COMPANY SARGEANT MAJOR FRANCIS KNIGHT #9459, MM

Once again I must apologize for being negligent is the posting of my blogs. I have been preoccupied with our pending move to Milton and my surgery later this week. I have again posted the photograph received by my Grandfather, John Cody, from his friends in the 3rd Battalion whilst he was a Prisoner of War during the Great War. We have already blogged profiles on Messrs. Mote, Reeve, Lancey, Jack and Wiles. Please feel free to use our search option on the heading to review these profiles.

The next three friends of my Grandfather are CSM Francis Knight #9459; Sergeant John Newton # 426149 and CSM George Patrick (his friend from the 23rd Battalion)#63912 - they were all killed in action in chronological order in 1916.

CSM Francis Knight
During the action at Mount Sorrel on June 13 1916, he went out under heavy machine gun and artillery fire, and brought in two wounded men. By his coolness, distinguished conduct and conspicuous bravery he inspired his men and kept them going" - R.O. 708. Awarded by General Byng, 22/07/1916; London Gazette 23/08/1916.

According to Gary Switzer, his award was an early one -- he was the fifth 3rd Battalion man to win the Military Medal and was one of 10 soldiers in the 3rd Battalion awarded Military Medals for their actions at Mount Sorrel in June, 1916 along with Major D.H.C. Mason receiving a Distinguished Service Order, Captains H. S Cooper, H.A. Chisholm and C.E. Cooper, Military Crosses, C.S.M. Harvey a Distinguished Conduct Medal and granted his commission.

Francis Knight was the Toronto-born son of Francis W and Julia Knight who resided at 124 Pape Avenue in Toronto's east end. Born in 1886 he listed no occupation or trade on his attestation papers signed at Valcatier on September 22, 1914. He did state however that he had served in the U.S. Navy. Perhaps this is why he got on well with my father, a former U.S. Marine Corps type. Frank and his younger brother, Reuben Knight #3042 were members of the 2nd Regiment Queen's Own Rifles. When the call went out in August 1914 for volunteers to the 1st Canadian Contingent, Francis went along with the draft from the Queen's Own forming the 3rd (Toronto) Battalion in Valcartier. Reuben was too young at this time but eventually saw overseas service in the Canadian Army Service Corps.
Francis Knight started his military journey in the 3rd Battalion as a Private in "C" Company. When training on the Salisbury Plains, he was deprived of 1 days pay in Bustard Camp 21/11/1914 and again in January, 1915 was deprived of 8 days and 10 days pay, along with 8 days detention for being "Absent without Leave" on 2 different occasions. He travelled with the battalion to France in February, 1915 and fought unscathed through the Battles of 2nd Ypres in April, Festubert in May and Givenchy in June, 1915. He was promoted to the rank of full Sergeant in the field June 13, 1915 and to Company Sergeant Major ("B" Company?)June 7 and granted 9 days leave July 7, 1916. Francis received his Warrant Officer Class II June 12, 1916.

By September, 1916 the Canadian Corps and particularly the 3rd Battalion were resident in the Somme and involved in the Battle of Courcelette. From September 15 to the 17th, the 1st Canadian Division was in reserve while the 2nd and 3rd Divisions fought for the town and the main German trench positions around the town, the Sugar Factory (captured by the 21st Battalion)and aided by the Canadians first use of tanks. However on September 18, the 3rd Battalion was ordered to hold a trench position at St. Emile between the Sugar Factory and Courcelette. Francis was one of five 3rd Battalion men who were Killed in Action or Died of Wounds that day. The German onslaught of artillery, shrapnel shells, mortars and snipers was devastating on the men and the town.

The War Diary for the 3rd Battalion on September 19, 1916 states:

Our own artillery firing very short causing us more casualties. CSM Knight wounded. About 50 casualties to date 30 of which have been from our own shell fire.

C.S.M. Francis William Knight is listed as Died of Wounds on 19/09/1916 at the 21st South Midland Casualty Clearing Station, France and is buried in France's Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension.

Thanks to Gary E. Switzer for his help on this one. Credits for the photos as well taken from the Veteran's Affairs Canada Virtual web site.

***UPDATE November 8, 2010***
Since originally publishing this blog, I have been contacted by the great nephew of Francis W. Knight, Marshall Leslie of Toronto. Marshall has kindly provided me with photographs of the 1891 Canadian Census showing the Knight family, the World War One Memorial Plaque from First Ave. Baptist Church in Toronto with 21 names including the name of Francis W. Knight and a recent photograph of the family home at 124 Pape Avenue. Marshall was also kind enough to share some additional information on his great uncle and the Knight Family. Apparently there were 12 children in the Knight Family. Francis was the oldest male and the 4th of the 12 children. Marshall isn't sure of the present location of Francis Knight's medals including the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Military Medal, Memorial Cross issued to the mother, and the Memorial Plaque and Scroll sent to Frank's father, Frank, Sr. Reuben, the younger brother did survive the war and although enlisting with the Canadian Army Service Corps, did serve for some time in the 3rd Battalion. He died in the U.S.A. about 1972.

***UPDATE December 5, 2010
Apparently the nephew and son of Frank Knight's youngest brother, Ralph, has Frank's medals in his possession including his Military Medal. They are in a safe and well caring home.

***UPDATE December 29, 2010
Ralph Knight, nephew of CSM Frank Knight, has kindly sent photographs of the medals, badges, buttons, insignia he has inherited and had mounted from his uncle including the Military Medal. A beautiful collection! Thank-you Ralph.

PRIVATE FREDERICK FULKERSON #443427, 54TH BATTALION, C.E.F.

Fulkerson being my biological late mother's maiden name, the fact that she was born and raised in Penticton, BC and that the surname Fulkerson is uncommon in Canada, unfortunately led me to some hasty conclusions. There are two brothers with the last name Fulkerson that served with the 54th (Kootenay) Battalion and both of whom lived in Penticton at the time of their attestation in the Canadian Expeditionary Force. At some point I assumed that these brothers were closely related to my mother with the evidence being almost overwhelming. Now, with my new subscription to Ancestry.com, I have to reluctantly admit that I may have jumped to conclusions prematurely and in fact there may be no direct relation between my mother and the brothers or if there is, it is generations old. The fact that they shared the same last name and called Pentiction their home, might be one large coincidence!

Stanley and Frederick Fulkerson were the younger sons of Quincy Silas and Perdetta (nee Vaughan) Fulkerson. Quincy, a lumberman and his young family were natives of Muskegon, Michigan - Casnovia and Sullivan Townships and emigrated to British Columbia, presumably in search of employment. They are shown in the 1900 U.S. Federal census in Casnovia and in the 1911 Canadian Census in Penticton. My mother's branch of the Fulkerson family came from Minnesota in the early 20th Century and are descended to the Reverend John W. Fulkerson, a distinguished Pastor in the United Brethren in Christ Church, from Marion, Minnesota. Both branches are direct descendants of Dirck Volckertszen, an early New World settler in about 1623 of New Amsterdam (present day New York) whose last name was Anglicized to FULKERSON.



Palace Hotel, Pentiction (2007)

Quincy and Perdetta quickly became active in Penticton after their arrival from Michigan. In 1911, they took over the Palace Hotel, built in 1906, on Main Street and operated it as a boarding house for regular long-term tenants. The "absence of a bar contributed to it being perceived as a nice place to stay". At one time it may have had as many as 10 rooms upstairs and narrow hallways. The Palace Hotel still exists in 2010 as Penticton's oldest commercial building currently operating as Audio Visions store. It now has a brick fronting from the photo above. Frederick and Stanley both attended the first school in the town. Stanley is shown in the photo of the first graduating class above and apparently was a gifted musician like his father, playing the trumpet and working as a chauffeur. He had impaired eyesight and presumably wore eyeglasses. Frederick joined the the local "H" company of the 102nd Rocky Mountain Rangers Regiment. When war was declared in August of 1914, many of the older boys and men of the town, particularly those of British background joined up with immediately with various units. Frederick however at the tender age of 16  being born February 13, 1898,was not permitted to sign up and remained in school with Stanley, who was a key member of the well-known Penticton Brass Band.

However on May 1st of 1915, the 54th Battalion was authorized by the Militia Department in Ottawa to recruit in the interior towns of British Columbia, with the Head Quarters in Vernon. The battalion assembled in June, 1915 with a 1st Reinforcing Draft consisting of 5 officers and 250 ranks being sent to England in July. By early September, young Frederick was permitted to join at age 17. The battalion, lacking a band, quickly accepted the offer of the Penticton Brass Band to be the official 54th Battalion Band and with that the members of the Pentiction Band were attested into the 54th Battalion en masse including older brother 18 year-old Stanley. Thus both brothers were with the Battalion and Band members when it sailed from Halifax on the S.S. Saxonia November 22, 1915. The battalion was directed to Bramshott Camp after arrival in Plymouth, for training and mobilization. The 54th Battalion was assigned to the 11th Brigade in the newly formed 4th Canadian Division. On August 13th, 1916, the Division was received their marching orders for France and by the last week of August were sharing the trenches near Dickenbusche with fellow brigade members 75th (Mississauga Horse) Battalion, 87th (Grenadier Guards) Battalion and the 102nd (North B.C.) Battalion. However by the second week of October the 4th Canadian Division was moved to Albert for their first serious battle in The Somme.

Frederick had received a short hospitalization in Witley Camp for the measles in February and was granted a 10 day furlough prior to the Battalion proceeding to France. Brother Stanley had been admitted to Connaught Hospital in June for VD but was discharged days before the Battalion left. We know from the service records that young Fred had been trained as a wirier and bomber in addition to his Band duties. Stanley was a Band member as well and probably functioned as a stretcher bearer when required.



Frederick Fulkerson's name on the
Vimy Memorial, France

At the Somme, the first attack by the 4th Division was October 21st on Regina Trench. In the days following, all the battalions of the Division were intensely focused on the total destruction of the Regina Trench complex north of Courcelette. The battle was futile with the Germans well dug in, as they had been for the entire Battle of the Somme. After 41 days of attacking the trench and 500 metres along a 3.7 km front, the Canadians finally took Regina Trench with a monumental loss of life. However on November 18th the 4th Division, including the 54th Battalion, was ordered to capture Desire Trench, 200 yards north of present-day Adanac Cemetery. The attack by the Canadians went well - the British on each flank not so well. By day's end the men were forced to withdraw. Finally the British High Command ordered the end to the Somme Campaign and the last battle was over. This final day of the Battle of the Somme, November 18, 1918 had cost the Canadian 4th Division 1,250 men killed, wounded and missing including 18 year-old Private Frederick Fulkerson. His young body was never identified nor recovered from the Somme battlefield and was officially listed as "Missing in Action". His name is perpetuated on the Vimy Memorial. Interestingly, his medal card states that Frederick IS NOT eligible for the Victory Medal nor the British War Medal, presumably because he had not spent the required time in the field of battle. His mother did however receive the Silver Cross and Decoration and father, the Plaque and Scroll, of fallen soldiers.

Stanley survived the battle and many more. He fought and remained with the 54th Battalion until the wars end with only a couple of short hospital visits including one for the mumps, receiving a Good Conduct Badge on July 7, 1917. The band of the 54th Battalion played at many events and functions, both during the war and after the Armistice was signed. Stanley Fulkerson would have played at many of them. He was treated in February, March, and May 1919 for Pneumonia and Influenza therefore was not able to return home with the few surviving original members (65) of the 54th Battalion. Stanley arrived in Halifax on July 8, 1919 and was officially discharged in Port Arthur, ON on July 12, 1919.

During the war, with the absence of her two boys, Perdetta Fulkerson was active with the Penticton Soldier Comforts Association. This organization raised funds and packed parcels of food, socks and clothing. A Christmas card was sent to every man each year. After Stanley's return home, the Fulkerson's sold the hotel and moved to California, to commence a new life without Frederick. Stanley Fulkerson died in Stockton, California in March 1970.

Thanks Norm Christie For King & Empire The Canadians On the Somme and to R. N Atkinson Penticton Pioneers.

***UPDATE MAY 9, 2011***

This past week I successfully bid on EBay on the Victory Medal for Archibald Scott #463370, 54th Battalion. While not an original member of the 54th (joining the 62nd Battalion in Vernon, BC August 24, 1915) he was an early reinforcement to the battalion. However more importantly he was Killed in Action on November 18, 1916 in the same attack north of Courcelette that claimed the life of my Great Uncle Frederick. Like Private Fulkerson, his name is also perpetuated on the Vimy Memorial.

COMPANY SERGEANT MAJOR GEORGE A. MOTE #9389, DCM, 3RD BATTALION

The next three men profiled from my grandfather's photograph of his friends in the 3rd (Toronto) Battalion, all died while in the service of that Battalion. Chronologically, the first was Company Sergeant Major George Arthur Mote #9389, Distinguished Service Cross, Warrant Officer Class II. George Mote has been rather easy to follow genealogically due to the uniqueness of his name. He also holds the distinction of holding one of the saddest service records I have personally viewed.

George Mote was born August 25, 1888 in the north London suburban town of Islington, Middlesex. (interestedly, a few short miles from the residence of our next profile in Grandpa's picture, Corporal John Newton #426149 in West Ealing, Middlesex and not far from my daughter's residence near RAF Northwood). Son of Arthur Charles and Norah McNamara, after serving in the 1st Middlesex Regiment, George immigrated to Toronto, Canada with his younger brother Edward Mote #192903 in 1908 in search of that old cliché, steady work. Edward found employment as an electrician and George went to work with the T. Eaton Co. as a "corset cutter". He apparently had a "girl friend", Miss. Annie Smith, 784 Queen St. East, Toronto. However, his next of kin and assigned pay were sent to his father, living at 62 Chatterton Road, Finsbury Park, London. Both men joined the 2nd Regiment Queen's Own Rifles in 1913. George followed the QOR's contingent to Valcartier when the war was declared in August, 1914 and was enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force as Sergeant George Mote, service number 9389, CEF. He continued to follow the 3rd Battalion to their training camp on the Salisbury Plains, Camp Bustard, being promoted to platoon Sergeant in Company "B". I have not ordered the service record of Edward Mote.

C.S.M. George A. Mote #9389

During the 1st Canadian Division's and 3rd Battalion's initiation to battle at the 2nd Battle of Ypres on April 23/24, the 3rd Battalion was demolished. If a Canadian soldier wasn't dead, gassed or missing, he was most likely captured or wounded. Because he was attached to "B" Company, 3rd Battalion and not one of the two attacking companies, "C" and "D", Sergeant Mote managed to survive the battle unscathed.

After the battalion was substantially reinforced in early May, with over 200 men including my grandfather, John Cody, from the 23rd Battalion, The "Dirty Third" again took to battle on May 18 at Festubert. Along with the remainder of 1st Brigade, in a reserve position, they cleaned up operations after the 2nd and 3rd Brigades ran into trouble in an ill-timed and ill-planned attack, on May 24 at "the Orchard". For actions in this battle Sergeant George Mote was awarded the prestigious Distinguished Conduct Medal with the following citation from the London Gazette:

Highgate Cemetery, London

For conspicuous gallantry on the 24th May, 1915 at Festubert. In company with another Non-Commissioned Officer, Sergeant Mote volunteered to attempt the rescue of an Officer of his Battalion, who after being seriously wounded, had been left in a place of cover within a few yards of German trenches. They proceeded by different routes under a very heavy shell fire, Sergeant Mote reaching the spot indicated only to find that the Officer was not there. The other N.C.O. lost his life in gallantly making the attempt to rescue this Officer.

The officer in question is Lieutenant Reginald N.C. Craig and the N.C.O. is believe to have been Private Benjamin Irons #10135. Both bodies were not recovered and both names are inscribed on the Vimy Memorial. My grandfather described the Battle of Festubert as the most intense of the several, he took part in.

November 11, 1915, Sergeant Mote was promoted to the rank of Acting Company Sergeant Major, "B" Company and thereafter granted 9 days leave from February 2, 1916. I believe he received his D.C.M. during this leave, from King Edward. On return his service was uninterrupted at the front lines with the 3rd Battalion save for a week attached to the Divisional Grenade School.

However George's luck ran out on June 3, 1916 at Hill 60 in the Ypres battlefield, Belgium.

CSM Mote was in the rear of the leading platoon, "B" Company on the way as reinforcements when a shell burst behind him. He received shot wounds to right shoulder right ankle with an intact shrapnel shell penetrating his spine. He was knocked down, not unconscious, was unable to move his legs

CSM George Mote middle row centre

George Mote remained paralysed until his death. He died at Duchess of Connaught Canadian Red Cross Hospital in Taplow on February 6, 1917 after months of excruciating pain and paralysis. He is buried in a beautiful,serene plot with three military comrades in London's famous Highgate Cemetery.

Very interesting that even though only four of the 315 soldiers buried in Highgate Cemetery, London, have Canadian affiliation, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission has chosen the serene grave of George Mote (and his four resting companions)to illustrate on their web profile of the cemetery.

Company Sergeant Major George A Mote was replaced on the battlefield by Company Sergeant Major Frank W. Knight #9459,MM and the next friend from Grandpa Cody's photograph we will profile.

Thanks to Nigel Hillen and Marika Pirie for permission to use their photos. Also thanks to my friends on the CEF Study Group Forum for their assistance in assembling this profile.

LANCE CORPORAL PRIVATE JOHN (JACK) BABCOCK #835571

John Babcock was a man well on his way to fulfilling his own "Bucket List". Known as Canada's last surviving veteran of World War One, John Babcock died in California on February 18, 2010 at the age of 109 years. A day which also happens to be my birthday. It is because of this fact that I recently bid on a sports card honouring John Babcock, on E Bay. Little did I know that within hours of my bid and much to my astonishment, I won the item as the only bidder.

John Henry Foster Babcock was a young 16 years old when in Syndenham he enlisted in Kingston's 146th Battalion recruited by equally young brothers Charles and Robert Gowdy #835341 and 835171 respectively. See Norm Christie's interesting stories on these brothers in his excellant King and Empire series here.

Jack went overseas with the 146th Battalion, as did many underaged soldiers, for the Canadian Expeditionary Force was badly in need of reinforcements in 1916. Promoted to Lance Corporal he ended up in the Young Soldiers Battalion along with 1,300 young men, hoping to reach France. Luckily, he never did.

After the armistice was signed, John Babcock was returned to Canada and with the help of the Canadian Government, was taught the principles of an electrician. In the 1920's he emigrated to the United States, never to return to the land of his birth. At the age of 65, he obtained his pilot's licence and was active until his death. The full and complete story of John F. Babcock can be be found here on Richard Laughton's amazing blogspot on the man.

Rest In Peace, John F. Babcock.

PART TWO - CAPTAIN HENRY RUSSELL CHILD, R.F.C.

In Part Two of my blog on 2nd/Lt.Alan Reeve, we visit the Captain of the Bristol F2B Fighter, Captain Henry Russell Child, the story of being shot down by the Red Baron and the tragic death of Alan Reeve's brother, Sergeant Frederick Reeve #172285, 19th Battalion, C.E.F.

PART TWO - Like Alan Reeve, Henry Child was a veteran of the Infantry Corps. He was a west London native born March 27, 1895 and coming from a upper middle class family in northwest Harlesden. Early in the war 1914, he received his commission with the 21st (4th Public Schools) City of London Regiment Royal Fusiliers. He entered France November 14, 1915 with that Battalion. This battalion was disbanded April 24, 1916 "as many of the men had gone to take commissions". Later in that year Lieutenant Henry Russell Child obtained permission to take flying instruction at the Grahame-White School in Hendon. He received his Royal Aero Club Aviators Certificate #4188 on Feb. 3, 1917 and eventually found himself posted to the 11th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps in France as a 2nd Lieut. A connection with the 2nd Regiment Queen's Own Rifles and Alan Reeve was the top Ace of 11th Squadron with 30 kills Canadian Squadron Leader Andrew McKeever of Listowel, Ontario, a member of that Regiment while attending school in Toronto and who served with the 58th Battalion in France.

Child was soon promoted to Captain and was matched with 2nd Lieut. Alan Reeve in early 1918 who flew as the Observer in the 2-seat Bristol F2B Fighter/Reconnaisance aircraft. They flew a number of missions together. However on March 27, 1918, Bristol aircraft #B1332 with Child/Reeves aboard was flying a reconnaisance mission over Chuignolles, south of Bray-sur-Somme in the Somme when at 16:35 they were shot down behind German lines. According to author Floyd Gibbons in his The Red Knight of Germany Child and Reeve in Bristol B1332 were the 73rd Victim of the Red Baron, Baron von Richthofen. Although there are several military cemeteries close to the crash site that contain unidentified flyers from the Royal Flying Corps, Child and Reeve are both commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial. There actual graves remain waiting to be discovered.

The twin bother of Lieut. Alan Reeve was Frederick Reeve. Frederick enlisted as a Private in Toronto with the Queen's Own Rifles 83rd Battalion, service number 172285. He embarked with the 83rd from Halifax on the S.S. Olympic. On August 18, 1916, Frederick was taken on service to Toronto's 19th Battalion, being quickly promoted to the rank of Sergeant on March 29, 1917. However, on May 9, 1917 during a period the 19th Battalion held the trenches near Dickenbusch in "Spoilbank Trench", he was listed as Missing In Action. His name is commemorated with honour on the Vimy Memorial.

2ND LT. ALAN REEVE #9485, 3RD BATTALION & R.F.C.

When I first started researching the Non-Commissioned Officers in my grandfathers photo from his friends in the 3rd Battalion, little did I know there would a direct connection to the infamous Red Baron. This profile of Alan Reeve admittedly is one of the more interesting ones I have done.

PART ONE - The Reeve family that resided at 1816 Gerrard St.E., Toronto in August, 1914 had immigrated from Cambridge, England about 1905. The family however, is shown as living at 167 Major Street on the 1911 Census with Charles father, Charlotte mother, Harold son and Maud daughter. This is very close to the University of Toronto - our man Alan Reeve may have attended the school for a year or two but at this time did not reside with the family. Nor did his brother Frederick, who also listed his birthday as November, 1894. It is entirely possible the two brothers Alan and Frederick were twins.

Alan and Frederick Reeve were both members of the 2nd Regiment Queen's Own Rifles militia. Alan joined the draft leaving Toronto for Valcartier and ended up as a Private in "C" Company, 3rd (Toronto) Battalion. Brother Frederick later joined the QOR's 83rd Battalion and was Killed in Action May 9, 1917 while serving with the 19th Battalion in France. This family and brothers are not to be confused with the Reeves Family one of whom also enlisted in the 3rd Battalion (Pte Cedic Reeves #10069) and who will be the subject of a future blog. Alan followed the "Dirty Third" through their Salisbury Plains training and into the trenches in February 1915. He was unscathed from the activities of 2nd Ypres in April, 1915 and promoted to rank of Corporal on May 23. He was hospitalized in July for a short period with Enteritis and in August attached to 3rd Field Company, Canadian Engineers for a week followed by Bombing School. January 9, 1916, Alan Reeve was promoted to full Sergeant in the field. On May 30, 1916, he received a blighty in the form of a severe gun shot wound to his right arm and admitted to hospital in England. Discharged to 12th Reserve Battalion, West Sandling in August 1916 and thence seconded to the Pay Office in London. In March 1917, Sgt. Alan Reeve was sent on command to Officer's Training College, Bexhill and in April was Gazetted as a Temporary Lieutenant. He was sent back to the 3rd Battalion as an officer replacement in the field May 26. In September Alan was attached to the Royal Flying Corps as an observer and sent to London for a one-month course. By November 11, 1917 2/Lt Alan Reeve was seconded for duty with 11th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps in the field in France. A famous Canadian Ace who also flew with the 11th Squadron was Listowel-born Major Andrew Edward McKeever, D.S.O., M.C. and Bar, Croix de Guerre who had 30 kills by wars end. McKeever coincidentally also came out of the ranks of the Queen's Own Rifles and apparently was a crack marksman serving in Toronto's 58th Battalion before being recruited for the R.F.C.

Alan was granted 14 days leave in England on March 1, 1918. On March 24, 1918 he was reported as Missing In Action while flying as the observer to Captain Henry Russell Child in a Bristol F2B (#B1332). The two were flying a patrol over the town of Chuignolles, Somme, south of Bray-sur-Somme, when at 16:35 they were supposedly confronted and shot down by Squadron Leader Baron von Richthofen as The Red Baron's 77th kill. Richhofen was only to fly for a few more weeks and score only three more victories before being shot down himself over the Somme on April 21, 1918.

2nd/Lieut. Alan Reeve and Captain Henry Russell Child have no known grave. Their names are commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial in France. I often wonder if there are graves in the area marked "A Unknown Flying Officer of the Royal Flying Corps" and if they might be identified.

PART TWO TO FOLLOW SOON!

PRIVATE PERCY JONES #1069769, 5TH BATTALION, CEF

PRIVATE PERCY JONES, #1069769, 5TH BATTALION

The subject of this profile has been rather difficult to study due to his common surname and being a resident of the United States. As a native of Oldham, Lancashire, England, 34 year old Percy Jones and his wife Fannie, immigrated to the United States at some point prior to the start of the Great War. They settled in Fall River, Mass at 77 Eastern Ave. and later 164 Elm Street with Percy taking up the occupation of storekeeper. I have not found evidence of any children to Percy and Fannie. Apparently the lure of fighting for his native country was overwhelming with Percy possibly answering the advertisements in American newspapers for British subjects to join the Canadian Expeditionary Force. Consequently in the summer of 1917 Percy boarded one of the frequent trains leaving Boston for Montreal, leaving Fannie to "watch the shop" so to speak. On arrival he was directed to the 4th Military District Mobilization Centre where his medical testing took place on July 26, 1917. He was placed into Category A-2 (for service only in England) because of his height of 5'1 1/2" and declining eyesight with the comment "Slight defects but not sufficient to cause rejection". From here he again boarded a train for the huge army camp at Valcartier. We know that Percy Jones was drafted into the 249th (Saskatchewan) Battalion who were short of recruits leaving Regina and who had made a recruiting/training stop in Valcartier before boarding a ship in Halifax for England. Headed by Lieutenant-Colonel C.B. Keelyside, the 249th finally departed Halifax February 21, 1918 with Private Percy Jones in tow along with 15 officers and 708 other ranks from all corners of Canada and the United States. On arriving in England aboard the S.S. Saxonia, the entire 249th Battalion was absorbed by the 15th Reserve Battalion in Bramshott. On June 1, 1918 Private Henry Jones proceeded overseas to join the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Battalion. So much for being classed A-2! On August 8, 1918 Henry was sent to the 5th (Saskatchewan) Battalion in the field in France. The War Memorial in Oldham, Lancashire has in excess of 2,000 names with no transcribed listing as yet. However I would have to think that Percy Jones would have his name upon it for posterity.

In an intense battle by the 1st Canadian Division and the 5th Battalion on September 1, 1918 outside the village of Hendecourt-les-Cagnicourt, Private Henry Jone was listed as "Missing After Action". The description of his loss on the CEF Burial Registers reads as follows: "Killed In Action; While taking part with his Battalion in a counter-attack on enemy positions east of the Hendecourt-les-Cagnicourt-Dury Road , he was hit in the head and body by shrapnel and killed about 11:00am on September 1, 1918". His status was changed to "Killed In Action" on September 11 when his body was recovered from the battlefield. In total the 5th Battalion's casualties for this one day (September 1st) were 10 officers and 225 ranks. Company "A" led the attack with "D" Company in support and "B" and "C" Companies in reserve. By the day's end, "A" Company ceased to exist and all companies had been committed to the battle. A full description is available in the War Diaries. After Henry's body was recovered, he was buried in a mass grave in Upton Woods Cemetery, along with about 50 other soldiers from the 5th. Upton Woods, which I visited in 2008, is a very serene and out of the way locale. Many men from the 3rd (Toronto) Battalion are also buried here - I will try to feature one or two in future blogs. Reading battle accounts for Cagnicourt and the surrounding area one comes to the conclusion that during this time frame, fighting was brutal with the German army trying to tactfully retreat back to their homeland and just survive the war. The terrain is basically flat with little geophysical features other than wood lots (Upton Woods) and the ever present canals.

The War Diary on-line Library and Archives Canada website for the 5th Battalion has a lengthy description of this battle should anyone be interested. After receiving word of Henry's death, it appears Fannie Jones returned to England and at least for a while was residing Bk.46, Rothsay Road, Blackpool, Lancs. Percy Jones was not eligible for the 1914-15 Star but a British War Medal and Victory medal, as well Widow's Silver Cross and the Death Plaque and Scroll were issued to his widow. I am now the proud owner of the BWM. The loss of another brave soldier fighting for his country!