September/Xwaaskwiim Niipahum

Valcartier

Well, we’ve been here for a couple of weeks and we are starting to get to know how to be soldiers. If I had to be truthful, it looks like the army wasn’t really ready for us. The camp is busy with all matter of construction, building more permanent buildings to replace the thousands of tents.  There has been a lot of marching around the camp, broken up with drill, learning the Ross rifle and different tactics. More men arrive each day, from all over Canada, thousands. Some are in uniform, some look like the just left their last job.

There is rumour that we won’t enjoy the new camp and that we will be leaving for England within the month. We have been organized into different parts of the army. Ernie and I have been assigned to the Machine Gun section, although we haven’t touched one yet.

The bunch of us thought it would be a great idea to pose for a picture and send it back home. One of the boys even brought a St Thomas pennant with him. They are a great group, lots of laughs and stories from back home and the railroad.

 

Till next time

 

Valcartier

 

Wulu, kiiloona wunjiiyayuwuna niish kunduween waak kiiloona nooch nihtahtoowuna soochulak. Nii nuwulaamweew, soochulow peexuwiinaakat kiishiixiin. Valcartier wtamalohkeew, wiikheew wihkwahm laapahleew wshapakwiiwaniikaanak. Moxa akushooxweew, akweetaxkhiikeew, eeshooxwataasow. Moxa lunowak shaaxkooxweew, wunj nasahkeewxeew Canada, tawsun. Aalund soochulow koot, aalund lunowak alumsow dahlohke.

Yoon ha weewsow kiiloona mah wiingchuwiikow waak kehteexiin England wihkwaameew xwaaskwiim niipahum. Kiiloona muniixumeew soochulow. Ernie waak nii muniixumeew Machine Gun, mah mshiixiin.

Kiiloona kteekhaasuwuna maatshiihkaweew. Mayat shkaahunzow peeshuweew St Thoma maxkeewehlatiikan. Wiinguulawusow, kuluksow waak kaanzhaachiimow.

Tents/Wsapakwiiwaniikaan

   
   
So we have arrived in Valcartier! It looks to me like the army built this camp just a few days prior to us arriving.  There are tents everywhere and men from many parts of Canada. I am beginning to understand that this is no small undertaking. Trains keep arriving, each crowded with soldiers.

I must admit, I had a hard time sleeping that night. The boys from St. Thomas were able to stick together and we have about twenty tents to keep us dry. I must admit,it’s going to take some time getting used to sleeping on the ground.

There is a rumour going round that we will be going for medical inspection this week, to make sure we can handle the rigours of army life. We must also officially join the army if we pass.

I will write soon and tell you how things went.

Munsee Translation

Valcartier msahkeewxeew! Maashiinaakwat laawooteenay wsapakwiiwaniikaan weemi msalohkeew soochulak wunj Canada. Mah Chang lakohkeew. Nzukasunaanay wunjihteew kakchukamow soochulak.

Ahwi ktaamwii jest piishkeeku lunowak wunj St Thomas wiitapoomeew taxwiinaxke wsapakwiiwaniikaan. Ahwu ktaamwii thahkeeyeew.

Niisktoonheew ndaaktulhameew kunduween wuyakaawow soochulow. Nii nguteekiikee soochulow.

Nii guteekiikee peexoot, kchihlatow.

Apaamu Valcartier/Here at Valcartier

Well, we are almost there. It has been an interesting journey. We travelled through Toronto where there was a band playing for our arrival. We took on more men who are coming to Valcartier.I guess this war is big news. Through every town we pass there has been much excitement, music and flag waving. The talk is that the war will be over quick.

We are almost at a stop. We’ve been told to grab our things.

Till later.

Munsee Translation

Weenaa aapaanu Valcartier. Kiiloona msooxweewihna Toronto amangapiikweew. Haluwii lunowak soochiiluwihna. Yoon ha kaanzhaachiimow, maxkeewwehlatiikan tihtpow.

Weenaa apaamu. Aliipheew shakiinootayak

Kunj aayaaxkwu

Photo of Valcartier Train station source:canadaatwar.blog

Photo of Valcartier Camp source: ww1.canada.com

Nzukasunaanay Valcartier/Rail to Valcartier

Soldiers leaving for Valcartier Toronto 1914

Pere Marquette Yards source: Elgin Historical Society

 

It seems strange to be riding on a train without working! We are somewhere between St Thomas and Toronto, near as I can figure. This isn’t the rail line I used to work. There is plenty of excitement in this railcar, the boys are singing and there is plenty of talk about our destination, a place called Valcartier.

After leaving Mt Elgin, I signed up to work on the Pere Marquette railway. The interview to be hired was long. I had to take a test about signals and safety, over 100 questions! In the end, I was hired as a fireman, one of the boys who shovel coal into the boiler.

Pere Marquette Interview Responses by Arnold Logan  August 1913

My new job meant I had to move to St Thomas. I got an apartment on Ross Street which is fairly close to the Pere Marquette yards. Living in the city is much different than the reserve. So many people and there is noise all the time. St Thomas has many railways so there is always noise.

I joined the 25th regiment as something to do in my spare time, not that there is much. We learned how to march and shoot a rifle. We had some fun camps up near Lake Huron. I met my friend Ernie Biggs at one of these camps. We work together at Pere Marquette and signed up for the war at the same time.

Till later.

Munsee Translation

Nii numaashiilaweeheew wuyakihleew nzukasunaanay mahdahloke.  Niiloona nuwiitapowihna teetawiil St Thoma waak Toronto. Yoon ha iiyaach kaazhaachumohkaweew. Skahunzowak niishalaamowak waak wuyaksuwak paakweezowihna apaamu wunj shiinzow Valcartier.

Nii nagaleew Mt Elgin, nii ndalohokwe nzukasunaanay kwchihlaleew kwuneew apaamu lalohkeew, poxku tha nzukasunaanay. Nii nalooleew “fireman” skahunzow kunj chaahaaleew mahkateew wunzum.

Nii nuwuskii dalohkeew nii naanlooxwaleew St Thomas. Nii nuwikuyaan Ross Street peexuwiilaaleew Pere Marquette. Xwatooteenay maashihtaakwsow. Moxa seekaweenak, amangywew ngumee. St Thomas xweeli nzukasunaanay.

Nii nzoochalow taakwiinaxke waak naalan kweek nihtahtoow akweetoxkhiikeew waak neewataxooxweewak. Nii nuwehkeewak njoosum Ernie Biggs. Kiiloona takwihleewihna.

Kunj aayaaxkwu.

 

 

School/Shkooluw

There’s the whistle…train’s about to leave. I am glad I said my goodbyes when we got together for the family photo. It was kind of odd, the three of us haven’t been together since school. 

You see, there was a big school built close to my house, called Mt. Elgin.It is were most kids went, some for the day and others had to live there. My dad, Scobia, always believed in school. He thought it was a place to learn new ways, a new language and learn about the world. Our house was hectic growing up. My mom, Isabelle had epilepsy pretty bad and had to live in a hospital full time. In order to pay the bills, my dad had to work many jobs in order to put food on the table. My sister told me that when she was younger, grandpa Henry used to look after the children. 

Anyways, my dad put all of us in school when we were old enough to attend. We didn’t have to live there,we only went during the day. I can tell you that most of the day was spent working in the fields and barn. It was hard work and the adults were strict. You had to speak English all the time which wasn’t a problem for me. My dad was fluent and taught all of us kids. My friends found it hard, they spoke the old language and were punished if they used it.

We only went to class for a couple of hours a day. My dad made it sound like we would learn alot but I disagree. In our classroom there was a huge map of the British Empire. I remember studying the map, learning place names that sounded so strange. All I could think of is, one day, I will get to travel to different parts of this world.

Mt Elgin wasn’t a great place to learn. Most of the time was how much the adults would make you do using your strength as opposed to using your brain. I could go on about my school days and to tell you I was glad to quit that place three years ago. They let you out when you get to a certain age or you find work. 

Last whistle…that’s the signal. Everyone is getting one last hug and kiss. I will write soon. 

Munsee Translation

Yoon ha pootaatiikanush, nzukasunaanay kehteexiin. Nii nuwuleelundam wuliilaweemeew muniixiinook kteekhiikeew laawate  shkooluw.

Kii kneew, yooh ha shkooluw peexuwat wiikuuyaan Mt Elgin. Weemu mawii wuniichaanow. Nii noox, Scobia, wulustam nuskii lakehkiimeew, shihshuwanakow, waak kweek Canada. Nii nuwiikuuyaan wtamalohkeew. Nii nguk wihwchiipiisow wulaapasihkan. Nii noox ktohpalohkeew miichuwaakan. Nii nuwiitkoxkw kchihlatoow numoxoomus Henry lxaweelumeew.

Aloot, nii noox ngaleew Mt Elgin.  Niiloona nootiikeewihna kiishkwehk. Niiloona nahwalohkeew ahkiihaakan, pakahiikan waak kooyiikaan. Kihkuwillunow waak Kihkwu-oxkweew manoongeelundam. Weemu sakii shihshuwanakow. Nii noox wulustam shihshuwanakow. Nii njoosumak huluniixsuwakaan nihleew.

Niiloona nakehkiimeewihna niishwak kulakow. Yoon ha pambiil eenglush tali waak maashihtaakwat shiinsowak. Nii numooxweew mayat kiishkwehk.

Mt Elgin machii wunj shkooluw. Weemu nahwalohkeew mah moxkaweew wulateexun. Nii nooleelundam wunj pohkwalohkeew nxah katun. Nii niishiixtookw.

Potaatiikanush, kihkheew, Weemu aween kihkoxkweeneew waak waangoomeew. Nii nuleekham laawate. 

The First 100/Shayehleew Ngwutaapoxku

(Picture courtesy of Elgin Military Museum)

What excitement! We have been cheered on and shaken hands with the whole city it seems. They are calling us “The First Hundred,” the first men in all of Canada to volunteer for the war. This is going to be some adventure!

I must admit I am nervous. We are going by train to a place in Quebec. I haven’t travelled far from home except with my work on the Pere Marquette. Farthest I’ve been is Detroit.

I worry that my family won’t be there to see me off. Seems like the other boys have a cheering section to see them off! My dad is in Detroit right now, writing for the Free Press and working in a store. Alma, my sister is preparing to go live with him. My brother Alonzo is in Wallaceburg, working in a glass factory and Willis is in Buffalo with the railway.

I guess that’s how it goes with families, we scatter to the wind.

The boys are excited, talking about this great adventure. The hope is that we will make it to France before the whole thing is over. I must admit, it will be great to see the sights I have only seen in school books.

Munsee Translation

Kaanzhuachiimow! Kiiloona wulakuniimkwusihna kihtooteenay St Thomas. Neekaawa shiinzuwaalew Shayehleew matahkeewiilunowak Canada. Wan ha eeshooxweew.

Nii nahtaachuw. Kiiloona ksahkeewxeewihna nzikasunaanay Quebec. Nii mah ksahkeewxeewihna wahlumapuwak, slohkeew waak Pere Marquette. Nii nzahkooxweew Detroit.

Nii nzakweelundam wahleew. Weemu kohlawiixun shahunzuwak ayum paakwenzow neweew alumsuw. Nii noox kseekhiikuw Detroit waak koopmaaniikan. Alma, miinuwiitoxkw takwihleew na. Alonzo Wallaceburg oodenang kii ktalolohkeew. Willis ktahlookeew Buffalo nzikasunaanay. Kaa nii niiloona sasehshihkawewoona ksaxun.

Skahunzuwak kaanzhaachiiwowak. Niiloona nahkeewsuwoona eeshiiw France mawatahkweew kiishiiheew.

 

Muleekoonzheew/Family

Nii niishaashkuneextiikeew. Nii meech giish. Eenda na? Lohkweew kteekheew. Yoon ha nii nmaatus Alonzo, ndaxkweehum Alma.  Kiish kteekheew kiishkwehk laawate. Nii nmaatus Willis ktahlohke nzukasunanay ambee.  Niiloona nuwiiskowihna Nalahii. weemu aween shiizuwaaleew Munceytown mahta oodeenang. Nii noox, Scobia, kihkay, kihkay Nalahii, Lunaape. Nii nguk, Isabelle, kekwaasow katum laawate wichuchiipiisow.

All finished, ready to go. Where was I? Best if I use this photograph. This is myself with my brother Alonzo and my sister Alma. We had this picture taken a couple of days ago uptown. My bother Willis could not be there, he also works for the railway.

We grew up in the country, a place called Nalahii.  Most people call it Munceytown but it isn’t much of a town. My father, Scobia, was chief of the Munsee people on Nalahii. My mother, Isabelle, died a couple of years ago of epilepsy.

Nalahii

Nii niishaashkuneextiikeew. Nii meech giish. Eenda na? Lohkweew kteekheew. Yoon ha nii nmaatus Alonzo, ndaxkweehum Alma.  Kiish kteekheew kiishkwehk laawate. Nii nmaatus Willis ktahlohke nzukasunanay ambee.  Niiloona nuwiiskowihna Nalahii. weemu aween shiizuwaaleew Munceytown mahta oodeenang. Nii noox, Scobia, kihkay, kihkay Nalahii, Lunaape. Nii nguk, Isabelle, kekwaasow katum laawate wichuchiipiisow.

All finished, ready to go. Where was I? Best if I use this photograph. This is myself with my brother Alonzo and my sister Alma. We had this picture taken a couple of days ago uptown. My bother Willis could not be there, he also works for the railway. We grew up in the country, a place called Nalahii.  Most people call it Munceytown but it isn’t much of a town. My father, Scobia, was chief of the Munsee people on Nalahii. My mother, Isabelle, died a couple of years ago of epilepsy.

Kweek ha nulaachiimow?

source:www.canada-rail.com

Nii ndushiinzi Arnold, kweek ha nulaachiimow? Nii ngaleew aapchiinaleew Pere Marquette.  Nii ndalohke niishwak katum, anz’ham mahkaleew. Soochulow taas uch aapuwiixun.  Ndeenhiikeen keelunumaasuyaan wihkihwan.  Nii noonjiyayi St Thomas shukw mahta yaanee. Teexii, nii nuwulaskuneextiikeew.

 

My name is Arnold Logan, what can I tell you?  I just got leave from my job with the Pere Marquette. I have worked there for a couple of years as a Fireman, not the best job but it’s a job!  Shovelling coal all day…the army won’t seem so hard.   I live in St Thomas but I didn’t always. I gave my last rent money because we are leaving soon.  Anyways, I have some packing to do.

August 1914 St Thomas, Ontario

As I gaze out at the photographer who has come to take our group picture, I can’t help but think about the adventure that I have recently signed up for.  It is a hot, humid Southern Ontario summer day and my new uniform is uncomforatble.  How I wish he would take the picture, I mean get on with it!! With me, standing on the steps of the city courthouse are 100 other men who have signed up for an unprecedented adventure.  Some of them call out joking, Maybe the camera can’t handle the strain?!!! There are others who whisper about the war in Europe, hoping that it will still be “on” until they get there.  Some have mentioned how they would like to see family and friends in England again. “Alright gentlemen!”, POOF

I am looking forward to a change from working for the Pere Marquette.  I mean the railway is a great job but the chance to see a foreign country, I must admit is appealling.  The rest, the war, being a soldier… I cannot fully explain my feelings.  Excitement, pride, and I must admit nervous of the unknown.  For all I don’t know about my future, I can share with you my past.  This is my untold story, 98 years after this photo.

Munsee Translation

Nii nuwundhiigweexiin ktweekhiikanong, nii numushaaleew soochulow lateexun. Kshulaandeew nin mahta wlamameew. Nuwiichii poxku lunowak poxkwiikaapanwuholmwa.  Neekumaawu nuwudaaptoonaawa aalundaween kwiishkwtoonnheewihna.  Aalund neekumaawa akuniimeew njoosumak waak nxoohoowuw eenglushong.  Ni nuloowatawaapow aanjihtoowk alohkeew Pere Marquette nzukasunaanay.  Numawii tali kaanzhaachiimow.  Nii nulaachiimohkaaweew.