When William Boldt died on Oct. 1, 1918, fighting in the First World War, he was American.
He had already survived being gassed when he died in battle during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, 42 days before the Armistice.
Boldt was originally buried in France but his body was exhumed a few years later and reburied in the famous Arlington National Cemetery in Washington D.C. Despite being there, his story lives here, in Saanich, where his grand niece Joan Scroggs maintains an archive of letters, photos and documents her grandmother, BoldtB次元官网网址檚 sister, put together and gave to Scroggs 55 years ago. She now keeps them in her home at Ten Mile Point.
On Monday, Scroggs read an excerpt from a letter Boldt had written to his sister before a full crowd at the Veterans Memorial Lodge at Broadmead for an early Remembrance Day memorial commemorating the Armistice centennial.
She chose a letter about Boldt experiencing gas poisoning for its insight into war, she said.
B次元官网网址淚 thought it was interesting that he talked about the gassing, what it felt like, and the total blindness that all the guys apparently felt. Once you were gassed, instantly you were totally blindB次元官网网址� til the nerve endings healed. They also broke out in sores, it was just horrendous,B次元官网网址� Scroggs said.
(Inset photo: William Boldt in uniform, circa 1918.)
The letter she read aloud was written by Boldt from the American Red Cross Hospital letter on June 11, 1918.
B次元官网网址淢y dear sisterB次元官网网址� donB次元官网网址檛 be alarmed at the heading of the letter [from the hospital]. ItB次元官网网址檚 nothing serious now. I only got a slight gassing. IB次元官网网址檒l soon be back in duty and IB次元官网网址檓 going after the fellow who gassed me.
B次元官网网址淚 look back at everything that happened, it didnB次元官网网址檛 seem real. The roar of the guns, the flying steel, and the air turning poisonous. I wore my mask for 15 hours but had to take it off for a couple minutes. I felt a pain in my eye and then a total blindness.
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B次元官网网址淚 suppose you know whatB次元官网网址檚 going on over here. WeB次元官网网址檙e giving them hell and showing them that weB次元官网网址檙e made of the right stuff.
B次元官网网址淒ear Father and Sister, if I should make the sacrifice donB次元官网网址檛 worry your lives away for we are all going to cash out sometime.
B次元官网网址淚 certainly will be proud to check in. I donB次元官网网址檛 expect to stay over here forever B次元官网网址次元官网网址�
Rear-Admiral J.R. Auchterlonie, the former commander of the Canadian Pacific Fleet, spoke at the memorial with music from the Naden BandB次元官网网址檚 Prevailing Winds Woodwind Quintet.
B次元官网网址淢y Granny lived on a farm in Russell, Manitoba, and thereB次元官网网址檚 evidence that Boldt had been there helping in 1917, the year before he went to war,B次元官网网址� Scroggs said.
Boldt wasnB次元官网网址檛 married so his pension went to ScroggsB次元官网网址� grandmother, which was helpful as Scroggs grandfather died from appendicitis in 1917.
Scroggs was joined by her eldest cousin, the oldest of her generation, as well as her brother, granddaughter and great niece, all from William BoldtB次元官网网址檚 family.
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