Lovell Churchill and unknown colleague at No 2 Unit sawmill camp – Creich nr 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.
In this image Lovell Churcill from Maine USA is standing with an unnamed colleague outside some of the camp huts. Note that the unnamed man has a British navy sailor’s hat with HMS but ship’s name is not readable. In his hand is a light iron crowbar that lumber sawmill workers commonly used to ease large logs out of a jam in the log pile at the mill or to adjust position onto the saw bench. Can anyone name this person?
The accommodation huts made from off the saw boards are well wrapped up with heavy duty waterproof roofing paper to keep out rain and wind all pinned on by light timber battens. Several wood burning box stoves and chimneys were supplied as part of the kit for each unit camp and no doubt kept the rooms quite warm as well as dried they work clothing.
Lovell took or acquired a series of photographs in the one period of snow that fell at the end of November during their year long stay in the area. He does not mention having or using a camera but writes about sending some pictures home at various points in his letters. Perhaps the foreman, Richmond L Melcher Jr had a camera and handed the photographs out to the team members.
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 6th Jan 1918 by Lovell to his family continue with news of problems with his teeth and having a tooth abscess lanced, a rather sharp critique of Lacy Judkins who was heading for home and some discussion about some mills working until September 1918.
Lovell writes:
On Note paper headed: American YMCA – On active service with American Expeditionary Force
“January 6 - 1918
My Dear Par:
Received a couple of letters from you yesterday and was glad to learn that everything was fine and dandy. You were pretty lucky to get a team as you did for it must cost something to feed a pair of horses just now. You have certainly started farming alright. Nine cows and calves is a pretty good beginning isn’t it?
Well there, Mr Twitchell finally won a queen. Did he and do you know I can picture him strutting around blowing off steam to that effect. I don’t know her but I know who Fawn Allen is all right.
You must have plenty of snow there just now but here we have none. I am working every day but Tuesday I am going to Invergordon and have a tooth out. I had to go down on Thursday and have an abscess lanced on the root of it. I cannot have it filled up but going to have a gold bridge put in there sometime. The water and climate is bad for teeth in this country.
Our scaler, Judkins, has been sick for a month and I guess is going home. He has been bothered with his teeth and is homesick besides, so the best thing he can do is get out of here. He is only a kid and if he had brought his mother along he would have been alright. This is no place for chicken hearted men or boys, a man must be rugged and tough and iron sided to get along. It’s not the work for it is nothing but a snap but it’s the roughness, climate and the way things seem hard at times. Never the less we are as well off if not better than other boys on the front. So we will not growl.
I am getting along fine and see no reason why next July won’t find me back in the States fine and dandy. Well there is nothing more to say only I haven’t received my Xmas box yet but am looking for it every day now. Guess I will ring off and go to supper. Give my love to all at home and in a few months I’ll be over and call on you. Sincerely, L. I. C. No 2 Mill Unit.
On Note paper headed: American YMCA – On active service with American Expeditionary Force
January 19 - 1918
My Dear Mar:
As I am lying around with a bad cold I will try and write you a note to pass some of the time away. I haven’t worked since last Wednesday. I went down and saw the doctor and he told me not to try to work again before Monday. I am feeling much better today but Thursday and Friday I was pretty sick. Guess I will try it again on Monday morning if I keep on gaining, but it is a bad country for colds.
I got two boxes this week, one from Beryl and Dell and the other from you and Par. I was pleased with them both but someone had stolen some of the things which Dell and Beryl sent. I suppose you are having a fine time farming. I was glad to learn that you have such a nice place. Have you running water and a bath room?
I have five months more here, then, I am coming home and help cut the hay. I may be drafted before I have been there a month but I am coming home just the same. Lacy Judkins started for home yesterday. He was homesick and they couldn’t be bothered with the likes of him.
Now I doubt if Par would be able to meet me in Boston for you see its right in a busy time for him and I want to spend a few days there and in Portland before going home. So probably the first you will see of me is walking in for another real feed.
Well did you know that Carrie Palmer was married a few weeks ago and I have heard of it a dozen times already, so I guess it’s so, alright. I had a letter from Lois and she tells me that they miss you folks awfully and wish you were coming back. She also tells me that they have five cases of Small Pox in the town of Norway.
I’m going to enclose some pictures which will probably be the last which I shall send from here. Look out and not work too hard and live the very best you can and tell me, Mar, what can I bring home to you from Boston to eat? Guess I have written enough so will close hoping this finds you all in the best of health. Yours truly, Lovell Churchill No 2 Mill Unit.
On Note paper headed: American YMCA – On active service with American Expeditionary Force
January 26 - 1918
My Dear Par and Mar:
I received a note from you yesterday, the first one for three weeks and I was of course glad to get it. The snow has all gone here and we are all running around bare headed and in our shirt sleeves. They have been ploughing all day just across the road from our camp so you see we don’t have any cold weather to speak of in this part of the globe.
I had a letter from union yesterday and they tell me it has been an awful winter in America and they also told me that the brothers would keep me in good standing as long as I was connected to the government service and I under no consideration would be dropped off the books.
I had a very nice letter from Mrs Capt. Tribou. It really was a dandy and I was pleased with it. Well I was surprised to learn that you were doing business with cattle but they will do through the winter alright but in spring you must go up to Harris on Friend St. Boston and get a nice pair of chunks (heavy draught horses). I would like to buy a team and work them on the farm in the summer and strike for the woods with them in the fall. I don’t know just what I will do when I get home if this war isn’t over. I probably will be drafted before another winter but one can never tell.
Suppose you are going to plant a lot of stuff in the spring. One cannot plant too much at this particular time for all kinds of food are badly needed everywhere. I have had a bad cold this winter but am alright now and am working pretty hard just now for I have a hard chance and the team is right after me. I keep about two loads ahead. I have only four months and half more and believe me I can stick it out that long alright. When my contract expires you will never know of my having anything to do with a portable mill job again.
I must thank you for the yearling heifer. I realise she is a dandy but think she is of much more use to you than I and you better keep a claim on her. I will ring off now. Hoping you are all enjoying the best of health. I am as ever, Yours Truly, Lovell Churchill No 2 Mill Unit.
On Note paper headed: American YMCA – On active service with American Expeditionary Force
February 9 - 1918
My Dear Par and Mar:
Have just got shaved and washed and the next thing is a letter home. Although there is nothing much to write about, only the work is going on fine and I am just the same.
We are having some very nice weather but they say March is a dirty one usually, so we are preparing for bad weather but there are only four months after next Friday, then I can come home with a completed contract and a good recommendation from the boss.
I shall be glad when I get to the carpentering again. I like chopping but a year of it is a long time. Some of the boys are talking of staying until September first but I some doubt if I do. I can tell much better when that time comes. I am sending eighty dollars to the bank Friday. I am making an awful try for five hundred. Guess if nothing happens I will get it all right. I shall get some new clothes when I land in Boston or New York and I want to spend a few days in Boston besides. I am sticking pretty close to camp. We have a Victrola which was given us by the YMCA and a very good selection of records so I spend a great deal of my time listening to that.
For two or three reasons we are working only nine hours from now out. The days are quite long now, we are getting ten hours of day light at present time and by the middle of June we will have about twenty two hours of day light.
The coal shortage in America must seem pretty tough especially the working class of people but it will soon be getting warmer and then they won’t need it.
There is nothing more this time as news isn’t very plentiful at times here. Will close now, sending my love to all. Yours Sincerely, L. I. C. No 2 Mill Unit.”
Please see the PDF link below to access the images of the letters.
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Groups: American sawmillers in Scotland 1917, Caithness and Sutherland