News From Camp Shilo

You will recall that Dick Nevard joined the Canadian Army in Regina, Sask. in January of 1943. He kept a constant flow of letters coming and going between his brother and parents. This is one written on his arrival at Camp Shilo , Manitoba

April 3, 1943.

Dear Bill', I guess you are wondering where I am now. We arrived at Camp Shilo last Thursday. I knew we were going when I last wrote but thought I shouldn't say anything. Most of the fellows went down to the station and rode on the train but I and six or eight other fellows were paraded over to the sergeant's quarters and we had to swab and scrub the floors. Then we rode in an open truck to Shilo and it was a cold journey. A jeep with an officer in it drove in front all the way. One place the jeep looked as though it would be submerged in water. You ought to see it skim through water.

As we drove to Shilo I could see planes taking off and landing at a nearby airdrome.

We reached Shilo in due course and immediately went into the kitchen for supper. After that to our huts. There is quite a change as we have to go to another building about a hundred yards away where we wash and shave. These are summer huts but according to some of the dates I have seen written by former residents they were occupied in December. The huts have three stoves, one coal and two wood burning.

If I remember correctly I only introduced Dad to one fellow at the train station, George Macknack from Cupar. The other one's name I could not remember.

The fellows in camp speak about the labour situation. One said that half the crop was not threshed in his district as they could not get teams. They will be threshing and seeding at the same time this spring. They said farmers had been protesting about the labour shortage and there would likely be quite a few released for spring work.

So Bartons and Wheales want me to visit them on my next leave. It looks as if my next 96 will be taken up by visiting as Mr. Binnington said they wanted to see me too next time I am home.

Hoping you are all in good health

Your loving brother

R.A. Nevard

 Dick Nevard at right in photo.

Cecil Reports On The War

                                                                            Corder Road
                                                                                     Ipswich
                                                                               29 Sept. 1940
My Dear Horace
You are naturally wondering how we are getting along during these terrible times. Well, thank God, up to the present, fit and well. We of course get Nazi bombers over most nights and as an air raid warden I have to report at the post and then wait for the bombs to drop. Fortunately none have fallen in my sector. For although I have passed a course in first aid, well I should be rather sorry for my patients. We have had a number of bombs dropped around the district and some in the town. One broke most of the stained glass windows on the South side of our Church but no structural damage.
Four people only have been killed altogether. 3 on one occasion and then one. One chiefly from shock.
England has not yet been invaded and no attempt made. Believe me if Hitler and his crowd attempt it he will have a warm reception for the vast majority of people will fight to a man. We haven't got the wind up, neither have the people of London. I speak from my personal experience for Ethel, Daphne and I spent a week with Ethel's father in London. The barrage is terrible and not pleasant but you can live through it.
Leslie came home this weekend. He is quite fit and still working at the same place.
Louie and all her family are still the same. Poor old Louie misses her treatment and her poor legs are as bad as ever. Muriel has been moved to Nayland and she cycles over to see us occasionally when she has a day off. Its 13 miles from here so quite a good ride.
I have not yet heard from you since I wrote about Emily. Its hard to part with your mother and sister but considering all things one cannot but feel that they are better off. For when the air raid alarm goes it is advisable to get downstairs and when you are aged or unwell that is far from pleasant and as likely as not get a chill.
As to food, there is plenty in the shops. I can see no difference from pre-war times and prices have gone up but very little. The only thing I personally miss is sugar. I wish we could have more than half a pound pe person per week. This is for cooking and everything. Butter goes down next week from 6 ounces to 2 ounces per person per week, but there is plenty of margarine to make up for it.
I went to Lexden yesterday afternoon to see Horace. He is now a full time special constable doing clerical work in the Chief Constable's office. He misses Mother and Emily very much but is still carrying on the house at Lexden. He will not have to go into the army and Ethel (Hall's) husband is exempt for some time..
Can now hear a German bomber going over but its very dark and cloudy. He is up so (3 miles I expect) so he doesn't know where he is fortunately.
Well, have no more news so must conclude with fond love from all the family to all the clan of Nevards.
Your affectionate brother Cecil.
P.S.
So you listen to Lord Haw Haw on the German radio? I would'nt advise you to for he is a deliberate liar and makes me feel I'd love to sock him on the jaw.

Cecil and Ethel Nevard

A Difficult February in 1933

80 years ago this month was not a happy time for the family. The extreme cold weather only added to the suffering. As seen in Bill Nevard's journal.
February 4 :Dad and Bud went to Goff's to bring the bull home. Young Tommy Goff had just died of pneumonia that morning.

February 6, 1933: It was 46 below zero this morning and I skied over to Goff's to see if they would be holding the funeral on such a cold day and heard that they were. Dad , Uncle Arthur and Bud went.
Aunt Daisy hurt her leg this afternoon by falling over a stoneboat in the stable.

February 7: A whist drive at Winstanley Grove. It was 56 below zero when Dick and I came home at 4 a:m.

February 10: Another rotten day. I went up to Winstanley Grove at night. Aunt Daisy in bed and Bud gone to Barton's to phone up North's.

February 11: Weather better. Martha North came to nurse Aunt Daisy.

February 12: Sunday. Bud went to phone for the doctor.

February 13: Doctor Stewart came to see Aunt Daisy and stopped in here to see mother on the way back. Martha came with him.

February 15: Milder. Mr. and Mrs. North came to see Aunt Daisy. Moved her into the other room.

February 17: Nancy down in the stable unable to get up. I cut some green wood.

February 20: Uncle Horrie went to Lipton. Dad had to shoot Nancy today. Uncle Arthur's big bay, Paddy, was likewise gathered to his ancestors. I went to see Aunt Daisy in the evening.

February 22: Aunt Daisy died of a heart attack this afternoon.

February 23: Dad and Uncle Arthur went to Fisher's to arrange the funeral. Nonsuch Woodland Seeker of Rockhaven calved today.

February 24: John Senft and Uncle Arthur went to Lipton to fetch Uncle Eddie and the coffin.

February 25
The funeral was held in Lipton town hall. It was a beautiful bright day.

Cold Days On The Farm

It was -30F this morning. Warmed up to -25 by the time I went out to check the cattle. It was actually not bad in the sunshine and protected from  what little wind was blowing. I let the cow and calf out of the shelter and they headed out to where the rest of the herd were at the hay feeder on the south(sunny) side of the bush. A little while later they all showed up back at the barn for chop and water. Turning on the hydrant and filling the trough is so easy compared to how it was done years ago, as seen in Bill Nevard's  journal entries from 1942.

February 16
30 below zero this morning and a cold Nor-west wind blowing. We let all the horses out but they would not go down to the well and consequently never had a drink. The cattle did not drink much.
February 17. As it was still cold this morning I decided to try and melt snow for the animals. It took quite a while to get ready and quite a while to melt but we managed to give them all a drink. It was nice and bright today. Roy and Joy were here this evening.
February 23. Snowing and drifting the roads up. Quite a bit of fresh snow has fallen so I melted snow again. We seemed to get through with the melting quicker today. We let all the stock out. Uncle Arthur was down here this morning. Not a bad sort of day on the whole.

Some Nevard cattle on the trail from the big slough.

Louisa's Wedding 1905

Ernest Nevard along with brother, Arthur, had been in Canada two years when he received this letter from his sister, Louisa Nevard back in their old home of Lexden, Essex, U.K.

November 2, 1905

36 Straight Road, Lexden, Essex

Dear Ernie

I have just been writing to Arthur, now I want to write you just a few lines to tell you when I am to be married. We have fixed it for the 20th of this month at 12:30. If its later I will let you know. The Canon will be away and he would like us to wait until he comes back but Mr. Briggs says he will do it if I like so I no doubt he will.

I have been to the Chrysanthemum show this evening. I have always wanted to go and never have been able and tonight I ought to have been at home doing my dress but mother said she should go if she was in my place as I may never have such a good chance. I enjoyed myself very much. The band was simply lovely.

I have had several presents and have some more to come yet. They are as follows: Misses C..... Queen Ann tea set, plated. Nurse Winstanley, sideboard cloth. Mrs. Clayden , glass cake stand. Nellie CLayden, china jam dish. Nurse B....., glass cheese dish. Aunt Annie and Uncle, bread knife and trencher. Winnie, a tea cozy. Annie is going to give us a cruet, Alice a tablecloth. Mrs. Hall, the cake and a pair of blankets. Then I have some more coming. Mary has given me the tea set which I like very much. Mother has given me a nice white quilt and Emily, a colored one.

Willie would have liked to have gone to London but I don't suppose we shall go as I have so many things to pack up afterwards. I like the house where I shall live very much. They are large rooms 18 feet wide and 19 1/2 long upstairs and down.

Mr. Wooltorton? gave Willie a nice present, a red glass sugar basin with silver edging and handle and sugar tongs. I expect we shall muster up a good few altogether but I must let you know afterwards. Grandfather has given me 5 shillings too which is wonderful isn't it. I am sending you a pattern like my dress. Emily's is a blue with a hat to match and Alice's too. I have a white chiffon hat. I will save you and Arthur a lump of cake if I can for Mary to bring out so I should like you to have a taste. I will write again later on when I am Mrs. Hall but I have heaps to do.

With love from your ever-loving sister, Louie.

Letter From Sister Emily 1905

Another Christmas letter , this one to Ernest Nevard from his sister, Emily. Ernest and brother Arthur had been in Canada since April of 1903 working and trying to raise enough money to go farming in what would eventually become Saskatchewan. The young Ernie mentioned here was Ernest's son, (Bill) born in February of 1902 so it is doubtful if he would even remember his father who had left for Canada in April of 1903. The family would be re-united in May of 1906 when Mary and Bill came to Canada.
36 Straight Road
Lexden, Essex, England
Dec. 26, 1905
My Dear Brother
I was very pleased to receive a letter from you, yesterday, Christmas day, just in time to wish us all a happy Xmas. Thank you very much for all your good wishes but I am so sorry you won't have one letter from home soon enough to wish you a happy Christmas although you know we all hope you are well and happy.
Mary couldn't write soon enough as she was expecting a letter from you to say you was going up country. Louie sent to me for your address as she wanted to write to you for xmas but we told her she had better wait until your next letter came when we found you were still at Winnipeg. I sent her word. I expect you will soon have it now.
Thank you very much for the sending of the order. Mother says you didn't want to send it. She hope you haven't wronged yourself as we should manage alright. Mother sends her love to you and hope you will send more news about yourself. You never say if you are ill or well, in work or out. Of course we know you have done some work or else you wouldn't have any money.
We are very anxious to know about you. Your son is standing looking at me writing to you. He say, send my love to my dear dada, tell him how I used to go and call Aunt Louie in to dinner. We have been having fine fun with him this Xmas. We told him on Saturday Grandfather Xmas come with nice presents for good little children at Xmas time. And if he was a good little boy and go to sleep perhaps Grandfather Xmas would come. He had only just gone off to sleep when the postman brought a nice large book from Mary's cousins at Leiston, Mary and Daisy. It is a nice book all about birds and animals, illustrated. A very nice book for him to read when he gets a bit more advanced in his education. Mary took it upstairs and put it on the bed so when he woke up Sunday morning he said, "did grandfather Xmas come?" Mother said yes he came. When he undone the parcel he said I wonder if that is from my dear dada. When he saw what it was he said "Oh its a book, a beautiful book, " Mary had hard work to dress him. He wanted it on the table during breakfast. We were having bacon for breakfast of which he is very fond but when Mary told him he couldn't have it on the table as it would get greasy he said, "give me something else to eat then, I don't want the bacon.". We told him on Sunday night if he was good and went to bed grandfather Xmas would come and fill up his stocking. So Cecil got one of his socks and put some sugar mice and other sweets, biscuits, nuts, apple, orange , etc he bought at the shop and a bonbon sticking out at the top of course.
We were all at Church on Xmas morning as Mary and Cecil went at 7 o'clock and Horace and I went at 8. So Ernie and Mother were all alone so when he woke up he said "grandmother, wake up, get up, did grandfather Xmas come?" So when they got up he found the sock. When Mary got home he was just discovering the treasures. He was so delighted so he had to have another one this morning, only on a much smaller scale as grandfather Xmas had exhausted nearly all his store.
Mrs. Lester has given him a mechanical toy. It is a fireman going up a fire escape. She told Mary it was for him to take to Canada but I doubt if much of it would go............

Cigar Box Letters

 

Letters from an old cigar box reveal more Nevard history.

Probably written about 1905 from Arthur to Ernest Nevard.

                                                                                   Forestry Station
                                                                                   Indian Head

My Dear Brother

I was very pleased to hear from you. I am staying on here for another month and I would like to stay all the summer if it was not for losing my place as the money is up to $44.00 a month now so it is $30 a month and board now and that is as good as most of the farmers pay.

I have asked Mr. Godfrey to see John Hunter for me and find out about work for you and shall see him tomorrow night and then I will post this so you will know early. In the meantime I had let Mr. Smith the teamster at our place know I wanted to see Hunter or had casually mentioned it and he met him on the sidewalk and he spoke to him about you and he promised you a job as soon as he starts up and he has got a good sized job at the power house so I will let you know what Mr. Godfrey says.

I have got an order for $2 for you but I will send you another $5 and when you get working you can let me have it back if I want as I expect I shall.

I have written to Emily and told her that Horace will lose ten or twelve weeks work by putting it off so late. I think it is a pity as he could be getting some money for the winter. There is a brick building going up in town soon. The bricks are already on the spot Joe tells me. And one man has about 20 houses to put up so there seems to be plenty of work to be done. I hope you will both have a good summers work but it will not be so late as in the Peg as they start earlier up here and finish earlier, but whats the odds? You may as well be brick laying two months in the spring as walking about in Winnipeg paying your board when you may earn just as much money and get on the homestead as soon as it freezes up instead of working the two months that you lose in the spring.

Perhaps Mr. Lochead will put up the team til I come up as I expect brick laying will start up as soon as the weather breaks up enough but I shall know tomorrow night. You might tell them to keep my mail til I come up as I have changed my address. There will be a Family Herald and Nor'West Farmer and Canadian Thresherman. I sent the change of address notice last week so they will likely be up there from this time.

You had better look me up at the Forestry when you do come down. I will ask Mr. Godfrey to look you up a lodge if you like as I guess he knows plenty of people by this time.

Dear Earn. I have seen Mr. Godfrey and he tells me J. Hunter will give you a job as soon as you get here and will give you .50 cents an hour and I have sent you $7.00 so you can come as soon as you are ready.

Goodbye A.W.N.
Arthur William Nevard