MUCH TOO YOUNG TO DIE!
The Boys of the 3rd
Battalion who made the Supreme Sacrifice
With the recent release of the fine
book, OLD ENOUGH TO FIGHT, Canada’s Boy Soldiers in the First World War, Dan Black and John Boileau, Lorimer & Co. Toronto, 2013, I was
prompted to research and document some of the boy soldiers that enlisted, made
it to the front lines and were killed while in the service of the 3rd
(Toronto) Battalion. It was not my intention to investigate the reasons behind
the soldiers enlisting or the methods used in reached the trenches of France
and Belgium. Rather I simply wanted to acknowledge the contributions made by
these young men in making the supreme sacrifice. As my research over the years
has introduced me to a number of young men that also survived the war, I
decided to include some of these boys as well. I am not for a moment suggesting
that the following soldiers represent the only under aged soldiers to serve in
the 3rd Battalion. However I am acquainted with each one of these
young men be the either by the act of photographing his headstone, possessing
his medals at some point of time, or having read about their service during the
course of research at some point in the past. The young men that perished are
listed in chronological order while the ones that survived the war are to found found in alphabetical order.The age range for enrolment in the CEF was 18-45. This was consistent with King's Regulations and Orders for the Canadian Militia (1910) para 243. However, KR&O 1910 para 246 also allowed boys of good character to enlist in the militia from 14-17 (or in special cases 13) as bandsmen, trumpeters, buglers or drummers with the consent of their parents or guardians. Since militia officers or units did most of the recruiting, I can understand why minors would be enlisted. Men could not be sent overseas from England unless they were 19 years old or 18 1/2 in 1918. This was a British policy which applied to CEF units in England. Canadian regulations were finally harmonized with the British policy in 1918. A Young Soldiers' Battalion was established in 1916 to hold minors until they were 19 although others were held by the CAMC Training Depot. In February 1917, the 5th Division had over 900 juveniles on strength. To some extent these were theoretical limitations. The degree to which they were followed depended on the unit and how closely the draft was checked before leaving for the continent. Desmond Morton in his book "When Your Number's Up" noted the youngest soldier was ten years old when he enlisted. Unfortunately, he did not provide a source or a name. The youngest verified enlistment that I know of was 258572 William Henry Hugh Hutchinson (also Hutchison) who was born 15 January 1904 and enlisted in the 211th Battalion 23 June 1916. A medical board
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| Barnardo's House, 1908, 214 Farley Ave., Toronto |
England
until they were 19 (changed in 18 1/2 in the spring of 1918). Thus a man could
be of age in Canada but underage the moment he set foot in England. Enlistment
ages also conflicted with the school leaving age which in Ontario, for example,
was 14 at which point the child was free to enter the work force. If the
factory, why not the CEF? The policy regarding minors took some time be
developed, but from July 1917 onwards, all boys under 17 were returned to
Canada, those aged 17 to 18 1/2 were posted to the Boys Battalion at Bexhill
and those who were 18 1/2 were retained by reserve battalions until they
reached the age of 19. Evidently, this issue became a problem in France when
requests were made to send back men who were claimed to be underage. I have
seen a return from the 34th Boys Battalion in December 1916 that reported 803
juveniles on strength with seven under the age of 14." Evidently, this issue became a problem
in France when requests were made to send back men who were claimed to be
underage. This is a snippet from the Diary of the Canadian Section of the 3rd
Echelon at General Headquarters: |
| Valley Military Cemetery, Vis-rn-Artois, France |
Rouen
1917 August 7
(3) THE POLICY WITH REGARD TO THE WITHDRAWAL OF MINORS FROM THE LINE.
In future the date of birth shown on the Attestation paper will govern,
and the necessary action to withdraw the minor from the firing line will be taken
only on production of documentary evidence in one of the following forms :
i. Birth Certificate.
ii. Sworn declaration by parents before a Notary Public.
iii. The Declaration of a Clergyman or a Priest before a responsible
party.
If the boy is shown to be under eighteen years of age he is to be
returned to England. - If between the ages of 18 and 19 to be sent to an
Army School. On attaining the age of nineteen to be sent to his Base
Depot to rejoin Unit."
Depot to rejoin Unit."
The
narrative above was a compilation taken from the CEF Study Group Forum www.cefresearch.ca threads on underage soldiers authored for the most part by Western
graduate student, Richard Holt or “stonetown”. I have included this because I
felt it best explains the legalities of the enlisting of young Canadian
soldiers.
Despite the forgoing age restrictions
and limitation, Tim Cook, World War One historian at the Canadian War Museum in
Ottawa, estimates that out of the 424,589 who served overseas in the Canadian
Expeditionary Force, as many as twenty thousand underage soldiers made it to
Europe, and another several thousand never got to leave Canada. Boy soldiers
have been fighting for various causes since the beginning of time. Indeed they
(as well as girl soldiers) are still fighting. I believe their reason for
enlisting or trying to enlist may have origins different than from those who
enlisted of legal age. I think that perhaps “peer pressure” may have played an
important part, like the fellows that enlisted from the community of Humber
Bay. Humber Bay was a very small community situated in south-east Etobicoke,
north of the Lakeshore in today’s City of Toronto, being primarily settled
about 1900. Most of the settlers from England were gardeners and farmers that
cultivated and divided small plots of land into market gardens raising and
selling vegetables and flowers. The children all went to the same school and grew
up together as “family”. Thus we have friends in the Reeves Brothers, Arnold
Winger and Walter Riches all trying to enlist about the same time. Of course a
sense of adventure and a chance to earn a working man’s pay were motivations as
well. However it is doubtful a sense of moral obligation to the home country
and family, as their fathers may have had. The Barnardo organization and other
organizations like Fegan Boys, in England, were active in sending boys and
girls to Canada, who were disadvantaged, orphaned, work house and work school
tenants. Many worked long and hard hours and were not treated well on the farms
they were sent to across Canada. Many enlisted to esccape the hard conditions.
Despite the forgoing age restrictions
and limitation, Tim Cook, World War One historian at the Canadian War Museum in
Ottawa, estimates that out of the 424,589 who served overseas in the Canadian
Expeditionary Force, as many as twenty thousand underage soldiers made it to
Europe, and another several thousand never got to leave Canada. Boy soldiers
have been fighting for various causes since the beginning of time. Indeed they
(as well as girl soldiers) are still fighting. I believe their reason for
enlisting or trying to enlist may have origins different than from those who
enlisted of legal age. I think that perhaps “peer pressure” may have played an
important part, like the fellows that enlisted from the community of Humber
Bay. Humber Bay was a very small community situated in south-east Etobicoke,
north of the Lakeshore in today’s City of Toronto, being primarily settled
about 1900. Most of the settlers from England were gardeners and farmers that
cultivated and divided small plots of land into market gardens raising and
selling vegetables and flowers. The children all went to the same school and grew
up together as “family”. Thus we have friends in the Reeves Brothers, Arnold
Winger and Walter Riches all trying to enlist about the same time. Of course a
sense of adventure and a chance to earn a working man’s pay were motivations as
well. However it is doubtful a sense of moral obligation to the home country
and family, as their fathers may have had. The Barnardo organization and other
organizations like Fegan Boys, in England, were active in sending boys and
girls to Canada, who were disadvantaged, orphaned, work house and work school
tenants. Many worked long and hard hours and were not treated well on the farms
they were sent to across Canada. Many enlisted to esccape the hard conditions. |
| Ploegsteert Woods Military Cemetery, Flanders |
The topic of Boy soldiers has been
researched in great detail, both in Britain and here in Canada. As a result a great new book was recently published:
OLD ENOUGH TO FIGHT, Canada’s Boy
Soldiers With the First World War, Dan Black & John Boileau, James Lorimer
& Co, Toronto, 1913.
The following young men, with the
exception of the final five, lost their lives while fighting with the 3rd
(Toronto) Battalion, CEF in the trenches of France and Belgium. The majority of
the attestation papers do not have the correct birth year. I have checked www.ancestry.ca both
censuses and birth records to ascertain the correct age. When a soldier was
killed, I show the age at death. Otherwise age at enlistment is shown. The last five either fought with the “Dirty
Third” or, in the case of Cedric Reeves, had a brother and friend that were
killed in the 3rd Battalion. Private Stephenson is included because
I knew of him and his original attempt to enlist in the 234th (Peel)
Battalion which fed a substantial draft to the 3rd Battalion, including
Privates William Tricker and old friend from Passchendaele, Sydney Churchward.
Private Sidney
Currie, 63199 – Born August 7, 1897 in Camberwell, London, England to
parents Oswald and Elizabeth Currie. Oswald was a “Pianist” in the 1901
Census, living at 78 Harris Street, Camberwell. They also had children
Charles Lee (10), Malcolm (7), Grace (6) as well as Sidney (3). That same
year, Sidney and older sister, Grace, at shown as students in Southampton
Street School, ending 1903. In 1903, we see Sidney Currie and his older
brother, Malcolm sent to Canada as member of a group of 194 youths Barnardo
Children on the S.S. Dominion Liverpool to Quebec, destined for Barnardo
Homes in Toronto. No record of either boy until Sidney enlists in Montreal’s
23rd Battalion, November 27, 1914. He listed his birth year as
1895 and occupation as “labourer”. Sidney was included as one of 237
reinforcements from the 23rd Battalion in England sent to the 3rd
Battalion (along with my Grandfather John Cody #63207) arriving May 3, 1915
as they were in reserve outside of Ypres. Died of wounds July 3, 1915 at No.
2 Canadian Field Ambulance and buried in Maple Leaf Cemetery, La Romarin,
France. Age 17.
An on-line Inquiry search found:
I am trying to locate any members of Owald CURRIE's (b.c1867) family He was blind fron the age of 3 due to Scarlet Fever. He went to a Blind School, married in c1893 to Elizabeth ? she was a widow with one child Charles Lee b.c1890. They had 3 children by 1901, Malcolm, Grace and Sydney and there may have been others. Oswald was son of Oswald CURRIE b. c1845, he was a Naval Sailor, his wife was Rach(a)el SHADBOLT. They married in 1865 and by 1861 Rachel was a widow. As well as Oswald they had a daughter Kate b. 1871 who married a Raphael HUDSON. The family all lived in the Camberwell area for most of their lives. Any help to find them or descendants would be gratefully received. Thank-you
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Private Arnold Edward Winger, 404241 – Born October 26, 1896 in
Jarvis, Ontario. Enlisted April 5, 1915 in the 35th Battalion,
Toronto, ON. He listed his mother, Edith Jane (Nash) Winger, as his next of
kin. Father was Edward. Occupation listed as a gardener in Humber Bay, ON and
an active militia member. At age 18, he stood 5’5”, with black hair, brown
eyes and a dark complexion. He had the tattoo of a flag and two hands on his
left forearm. Eight scars on the small of his back, He was a Baptist. Private
Winger was included in the early 1st Reinforcing Draft 250 men of
the 35th Battalion. They
departed from Montreal on June 4, 1915 on S.S. Metagama meaning that Arnold
and many of his comrades received only very minimum training after enlisting
and sailing for England. Young Private Winger was one of a large draft sent
to the 3rd Battalion in the field on July 17, 1915. Arnold was
“Killed in Action” September 23, 1915 while in the trenches in Ploegsteert
Woods with the 3rd Battalion. Buried in Ploegsteert Woods Military
Cemetery. Age 18.
Private Harry Sherman Pope, 457399 – Born July 15, 1900 Smith
Falls, Lanark County, Ontario, young Harry was baptised in the Congregational
Church, Danville, Quebec in 1903. Father Alfred and mother, Catherine, I
believe were Francophone, despite having an Anglo surname. Harry was the
older brother to Frederic and Adeline with the family living 2555 Mance
Street, Montreal early
 1915. Working as a “plumber”, he joined the 60th
(Victoria Rifles), “D” Company on June 15, 1915. Private Pope was in the 1st
Reinforcing Draft that sailed August 27, 1915 frm Montreal on the S.S.
Scandinavian. On arrival at Shorncliffe this draft was absorbed by the 23rd
Reserve Battalion on September 6, 1915. Private Pope was then transferred to
the 3rd Battalion reaching that unit on December 12, 1915 in the
field. His service record states “Killed in Action, bullet in the head, died
on reaching Advance dressing Station of No.2 C.F.A.” in the trenches north of
Wulverghem January 8, 1916. He is buried in Wulverghem-Lindenhoek Road
Military Cemetery, Flanders, Belgium. We can see that the young man spent only 31
days in the service of the 3rd Battalion. Age 15.
Private Wilfred William Payne, 171670 – According to his
attestation papers, Wilfred Payne joined the 83rd (Queen’s Own)
Battalion in Toronto April 11, 1915. Although he listed being born in 1897,
subsequent investigation (1901 and 1911 Census) has revealed that he was
actually born in 1900 in Stourport, England. He immigrated May 1912 to Canada
with mother Agnes on the SS Virginian Liverpool/Quebec to join his father
showing his age as 12. In the 3rd Battalion attack on Regina Trench,
Somme on October 8, 1916, Private Payne was reported as “missing” later to be
listed as “killed in action. The Commonwealth War Graves Register states “A
careful search near le Sars failed to discover the grave. His name and regt.
particulars have been included on a Memorial Cross No. 22 which has been
erected in Adanac Military Cemetery Memorial Plot Row B”. His name is also
inscribed on the Canadian Vimy Memorial. Age 16.
Private William Harold Burleigh, 172103 – Born June 23, 1897 in Palmerston, ON ,
William Burleigh was living in his Grandparents home with mother Florence and
other family member in the 1901 Census in Palmerston. Then Private Burleigh
has remained elusive until he show up with his attestation paper on August
21, 1915 in Toronto with the 83rd (Queen’s Own Rifles) Overseas
Battalion. He listed his occupation as stenographer, single status, ahe 18
years, 2 months and his mother Florence with an address in Rothsay, ON as his
next of kin. The 83rd Battalion departed Halifax on the S.S.
Olympic April 28, 1916 and arrived West Sandling Camp, England. (a very early
draught of 3 officers and 250 other ranks left Canada September 25, 1915) The
battalion was absorbed by the 12th Reserve Battalion with large
draughts headed to the 3rd, 4th and 4th CMR
Battalions. A large draught of 83rd
soldiers was sent to the 3rd Battalion in the field after their
disastrous losses in June 1916 at Mount Sorrel. Private William Harold
Burleigh was another young soldier lost by the “Dirty Third” on October 8,
1916 from their attack on Regina Trench, in the Somme. He is one of the few
identified and buried within Adanac Military Cemetery, Somme, France. Age 19.
Private Russell Lewis Collingridge, 292182 – He was born July 3, 1900 in Guelph, ON
to Louis and Margaret Collingridge. There were a number of siblings but only
Percy Joseph #285301, 220th Battalion, born in 1899 also enlisted.
At some point the family moved to 70 Northcote Avenue, Toronto. Young Russell
attested into Toronto’s 95th (Queens Own Rifles) Battalion listing
his occupation as a butcher wagon driver and his birth date as July 28, 1995.
The 95th Battalion
 embarked on the S.S. Olympic from Halifax for
England on May 31, 1916. It had strength of 36 officers and 1061 other ranks.
On arrival in Shorncliffe, England the 95th was broken up late
June for reinforcements for the 1st, 3rd, 75th
and 4th CMR Battalions after the Battle of Mount Sorrel. At some
point our Private Collingridge were taken on service with the 3rd
Battalion, possibly before his 16th birthday. He was a victim of
the 3rd and 4th Battalions’ attack on the Quadrilateral
and Regina trenches in the Somme on October 8, 1916. In this battle, the 3rd
Battalion lost 13 officers and 326 other ranks out of a total of 15 officers
and 481 other ranks. Private Russell Lewis Collingeridge was one of only 31
men, along with fellow under age soldier William Burleigh, whose remains were
identified and given an identifiable burial. He was buried in Adanac Military
Cemetery, Somme, France. Age 16.
Private William Edward Tricker, 1024315 – He was born January 18, 1900 in Ipswich,
Suffolk, England to Edgar William and Sarah Elizabeth Tricker. In the 1901
Census, the young family is residing in St. Margaret, Suffolk with William
having an older sister, Alice, age 2. However in the 1911 Census, William,
age 11, is found as an inmate in the St. John Workhouse and School for Boys
and Girls, Ipswich with no mention made of the others in his family. We next
find 15 year old William E. Tricker as one of a party of 105 young men on the
S.S. Corsican leaving Liverpool destined July 1914 for Barnardo Homes in
Toronto, ON. We next find William Edward Tricker enlisting in the 234th
(Peel) Overseas Battalion September 6, 1916 in West Toronto’s Ravina Barracks
with a service number of 1024315. He lists his address as “Alton, ON” a small
rural community south of Orangeville and occupation as “Farmer”. His next of
kin, unlike most other Home Children who list their employers, is his mother,
Mrs. Tricker of Ipswich, England. This incomplete battalion (279 ranks, 15
officers) embarked from Halifax on the S.S. Scandinavian
Private Harry John Barrett, 237647 – Born March 31, 1900 in Peterborough,
Huntingshire, England to William and Ellen Barrett. The family are shown in
the 1901 Census Living in Fletton, Huntingshire with Harry (1), William (2)
and Emily (10) as well as the parents. However in 1905, the entire family
immigrated (Toronto Beavers) Battalion, Harry John listed his birth date as
1898, marital status single and working as a labourer. However in 1905 the
family immigrated to Canada settling in East Toronto, living at 38 Bastedo
Avenue. William Barrett, Sr. Died March 27, 1908 in Toronto. Ellen later
remarried to a Mr. Attwood. On attesting into Toronto’s 204th
(Toronto Beavers) April 26, 1916, The 204th departed for England
on March 28, 1917 from Halifax on the S.S.Saxonia. They were absorbed by the
2nd Reserve Battalion, East Sandling, on arrival, eventually most of the 204th
Battalion ended up in Toronto 3rd or 75th Battalions in
France. Private Harry John Barrett was transferred to the 3rd Battalion
April 17, 1917. Wounded with a GSW right shoulder July 29, 1917, No. 22
General Hospital. Returned to action August 22, 1917. Treated 41 days May,
1918 for V.D. with loss of pay. Returned to duty June 6, 1918. Private
William Barrett was “Killed In Action” August 30, 1918 in the 3rd
Battalion’s attack on Orix Trench, near Drury. He is buried in a mass grave in
picturesque Valley Cemetery, Vis-en-Artois, France. Age 18.
 Private Samuel Harry Chickegian, 2393367 – Little is known about
either Samuel Chickegian or his family, other than what is entered on his
attestation papers his and service record. Supposedly born April 18, 1899 in
Arek, Armenian (present day Turkey), he listed his occupation as “soda
dispenser”. It is highly probable he was born much later, possibly in 1903.
Height was 5’ 3’, weight was 114 pounds. A naturalized Canadian, It appears
he was serving with the Service Battalion, Canadian Defence Force, Toronto’s
48th Highlanders when he
attested June 5, 1917 into the newly formed 1st Depot Battalion, 1st
Central Ontario Regiment. He listed his mother, Lucile, as next of kin,
living at 128 Alfred Street, Toronto. Father was John. However in subsequent
documents in the service file, the family is living in a number of addresses
in both St. Catharines and Brantford, ON. On October 18, 1917, Samuel was
admitted to Base Hospital, Toronto for removal of a “sebaceous cyst” being
discharged October 22. He arrived in England in a draft on the S.S. Scotian
December 7, 1917 and was immediately assigned to the 5th Reserve
Battalion, Sandling then on February 15, 1918 to the 12th Reserve Battalion
in Witley. April 8, 1918 Private Chickegian was assigned to the 3rd
Battalion, in the field in France arriving at this unit April 28. There are
no other notations in his service file until noted as “Killed In Action”
September 2, 1918. Buried in Ontario
British Cemetery, Sains-le-Marquion, France. Age 15.
Under Aged Soldiers From The 3rd Battalion and
Others That Survived The War (in alphabetical order):
Francel, Archie #851114 16 Born 1901 Born
USA. Sent home ex France, disch 1918
Frost, Charles #63344 15 Born 1900 Disch
after 1 year, 3 months, Reenlisted
Redman, Russell #427880 16 Born
1900 Spent most of service
being treated for VD
Reeves, Thomas #136500 18 Born
1899 KIA Brother Cedric
Reeves #10069 3rd Bn
Riches, Walter #285136 17 Born 1899 Served
in France. Humber Bay
Stephenson, Kenneth #2499687 18 Born 1900 KIA. Enlisted
#1024446, under wt & height
Thomas, Sherman #9255 17 Born 1897 Mohawk native. Wounded Festubert 1915
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