Undoubtedly, part of Bill Jones' reason for visiting home in Digby, Nova Scotia, was to inform his parents and family of his upcoming nuptials.

Helen was the recipient of the following letter from her future father-in-law.

"Frank Jones, K.C.
Barrister-At-Law
Notary Public, etc.

Digby, N.S., Nov. 8th/35

Miss Helen Scott
Hamilton, Ont.

Dear Helen:

You can justly reproach me for not writing to you sooner, but as Bill informed me that you and he had screwed up your courage to make the perilous plunge into matrimony on or about the 16th of this month, I decided to wait a little longer and make one letter do for the occasion--I find it necessary to economize my energies as much as possible at my age.  So you will please make allowance for that, and excuse any apparent negligence on my part.  On the eve of your marriage, I wish to assure you that I have the greatest confidence in you and the highest respect for your family; and I am quite sincere in saying that I heartily approve of the choice my son has made.  I am quite sure that he will find in you a true and capable helpmate, and I wish you both long life, happiness and prosperity.

I am enclosing herewith as a wedding present, to you a cheque for Fifty Dollars.  I am sorry I can't make it more at present, but will try and supplement it later on.  In fact, if things go well with me, as I hope they will, I trust that I shall be useful to you and Bill in time of need if ever that should arise.  Bill has been having a pretty hard pull to get established in Toronto but I have great hopes that he will make a complete success of his business.  He certainly deserves it.  But for a time he will have to practice the strictest economy and care.  It should not cost him very much for living expenses after you and he get settled down.  I hope to be able to make another trip to Toronto and perhaps further west before very long and I certainly look forward with eagerness for an opportunity to visit you.

Mrs. Jones and Helen (my wife and daughter) have departed for New York for the winter, so at present I am baching it.  I don't know just what arrangements I shall make later on.

I trust that your parents, Margaret and the other members of your family are all well.  Please give them my best regards.  With love and best wishes.

I remain
Yours sincerely,
'F. Jones'"

Note:  According to Bill Jones Jr., this paltry $50.00 wedding gift was viewed as an insult.  Frank, a lawyer and later a judge, had lots of money ($50.00 in 1935 would have a purchasing power around $900.00 today.)  Perhaps this "insult" is because Frank Jones and his son could never see eye-to-eye.  Frank only understood rights as prescribed by law and could never grasp his son's compassion for the downtrodden, whether individual or national.

As it was, the wedding took place on November 15, 1935 at Sherbourne United Church in Toronto.  Bill Jones was 40 years old.  Though late in the year, they went canoeing for their honeymoon using Bill's beloved birchbark canoe.

Immediately following the honeymoon, Helen's father took ill and she returned to Hamilton to care for him.  It was a dreadfully lonely time for them, apart so soon, as the following letters will show.

So the soldier has come home from the wars, but to what?

Jones spent some time back in university, working in the summers, but eventually found it too costly and dropped out.  He attempted a grocery business in Toronto, but that did not come to fruition.  What to do?  Jones ended up working for a real estate company and eventually began his own.  He was not in love with the job, but it paid the bills and even allowed him to purchase a house on the shore of Lake Ontario.  It was something of a fixer-upper but he would enjoy the challenge.

This was all well and good but by the time he reached his 30's, he was still alone.  But somewhere along the line he met a Miss Helen Scott of Hamilton, Ontario.  Was she the one?  By the time she wrote the following letter,  they were engaged and planning their wedding and this is the first existing communication we have between them.

"Thursday evening
Oct. 17/35

Hello Sweetheart,

It is good to sit down and have a quiet talk with you, only I would much rather be there with you in front of the open fireplace.  You know I'm as jealous as the dickens of you having our fireplace and our moonlight all to yourself.  It just isn't fair and I object strenuously.  Some of these days I'se just going to come right down there and park right beside that fireplace and Lord help the person who tries to make me get away from it.  I've got several weeks to catch up on young man and by gosh I'm going to do it too!  I'se a vicious woman when I gets going.  Don't get awful scared Honey.  I'll have a little mercy on you, maybe.  I am really longing to be there with you though and I'll be glad when our allotted time is up and all is ready.

I have been quite busy and the results are pretty good.  I wasn't going to tell you yet but I think it might cheer you up.  Dad and Mother are getting us a lovely electric stove and our kitchen suite.  Isn't that grand?  I have warned Mother that she is not to get us anything extravagant.  The stove is a Moffat range like Mother's only not as large.  Of course it is much more modern and I think it is a little beauty.  I know you will be pleased with it too.  Our kitchen set has not been chosen yet.

So you see my Darling, we are not doing too badly.  We have the necessities for our home now I think and we will have a swell time fixing the house up.

I completed my house dresses today.  They are ironed and folded and put away.  I haven't bought my stockings yet but I have the money for 6 pairs and also money for gloves, hat and shoes.  One of these days I'm going to have a grand time spending it all.  This Saturday I am going to get material for my dress.  I was going to get it last Sat. but I was too sick to go out of the house.

So the place is damp eh?  I guess I better buy you and me some red flannels.  I think red ones would be cute on you!  They would be sort of appropriate eh what!!  Do horses get all excited when they see red?  Maybe I better get you blue ones!  I always did love you in blue anyway.  And now that problem is argued and settled.  Blue ones it is.

Your letter did not arrive until quite late this morning and I just about had a fit.  I don't think I could have done a thing all day if it had not come.  About 11 o'clock the postman brought it and I was considerably relieved.  It won't be long until we won't have any letters at all will it.  Gosh, what a stack of them I have.  Not one has been destroyed from the very first.  Someday we will have a lot of fun reading them over.  What a love story you would write Honey?  I bet every page of it would be censored!

I ironed all afternoon and have all the ironing done thank goodness for this week.

I have been all alone all day and hardly talked to anyone.  Elizabeth phoned this afternoon and so did Aunty Em.  I talk to Skippy all the time so I won't forget what my voice sounds like.  Sometimes it sounds so strange.  I look around to see of anyone else is present.  Pretty soon I'll be talking to myself and then the government will give me board and lodging up on the mountain.  [Hamilton Psychiatric Hospital].  Come up and see me sometime will you!

Well my Darling, I hope today has been more prosperous than yesterday.  Keep up hope.  The change in government [Liberal William Lyon Mackenzie King had come into power] and the war is bound to put a crimp in all business.  Someday things will be much better and the future more hopeful.  [The issues of World War I had never been satisfactorily resolved.  Jones, like many others, felt that more conflict was coming.]

Heaps of love Sweetheart.  I can't tell you how much I love you too and long to be with you.  I feel sure that happiness lies in the path we are taking and both of us will be happier with a new outlook on life.

Hugs and kisses,
Your Helen"

This first letter nicely sets the tone for Bill and Helen's relationship.  They were fun loving and both had a wonderful sense of humor that would stand them in good stead in the times to come.  We catch a glimpse into wedding planning as it was in 1935.  House dresses?  Gloves?  Hats?  And we note that perhaps his business was not prospering as well as hoped for.

As promised, a week ago, I'm going to start publishing letters written by a Canadian war hero to his wife during World War II.  Our hero's name is William Morris Jones and I have kindly been given these letters and permission to use them by his son, Bill Jones Jr.  For the complete story of Major William Morris Jones, see my book, The Tenacious Spy:  The Story of William Morris Jones.  It's mentioned on my website:  www.karenrempelarthur.com and you'll find it available on Amazon.  All materials published here are copyrighted and may not be reproduced.

I'll begin with a brief background of our hero to set the stage.  The picture above shows the town where he was born.  So here goes.

Well over a hundred years ago,  William Morris Jones was born in Digby, Nova Scotia on August 12, 1895 to Frank and Margaret Jones. That's him on the right quite some years later.  He was destined to be a remarkable man.

In those early years, Jones acquired an education and began his working career, but the winds of war were blowing.  On Tuesday, August 4, 1914, Britain declared war on Germany, and Canada, still a British colony, automatically joined the fray.  Ten days later, young Bill, mothballed his dreams, lied about his age, and enlisted in the 17th Nova Scotia Battalion.  After a mere two months' training at St. Gabriel de Valcartier, Quebec, he was sent with the First Canadian Expeditionary Force to Britain.  There, after more training, he was assigned to the prestigious 13th Battalion Royal Highlanders of Canada (Black Watch) who would soon come to be known as "The Ladies from Hell".  His colors were beginning to show.

People of the time were certain this would be a civilized war, some guns would be fired, there would be a few injuries and, heaven forbid, there might even be a death or two.  It would be a great adventure for a young man and would be over in a few short months.

It wasn't.

Bill Jones was assigned to the terrible trench warfare where thousands would die on both sides in every confrontation.  He survived.

His heroism at St. Julien-Poelcappelle, Belgium, earned him the Distinguished Conduct Medal, an award second only to the Victoria Cross.  He observed an approaching gas attack--which is a brief passing event, but the gas settles in low spots like the trenches where men had ducked for cover.  He spent hours single-handedly hauling unconscious men to safety in the fresh air and in the process saved countless lives.

During another battle on June 13, 1916, near the Village of Zillebeke, Belgium, his long-time friend, Otis Meister was killed and he suffered shrapnel woulds to his leg.  Jones was sent back to Britain.

Finally, in February, 1917, after an eight-month recovery, he returned to the continent, a newly-minted Sergeant-Major and Acting Regimental Sergeant Major.  He was 22 and a seasoned soldier.

We know he was at the battle of Vimy Ridge and soon after was appointed Warrant Officer Class Two.  He was now a non-commissioned officer and had survived a major offensive where thousands more died.

Hill 70, another infamous battle, began on August 14, 1917.  Because of the countless deaths, officers were in short supply and Sergeant-Major Jones became a tower of strength on that endless day.  He took a piece of shrapnel in his left eye.  Did he seek medical help?  Of course not.  He stayed on the job until finally ordered to go for help by Major Macfarlane.  The Canadians won this massive struggle and Jones was awarded a second Distinguished Conduct medal--something that was almost unheard of.  Oh yes, he returned to the front 28 days later, now a lieutenant.  The missing eye was no impediment.

The war waged with Lieutenant Jones doing his part until that momentous day of November ll, 1918 when it was finally over.

In the dead of winter, 1919, Bill Jones finally came home.  He left a teenager and returned as an adult with several lifetimes of experience.  Now he had to remake himself, find out what ordinary life was all about.

Yes, we're getting closer to the letters to Sweetheart, but they will start appearing in the next installment.  Watch for it!  It's coming!  I just wanted to set the stage for what's to come.