The Letter No Parent Wants To Receive
With the kind permission of Mrs. Margaret Mercer, we are very honoured and humbled to share with you the contents of a letter sent from the Army Chaplain for the battalion in which Private Thomas Mercer served, and in whose service he was so tragically killed. We are truly grateful to Mrs. Mercer for allowing us an insight into something so private and personal as what a letter of this magnitude is.
He Died A Hero In The Sacred Cause Of Justice
Parents of Thomas Mercer who was killed in action on April 10th, 1916,
are comforted by letter from Army Chaplain
2nd. Can. Pioneer Bat., France, April 12th, 1916
Dear Mrs. Mercer:
You have heard from official sources before this that your son Thomas, was killed in action on the night of April 10th 1916. As the Chaplain of the Battalion to which he belonged I thought I would send you a few particulars of the circumstances under which he met with his death.
He was shot in the head with a rifle bullet and was killed instantly. They were out at night fixing a front line trench on the side of one of the craters caused by mining attacks. It was a very exposed position and one which has taken it's toll of many of our brave fellows. The officer in charge of the party spoke in the highest terms of the courage of your soldier son. You have this thought to take comfort from, he died a hero in the sacred cause of justice and liberty.
In the night on which he was killed it was absolutely impossible to bring his body back to the mortuary. All the men could do was to bring in what few personal effects he had about him. These will be forwarded to you. Last night a party of six men was sent out to see if they could locate his remains. The men searched for hours at great risk to their own lives, to find his body, but they were unsuccessful.
Like thousands of other brave men in this great war, your son will lie in a nameless grave, but you must not let this trouble you; he has done his duty in this holy crusade. He will not be forgotten either by heaven or by earth. God will reward him for the sacrifice, and a grateful country will keep His memory green for the life he lost on the field of honor.
You have our sincere sympathy in your great bereavement. May the Comfort of the Most High be yours.
Yours sincerely,
H. B Clark.