James_Deachman

JAMES H. DEACHMAN -- LAST LETTER TO HIS MOTHER

Mr. James H. Deachman, an old Lanark boy, but for a number of years a resident of Fort William,

has gone overseas to serve his country. In a letter to his mother, Mrs. John Deachman, sr.,

"Jimmy" gives the following entertaining account of sights seen in the Old Land:

Purfleet Camp, March 18'th 1917

London, England.

My Dear Mother,---I will now try and write a few lines to let you know that I am well and getting along

well. I was very sorry I did not get to see you before I came away, but we came so quick there was

no time. I thought I would get at least a week's leave at Ottawa, but we landed there about 11

o'clock on Sunday and left Ottawa Tuesday night for St. John's where we went straight on board the

boat and sailed that night for England. It was only a month from the day I signed up until I was in

England, so you see I had no chance to get to see you. Well, mother, I felt very lonesome leaving

Mary, Alton, Beatrice and Grandma, and they were just as lonesome to see me go, but there you

see, mother, some one has to go and fight, or at least do his bit in in some way. I always felt as if

I should go and do my bit for Canada, so when this battalion started I saw it was a good chance for

me where I could work at my trade, and, as I had two excellent recommends from the Provincial

Government of Canada, i signed up. I was yesterday promoted to Corporal, but I refused my stripes

until I go to work in France, so until I get to France I am only Private J. H. Deachman, so that is what

you will address my letters to. Well, mother, we had a very uneventful trip across the ocean; it was

very calm and I was not the least sea sick. We landed at Liverpool the 11th day after sailing and

came here next day. I did not see any of Liverpool only what we passed through. We have quite a

large camp here made up of Railroad Construction Battalions. I hear we leave here Tuesday or

Wednesday for France but of course you can never tell; it may be longer than that before we get

away, but I do hope we go soon for the time will pass much quicker after we get to work, not but what

they keep us busy here, but it is not the same as when you have your work all cut out for days ahead

of time, as it will be when we get there. I am at present attached to the headquarters staff---doing

carpenter work, making shipping boxes, etc, and were given four days and a half leave last week and

our railroad fare paid to whatever part we wanted to go. Those who went to Ireland or Scotland got

five days leave but I only went to Shorncliffe, Folkestone and London. Oh, say,but didn't I enjoy it

and did not see a soul I knew. Shorncliffe and Folkestone are beautiful places, but I had my best

time in London, and you can bet I made the best of my time sight-seeing. I will try and tell you

some of the things I saw. I was all through the House of Lords and saw the Royal throne. It is a

magnificent building where King Charles 1 was beheaded; was all through King George's horse

stables, saw his horses, harness, Royal coach, and the cutter Queen Victoria used to ride in. I was

all through Weatminster Abbey and saw where the Arabs or Monks lived, washed and taught school

over 900 years ago. The old desk and the old bench are there yet. The floor of this Westminster

Abbey is all laid in flags and each flag has the name of some old timer of note who is buried

underneath such as Tenneyson, Dickens, King Charles etc. Then I had my hand on the tomb or

coffin of Queen Elizabeth and also Mary Queen of Scots. The ceiling of this building is supposed to

be the most beautiful in design and workmanship in the world. Then I saw the tower of London, was

over the tower bridge and walked over old London bridge, went to see the wax works where they they

have every person of note in lifesize form for hundreds of years back right up to the present day of

King George and Queen Mary. It was beautiful to see, so you may guess I spent a busy three days

there. The next leave I get I intend, if all is well, to go to Scotland and Ireland. Well, mother, as it

will be my bedtime by the time I get this posted, I think I will close. I wrote to my son Alton to-day.

As this is strictly a railroad construction battalion I don't expect we will see much of the firing line,

our only danger will be from zeppelins and even they have to come across our lines to reach us and

no doubt we will be well guarded. Even where we are (about 16 miles from London) all day there

are two aeroplanes circling above us and all night anywhere from two to a dozen strong searchlights

looking for danger. I hope this finds you well. Remember me to Jack and Nellie and all inquiring

friends. I am writing this on my knee and it does not make a very good table. I have had no mail

from Canada yet but expect it any day. Will now say goodbye.

Your loving son, Jim.

Address--- Pte. Jas H Deachman 1,042,921

B. Co., 257th Bo. C. E. F.

Canadian War Office,

London Eng.

OBITUARY JAMES H. DEACHMAN

KILLED BY BOMB

An Old Lanark Boy Meets Death while Serving King and Country.

Last Thursday Mr. C. M. Forbes received the following telegram from Mr. Robert McCulloch,Fort William; "Regret to inform you James Henry Deachman officially reported killed in action April 29'th." The news came as a great shock and surprise to Lanark friends, who thought Jim with a construction battalion. Only a short time ago he wrote a letter to his mother, later appearing in the ERA, and the general tone of this letter was very hopeful that he would be all right. He went to England about March 1'st and was immediately sent to the front. While engaged in the hazardous work of constructing appliances near the front lines, he met death by a bomb from a hostile aeroplane. James H Deachman was born on the homestead near Lanark, October 12'th 1874. He went to school in the village. He was apprenticed to the cabinet making trade with Mr. James Young and later worked at the same trade with Mr. J. W. Campbell. About fourteen years ago he left Lanark for Fort William and was married a year later to Miss Mary Kennedy of this village. Two children were born to them, both of whom are now with their mother at Fort William. His mother, Mrs. John Deachman survives and lives on the old homestead with her step son, Mr. John H. Deachman. Issac Deachman of Tisdale, Sask., is a brother and Mrs. John Kerr of Crystal City, Man. is a sister.

John H. Deachman of Lanark, and Robert and Thomas Deachman of Carleton Place are half

brothers; Mrs. Thomas James of Almonte, Mrs. Donald Bain of Union Hall, and Mrs. James Henderson of Winnipeg, half-sisters. James Deachman was a very popular young man in Lanark Village. He had a buoyant, cheerful disposition, and made friends wherever he went. He was always ready to take a part in anything that was going on, and had such a likeable, genial way with him, that his company was sought after by his numerous friends. When he went away to Fort William general regret was felt, but he thought that he would have greater chances of getting along at his trade in the big growing town at the head of the lakes. Full of dash and vim, it was not much of a wonder that he responded to the call for men. He would be a valuable acquisition to any corps of men, for, not alone

was he willing and resourceful and courageous, but he had the natural qualifications that make a man among men, a right good noble-hearted fellow in whose nature there was nothing of meanness or smallness. Always ready with a good word and a smile, he

typified the best elements of character that stand out in the British race when put to the

test under strongly adverse conditions in the present war. He has paid the supreme

sacrifice, but those who knew him intimately feel confident that he met his fate like a hero.