Some men of No 2 Unit American Saw Mill based near Creich, Bonar Bridge 1917
The images and letters are courtesy of Stacey York, Mechanic Falls, Maine, USA. The series of images from Stacey are in the sequence on Forestry Memories from No 6282 to No 6298 and forms part of the Forestry Memories Groups collection ‘American Sawmillers in Scotland 1917’.
In the Great War of 1914-18 the UK and its allies were facing severe shortage of timber products to keep the coal mines operating and providing power for manufacturing for the war effort. Timber railway sleepers for the railways to the war front in Europe were urgently required and also wood for manufacturing of boxes and containers for munitions and other products. German submarines were severely interrupting timber imports and there was a great shortage of men to work in the forests and timber industry in UK because they had been called up in their millions to serve in the war effort as soldiers and sailors. An original request for assistance with timber cutting and sawing in British forests from the British Government was directed to the New England States.
A rapid response to the British crisis was taken on board by six New England States and a specially convened committee organised the supply of one sawmill unit funded by each state. The states involved were Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. In addition several individual companies and many individuals provided the necessary funding for a further four sawmill units resulting in a total of ten units and all their equipment being sent to Liverpool and eventually to Ardgay in Ross-shire in the summer of 1917. The timber workers and saw millers were on a contract to the British Government for a period of one year.
The men have been named from the left by Lovell as: Abbott, Sessions, Brine, Hopkins and Leonard and from newspaper and ship passenger lists they have been fully named as:
Clarence C Abbott from Rumford, Maine
Randall Floyd Sessions from Rumford, Maine
Alfred J Brine born in Mass but living in Rumford, Maine
Charlie E Hopkins from Rumford, Maine
Leonard (Could be Timothy H from Andover?)
The men are in work clothing and some are well coated in resin and oil from felling, cutting, limbing and loading the logs onto horse timber haulage carts. A number of the lumber workers married local ladies who moved back to America with their husbands at the end of the cutting contract or the end of the war. Some lumber workers enlisted in Bonar Bridge and went directly to France before returning home with their wives.
Below are some of the marriages located:
1. Randall Sessions (21) Rumford, Maine, married Georgina (Ina) Ross (22) of Oldton, Ardgay on 2 November 1917 and witnessed by Abbott and Betsy Munro Ross.
2. Clarence Abbott married Betsy Ross of Oldton, Ardgay on 7th June 1918
3. Bernard Nichols (28) married Christina MacPherson (28), Corvost on 9 March 1918 in Strathcarron and witnessed by James McArthur and Charlotte MacPherson.
4. James Pattee (30) married Wilhelmina Murphy (17) of Bonar Bridge on 18 May 1918 in Tain, witnessed by E E Junkins and Alexandrina McDonald.
5. Charles Attwood (26) married Esther Hymers (19) of Dornoch on 24 May 1918 in Tain witnessed by E Brockway and Fan. Sutherland.
6. Chester Reeves (24) married Maria Matheson (18) of Bonar Bridge on 1 June 1918 in Tain witnessed by Jason E Keefe and Lena Morrison.
Lovell Churchill from Maine USA , at sawmill unit No 2 set up in Skibo Estate Swordale Wood, wrote a series of short letters to his parents and sister describing his experiences and adventures. These letters and companying photographs were kept by his parents and then the family. Forestry Memories is very privileged to have been offered the opportunity to place these on the website.
Note that the letters have been transcribed by this writer (Norman Davidson) into UK English and notes added where written words are not deciphered and American language terms not fully understood. Accuracy and interpretation results are far from guaranteed but readers can turn to the PDF link below the text to see the images of the actual letters and form their own opinions.
The letters from Lovell to his family from 18 July 1917 to 6 September 1917 are transcribed below continue with news of his recovery from poisoned finger and mention of a Bonar Bridge girl he calls Dollie but very little additional information! Also commented on is the first snow of the year and seeing from his bed the search lights piercing the sky over London looking for aircraft! The locations are more likely to be above Inverness or Aberdeen or closer. Note that Lovell addresses his father and mother as Par and Mar. There is a mention of the first marriage of one of the No 2 unit men and from the date this would appear to be Randall Sessions as listed above.
Lovell writes:
“Ardgay, Ross-shire, Scotland. September 9 -1917
My Dear Par,
Just a few lines to let you know I am living as I wrote you before in regard to my blood poison but I certainly had it bad. I’m not going to lose any fingers but at one time I expected to lose one. I am going to start working on some light job in the morning. Enclosed you will find a picture of a bunch in number three. This is one of the landings and a Boston man holding one of the ribbons and the off horse is very clever with his hind feet – get me?
The horses get used pretty rough. We sliced two pair of ours last week and one was hurt quite badly. Each teamster wants to haul the largest load and the wagons won’t hold only just so much. It’s pretty uphill business hauling logs down the mountain on a wagon. I’m glad I’m not a teamster in this outfit.
It looks now as if we had a pretty tough nine months ahead of us. It’s so rainy and wet underfoot. We won’t have snow enough so that we can use sleds at all. Its wagons and scoots (wood sleds).
The boys are beginning to think of home and mother and tell what they are going to do when they land in Boston. It will certainly be some wild bunch when us 360 land. In fact it is wild some Saturday nights at Bonar Bridge. They have two bar rooms and when a bunch get a few beers they go wild and it’s quite handy to know how to use your hands.
I got the box (sewing equipment) which mother sent me and if anyone knows how to sow it’s a great outfit. It’s not only handy for me but the whole bunch use it. There is one man in my camp that’s clever with a needle so I furnish the outfit and he does the mending.
The pictures were very good and the colts looked quite natural. They are far better horses than we have in our units. If I had them here and a rigging that would hold I could show these guys cards, spades and every getting off place about going after lumber. We are sawing about thirteen thousand (board feet) per day on an average. Not so bad for a portable mill.
I had a letter from Earl yesterday and his courage is the best. I expect in the about eight weeks he will be on his way to France, but I guess he will be alright. Guess I will ring off and run to dinner. Take good of yourself and horses. Hope you are not going to split them up hauling in corn for it may work bad with Laddie. Give my best regards to Mr A F Goldsmith. Respectfully Yours, L. I. Churchill
Suppose you will take in Oxford County Fair and I would like to learn that you got away with the Blue Ribbon with Tom and Laddie. L.
Ardgay, Ross-shire Scotland No 2. Unit. September 27-1917.
Dear Mar and Par:
Just a line to let know that I am well, but haven't got any mail for a month or at least it seems that long. I get the Democrat (newspaper) quite regular and learn of the excitement of South Paris & surrounding towns. No doubt you have got both my letters by this time asking you send me some gloves and mittens & out pair of leather top rubbers size 8. Do not send anything Christmas for presents for I do not want a mess of stuff to lug back and the chances are that I might never see them.
We have had a couple of frosts but no cold weather, it will be a different cold than we get in Maine anyway. It will be more like Boston for the road is the only thing between us and the salt water.
I suppose corn shop is in its busy days just now. Give Mr Goldsmith my best regards and tell him that I often think of him and William (My Man). I saw by the paper that the corn was rather light. We see no corn at all here but all kinds of oats & turnips. How does Beryl like the city of M Falls? If she liked it as well as I she would stay there about one night. Everything is going smooth here and I hope it's the same at home. Must ring off and run to supper.
Yours truly, L. I. C.
Did you get the little photograph that I sent you?
Ardgay, Ross shire, Scotland. September 30 - 1917.
Dear Mar & Par.
Received your note Sat. night and was sorry to learn that you wasn’t feeling will. Yesterday I had a card from Beryl & she said you were going to sell the colts and spend the winter with them, but don't you do it. Keep the colts unless you can make a piece of change on them and stay home. It may be lonesome at times but it’s no worse than what I have to put up with.
Was glad to hear you had sent me some tobacco and gloves but don’t send any thing that I will have to bring back for I want to start home with an empty suit case. Be sure and send me some leather top rubbers. Get the 10 inch tops, size eight. It rains here every day and shoes don’t work very well when it gets cold.
I have plenty of underwear and all kinds of bedding, gloves and rubbers seem to be the only things that I want. We are taking a few pictures of this outfit when the sun shines long enough and I will send some to you by-and-by. Am anxious to hear about the Fair. It will be in my next paper this week some time probably.
We are getting along quite well averaging better than sixty five thousand a week board scale. There is nothing more this time so will close. Take care of your selves & write often
Yours truly, Lovell C. No 2 mill Unit.
Ardgay, Ross-shire, Scotland. October 7-1917
My Dear Sister:
Received the box which you all sent, also your letter yesterday. The contents of the box were fine, had I made out a list it would have been no different, even the pipe was my style and Par certainly done a good trick when he sent my tobacco and cigarettes.
I was surprised to learn that my departure took hold of Par so but I thought Mar would feel the worst. There is no need for any one worrying about me for I am all right. I had blood poison in my finger and couldn’t work for five weeks, but it is quite alright now. A little tender but otherwise it is O.K.
I hope the folks won’t sell all the horses, cow and calves and leave the place this winter. I hope they will raise the last calf, then, he will have a pair of half sisters.
Tell Walter I received his note and thank him for the little toilet set. I haven’t had much time to write for I have to go down nights and see Dollie a little girl in Bonar Bridge. Last night was a wild night in camp, the boys took a walk down to the bar yesterday afternoon and last night a team came along gathering them up on their way home. You know what the Rumford boys are when they get started. I am a referee when an occasional scrap takes place.
Tell the boys I read their notes first and was very pleased with them. Perhaps I will enclose a note to each one of them.
Am glad to know that you are all well and I am awfully glad that Mar is so well. Guess I must close now as I have a lot of writing to do today. Give Dell my regards and tell him I would be glad to get a lime from him anytime.
Sincerely Yours, Brother. P.S. We had our first snow storm yesterday.
Ardgay, Ross-shire, Scotland. October 7-1917
Dear Par and Mar,
Received the box yesterday and was pleased with it. Had I sent you a list it would have been no different than what it contained. Everything I can make good use of especially the pipe and tobacco which you so thoughtfully sent. I had a note from Beryl yesterday and she says everything is O.K.
On Friday we had our first snow storm not much snow but awfully dirty. Perhaps we won’t see any more show until January. One can never depend upon the weather here. I am sending you a little heather, it has pretty much gone bye but you can get an idea of what it is like. The Buck boy who came with this outfit came over and took diner with me today. We talked of both Norway and Paris and people there. It seemed good to see a pal from home.
Our blacksmith is going home in the morning. He has family troubles in Rumford which calls him home. If it was me I should stay right here under the circumstances. I am all right getting along nicely but the weather is rather dirty. You need not worry at all about me for I am all right. See I have been sending money to Lisbon N.H. where I get four percent interest and shall draw it when I land in Boston and bring it home with me.
I wrote the boys and no doubt you will have had a chance to read their letters. Now when you have a chance, send my rubbers along, for I shall need them soon. Thanking you very much for the things which you sent and will try and return the kindness sometime. Take good care of yourself and write. Yours truly, L I Churchill
Bonar Bridge. October 14 -1917
My Dear Mar and Par:
Just a few lines to let you know I am living and enjoying the rainy weather which we get day after day. I am all through building so last Monday I took my axe and started for the tall timber. They hardly hit the ground before I mount them and pick the feathers off.
There was five weeks I couldn’t do any work for I had blood poison in my left hand but I got my eats, sleeps and money just the same. My finger is a little tender but otherwise it is just as good as before. No shrinkage to speak of.
I was sorry to hear that you had let the colts slide but grain is so high. I suppose there is no money in teaming. A very funny thing about the calf and you want to raise it, then you will have a pair of half sisters. Am glad to learn that friend Joe is in wrong and I hope they will clean him of everything he has and that won’t be much.
I got the box and was pleased with it. I have had some real smokes since it came. When I get home I will try and settle. I guess if nothing happens I will have a hundred or two when I blow in. I am liking here some better that I did when I first hit this town. Enclosed you will find a couple of pictures, one of the mill and one of my camp and pals who sleep in it. Although they are not so good but you can see the lard which I have put on since I came here. I weigh a little strong one hundred and seventy lbs, the heaviest I ever was. The food is beans, potatoes, turnips and all kinds of meats, no pastry but it seems too fat even the pig which we have in this outfit.
We have had lots of sickness in our unit and a month ago we were in next to last place but during the last month we have come up to fourth and if nothing happens next June you can picture us first place in the ten units. We have a great bunch of woodsmen from Rumford and Andover. They are rough boys but when it comes to lumbering you have got to hand it to them. Some of the boys are getting letters from their mothers every day and it makes them kind of home sick for a while, but it is only the distance between us.
There is nothing to worry about, its plain logging just the same as if we were in the States. I know that everything is and will be O.K. at home and you can feel the same about us. We have some good times Saturday afternoons and evenings but nothing like we have in the States. Guess I better close and run up to Bonar Bridge and mail this. Good night. L.I.C.
Ardgay, Ross-shire, Scotland October 29 -1917
My Dear Par:
Received two notes from Mar and one from you last evening. I also got the note which the brotherhood sent me. Mar answered it just right and if they send to you for my dues please pay them for me until I get home. I want to keep in good standing for it is only seven months now before I will want to start driving nails again and not only that but if anything should happen to me, which probably won’t, my benefits are coming to you. I made sufficient arrangements before leaving Portland and expected to be kept square or at least I was promised that. I sent a note there and perhaps you won’t hear anything more about it, but if you should please pay my dues which is one dollar each month or seventy five cents. I don’t remember which and will make it right with you when I see you gain.
Last week was a bad one we had so much stormy weather and didn’t work only about half of the time. Everything is going smooth so far and don’t see any reason why it shouldn’t continue so.
Was sorry to learn of Almon’s illness for it must have been pretty tough for the little lad. I got a card from Beryl and she said he was quite a bit better. She also told me that William had offered eighteen for Dell to come back and I think if I were him under the circumstances I would go back flying “wouldn’t you”?
I learned of Murl Russell’s death in the Democrat which came yesterday and I was awfully sorry for he was such a nice fellow. The pictures of Earl were very good and it showed the good old United States soldiers which looked mighty good to me.
Was glad to learn that Goldsmith is fine and dandy. I read of his buying the machine shop of Jouls. Guess I had better close for now and run to bed as I am tired tonight. Tell Mar I will write later. Sincerely Yours L.I.C. No 2 Mill Unit
The other pictures were fine and that’s some cat you got there – be sure and keep him.
Ardgay, Ross shire, Scotland. November 4 - 1917
My Dear Sister,
I received your note yesterday and was glad to learn that Almon was on the gain, was also glad to know that the rest of the folks were fine and dandy. Yes Charlie Soule was in my unit and he had some kind of family trouble and left about three or four weeks ago for America. Should you ever hear any of his mournful tales don’t set too much confidence in them for he is quite apt to stretch the truth, ‘get me’?
By the way! Do you ever hear any word from Rena. I have never heard a word from her since I came here. Perhaps she has written and I didn’t get it. Never the less tell her to hurry up and write and let me know how she is getting along. I got a note from the folks yesterday and Mar doesn’t want to stay home this winter but I think it better for them both to stay home and take care of the cow and both calves and not shut the house up this winter. Its only seven months now before I’ll be getting back again and it seems to me that they might be contented at home and stand it if I can here.
I have sent about two hundred dollars to a bank in New Hampshire since I came here and if nothing happens I shall send some more there. When I get back to either New York or Boston I have got to doll up and have my teeth fixed. I am sorry but my Xmas presents will be light this year. I have money enough but cannot buy anything which would be of any use and that you would like and don’t send me anything which I would want to bring home for five thousand miles is a long way to carry such things.
One of the boys in this unit was married the other night and we all chipped eight shillings each and got him a tea set which cost eleven pounds and ten shillings which is about fifty five dollars in American money. As William says! “it was a lovely thing”. I keep in touch with the home news for I get the Democrat and quite a few letters from there. From what I hear I guess the place is pretty quiet. Must close now and run to lunch.
Tell the boys their lessons were very good and I can see they are improving every day. I have their pictures tacked up in my bunk where I can see them every morning and night. By the way that’s the some pretty kitten I’ve got home and I wouldn’t swap him for a farm. Must close now, write when you can. Sincerely, Brother. No 2 Mill Unit
Arday, Ross shire, Scotland. November 7- 1917
Dear Par and Mar,
Received your notes yesterday and was glad to hear that you were fine and dandy. I sure would be glad to be picking apples on the hill but am carpentering and cutting pine instead. Am glad that you have such a nice calf and hope you will have good luck with your three head this winter. I was reading in the paper about your selling the big horses and it gave their weight. Are you going to buy again before spring?
I had a nice letter from Lois telling me about the excitement which is taking place in the two towns and as near as I can learn it’s pretty quiet around all the small towns just now. Marie Newton wrote me a nice note and it was practically the same as Lois. She says they can’t get a crowd enough to make a dance pay so have cut them out. They should have me there to card a few in the Grange Hall.
So you saw the piece that Lacy sent to the Times. Well, I read it before it left the camp. He stays in the same camp with me and is a good lad. Of course while writing such a piece we wanted to send a good spiel to our home towns and might have stretched things a little but it was nearly on the level. There is no question but what our unit is the best one in the ten, but our ground is by far the hardest for there is no end to the steepness. Our teamsters are used to the steep ground and that is why we get along so well. We haven’t killed a horse yet but sliced two pair and it didn’t hurt them any to speak of. We are clearing Carnegie’s mountain, and believe me it’s some mountain, the rabbits are thicker than fleas and hardly a day but what we see from six to a dozen deer and they are not as wild as the ones you see home and neither are they as large.
Well five months have almost gone and pay day will soon be here but I don’t get any for I have sent the whole month’s pay to the bank in N. H. I have nearly two hundred there now. I would have sent it home but I knew you didn’t need it and I get more interest there, see.
I got the pictures and they were very good and isn’t my kitten a peach. I have named him Thomas Pedelma Dalazoon I, a name like this represents pure blood and shall expect a small fortune out of him if he matures well. Now I hope you won’t think of shutting up the house this winter and selling off the cattle for the sake of spending the winter in a town like M. Falls, but hope you both will stay home, keep the fires and take care of the stock which will be a great job for you both.
I cannot think of any more today so will close. Hoping this will find you fine and dandy as that’s the way its leaving me.Sincerely L.I.C. No 2 Mill Unit
Arday, Ross shire, Scotland. November 13 -1917
Dear Par and Mar,
I received my rubbers and tobacco Saturday afternoon and you can believe me when I say they were very acceptable. I am enjoying dry feet and the best of smoking every day now. I will certainly remember your kind favours when I return.
Well five months lacking two days have passed and I am living and enjoying the best of health. Christmas I have a week off with pay which I think i will spend in Inverness, then six months more work and I am done here. This is a pretty good job but shall be glad to get back to the States when my contract expires.
Yes Charlie Soule was the blacksmith in our unit. He was taken cold footed in other words a quitter. He had the best job here that he ever had in his life and left it. Now he is in Rumford laughing at us guys for staying. You don’t want to believe everything that he has to say about the trip and etc., for he can certainly stretch the truth. Of course one must expect hardships on a trip like this and before starting make up his mind to take the bitter with the sweet, or at least I did.
We are getting the pine on the very steepest part of Carnegie’s Mountain now and it is steep believe me, but we are getting along fine under the circumstances. Quite often I see a load of logs and a pair of horses turned on their backs but none have been injured to speak off. We get them up and send them going if the harness and riggings are whole. We have no snow and won’t have enough to log on this winter and the weather is warm. I work in my shirt sleeves all the time so far.
Nights I can sit in the camp and see them flash switch light in London looking for German air raids. They are both very pretty and powerful. I hear that Llewellyn Bartlett is in France building and repairing railroads. He may be using some of ties and timber which is sawed in our mill for they are all shipped to France.
I also saw by the paper that Mr P B Atkins daughter was married not long ago. Did he make her a present of a million dollars or was it a second hand time piece!
Don’t you feel lost without any horses but I suppose you will be buying again soon. Was glad to learn that the heifer had done so nicely this summer. Probably Frank nursed her a little now and then “and then some”. Well there isn’t much more to write only I am awfully glad to know that you both are enjoying the best of health and let it continue so. How is George and Mrs Parker getting along in health – give them my regards. Will now say goodnight and light up one of my evening Perfections. Yours Very Truly, L. I. C. No 2 Mill Unit.
P.S. Do you know whether Earl is in Westfield now or not? Haven’t heard from him but once. He was in Vt (Vermont) then but I heard from a friend who told of seeing him in Westfield , Mass.”
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Groups: American sawmillers in Scotland 1917, Caithness and Sutherland, Groups of people, Sawmills, pulp mills, chipboard mills