Feature Letter of October 3rd, 2022
Gale, Ralph Clement
[The condolence letter below was written by Mrs. E. Rivers Bulkeley, Head of the Prisoner of War Branch of the Canadian Red Cross, upon learning of the death of Private Ralph Clement Gale, 4th Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles, who had been captured on June 2nd, 1916, and subsequently held as a German P.O.W. in Friedrichsfeld and Munster II (Rennbahn) Camps. It was written to Pte. Gales’ mother.]
CANADIAN RED CROSS SOCIETY,
HOTEL YORK,
BERNERS STREET, LONDON, W. 1.
PLEASE REPLY TO PRISONERS OF WAR DEPARTMENT.
3.10.18
Dear Madam.
You will have hear by now from the Record Office that alas! Pte R. C. Gale 111184 4th C.M.R. died in Germany. I have today learned a few details from a German List which states that he died 29.7.18 at Dortmund in the Hospital, of Inflamation of the lungs.
It does not say it was following influenza but I think it probably was as they have had a terrible lot of it in Germany. May I take this opportunity of trying to tell you with with all my heart I sympathise with you in your over-whelming grief. Alas! how many hearts are breaking these days and what a sad place the world is going to be for many of us – but those we have loved here have been so splendid have they not we must try and follow their proud example.
Yours very truly
Evelyn Rivers Bulkeley
