William McRae’s Letters: A WWI Pilot and Soldier (1916)
In 1916, William McRae made the decision to combine his passion for flying with his duty as a soldier. He leaves his family’s farm in Agassiz, British Columbia, and travelled to Vancouver to begin his miliary training.
These letters from William McRae, a Royal Flying Corps pilot from Agassiz, British Columbia, offer a glimpse into his daily life during wartime training. Writing to his mother, he shares moments that are both routine and show the uncertainty of miliary life.
These letters are part of the William McRae Letter Collection (WWI Series)
Read the previous letters in the series here: William McRae Main Page
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William Gordon McRae was born in 1897 in Agassiz, British Columbia, Canada. He was the oldest of 9 children to Ambie, a founding member of the local chapter of the Women’s Institutie, and, John the reeve (think mayor) of the community where they lived and farmed.
William was eager to learn how to fly and built his own airplane including the propeller. He left home to train under Billy Bishop in the Royal Flying Corps before heading overseas to fight in the First World War.
People & Places
The people and places mentioned in William McRae’s letters provide important historical context for understand his life as a young man from a small community as well as a Royal Flying Corps trainee during the First World War. Writing from locations such as Agassiz and Vancouver British Columbia, William references his family members, friends, and fellow trainees. This gives a personal and detailed look at everyday life, relationships, and movements as he journeys from a civilian to military service.
These names and places help connect William’s personal experiences to the broader history of British Columbia and allow readers today to gain a better understanding of his life and community.
William “Willie” McRae
William is the writer of these letters home to his mother, father, and siblings. He has left his farm and home in Agassiz, British Columbia, Canada to join the Royal Flying Corps and fight in First World War. William often to refers to his airplane as “the machine”. He is the oldest of ten children to Ambie and John McRae.
Family Members (Parents & Siblings)
Nearly all of Williams letters are addressed to his mother, Ambie, offe4ring a personal glimpse into family life in Agassiz, British Columbia during the First World War. You can find family photographs and more detailed information about his parents and siblings on the William McRae Letter Series main page.
The Fooks
William talks about the Fooks family which was a prominent family in his hometown of Agassiz, British Columbia. Harry, Christina, Maynard, and Raymond were close friends of the families. Mr. Fooks was a municipal clerk in Agassiz. William and Maynard were friends and went to school together.
Places in British Columbia
Agassiz
In the early 20th century, Agassiz was a small agricultural community nestled between the Fraser River and Harrison Lake. Families such as the McRaes, Fooks, and Wrights were among its early settlers, playing an important role in developing both the land and the local community. Today these very letters and photographs are perserved in the Agassiz-Harrison Museum.
Read about what life was like in Agassiz in 1896-1897 in the fully transcribed Hazeley Letters Series.
Vancouver
In 1916, Vancouver was a rapidly growing coastal city with deep ties to the war effort. There were recruitment drives, and as we will soon see, miliary training. Soldiers passed through the city’s port and travelled on the Canadian Pacific Railway lines.
LuLu Island
In 1916, the island was an area of farmland communities located along the Fraser River. Parts of Lulu Island are not part of modern-day Richmond
Letters
William’s Letter to Mother – December 6, 1916
HOTEL ALCAZAR
DUNSMUIR AND HOMER STREETS
Phone Seymour 317Wednesday, 1916
Dear Mother.-
I arrived safely in Vancouver Monday night. I took my exams (medical) and passed them all O.K. I then went up & interviewed Lord Innes-Ker and he said we would be leaving before the end of January. – George McKay also passed his exams.
Last night Ben phones up & said there was skating in the Park late. We got down there about 8.30 p.m. skating until 9.30 & returned to the hotel. The ice was nice & smooth.
I worked at the factory all day. And to-night I have to go to school and tomorrow morning at 8 am we start for Lulu Island with the machine. Old Hamilton says he is going to dock several of us boys part of our Thursday.
Friday
Well Mother, when I was nearly finished writing this letter on Wednesday night one of the boys telephoned me at 6:05 o’clock & wanted me to go up to his place for supper at 6:45 p.m. Well I dawned my uniform and went for supper. We had turkey ect. etc that making the second supper for me that evening. There were three of use boy thee and talk about having a good-time we danced until 12.00 pm had ice cream, coffee etc. danced until 1.30 am & left for home.
Yesterday Carl Alf & myself took the goose tent out to the Island. We returned for the aero -planes and were kindly informed that we couldn’t take the machine out to the island as the School officials wouldn’t allow it. So it looks as the boat is taking the school men.
A few of us boys were out skating yesterday afternoon. News is scarce so must close.
Your loving son.
Willie.
P.S.
Is dad better. I might be home after the first. Ask Isobel if she still has the chocolates ha! ha! ha!
William’s Letter to Mother – December 14, 1916
HOTEL ALCAZAR
DUNSMUIR AND HOMER STREETS
Phone Seymour 317Thur. Dec.14, 1916
Be sure & put General Delivery on my next letters. Because if you don’t they go to the factory.
Mrs. J.J. McRae
Agassiz, B.C.Dear Mother,
I received your most welcomed letter yesterday. And was glad to hear about sending a letter with some stamps in it. Well! I haven’t received the stamps or letter yet. Although I have enquired for it.
Guess who I had a letter from this morning? Miss Moule. She has been in the Vernon hospital for some-time with typhoid-fever. I phoned her this afternoon. & she is getting much better although she isn’t able to walk around yet.
In your last letter you didn’t state whether or not Mrs. Fooks had heard from Maynard. Have any of the girls had a letter from George lately?
I told you about the night I went to strange [?], well! After leaving there I walked all over south-Vancouver till I came to the place where Marion & Rose are living. Rose was sick in bed & Marion sleeping, so after staying a few minutes or hours I returned home.
I was done to see Summicts [?] Sunday and had supper there & got home about 11.p.m.
I was also at Staits to Dinner one evening not long ago. I was also down to see Poly lately, her husband has a fine job and has been working for nearly a month, so Polly seems quite happy.
I am not sure yet whether I will be home for xmas as my vocal teacher is staging a play at the Vancouver Theater and wants me to take part in it. So if we don’t go to the Island very-soon I will take his proposition up.
News is very quite so I must close.
With love to all.
Your loving son.
Willie.
William’s Letter to Mother – January 9, 1917
HOTEL ALCAZAR
DUNSMUIR AND HOMER STREETS
Phone Seymour 317Dear Mother-
I received your welcomed letter of the 8th Inst. And was glad to hear you were all well also that you were better. (“also”) that “The Auld Politician” was running again.
So Rosa Hog is teaching at the McBride School. How is it that she has a pull with the Trustees. I hear Rose Ray has gone to Port Simpson @ 8.00 per mo. So Irene has gone to Hedley.
Has Isabel heard anything from the Vancouver Branch of the Merchants Bank yet?
So Miss Roach was out for lunch to-day. Is she going to School again this term.
I phoned
upMiss Louise the other day and she is not going back to Vernon until the 1st Feb. I had a card from Miss McQueen. I hear the Fooks had a letter from Maynard. Sent him a card for xmas. but do not know if he ever got it.Us boys are trying hard to take our tests before going away; but seems the rainy weather is holding us up as we are unable to do anything. If we do take our tests in means over $400.00 to me also a better position in the R.F.C. than I have now. As
we areit is now. We can not wear our uniforms over so I am having my grey suit dyed brown and also getting an overcoat etc.Ask Bella if she is still hanging on to those chocolates? -ha! ha ! ha! News is scarce, so must close, your loving son Willie.
Love to all,
wish Doug my best,Willie.
I played at the Empress again last Sunday night.
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Why Letters Like These Matter to British Columbia History
The William Gordon McRae letters offer a detailed record of a young pilot eager to learn how to fly and to serve in the military. With each letter home to his mother, Ambie, we get a personal look at what war was like for the soldier.
Preserved today at the Agassiz-Harrison Museum & Archives, the William McRae letters and personal photographs and other supporting photographs, are kept so that future generations can know the history of Agassiz, British Columbia and it’s people.
Want to Read More Letters from Agassiz?
Check out the Hazeley Letter Series (1896-1897)
Editorial Note: How These Letters Are Used
The letters this post are transcribed verbatim from original manuscripts held at the Agassiz-Harrison Museum & Archives. Spelling, grammar, and punctuation have been preserved to maintain the integrity of the original documents. Editorial introductions and historical context have been added to assist modern readers and to situate the letters within the broader social and historical landscape of twentieth-century British Columbia.
This post forms part of an ongoing research and transcription project telling the stories of British Columbians.
