Correspondence with Grace Clergue Harrison

June 19, 1924.

Dear Grace:

You will remember the trowel presented to me when I laid the cornerstone of the Soldiers’ Memorial at Sault Ste. Marie.

On the face of the trowel is this inscription:

(Seal of the City)
Francis Hector Clergue, Esquire
From the citizens of
Sault Ste. Marie
On the occasion of laying the
Corner Stone
Sault Ste. Marie
War Memorial
Aug. 5th, 1923

Editor Curran of the Sault Star wrote to Kipling asking for an inscription for the stone, and on the reverse of the trowel I am having engraved:

Request

Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, April 3rd, 1924

Mr. Rudyard Kipling:

The citizens of Sault Ste. Marie are erecting a monument to 350 townsmen who fell in the Great War: We would deeply appreciate it if you would write for us a verse or thought to go on the monument.

James W. Curran

Response

To the glory of God, the honour of the armies of the Dominion, and in proud memory of those who fell in the Great War, and whose names are here recorded, this monument was erected by the people of Sault Ste. Marie: --

From little towns in a far land we came,
To save our honour and a world aflame;
In little towns, in a far land we sleep,
And trust those things we won to you – to keep.

"Rudyard Kipling"

Yours affectionately,

F.H.C.