The Weekly Star - Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Friday, October 4, 1918
Vancouver, Sept. 26, 1918.
To the editor of the Whitehorse Star:
Dear Sir: - We noticed in your paper of recent date a paragraph headed "How George Raymond Died," and which we wish to have corrected. At the time I was talking with Mr. Frank Wilson, we had not heard anything more than the cablegram from London announcing his reported death and it did not state where, and I could only conjecture as his last letter was written in Scotland, where he was taking his last course in aerial fighting. Since then we have received a letter from him written in France just before he went up on that fatal trip in the evening of July 24th, and in which he wound up by describing what a beautiful machine he had, all his own, which he was so proud of and said the Huns had nothing that could catch it, and I wish I could show it to you; then the last words he will ever write to me and probably the last he ever wrote were, "Well, Dad, it is
near dinner time now and I must bring this letter to a close." This was at their evening meal. He was in active service in France and had been orderly officer that day. Then came a letter from his commanding officer which states he went up on patrol duty and shortly after leaving the ground was observed to get into a spin, which they explain as being something the way a top spins just before falling and caused by air pockets. Had he been higher up he could have righted the machine, as it is also one of the tricks which they
practice, but being too low down, he struck the ground and was instantly killed.
The captain wrote, "your son was extraordinarily keen in his work and I am sure he would have done well. We feel most extremely sorry to lose so promising a pilot, and at a time when we can so ill afford to lose anyone. Your son is buried in the American graveyard, Chateau Montreglaust, and the cross made from an aeroplane propeller placed on it." He sent us photos of it.
We also received a letter from the American Red Cross nurse who writes, "All is peace and beauty where your brave boy lies."
Mrs. Raymond and Pauline wish to take this opportunity to express their heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the people of Whitehorse, who spared no pains to render any service in their power to them in their recent bereavement, and for the loving sympathy expressed to them by letter from the friends at Carcross and elsewhere.
We have received several letters from poor George's friends which he made in England, including one from Queen Mary and King George at Buckingham palace, expressing their sympathy in our sorrow.
Thanking you for the space, I remain,
Yours Sincerely,
N. B. RAYMOND.
