The Foresters' Scribe
Remembering the Newfoundland Forestry Companies Through the First World War Letters of Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant John a. Barrett
Will be published approx. on 9. November 2020
Book
Paperback/Softback
354 pages
978-1-894725-73-6 (ISBN)
Description
The Foresters' Scribe is the first comprehensive study of the Newfoundland Forestry Companies (NFC) of the First World War. It adds a long-overdue and essential chapter to the Great War history of Newfoundland and Labrador.
A century has gone by since the NFC was formed in 1917, yet little is known of this small unit of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. Its members were men recruited for woods work in the United Kingdom. Their assignment: to cut and mill Scottish timber to supply wood for the war.
During the NFC's time overseas, thirty-seven letters were written home by "the Foresters' scribe," Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant John A. Barrett. Published in Newfoundland newspapers, they provided a detailed and articulate account of the NFC's service in Scotland. This book compiles Barrett's letters and examines their historical significance. In addition, it includes letters from other foresters, descriptions of key events that Barrett omitted, and rare photos of the foresters at work. Ursula Kelly complements this material with her own comprehensive account of the formation of the NFC and related issues, and an examination of what the NFC story suggests about the socio-cultural politics of war service and commemoration. The Foresters' Scribe is an insightful and celebratory account of an overlooked military unit that made an important contribution to the Great War effort.
A century has gone by since the NFC was formed in 1917, yet little is known of this small unit of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment. Its members were men recruited for woods work in the United Kingdom. Their assignment: to cut and mill Scottish timber to supply wood for the war.
During the NFC's time overseas, thirty-seven letters were written home by "the Foresters' scribe," Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant John A. Barrett. Published in Newfoundland newspapers, they provided a detailed and articulate account of the NFC's service in Scotland. This book compiles Barrett's letters and examines their historical significance. In addition, it includes letters from other foresters, descriptions of key events that Barrett omitted, and rare photos of the foresters at work. Ursula Kelly complements this material with her own comprehensive account of the formation of the NFC and related issues, and an examination of what the NFC story suggests about the socio-cultural politics of war service and commemoration. The Foresters' Scribe is an insightful and celebratory account of an overlooked military unit that made an important contribution to the Great War effort.
Reviews / Votes
"Kelly takes an insightful angle into this topic, via the letters of John A. Barrett, the Regimental Quartermaster." - Joan Sullivan, The Telegram"The Foresters' Scribe is a rich depository of primary material, under-pinned by insightful and fresh analysis that deepens our understanding of Newfoundland and Labrador's experience in World War I. It accomplishes the admirable feat of combining scholarly rigour with an ease of readability and clarity of presentation that will appeal to a broad audience." - Jenny Higgins, Newfoundland and Labrador Studies
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Canada
Publishing group
Memorial University Press
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Illustrations
- 1 Maps - Archival photos
Dimensions
Height: 226 mm
Width: 150 mm
Thickness: 24 mm
Weight
540 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-894725-73-6 (9781894725736)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Ursula A. Kelly is a John Lewis Paton Distinguished University Professor at Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada. Her research is interdisciplinary and within the areas of cultural studies and critical education.
Content
List of Images ix
Foreword by Melvin Baker xi
Acknowledgements xv
Abbreviations xix
1. Introduction 1
The Newfoundland Forestry Companies, 1917-1919 7
Wartime Correspondence and the Letters of Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant John A. Barrett 33
John A. Barrett: A Short Biography 49
2. The Letters of Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant John A. Barrett, June 1917 to January 1919 53
3. Conclusion 251
Commemorating Those Who Served 256
The Newfoundland Forestry Companies and the Great War 259
Appendices
Appendix A - The Newfoundland Forestry Companies: A Timeline 271
Appendix B - The Newfoundland Forestry Companies: The Nominal Roll 275
Appendix C - The Newfoundland Forestry Companies of the First World War by John A. Barrett 297
References 307
Index 325
About the Author 333
Foreword by Melvin Baker xi
Acknowledgements xv
Abbreviations xix
1. Introduction 1
The Newfoundland Forestry Companies, 1917-1919 7
Wartime Correspondence and the Letters of Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant John A. Barrett 33
John A. Barrett: A Short Biography 49
2. The Letters of Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant John A. Barrett, June 1917 to January 1919 53
3. Conclusion 251
Commemorating Those Who Served 256
The Newfoundland Forestry Companies and the Great War 259
Appendices
Appendix A - The Newfoundland Forestry Companies: A Timeline 271
Appendix B - The Newfoundland Forestry Companies: The Nominal Roll 275
Appendix C - The Newfoundland Forestry Companies of the First World War by John A. Barrett 297
References 307
Index 325
About the Author 333