Lovell Churchill and colleagues 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 is standing on the left with Lacy Judkins sitting and unnamed man on right. Can anyone name this person? Lovell wrote on the back of the photograph ‘This will show the only snow which we have had and it only lasted a few days’. The photograph location appears to be fairly close to the No 2 Unit mill and camp site as harness equipment to hitch horses to the timber cart is lying in the snow. Lacy is sitting on the pole that goes from a fixing point on the cart to between the horses. This prevents the cart running heavily into the back legs of the animals and also changes the travel direction of the front bogie wheels. Partially covered by the snow is a set of swingle (whiffle) trees that will be well fixed to the draw points on the lumber cart. The trace chains from the horses collar hooks run all the way back to where they hook into eyes in the metal bands on the ends of the swingle (whiffle)trees. The purpose of the tightly pulled chain is not obvious and unfortunately the cart is out of shot. Any details on the harness fixings are welcome.
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 written by Lovell, from 6 January 1918 to 9 February 1918, are transcribed below and include some details about possibility of extending the timber cutting and milling contract until September and about two girls that run the hotel and bar in Bonar Bridge. He is obviously very impressed with them, the bar and their piano. Sterling detective work by Donald Brown aided by Silvia Muras has brought some light onto the subject. In 1921 the Commercial Hotel in Bonar Bridge (re named Caledonian Hotel) was run by Betsy Ross and the bar by her sister Dolina Ross. Her name was likely shortened to Dolly. Their ages in 1918 were 46 and 39 respectively and Lovell was 22 years old. Quite an age difference but in spite of this he writes very warmly on their appearance and character in a later letter.
On Note paper headed: American YMCA – On active service with American Expeditionary Force
Lovell writes:
“February 22 - 1918
My Dear Par and Mar:
Just a few lines tonight although they may not hit you just right. They are trying to get us to go to France from here in the forestry work. Of Course its lumbering just the same as we are doing here but we must enlist in the army and will be under military rules for the duration of the war. Another thing it will take more than a year to finish up here and they want us to stay and clean up which will probably be the middle of September. I may stay here until September and then come home but chances are very good to be drafted and sent right back, never the less I think I will come home in either July or September and take whatever comes my way.
Don’t let this note scare you the least bit for I can get home any time after June fifteenth and if I decide to stay until September you will know it’s all for the best. The world is in a bad mix up and it’s up to young men like myself to do their bit and if we don’t do it willingly we will be drafted to it.
We are getting along fine and having the best of weather. The winters are fine in this country. Enclosed you will find a few pictures which were taken not long ago. Guess if I keep on sending pictures home I will have you well supplied.
Now don’t take this note too seriously for I am simply writing to let you know and understand plainly why and what for I might stay here until September. Another thing there might be a great change during the next six months. Guess this is all for now so will close. Sincerely, L. I. C. No 2 Mill Unit.
Arday, Ross-shire, Scotland. February 26 -1918
My Dear Dad:
I received a couple of notes from you and Mar Sunday and should judge from reading them that you were having some winter in the States. I am sticking around camp today and the sun is shining but an awful wind. You can sit in the camp and hear a tree blow down every little while. I don’t dare to go chopping for fear one might hit me. See I get my money just the same and this isn’t the first job I was ever on and I take no chances.
If nothing happens we will finish this lot the last of April and then we are going to another small lot which will last until about the first of September. Some of the boys are going home in June but I may stay until September, They have offered me more money if I will stay and if everything goes on as well as it has during the past. Don’t look for me home until September.
One doesn’t know what cold and snowy weather is in this country. I have seen snow ankle deep here once but it only lasted a few days but I haven’t seen any cold yet. I haven’t had an overcoat on all winter and now March is near and the farmers sow their oats during the latter part of March. So I guess I won’t see any severe cold now.
I haven’t worn out hardly any of the mittens which you sent me. So you don’t need to send any more mittens but if you send anything make it a couple of pairs of leather gloves and that will be enough to last me until September. We had a lot of American tobacco sent us from some people in Boston, also cigarettes so I am living in an up to date style.
Wish I was going to take that trip to Lewiston with you and I also wish you could go down to Bonar Bridge with me tonight and listen to that piano which you spoke of. She is the queen of Bonar and besides this lovely piano she has a nice bar room and hotel. So you see my home is a real one. She and her sister run the bar and hotel and I am only too welcome any time. Guess I won’t say any more about my hotel and bar just now only you can imagine me having a pretty good time – see.
About all the girls back home I knew in Boston, Portland and Worcester write me that they are married and I have only one left in Rumford. This news is very nerve racking to me for I am afraid there won’t be any left when I get back. I have two standing invitations awaiting me in Norway to make each one a nice long visit when I return. I won’t bother to mention any names but no doubt you get my drift all the same.
Tell the boys I got their cards and was pleased with them. I suppose they are quite men now. Well Dad, guess I have written enough for once so will pull the string. Give my love to all at home. Respectfully Yours. L. I. C. No 2 Mill Unit
P.S. You don’t need to send any more stockings or mittens or clothing of any kind for I have plenty to last me out but if you have a chance send a couple of pairs of leather gloves.”
Please see the PDF link below to access the images of the two letters.
Download Large Version (508kB)
Groups: American sawmillers in Scotland 1917, Caithness and Sutherland, Groups of people