History
Letters from Lestor
Lester Barbour was the eldest son of Edward and Mary Jane and he served in the First World War as part of the 1st Newfoundland Regiment. He left Newtown for Europe in May 1917. He died 10 months later, at the age of 23, in battle on March 10th, 1918 in the German counter-offensive at Paschendale Ridge, Belgium. He is buried at Oxford Cemetery, near the community of Ypres, Belgium.
Lester's Letters
Lester wrote approximately 70 letters to his family during World War I. The letters document the life of Lester, a soldier, from training in Scotland to the trenches in Europe.
These letters have been brought to life in the form of live theatre performed at the Neptune II Theatre. The original letters have been donated to the Center for Newfoundland Studies, Memorial University. Copies of the letters are on display in the Barbour Family Home.
Click here to read a transcription of Lester’s last letter to his mother written in March 1918, six days before his death.
A Family's Grief
After Mary Jane heard the news of his death, she was devastated. She would not let anyone use his bedroom for many years, despite the number of children in the home. Edward had died of complications of pneumonia at the age of 50 (June 8th, 1912). Lester’s death was more than just a personal loss as he was groomed to take his father’s place in the family business of E&S Barbour.
On the table in the upstairs parlor of the Benjamin Barbour Home, there is some soil that was taken from Lester’s grave by his brother, Captain Job Barbour when he visited Europe in 1930.
Lester's Last Letter
Lester Barbour
Son of Edward and Mary
Grandson of Benjamin Barbour
Died March 10th, 1918 in the German counter-offensive at Paschendale Ridge, Belgium
During his 10 months on the front lines in Germany, Lester (age 23) wrote some 70 or so letters to his family back home in Newfoundland. The original of Lester’s letters have been donated to the Centre for Newfoundland Studies, Memorial University, St. John’s, Newfoundland. Copies are on display at the Barbour Living Heritage Village in Newtown.
The following is a transcription of Lester’s last letter, written to his Mother 6 days before his death.
March 4, 1918
Dear Mother,
I forgot to mention about the dream I had the night before I got your letter telling me about your dream. I may say that I dreamt that I too was home and was in my khaki but it was all dirty and I wanted to put on my civilian clothes. So you went and got my brown clothes for me to put on, and when I got it it was all dusty and you told me not to let Wilhelmina know it as she would be angry as she had charge of the clothes. I thought that I was upstairs and as I looked downstairs, behold I saw people and they were all dressed up and they were spreading the tables with so much nice stuff, and flowers, and everything you could think of, and I said to myself surely gracious this is not for me, there must be a wedding going on but at the time you came along and you said this is all for you my son, and I was so glad that I awoke. And that very same day I had a letter from you telling me about your dream. Is it not strange that we should dream such dreams.
Good night dear Mother, Sweet Dreams!
Your Loving Son,
Lester