A chopper team from Maine, USA at Sawmill Unit 2 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.
Only one of the men can be named with any degree of certainty and he is Clarence Abbott on the left hand side of this dramatic image. Can anyone name the second man? This image represents a ‘chopping team’ where two ‘choppers or fellers’ used axe and saw to fell the standing trees in Swordale Wood, part of Andrew Carnegie’s Estate of Skibo. Note the trousers covered in resin and oil from the mainly Scots pine trees being felled. The bottle will almost certainly contain some type of oil to lubricate the blade of the saw as it is worked through the stem of the standing tree. Over their shoulders are wedge shape axes described by Lovell as from four to six pounds weight. The crossed ‘cant dogs’ (in UK cant hooks) are used to assist in the take down of hung up trees and also to roll the trees and logs when on the ground. The cross cut saw looks to be about six foot long and is probably a Disston perforated lance teeth saw. It is far from certain but the ‘choppers’ may also have cross cut the trees into required log lengths.
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 sequence below are those transcribed form his letters dated 25 November and 2 Dec 1917 and includes a reference to a Thanksgiving meal being provided for all the Units, a Christmas card and a short letter to his nephews Almon and Eugene. The American YMCA had by this time begun supplying writing material, Christmas Cards to send home and entertainment equipment such as pool tables, gramophones and ball game items.
Lovell writes:
On Note paper headed American YMCA – On active service with American Expeditionary Force
Nov 25, 1917
“My Dear Par and Mar,
Here I am again writing a wee note home. Nothing particular to say as everything is just about the same. Last Sunday I didn’t write as there was nothing whatever to write about.
Last night we had a very little snow but no cold weather yet. It was so wet and rainy yesterday none of us went out of the camp but played the Victrola and pool all day. Some life, believe me. We are in second place just now and have had awful luck with our horses during the last month.
Next Thursday we will have the afternoon off and the Government is handing us a turkey dinner which is going to taste pretty good. Well dad I suppose you are having a birthday soon and I would like to see you but you must remember if I can’t pull your ears I am thinking of you just the same and will make up for lost time next year. I can picture you and Mar enjoying Thanksgiving and Christmas with a stall fed chicken with some of Mar’s danties on the side, French fried and broiled live is one of her specials and that is the Essex and Quincy house style. I can also picture Almon and Eugene getting a hand into Grandpas and Grannie’s feed.
We are losing two of our men soon, one is Harry Thurloue’s brother account of a bad stomach. The other is a north Rumford man who is a bad actor. We had quite a time with him yesterday but subdued him to slumberland for a few hours then he was quite a fellow. The manager won’t stand for his nonsense so I’ll guess they will send him home.
I am enclosing a few pictures and a Christmas card but my Christmas presents will be very light for I can send nothing home without paying duty and besides there is nothing here that either of you would want. Owing to war times we all better go light, don’t you think so? Well I guess I have written about all there is to write so will send this along to the office. Take care of yourselves this winter and spring will soon be with us again. Sincerely yours, Lovell
Arday, Ross shire, Scotland. December 2 - 1917
Dear Almon and Eugene,
How are you getting along! And is Grandpa and Grannie keeping well? I hope Santa will remember you both Christmas. I shall visit you in my thoughts but am too far away to send presents and I hope you will have a joyous New Year.
I hear of you often so I know you are all right. Tell your mother and father I couldn’t find a suitable card for them but will send them some views of Inverness while I am there at Christmas. Nothing to say only that I am fine and dandy. Yours Very Truly, Uncle Lovell.
Please see the text and Christmas card in PDF link below.
Download Large Version (1.5MB)
Groups: American sawmillers in Scotland 1917, Caithness and Sutherland, Tools, equipment and clothing