Hotel. 

The first of the year he was admitted to the hospital in England and is now a timekeeper in a munitions plant in London. The letter follow in part:

“Well here goes for a few lines to let you know that I am well and getting on pretty smooth in this old town of London. I came over from France and went into the hospital on January 2^nd. This year and after many changes from one hospital to another. I was finally discharged on 1 May, but was classed B2, which is fit for base duty but not fit for front line work 

I began to use my long record and good conduct to get a job in London and I made good and now I am in a munition factory as timekeeper and believe me it is some soft job and just to my liking after my long run in the Army.

I play a little baseball now and then just to keep my hand in at the old game. I think my doldering days are over, but a fellow can never tell because there are times when I feel like going back to the trenches again. If the war lasts another year or so I wouldn’t be surprised if I get back into harness again as this is a pretty tame life for me after having two years’ rough life at the front.”

If you would inform my old friends that I am still going strong with the bells on.      

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Sources

Chatham Daily Planet (18-11-1914), Chatham Daily Planet (23-11-1914), Chatham Daily Planet (22-06-1917), Chatham Daily Planet (15-09-1917), Chatham Daily Planet (21-01-1919), Chatham Daily Planet (24-03-1919), CDP (9/10/17)

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