PILOT OFFICER AIR OBSERVER JOHN RUSSELL CLEMENTS, R.C.A.F.

One of the prerogatives of authoring a blog site is that within the grounds of common decency, one can blog whatever his/her hearts desires. Therefore this blog does not fall within the realms of either the Canadian Expeditionary Force or World War One but admittedly does have a CEF connection.

Pilot Officer (Air Observer) John Clements, RCAF

RAF Waddington today remains as one of the Royal Air Force's mainstay airfields. It is currently the home of the RAF's Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance Units. They utilize NATO AWACs, flying the E-3 Sentry and Raytheon Sentinel aircraft, and the unmanned MQ-9 Reaper weapon. RAF Waddington is the home of 34 Air Wing, Combat Support Group 2 as well as the base of many flying and non-flying RAF units. It is the home base of the RAF Red Arrows aerobatic display team, the Lincolncolnshire County Ambulance (helicopter), and the only flying Avro B-1 Vulcan bomber. The RAF Memorial Flight Avro Lancaster, Spitfires, Hurricane and Dakota are frequent guests from nearby RAF Coningsby while the field is host since 1995 to the RAF Waddington International Air Show as well as being a nuclear weapon dispersal site. A very busy place and also home to my daughter Beverly, her husband Greg a RAF Corporal, and their young family.

The field was built in 1916 as a Royal Flying Corps training station. Its first occupant was 44 Squadron in 1917 flying Sopwith Camels and commanded by later World War II Bomber Command Leader "Bomber" Harris the Squadron being based here intermittently until 1982. During World War Two, RAF Waddington functioned as a large base for front line Bomber Command Squadrons particularly again 44 Squadron who entered the airbase once more in 1937 and later in the war were the first RAF Squadron to fly the Avro Lancaster heavy bomber. The field is ideally located higher up in elevation from the surrounding fens, positioned a few miles from the English Channel and fast flying times to the Lowland countries of  Holland and Belgium, and facing favourable prevailing winds.

The town of Waddington still maintains its Elizabethan-era charm albeit with a modern grocery mart and take-out food stores. St. Michael's Church,  Three Horseshoes Pub and Market Square still are main destinations within the town as they were during the war. It was in this context that myself and wife Lynn decided to spend a couple of weeks visiting Bev and her young family and tour the surrounding countryside. When arranging our visit I noted that St. Michael's Cemetery was the final resting place to a number of RAF men, specifically one Canadian whose Common War Graves Commission listing showed that Pilot Officer (Air Observer) John Russell Clements RCAF was in fact a native of Milton, Ontario our new hometown.

John Clements was the grandson of one of Milton's first families William Clements and Drusilla Bowbeer. He was born June 8, 1915 as the first son to Captain Russell Matthew Clements and wife Alma Pearl Burling. Russell Matthew had served in the South Africa War (Boer War) 1899-1902 with the Canadian Mounted Rifles at a very young age (b.1884). He was awarded Boer War Land Grant #366. Post war he remained with the local militia unit the 20th Halton Rifles 13 years rising to the rank of Captain. He enlisted in World War One in Ottawa with the Canadian Army Service Corps # 2688437 but returned to Milton to supervise recruiting of the recently raised 164th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force. Post World War One, Russell Clements became the town postmaster and fulfilled several town functions at various times.

John Russell Clements spent his early life in Milton attending public school and Milton High School in this picturesque town. He was a 1938 graduate of the University of Toronto and obtained employment in Sudbury's Hollinger mines as an engineer. This is where he was employed when he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in North Bay September 1940. Like most young Canadian men that enlisted in the R.C.A.F., John probably had dreams of flying a fighter Spitfire aircraft into the bowels of Germany. However that was not to be. He eventually ended up as a Pilot Officer (Air Observer) helping to fly large twin-engined Manchester bomber aircraft in British 207 Squadron, RAF out of RAF Waddington September 1942.

The infamous Avro Manchester 2-engined heavy bomber

The Avro Manchester bomber was not one of the Royal Air Force's finer moments. The aircraft was plagued throughout its service with troublesome and underpowered engines however the Manchester with two additional engines eventually developed into the Avro Lancaster heavy bomber - probably the best bomber of World War II. By the end of 1941, Manchester had restricted payloads (8,000 lbs) but mostly were restricted to attacking German naval ports in the English Chanel. By June 1942 they had been totally replaced in active service by their successor, the 4-engined Lancaster.

In this light, No. 207 Squadron Manchester # L7318 was sent on September 15, 1941 on a mechanical mission to Cumbria to assist another Manchester with hydraulic problems. L7318 carried  a flying crew of four, including P/O (Air Observer) John R. Clements #J/5313, RCAF and ground crew consisting of six men for an on board total of 10 as well as spare parts. They were able to repair the ailing Manchester and both took to the air for a return to Waddington. The repaired aircraft landed first while L7318 flew the circuit. "Suddenly and in full view of people at Waddington Hykeham near the Waddington runway apron. Today the location is sited near the town water facilities beside a farmer's field.

P/O John Russell Clements, RCAF, Milton, ON

Both the aircraft pilot F/L Ernest Crump, RAF and observer P/O John Clements, RCAF occupying the right hand seat were buried in Waddington's St. Michael's Church Cemetery. Here they peacefully remain to this day amidst fellow comrades of the First and Second War Worlds. John Russell Clements carries the distinction of being the first casualty from Milton, Ontario in World War II. Many more were to follow.

It is worth noting that both the Canadian Virtual War Memorial and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission have John Russell Clements listed as a "Sergeant" while all other documentation I have seen list him as a "Pilot/Officer", a considerable difference, although admittedly I do not have a copy of his service file to confirm or deny his correct rank.

I told you there was a CEF connection. Well here it is. One of the other crew members to lose their life September 15, 1941 in L7318 was Pilot Officer (Navigator) John Patrick Sawyer, R.C.A.F. Sawyer aged 24 and the son of the late Lieutenant Robert Henry and Georgina Sawyer, formerly of Toronto, ON and now of Beaconsfield, Bucks, England. Lt. Robert Sawyer had joined the University of Toronto Training Company with a service number of 490813 June 12,1916, giving an address of 4 Maple Avenue.  He was a "steamship agent" and had previously been employed in that capacity in Nassau, Bahamas where son, John had been born in 1913. Lt. Robert Henry Sawyer transferred  to the Royal Flying Corps later became the Royal Air Force after joining the C.E.F.and was killed presumably in an air training accident August 3, 1918. Thus both father and son lost their lives flying in the airspace over England for the Royal Air Force in the two World Wars.

S.S. CITY OF CAIRO AND FLU EPIDEMIC

In a continuation from my last blog concerning Adam Sandy and the Halifax Explosion, the original soldier I was following on the Halifax Memorial was Private Alphonse Gosselin #3056616. His name is included as well on the Omemee, Ontario District War Memorial, the closest village to our former summer residence on Pigeon Lake.

I have submitted and had published the following story about Gosselin and the troopship S.S. City of Cairo in The Maple Leaf, Journal of the Western Front Association, Central Ontario Branch and the fine website on the S.S. City of Cairo authored by Scotsman, Hugh MacLean.

"I first became aware of the troopship S.S. City of Cairo when while recently investigating the 19 World War I names on the Omemee District War Memorial (Omemee, small Central Ontario resort village in the Kawarthas of 1200 inhabitants presently). Omemee has gained some notoriety lately as the former original home of Canada's last remaining soldier, Private Lloyd Clemett (and his 3 brothers) whose former residence was the wooden frame house still located at #10 King Street in the village. Many of the names on the Cenotaph relate to the area's 109th (Victoria and Haliburton) Battalion, based in nearby Lindsay. Omemee is also a boyhood home of Neil Young, who allegedly wrote his hit song Helpless after the living in the village as a young man. It is also the family home of Lady Flora McCrea Eaton, wife of Sir John Craig Eaton. The local elementary school is named in her honour. I was curious about Private Gosselin because as a Military Service Act 1917 conscript, his name was mentioned on the Halifax Memorial and because his date of death was listed as being only 26 days after being drafted in Lindsay, ON . On further investigation of his death date, I found a number of other men that died that same day or close to it also listed on the Halifax Memorial.

Thinking that the Memorial was used only for sailors that died at sea during the two World Wars, I was determined to find the source of the deaths of these young men. I was able to locate a reference to the loss of these soldiers on that date confirming my suspicions in The History of the Canadian Forces, 1914-1919 Medical Services, Sir Andrew McPhail. Here McPhail states in considerable detail that this time period was the peak of the worldwide Spanish Influenza epidemic. I was to learn that on the three troopships that had departed Canada in September, 1918, a total of 99 deaths occurred at sea and many more on arrival in England. These ships were: the S.S. City of Cairo; S.S. Victoria and the S.S./ Hunstead. My man Private Gosselin was 21 years old, a single farm labourer, possibly born in Quebec but working on a farm in Downeyville, a small community near the village of Omemee. He was included in Draft #175, Eastern Ontario Regiment, 1st Depot Battalion consisting of 1 officer and 50 soldiers who boarded the S.S. City of Cairo in Montreal that fatal September. Three of his mates from this Kingston, ON unit also succumbed to the flu while in transit.

The S.S. City of Cairo departed the Port of Montreal on September 26, 1918 with 1075 passengers, the majority of which (1057) were Canadian reinforcement soldiers for the Canadian Expeditionary Force and included six nursing sisters and a number of medical doctors. "Nearly all on board were sick and there were 32 deaths at sea. On arrival 244 flu cases were transferred to hospital, of which 114 were carried in on stretchers". The S.S. Hunstead and the S.S. Victoria had very similar numbers. With a brief stop in the Port of Quebec City September 28, she landed in England Port of Devonport (Plymouth) October 11, 1918".

All the names listed above can be found on the Halifax Memorial, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

MAY THEY REST IN PEACE!

Special thanks to Hugh A. MacLean and to Tony Jones for his photos of the S.S. City of Cairo

THE HALIFAX EXPLOSION AND ADAM SANDY CANADIAN SOLDIER

Funny how military researchers (at least this one) always get easily sidetracked into other topics, sometimes a number of other topics. A few years ago I was researching the village of Omemee's Centotaph when one of the names stood out. Pte. Alphonse Gosselin #3056618 also had his name on the Halifax Memorial as dying Oct. 8, 1918. My findings found he (and a number of others) had succombed to the Asian Flu while on a troopship heading for England. I submitted a short article on this subject to the Editor of the SS City of Cairo website which will be the topic of my next blog.

Then I noticed that the Halifax Memorial, according to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and in additon to it's 23 panels containing 3112 names of men and women of Commonwealth Forces who have no known grave, had an "Addenda Panel" with 14 names that were presumably added after 1967 when the Memorial was built. Two names again stood out as having died December 6, 1917 a date of notoriety - the date of the Halifax Explosion. Jumping ahead, after receiving his service record from Library and Archives Canada, my suspicions were confirmed - Private Adam Sandy #739267 had indeed been a victim of one of Canada's worst man-made disasters. I am still waiting for the service file of Pte. Charles Caplen #832713. Another fact is somewhat less obvious, both are First Nations natives. In fact of the 5 names listed on the "Addenda Panel" all are Canadian Aboriginal soldiers who apparently have "No Known Grave". Can't understand why the Commonwealth War Graves Commission didn't have that information in November 1967 when the Memorial was unveiled. On his service file is a telephone request from CWGC dated 1982 for information on the man so presumably that is around the time the "Addenda Panel" was added to the Halifax Memorial.

Private Adam Sandy # 739267 had been born in Tuscarora Township, Brant County on the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario and was a proud member of the Tuscarora Nation, Iroquois Confederacy. Working as a labourer, his attestation paper claims that he was married, born April 15, 1872 (making him 44 years old at the time of death) and having served 18 years in the 37th Haldimand Rifles, a Canadian militia unit almost entirely comprised of Six Nations natives. He attested into the 114th (Brocks Rangers) Battalion, C.E.F. on January 16, 1916 in Ohsweken listing his wife, Maggie, as next of kin signing the paper with an X signature. Apparently Pte. Sandy accompanied the battalion to Halifax where they departed for England on October 31, 1916 on the S.S. Coronia under the command of Lieut.-Colonel Andrew Thompson also a 37th Regiment veteran.

Now the story gleaned from his service record becomes contradictory. Private Sandy is listed "as a deserter - did not proceed overseas with the 114th". However his pay account was not closed and he is listed as being admitted to Rockhead Military Hospital in Halifax December 26, 1916 and being discharged to duty on January 1, 1917. Again on June 9, 1917 he was hospitalized with infected tonsils until his discharge on June 24. I think either he was asked to remain in Halifax because of his age and/or he was in ill health and was possibly hospitalized when the 114th Battalion proceeded overseas. The Casualty Form in his service file shows that Adam was transferred to the #6 District Special Services Company stationed in Halifax on October 31, 1916. This leads to his presence in Halifax the day of the great explosion of the French munition ship Mont-Blanc in the Harbour after colliding with the Norwegian vessel Imo. At this time we do not know if Adam was on duty or off duty in Wellington Barracks, the home of the Halifax Garrison that was directly in the path of the explosion and suffered heavy damage. Nevertheless Adam Sandy's body was never found or at least not identifiable.

Private Adam Sandy, according to then current regulations, was not entitled to either a British War Medal or a Victory Medal despite making the supreme sacrifice as a soldier of Canada for God, Country and King. His Last Pay Certificate shows that in addition to the normal Canadian soldier's pay of $1.00 per day, he was receiving the extra Service in the Field Allowance of $.10 per day. One would have to conclude that someone considered him employed in a war zone to receive the extra per Diem. His widow was entitled to a Silver Cross, Death Plaque and Scroll however I found no confirmation that they were ever sent out in his file. Maggie did receive the War Service Gratuity for Deceased Soldiers of $80.00 after his death.

The other four natives listed on the Halifax Memorial Addenda Panel are: Private Bertie Nackogie #1006931, 228th Battalion, Taykw Tagamou Nation (New Post, ON), Cree, Died December 25, 1916; Private Charles Caplen #832713, 145th Battalion, Lennox Islands First Nation (P.E.I.), Mi'kmaq, Died December 7, 1917; Private Francois Painted-Nose #1051587, 243rd Battalion, One Arrow First Nation (Batoche, SK) , Cree, Died December 26, 1918; and Private John Bones #820336, 141st Battalion, Manitou Rapids Band (Rainy River First Nation), Ojibwa, Died between 01/01/1919 and 31/12/1919. According to the late Edward H. Wigney in his book The C.E.F. Roll of Honour, the names of these five men collectively have never been recognized by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (until 1982 ) and the four (excepting Private Sandy) all died from disease. THEIR FINAL RESTING PLACES NEED TO BE FOUND AND PROPERLY IDENTIFIED! Their stories need to be told!

THE BRAVE MEN FROM ST.CANICE CATHEDRAL, KILKENNY (PART TWO)

Continuing on with our valiant and heroic men whose names are on the World War One Memorial Plaque in St. Canice Cathedral, Kilkenny City, Co. Kilkenny, Ireland, I will detail these men by the chronological order in which they gave there lives for God and the King. Several,if not all of these men knew each other however none ended up in the same Battalion. Our next soldier is Private John Willoughby McClean #20795, 10th Canadian Battalion, Died of Wounds, April 23, 1915 near Ypres. John McClean is found in the 1901 Irish Census living with his uncle John Willoughby and his family at #1 James Street, Kilkenny City. The McClean name is common in the North, I think that perhaps John was originally a native of Belfast. The family appears to have all been jewellers and watchmakers - Kilkenny is noted for it's fine jewellery - John was working with his uncle as a "jeweller assistant". When recently in Kilkenny, my wife Lynn purchased a watch from a small jeweller shop on High Street. I wonder? Competition for jobs must have been intense for we find John McClean immigrating to Toronto, Canada April 2, 1906, along with our next Kilkenny casualty, Alexander Cantley on the SS Athenia. We don't hear from John again until he again immigrated into Canada March 27, 1911 on the SS Lake Manitoba this time heading for Alberta. I have not found a reason for his return to the U.K. nor have I found when he returned - possibly a serious family event? He enlisted in Valcartier September 25, 1914 with Alberta's 10th Battalion. John McClean therefore was an original with the 10th Battalion and lost his life on a rather infamous day in Canadian Military history. John McClean's remains are to be found in Poperinghe Old Military Cemetery outside of Ypres. Next we have Private Alexander Alfred Cantley #27049, 15th Battalion, Killed In Action on April 29, 1915. Alexander as previously mentioned probably was a friend of John McClean, born the same year, living on a nearby street in Kilkenny, attending the same church (strange because Alex was a Presbyterian) and originally travelled to Toronto on the same vessel in April 1906 along with Alexander's older brother, Robert. The Cantley family lived near the Kearney Castle, Blanchville Demesne south-east of the City of Kilkenny. Alexander found employment as a prospector in Northern Ontario and joined the 97th Regiment (Algonquin Rifles). When the call went out from Ottawa in August 1914 for volunteers, Alexander was one of the 263 men from the 97th that were assigned to Toronto's 15th (48th Highlanders) Battalion in Valcartier. Brother Robert incidentally, married in 1908 and was employed as an Undertaker in Toronto, moving west by 1916 to Regina, SK with his family. Thus Alexander Cantley found himself on the front line on April 26 with the 15th. The previous day, the battalion had re-entered the line of trenches north of St.Jean in a field beside the main Poperinge-Ypres Road. The war diary claims that "the enemy was quiet" on April 29th with the battalion moving into a reserve position later in the day. The War Diary states that the battalion had suffered 639 in the past week. Alexander Cantley was Killed in Action on April 29 possibly by a sniper. His body was not retrieved on the withdrawal with "no record of burial" being recorded. His name is honoured on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres. History in Remembrance list from RBC (Royal Bank of Canada)

has a listing for John Hempenstall Kearney #25734, 14th Battalion, as follows:

PRIVATE KEARNEY, born in March 1892. Joined the Quebec Bank, Montreal, St. Catherine Street East Branch, September 28, 1913. Enlisted from Montreal, St. Matthew Street Branch, in the 14th (Royal Montreal Regiment) Battalion, August 15, 1914 in Valcartier, Quebec. Killed In Action, June 3, 1916.

The next man from the St.Canice Memorial Plaque was John Kearney. James was born in 1892 in Bangor, Co. Down, Ireland. His father, James, at the time was a constable in the Royal Irish Constabulary. In the 1901 Irish Census the family is found living on Grattan Street in Cork. Still later in the 1911 Census, father James has remarried, moved to #13 West Street, Kilkenny City and apparently retired from the R.I.C. employed as Clerk of Petty Sessions. John, at age 19, now is listed as a lodger in a residence in Carrickmacross town, Co. Monaghan working as a bank clerk. He must have been successful as he is shown as arriving in Quebec aboard the SS Corsican on September 25, 1913. As the page on the RBC website claims he started with the bank in Montreal on September 28 he would have applied for the position from Ireland and soon after joined the Canadian Grenadier Guards. The 14th Battalion was instrumental in a 3rd Brigade counter-attack the night of June2/3, 1916 on Maple Copse and Observatory Ridge positions. A comprehensive account can be found in the Battalion's War Diaries for those dates of the Battalion's brave attack on the German fortified line. Private John Kearney was listed as Missing in Action. He is one of the 72 names listed on the large wooden cross erected in the 3rd Brigade Cemetery in the area and one of 70 N.C.O.s and men killed on June 3. All these remains were later moved to a Special Collective Grave within the Railway Dugouts Burial Ground near Transport Farm Zillebeke. The actual grave locations are unknown therefore Private Kearney's name is honoured on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres.

ST. CANICE CATHEDRAL, KILKENNY, IRELAND

Several years ago, whilst pursuing my Cody family genealogy, wife Lynn and I found ourselves within the walls of the ancient and beautiful Cathedral Church of St. Canice, Kilkenny City, Ireland. http://www.stcanicescathedral.com Although still housing a Church of Ireland congregation the Cathedral is now apparently state owned and a National Landmark. Kilkenny is the ancestral home of my Cody Family with the family name prevalent in both Catholic and Protestant parish churches. While touring the interior of the church, we came across a Great War Memorial on a wall that at second look contained a section for Overseas Forces and specifically "Canadian Forces". There were six names inscribed presumably all former members of the parish and all had imigrated to Canada, enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force and had perished in the Great War.

The names were: Pte. James C. Bannan; Pte. Alexander A. Cantley; Pte. John T. Jestin; Pte. John H. Kearney; Pte. John W. Mc Clean and Pte. Stephen Stone. It has only been in recent weeks that I have been able to order these men's Canadian service records and research their respective service in the C.E.F. as well as their families in Kilkenny.



32 Kennyswell St., Kilkenny City

Private James Charles Bannan #79897, 31st (Alberta Regiment) Battalion was the son of Joseph and Mary Jane Bannan who in the 1901 Irish Census was living in a row house at 34 Kennyswell Street, Kilkenny which is only a couple of blocks from the Cathedral. Joseph was a former Sergeant in the Royal Irish Constabulary. Together Joseph and Mary had a least six children including boys Samuel, William Timothy, John and James Charles, all of whom immigrated to Western Canada at some point. James was the last to immigrate in March 1913 at the age of 19 on the S.S. Lake Manitoba joining brothers William, Samuel and John all whom had arrived in Medicine Hat, Alberta several years earlier and are found in the Canadian 1911 Census under the surname "Bannon". James however was the first to enlist, attesting November 18, 1914 in Medicine Hat into the 31st Battalion. He listed 3 years prior military experience with the South Irish Horse and his next of kin as father, Joseph, still residing in Kilkenny. James  followed to England with the 31st Battalion on the S.S. Northland May 29, 1915 with the Battalion being sent to France September 19, 1915. The only contrary notation on his service file was for being absent 24 hours July 19 to July 20 - he was docked 2 days pay. On November 6, 1915, the 31st Battalion were serving in the front line in Regent Street Dugouts, Kemmel, having taken over the line from the 28th Battalion that day. The War Diary for that day states "8 K - Heavy white frost. 11 K. Go over to Beaver Hat Overland. One man killed today - shot through the head. 2 sick sent to No. 6 field I Ambulance Dug-outs falling in". That man was Private James C. Bannan. He was interred in Kemmel Chateau Military Cemetery with full military honours. Private Bannan was entitled to receive the 1914-14 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal which along with the Death Plaque and Scroll, were sent to his father, Joseph c/o James Green, Kilkenny, Ireland. His mother was sent a Memorial Cross. James's married, older brother William Timothy b. 1887, who had settled in Medicine Hat in 1906 with wife Edna, serving with the 21st Hussars militia enlisted June 24, 1916 in Medicine Hat's 175th Battalion as a lieutenant. This is the same battalion a previous blog subject of mine had also enlisted from in Medicine Hat, Lt. David Richmond, who also tragically died while fighting with the 31st Battalion in 1918. William received a Military Cross September 16, 1918 while serving with the 31st Battalion:

"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during a raid on
enemy defences, when he led his platoon with the greatest of courage and skill,
and destroyed several hostile posts, and inflicted heavy casualties. His
splendid example and good leadership throughout afforded great encouragement to
all ranks with him".

Captain William T. Bannan is shown as returning to Canada December 13, 1918 on the hospital ship HMAT Essequibo with multiple fractures. William went on to become a very prominent citizen in Medicine Hat. He continued to serve in the militia in a new re designated Alberta Regiment. Lt.-Col. William T. Bannan into the 1920's when he reorganized the Battalion Band into one of the country's finest military bands. Transferred to the Reserve List of officers in 1926. City Alderman (1922-29), Hospital Board member (1929-1933) and Secretary for the Medicine Hat Chamber of Commerce (1941). Died November 11, 1966 and is buried in Medicine Hat's Hillside Cemetery along with wife Edna (1956), daughter Edna (1982), sister-in-law Elizabeth? (1952), brother George Herbert (1938), brother John Herbert (1964), and brother Samuel George (1960).

A special thanks to CEF Study Group Forum member "censlenov" for his research on this family. Thanks Chris!

I should add that I have decided to delete my previous blog on Sgt John Gratton #63381 and the Gratton Family from Landkey, Devon. I was accused of using a person's photographs from the VAC Virtual site despite them being anonymous and using incorrect biographical information, by a non-blood related distant relative.

ST. CANICE SOLDIERS TO BE CONTINUED ANOTHER DAY!

PRISONERS OF WAR, 3RD BATTALION

With our focus on surviving family members and those that are buried in the Western Front cemeteries from World War One, we sometimes forget the 3,835 Prisoners-of-War from the Canadian Expeditionary Force. My grandfather John Cody was one of those men captured by the Germans in Ploegstreert Woods, Belgium October 31,1915. Out of that total 286 of these soldiers were from the 3rd (Toronto Regiment) Battalion. This remains the second highest total by battalion following the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion also from Central Ontario belonging to the 3rd Canadian Division.

Of the 286 men from the 3rd Battalion only 21 were not taken during the Second Battle of Ypres, April 22-May 25, 1915. This battle is noted as being the first poisonous gas attack in history and its results were shocking. The Canadian first division had been rushed in April 22 to bolster the line near the village of St. Julien trying to prevent the German Army from encircling them. Two counter-attacks by the Canadians on the 22nd and 23rd succeeded in stopping the German advance and closed the gap in the line. The following day, the Germans launched a gas attack directly on the Canadian positions and swept across the fields surrounding the village of St. Julien, trapping many Canadians including companies "C" and "D" of the 3rd Battalion who had been rushed up to the front from reserve. Virtually all the men from these two companies were killed, wounded and/or captured.

The majority of the remaining P.O.W.s from the 3rd Battalion were captured on October 8, 1916 during the battalion attempt to capture "the Quadrilateral" and Regina Trench during the Battle of the Somme. Remaining prisoners like my grandfather were captured in different situations throughout the war.

A number of prisoners that were captured were in fact also wounded with several 3rd Battalion POWs succumbing to their wounds while in captivity. Those that ended up in German work camps like Soltau with its infamous salt and coal mines were not so lucky. Fortunately because grandfather was a non-commissioned officer, he was not bound to perform hard labour. However he was constantly asked to work in the mines, he continued to refused and for that was punished and sent to "discipline camps". One of the items I inherited from my grandfather was this postcard he brought home after the war that he had been sent by a fellow prisoner in June 1917 From Minden Camp. An Australian corporal by the name of Allan Speer was obviously was a good friend to my grandfather. I believe the card was sent after John Cody was moved to another camp.

The card is signed "A reminder of Minden & captivity. To my esteemed chum Corpl. J. Cody. Sent with the best of wishes and good luck. From yours sincerely yours, Allan Speer. Minden June 27, 1917 , The Rosery, Jasmine Street, Bowrae, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia".

Cpl. Allan Speer, submitted with
 thanks by Linda Emery

The postcard is a photograph of 24 Australian N.C.O.s all who were named on the reverse and who apparently were captured at various times and ended up in Minden Camp. With the advent of new web technology and digitalized archival data from various sources, we have been able to identify most of the men in the photo as well locate their Red Cross Prisoner of War files, their Australian attestation papers, Australian Army service files and embarkation information. Because I am forever getting contacted by surviving families from the subjects of previous blogs, I thought it might be worthwhile to publish the names and hope that relatives of the individuals might locate this blog and the photo of their family member. Many of these men were captured ( and a number wounded) at Fromelles, Somme on July 19 and 20, 1916. Their names are:

1. Speakman, Sgt. John #791, 54th Battalion Australian Imperial Force, Captured 20/07/1916
2. Bowman, Sgt. David McQueen #1715, 55th Battalion A.I.F., 21/08/1916
3. Davis, H - at the present time remains unidentified
4. Shirley, L/Cpl. George #3305, 55th Battalion A.I.F., 12/08/1916
5. Newman, CSM Kenneth Fossey #307, 29th Battalion A.I.F., 20/09/1916
6. Stewart, Sgt. Donald Singleton #4600, 54th Battalion A.I.F., 12/08/1916
7. Speer, Cpl. Robert Allan #3138, 54th Battalion A.I.F., 12/08/1916
8. Mules, Cpl. Robert James #415, 32nd Battalion A.I.F., 20/07/1916
9. McCurley, Sgt. Robert Thomas #2557, 54th Battalion A.I.F., unknown
10. Robertson, L/Sgt. Eric Lionel #3516, 53rd Battalion A.I.F., 19/07/1916
11. Smith, L/Cpl. Percy Carlton #2675, 55th Battalion A.I.F., 20/07/1916
12. Sargent, Cpl. Foster Hartley #4587, 54th Battalion A.I.F., August, 1916
13. Robinson, Cpl. William #417, 32nd Battalion A.I.F., 20/07/1916
14. Cole, Sgt. Oliver Stanley #1321, 29th Battalion A.I.F., 20/07/1916
15. Stringfellow, Cpl. George Henry #3436, 55th Battalion A.I.F., 20/07/1916
16. Still, Cpl. Harry Andrew #803, 31st Battalion A.I.F., 20/07/1916
17. Breen, Sgt. Reginald James #4735, 53rd Battalion A.I.F., 20/07/1916
18. Stanton, L/Cpl. Dugald Pitta #3427, 53rd Battalion A.I.F., 20/07/1916
19. Simpson, Sgt. Harold John #2414, 53rd Battalion A.I.F., 20/07/1916
20. Fitch, Sgt. Ernest Anthony #3166, 5th Battalion A.I.F., 25/07/1916
21. Wilson, Cpl. John Albert #1133, 4th Battalion A.I.F., 02/03/1917
22. McDonald, Cpl. John #4278, 54th Battalion A.I.F., 20/07/1916
23. Wilson, Pte (Cpl.?) Edward Albert #5262, 8th Battalion A.I.F. 18/08/1916
24. O'Shea, Sgt. Patrick Joseph #642, 20th Battalion A.I.F., 05/06/1916
25. Austin, Cpl. David Wilson #1652, 20th Battalion A.I.F., 02/06/1916

If you would like any further information on any of these men or can add more information on the few unidentified at this point, I would be pleased to hear from you. The service records for all these men are now available on-line at the National Archives of Australia - World War One soldiers here. They all returned to Australia at different times and presumably returned to civilian life with the scars of having been interred in Germany as well as any wounds they may have received in battle.

There are two fine books that have been written in the plight of Canadian Prisoners of War during World War One. They are:

SILENT BATTLE Canadian Prisoners of War in Germany 1914-1919, Desmond Morton, Lester Publishing, Toronto, 1992

GUESTS OF THE KAISER Prisoners-of-War of the Canadian Expeditionary Force 1915-1918, Edward H. Wigney, CEF Books, Ottawa, 2008

Both can be found at your local library or on http://www.abebooks.com/
 

I have been advised by member Leigh from the Great War Forum, that in fact most of he Australian Prisoners of War are from the Australian 5th Division, AIF and were captured at Fromelles, July 20, 1916. He also states that the "Bowrae" referred to by Allan Speer is actually Bowral, a picturesque town about 90 minutes south of Sydney.

As well Great War Forum member" frev" has identified No. 8 prisoner as Sgt. Robert James Mules, #415, 32nd Battalion, AIF and No. 22 prisoner as Cpl. John McDonald, #4278. Many thanks to both.

ADDED JUNE 7, 2014

Dear Bob,

I was delighted to see the photograph on your blog of Australian POWs at Minden during WWI sent to your grandfather in Canada by Allan Speer.  I am almost finished a research project on the soldiers from the Southern Highlands of NSW, where Bowral is located.  Allan Speer is one of nearly 1200 local boys who enlisted from this area, along with his brother Cecil Herbert Speer.  I am particularly interested in the photo for another reason too.  Another brother, David Speer, was a well-known photographer in Bowral.  In nearby Berrima, about 8km away, there was an internment camp for WWI German POWs and David Speer took many pictures of the activities of the internees which he sold as postcards and put into a book of views. This has been digitised by the National Library of Australia: http://catalogue.nla.gov.au/Record/1968141?lookfor=author:(d.%20speer)%20{format:Book}&offset=3&max=15

It may well have been because of his brother’s capture in France and subsequent internment in Germany that he first became interested in photographing the Germans at work and play on the other side of the world.  Certainly Allan had written home to say that he was being treated well and was relatively happy.

Attached is a photo of Allan Speer – not very good, but enough I think  to identify him in your photo as middle row, 2^nd from left.  According to articles which appeared in local papers, Allan Speer was captured on 20^th July 1916 .

I wonder if you would be willing to send me high resolution scans of the front and back of your postcard?  I am archivist for our local historical society and it would be a fantastic addition to our collection if you would agree to donate a copy of the picture. We hold a very large and nationally significant  collection of images and artefacts relating to the POW camp in Berrima.

I am happy to send you some more biographical information if you are interested.  Your blog is terrific!

Hope to hear from you,

Linda Emery

CSM GEORGE HYDE PATRICK, #63712 3RD BATTALION, CEF

The final soldier remaining to be profiled in my blogs remaining from "The Friends of My Grandfather" photograph I inherited is Company Sergeant Major George Hyde Patrick #63712. He is the man on the extreme left back row. CSM Patrick has also proved to be the most difficult to profile genealogy-wise with an absence of photographs, web material and family histories. According to Cody family stories, my grandfather John Cody a Bridgewater CT resident, read a Boston newspaper recruiting for British and Commonwealth-born recruits for a Canadian Regiment. I have always assumed that this regiment was the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, who apparently used newspapers across Canada and in New York and Boston to look for experienced military men. Thus he set out on a train for Montreal, accompanied by "about 20 other men". I believe George Patrick was one of these other men.

Grave of CSM George Patrick, Villiers Station Cemetery, France

The 20 or men that were on my grandfather's train from Boston were under the impression that they were heading north to Canada to join a new private Regiment being raised to fight join the British with the offer to veterans of good pay, comradeship and the promise of adventure. However on arrival in Montreal the men were to learn that the P.P.C.L.I. had departed some weeks earlier. They were greeted by Captain Robert Bickerdike Jr. from the 58th Westmount Rifles Regiment and other recruiters for the other Montreal Regiments such as the Royal Montreal Regiment, the Royal Highland Regiment (Black Watch) and the Victoria Rifles. Bickerdike was a wealthy Montreal civil engineer and businessman who had helped to finance and form the Westmount Rifles. He was instrumental in recruiting for the 23rd Battalion and 60th Battalion, later joining the 87th Battalion as a Lieutenant, serving in France and rising to command this Battalion. Both John Cody and George Patrick are listed on the Nominal Roll of the draft of 58th Westmount Rifles men that joined the 23rd Battalion. My grandfather, attested October 27, 1914 with Robert Bickerdike Jr as his witness. George Patrick followed five days later.

George Hyde Patrick claimed he was born in Halifax, NS on March 25, 1888. I have found the marriage in 1872 of his parents, Ralph Patrick (30), a printer and native of Pictou, and Annie E. Fenerty (25) daughter of a Halifax book-binder. The parents emigrated to Winthrup. MA soon after their marriage, between 1873 and 1881 and after the birth of Robert William Patrick in Halifax 1873. I believe I have located the family in the 1881 U.S. Census (without George) so I feel George Hyde Patrick, like my grandfather, lied about his country of birth as a citizen of the Commonwealth in order to attest into the CEF. George H. Patrick does show up in the 1900 U.S. Federal Census as living in Middlesex, MA. Nevertheless, on attestation in Montreal he was listed as a twenty-four year old, single, Insurance Salesman showing him mother, Annie E., as his Next of Kin.



Death Penny of George Hyde Patrick

Private Patrick accompanied the 23rd Battalion when they departed Halifax on the newly-built S.S. Missanabie February 23, 1915. By March, the 23rd Battalion were in intensive training at Shorncliffe Camp and being made readied for reinforcing the 1st Contingent who was now serving in the Front Lines. On March 23, 1915 George Patrick was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal. On May 3, 1915 Lance Corporals John Cody and George Patrick were two of 296 reinforcement soldiers to be taken on service with the 3rd (Toronto) Battalion after their devastating losses in the 2nd Battle of Ypres, April 22-28, 1915. From here on, the service of George Patrick was uneventful in 1915. Promoted to full Corporal on June 8, he suffered "contusions and shock" requiring short-term hospitalization June 16. In September, again treatment for eye refraction and eye care. On December 28, George was promoted to rank of Sergeant and early in January, 1916, he received 9 days leave in France. He received a gunshot wound to the buttocks in the action around Mount Sorrel June, 1916 that required a short hospital visit. From this action Sergeant Patrick was "MID- Mentioned In Dispatches for Gallant and Distinguished Service in the Field". On September 19, 1916, George Patrick was promoted to Company Sergeant-Major and Warrant Officer II "C" Company replacing CSM Frank Knight who died of wounds that same day while the battalion was fighting near Courcelette in the Somme.

By December 1916, the 3rd Battalion was in the trenches in the relatively quite area of Souchez when on December 6, Company Sergeant-Major George Patrick was Killed in Action by a German sniper. While in the front line trenches at Souchez, Carency sector, he was "struck in the head by an explosive rifle bullet and killed instantly". The were no other fatalities in the 3rd Battalion that day. Several days later they participated in a daring and successful trench (about 90 men).

CSM Patrick was honourably laid to rest in Villers Station Cemetery, Villers-au-Bois, France. Interestingly, this cemetery is home to the brother of one of 3rd Battalion's most decorated men Lieutenant Edward Slattery as well as brother Private Michael Slattery #458270, 87th Battalion and the remains of four soldiers shot at dawn for desertion.



Birth Certificate George Patrick

George Hyde Patrick's medals as well as the plaque, scroll and memorial cross were mailed to Mrs. Dora H. Patrick, wife, in Arlington, MA. Assigned pay in the amount of $10.00 a month was being sent to a Mrs. H.W. Aitken in Winthrup, MA. Separation Allowance and War Service Gratuity was sent to Dora Hammond Patrick, widow, Arlington, MA. Attestation paper clearly states "no" to being married.

A mysterious man, a mysterious family, and a friend of my grandfather!

Thanks to Gary E. Switzer for filling in some blanks.

***NEW INFORMATION*** December 24, 2010

Thanks to friend Annette Fulford some of the mystery of George Patrick's life has been explained:


Medals of George Hyde Patrick #63712

George Hyde Patrick 23 years married Dora Haskell Hammond on October 31, 1911 in Somerville, MA. Apparently George did not want the fact known that he was married on attesting in Montreal November, 1914.

Harry Wallace Aiken married Elenore Stewart Patrick (George's sister) October 9, 1901 in Cambridge, MA This partially explains who Mrs. H.W. Aiken was. Why he sent a portion of his pay to his sister earlier on instead of his wife remains unknown.

***UPDATE***
August 20,2011

By the kind generosity of Diane Pentland granddaughter of George Hyde Patrick and husband Bruce, we now include photographs in the blog of George's medals, his Oak Leaf cluster for being Mentioned-in-Dispatches, government correspondence concerning his death and a brilliant photo taken in August, 1945 of his grave in Villiers Station Military Cemetery, France. A special thanks to Diane and Bruce.