Witness to War: Thursday Apr 4, 1918

Private Raymond Duval, MM, was a soldier of the 14th Battalion (Royal Montreal Regiment) CEF who served overseas during the last two years of the First World War. He participated in some of the fiercest fighting seen by Canadians during the war and was decorated for bravery at Passchendaele. Determined to preserve his memories of the First World War, he maintained a daily record of his experiences. Here is what he wrote precisely 100 years ago today:

Thursday Apr 4, 1918: Went on ordinary fatigue and worked pretty hard all forenoon. After lunch slept till about 3 o’clock then Jack and I got a pass and went down to the village of Etaples and am now in a small restaurant eating fish and chips. Don’t know yet when we will go up the line but it ought to be soon.

The RMR Foundation thanks Natalie Dyck for generously sharing her publication of “The Diary and Memoir of Private Raymond Duval” in order for us to be able to share his story with you 100 years on. You can learn more about Private Duval here.