“One day that I surely do remember well is August 4, 1914. That was the very day that England declared war on Germany, and World War I got underway. That event changed the course of my life, and life for so very many others, as well. It was said to be the war to end all wars, but of course we know it wasn’t.
There had been a lot of political unrest in Europe for months. Germany had already attacked Russia, France, and Belgium. We were still a part of the British Commonwealth in those early times, and the Canadian government was rallying for young men to join the army so troops could be sent to aid England. A large majority of Ontario’s settlers were from England or of British descent. They felt an obligation to help their motherland. Many still had relatives living in England. Thousands of young men answered to the call of duty.
News of the war came to us a few days later. The railway had become a great lifeline to us in the north. Mail and news got out to us in a timelier period than before. Our family, like many others, was greatly affected by the news. Pa still had many family members in England. So did Jed’s folks. The notion of a World War starting sent chills right into our bones and fear straight to our blood. What was to be the outcome?
War became the topic of discussion by everyone, everywhere. It became the main topic at everyone’s dinner table, including ours. Dalt and Newt talked about joining up right away, but Pa needed their help for harvest. Jed even discussed it with me on a few occasions. The thought of it paralyzed me. He had been working so hard on our house and helping his family on their farm that our time together had been limited. Jed and I were so much in love. I didn’t even want to consider the risk of losing him. We hadn’t even got married yet. Pa had asked that I wait till I was eighteen. That was only months away. We had set an April wedding date, and I was so longing for that day.
Jed’s parents were against his signing up. They rallied in his enthusiasm to support home and country, but they really relied on his help. He only had one brother, who was just a tiny tot, and six younger sisters. The girls helped as much as possible, but a grown son was really depended on in those times to help on the farm. I was glad to hear their discouraging words. I just prayed Jed would listen.
I tried not dwelling too much about all the news of the war. I found it really upsetting. Jed and I had our future to plan, and the thoughts of war brought so much uncertainty. By Christmas Jed had our home finished. He was working on some furnishings. He wanted everything ready for me to move in come April. I was kept busy making curtains and linens for our new home. I had already completed my wedding gown.
But the war continued on, and the news was dreadful. Any letters we got from family in England talked about all the upheaval and the young men they’d lost. Some of Jed’s cousins had been killed. A few of our young friends had already gone and enlisted. Those were trying times, indeed.
In January 1915, posters were put up in every town across Canada calling for more volunteers to enlist. There was a great need for reinforcements, and a government office was set up in town to sign up any men willing to join the cause. Many young men did just that. My brothers Dalt and Newt were among them. And so was Jed.
I remember the day the three of them came back from town and told us. I was busy in the kitchen helping Ma and didn’t see the cutter come up the driveway. Pa was working in the yard and the boys told him their news first. Then Pa brought them into the kitchen so they could share their news with us. They were all so excited. They wanted to be part of the war. They were being sent to Quebec in a month. From there they’d sail to England for training. They talked as if it would be a glorious adventure. They thought they would be back within the year. Newt said they’d be back before we would even have a chance to miss them. Ma and Pa were proud of their willingness to want to stand up to help support England, but they were full of worry.
I just stood there at first, listening to them talk. I couldn’t believe my ears. I was stunned. Then the magnitude of their news hit me. Tears stung my eyes and started to run down my face. I started to tremble and a pain gripped my chest. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I was shaking my head, and then I heard myself yelling, “No, no you can’t! You can’t be leaving! It isn’t true! It can’t be!” Then I turned and ran upstairs to my bedroom and flopped face down on my bed. My face was buried in my pillow and I sobbed uncontrollably. My heart pained so bad I thought it was going to break.
Ma came up and tried to console me, but I needed to be alone. She asked if I wanted to talk to Jed, but I just couldn’t face him. I needed time to think. My life was suddenly in turmoil, and I felt wounded. Everything had changed. All my hopes and dreams had been shattered.
I was just sick with worry. Jed and I hadn’t even gotten married, and he was going to be leaving. I felt like he had betrayed me and our love. I was so worried for all of them. I knew my heart would break if any of them were killed. Our life was in chaos. I remember feeling so helpless. I felt like my life was being lived without me. I had desperately tried to shut the war off in my mind. It wasn’t being fought on Canadian soil, so I had tried to pretend that it didn’t affect me. I was so wrong.
I guess that I was just living in denial. Each time I heard that someone I knew had enlisted, I wouldn’t allow myself to think that I’d never see them again. When Dalt or Newt had discussed enlisting, I shut them out. Our family had been untouched by death and heartache. Now the possibility was made imminent. The war was taking three men I loved away from home. The war did affect me. It affected me beyond belief.
I refused to talk to anyone or leave my room that whole day. I just laid on my bed and cried and cried. I cried until no more tears would come. Then, I finally fell asleep. When I awoke the next morning my eyes were still sore and my head was pounding. It took me a minute to remember what had happened. When I did remember, I started crying again.
Of course, Ma heard me and came to my room. She embraced me so tight it almost hurt. She spoke to me in a soft and quiet tone. She said, “Savannah, you have to come to terms with all of this. The deed is done, and the boys are heading off to war. None of us like that fact, but we have to be supportive. They will be leaving within a month, and we need to spend that time enjoying their presence, not being angry and acting selfish. Jed will be dropping back around this morning, and I know that he wants to talk to you. Now pull yourself together and get dressed. We all need to be strong to get through all of this. We need to pull together, not push those we love so much away.” I realized then, that she was crying, too.
Well, Jed did drop by later that morning. When I saw his cutter coming up the driveway, I ran out to meet him. He saw me coming, stopped his horse, jumped off the cutter, and ran towards me with his arms stretched open. I ran into his welcoming arms and they enfolded me in such a loving and comforting embrace that I just melted. I felt the whole world disappear. All our problems suddenly vanished. In that moment, there was just the two of us, two young people so madly and passionately in love with each other. Nothing was ever going to change that.
I looked up at Jed’s face, and our eyes met. He smiled at me, and I saw love shining in his eyes. I pressed my lips to his. He responded with a deep passionate kiss that touched me to the depth of my soul. It was the type of kiss that you never want to end. A kiss that lingers on your lips long after the embrace is over. A kiss that leaves you yearning for more. A kiss that you never forget.
When the kiss did end, Jed looked into my eyes and said, “Oh, Anna, I love you so much. I never meant to hurt you. I want nothing more in this whole world than to marry you. I don’t want to leave you, but I have to for a while. When the war is over I’ll be back. I’ll come back to you! I promise.”
“I’m sorry I acted so childish.” I said. “I was wounded. I felt like all our hopes and dreams had been shattered. All I want in this whole world is to marry you and be your wife. I want to be Mrs. Jedidiah Harmon. Marry me before you leave Jed. Make me the happiest girl in the whole world.”
Well, our wedding plans were changed. My folks gave Jed and me their blessing to get married before Jed left if we so wished. We decided to do so the following Saturday on my eighteenth birthday. It was a rushed affair and didn’t turn out to be the eloquent outdoor spring wedding that I had been planning. Some people that I had hoped to invite couldn’t make it on such short notice. Winter in the near north was not a good time to take to travelling any distance. Jed’s family and mine were all there, except Lincoln. Uncle Seth and Aunt Sara and their family all came, as well as a few close friends and neighbours. It turned out to be a nice little gathering.
We said our nuptials at the church that our family attended. It was just down the road from our farm. Aunt Sara and Ma put on a supper for us at Uncle Seth’s house. They had a lot more room than we did. We even had a dance afterwards. Aunt Sara played the piano, and others joined in with different instruments. It turned out to be a real festive day. Even the weather co-operated. It was a cold January day, but the sun was shining and seemed to add some warmth.
After supper the men folk all got into the hooch. Jed wasn’t a very experienced drinker, and he got pretty drunk. I decided to take him home around ten o’clock. It was a twenty minute trip by horse and cutter. I recall it being a fairly cold winter night. The moon was full, and it was really bright out with all the fresh snow. The crisp air sobered Jed up some.
When we arrived at the house, Jed was feeling a little embarrassed to have gotten so tipsy on our wedding night. He did manage to carry me over the threshold in true style. Then he put the horse and cutter in the barn. By the time he came back in, I was waiting for him in the bedroom. I had been waiting for this moment for almost two years. I had tried to imagine many a time how it would all play out. I was so nervous and just hoped that I wouldn’t disappoint Jed.
The first time we made love we were both in too much of a rush. Jed climaxed too soon and we didn’t have time to savour the pleasure of the experience. The second time was better, and the third time was magnificent. To be so in love with another being and share such an intimate act was overwhelming. We had joined together in matrimony and in the flesh.
When I woke the next morning, Jed was still sleeping. He had his arm across my bare breast. I could feel his warmth radiating into my chest. I remember looking at him and feeling so complete. Jed was the love of my life, and I knew that as long as I lived, he always would be. I felt so at peace and so content at that moment. I was finally Mrs. Jedidiah Harmon, and I was completely happy. If it hadn’t been for the war and Jed’s imminent departure, it would have all been perfect, absolutely perfect.”