A community-oriented approach with a progressive editorial stance, striving for transparency and encouraging readers to consider multiple perspectives.

Monday, June 16, 2025
booked.netCall us at 613-935-3763
Eco-conscious : Print an issue, plant a tree! 

No products in the cart.

  • About
    • Contributors
    • Disclaimers
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Giving back
    • Mission Statement
    • Past Issues
    • Where to Find
    • Call us at 613-935-3763
The Seeker - Positively Local, Suporting Local
  • Home
  • News
  • The Soapbox
  • Columnists
  • Events
  • Advertise!
    • Online
    • In Print
  • Puzzles
  • Videos
Seeker
No Result
View All Result

LETTER FROM HOME – World War 1 Cornwall

Ian Bowering by Ian Bowering
November 11, 2023
in Discover SD&G, News
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0

In an effort to bring a little bit of Cornwall to war-torn Europe, 95 year old Alexander McNaughton sent the following two letters to his son Alex Lorne. In April 1917 McNaughton wrote: “Many old people and several young have succumbed to attacks of grip and pneumonia. Many of those with whom you were acquainted have passed away and another generation are now occupying their positions. There are now ten teachers in the High School (CCVS) and in 13 in the Public. (Central).” “The same number of churches continue to supply the demand, but the men who now occupy the pulpits are all different and nearly the same may be said of those now occupying the pews. St. John’s is the only one which has been rebuilt since you left and is the finest ecclesiastic edifice in the Town. The Cotton industry is the largest and the Modern Bedstead, and the Chair( factories now make) Bomb cases giving people profitable employment.”

“I am surprised at (your views) about the war. I cannot imagine how you could acquire such opinions. (once men reached the Front, the horrors of what they confronted, strengthened their resolve, but made them question such inhumanity.) The papers of New York which reach us here seem to…express views favourable to the Allies and the American Republic is about to declare that war exists against the U.S. by the piratical acts of Germany, (unrestricted submarine warfare.) The wonder is how or why the U.S. stood out so long.”

You might also like

test post

Stormont Yacht Club hosts successful Adult Sail Training

RRCA Creating Native Plant Demonstration Site with Support from TD

“The young men here are very few. Several from Knox Church Congregation (about 30) are in the army and the same is true regarding St. John’s and the Methodists and Episcopal (Anglican) and Catholics. Several have been slain, and others have returned wounded, unfit for service. Fred Grant, son of Duncan Grant (Mr. Monk’s son and Mr. Werely’s son) are all wounded.”

In 1918 McNaughton told his son: “Considerable changes have occurred since you left. There are fewer blank spaces without houses, and the new buildings are superior. The population does not seem to be much increased, but the amount of business appears much greater. The Cotton industry is very large and the other factories are quite prosperous. The number of pupils and teachers in the Public School almost the same, but the number of students in the High School are far larger, the number of Post Office boxes has about doubled (over the last several years.) The Town has suffered severely. There are very few young men left. Many have died on the battlefield’s of France and Belgium. There are some more preparing to go now. Captain George McNaughton…is over there, but in Scotland employed in supplying lumber for the trenches. Your brother Jim is thinking of enlisting in the American Army as a Surgeon, but he’s not sure of being accepted on account of his age.”

“Please do write soon and continue to write whether I write or not. With love to you all in hope. Your loving father.”

Alexander Lorne did survive to return to Cornwall. His son Duncan, won a gold medal at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics for the high jump clearing the bar at 5 feet 5/8”. (172.72 cms.)

World War I claimed the lives of 335 men and women from the United Counties of SD & G. World War II took the lives of 489 men and women throughout the United Counties. Their Supreme Sacrifice is memorialized on more than 40 cenotaphs through the region. For a list of the those who died and the locations of the cenotaphs, log onto “cornwalltoeternity,” and scroll down to the post: THE CENOTAPHS OF STORMONT, DUNDAS and GLENGARRY.

Header Photo: Mounted Militia guarding the international bridge and canal, World War I. The guards were involved in at least one tragic incident on a night when someone failed to answer “‘Halt – who goes there? Friend or foe?” Local historian Dorothy Donihee related: “Seconds ticked on and still no answer – then the deafening report of the revolver going off and dead silence…There was a clamour and the voices. We learned it was an old man who had been shot. Why he had not answered nobody will ever know.”

Ian Bowering

Ian Bowering

Historian, author and beer aficionado Ian Bowering has curated  at eight museums, and is in the process of working on his 28th publication.

Next Post
a float with a santa clause on top of it

Get Ready for the Spectacular Santa Claus Parade on November 18th!

Categories

  • Business & Finances (15)
  • Columns (626)
    • Archived (115)
      • Filter-Free Zone (9)
      • For What it's Worth (37)
      • Fostering Change (2)
      • Memo from the Mayor (2)
      • Men Writes (26)
      • Mortgage Tips (1)
      • Seeker Snippets (22)
      • Take Note (6)
      • Which Witch is Witch? (10)
    • Current (389)
      • Appreciating Contemporary Art (2)
      • Discover SD&G (36)
      • Fashionably Marlene (13)
      • From Sharyn's Pantry (7)
      • Gardening – Ask Anna (27)
      • Grant Spills the Gravy (10)
      • Jay's Tech & Cyber Insights (4)
      • Keeping it Reel (27)
      • Local Spins from Bud's Records (9)
      • Louise Mignault (58)
      • Mental Health Matters (10)
      • Out and About (51)
      • Outdoor Club (23)
      • Reality Bytes (8)
      • roadSIGNS (31)
      • Smart Move with Sondra (3)
      • The Resilient Life (5)
      • Transition Cornwall+ (16)
      • What I'm Reading (2)
      • Wondrous Life (33)
      • Yafa Arts & Craft (21)
    • Friends of the Cline House (1)
  • Douris Deliberations (6)
  • Events (1)
  • Health & Fitness (10)
  • Home & Garden (11)
  • Interviews (156)
    • 5 questions with… (106)
    • Business Profiles (1)
    • Locals in the Loupe (47)
  • Leisure & Lifestyle (736)
  • News (2,563)
    • Ontario (1)
  • Politics (24)
    • Federal Elections (10)
    • Provincial Elections (10)
  • Science & Technology (46)
  • Sports (3)
  • The Adventures of D.B Cooper (1)
  • The Soapbox (259)
    • Agree to Disagree (114)
  • This May Also Interest You (1,572)
  • Travel (52)
  • You May Also Like (969)
Facebook Twitter Instagram Youtube TikTok
Don't miss anything!

Get notified of all our new news by ringing the bell at the bottom left corner!

Content Safety

HERO

theseeker.ca

Trustworthy

Approved by Sur.ly

2024
Disclaimers
Stock Photos partially provided by our partner Depositphotos
The Seeker Newspaper is located at 327 Second Street E., Cornwall, ON K6H 1Y8 -- All rights reserved
The Seeker does not accept responsibility for errors, misprints or inaccuracies published within.Please note that the views and opinions expressed in news article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Seeker. The content provided is for informational purposes only and has been written from the authors’ perspective, aiming to engage and inform readers. The Seeker is committed to presenting a wide range of viewpoints and encourages readers to conduct their own research and exercise critical thinking when considering these opinions in the context of their own perspectives.
ISSN 2562-1750 (Print)

ISSN 2562-1769 (Online)
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • The Soapbox
  • Columnists
  • Events
  • Advertise!
    • Online
    • In Print
  • Puzzles
  • Videos

© 2023 Reducing our footprint!   For every issue we print, we plant a tree!

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.