THREE BROTHERS AND AN AIRPLANE

I have profiled members from my wife's Clearwater clan in the past and their service during The Great War. I would like to continue with this family and tell the stories of three Clearwater brothers and the Supreme Sacrifice for two of them. Robert Clinton and Ray Lloyd Clearwater were brothers with 19 years separating their births, Robert being the oldest born in Scotia Junction, ON in 1893. Wesley Calvin was between the two in age being born in Scotia Junction in 1897.

The story of the Clearwater family being one of Muskoa's first families has already been told. Scotia Junction was the railway junction where J.R.Booth's 135-mile Ottawa, Arnprior and Parry Sound Railway crossed the Grand Trunk Railway running from Toronto through North Bay. John Wesley Clearwater was a son of Edgar Boviere Clearwater, a Dutch descendant American 1st Family named Klaarwater from the Hudson River Valley and half brother of Floyd Clearwater, former publisher of the Huntsville Forester, town councillor, school trustee and former Postmaster. John Wesley and older brother James Edgar emigrated from Scotia Junction to Manitoba and Saskatchewan respectively with their families to become homesteaders in the early 1900's. It was in McAuley, Manitoba that John Wesley, wife Catherine and the seven Clearwater children settled, moving to Welwyn, Saskatchewan a decade later. Ray was born in McAuley July 9, 1912.

Robert Clinton Clearwater attested to the 10th Canadian Mounted Rifles on December 12,1914 in Moosimin, SK at the age of 31 with a service #115065. Before proceeding overseas with the battalion, he was hospitalized in Portage La Prairie for an appendectomy Nov. 21, 1915. This was to be the first of a long episode of medical problems. The 10th CMR arrived in England on the SS Olympic May 7, 1916 understrength. The men were immediately dispersed to other CMR and Cavalry units. Robert soon after arrival was hospitalized for Influenza. Promoted to Lance Corporal (although later revoked due to "inefficiency") he was transferred to the Canadian Light Horse. This unit later served under the 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade. At various times while in the service of the CLH, Robert was hospitalized for gall stones, abdominal infection, groin abscess, bowel abscess, influenza again, severe back acne, thrown from a horse suffering severe lacerations & sprained foot, and finally in 1919, pleurisy and tuberculosis. He served in France from August 11, 1916 to November 9, 1918 and although his service record does NOT make specific mention, I strongly believe he was gassed at some point. Returning to Canada July 11, 1919 Robert Clinton was admitted to Winnipeg Military Hospital. Presumably his death occurred there in the hospital on July 2, 1921. He is buried in Welwyn, SK Cemetery.

Wesley Calvin Clearwater was working on the family farm and single when he was drafted under the Military Service Act, 1917 on June 11, 1918 in Winnipeg. His service # was 3347566 with a classification of C-2 (fit for service in Canada). He never served overseas. Father John Weley Clearwater was killed in a farming accident November 10, 1935.

Ray Lloyd Clearwater (his name is incorrectly spelt as Roy on both the CWGC and VAC Virtual websites-they have been notified) applied to join the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1940. Working the family farm and after waiting over six months he was accepted and entered flying school in Manitoba as a Pilot Sargeant. After a number of postings and training in Canada, he was sent to England. In July 1942 he crashed his Oxford trainer aircraft at RAF No.14 A.F.U. Ossington. He served as a Pilot Instructor in England, based for almost two years mostly at RAF Lossiemouth in north Scotland flying and teaching pilots on multi-engined aircraft. Finally being accepted for overseas service, he was transferred to 12th RAF Squadron, RAF Wickenby in Lincolnshire and promoted to Flight/Lieutenant (Pilot), given command after short training of a MkI Lancaster 4-engined bomber and told to pick his 6 man crew.

His crew were: Flying Officer Henry Watts, RAFVR, Navigator; Flight Sergeant Alan Price, RAFVR, Wireless Operator; Flight Sergeant Robert Clark, RAFVR, Bomber/Aimer; Sergeant William Berry, RAFVR, Flight Engineer; Sergeant Richard Wolsey, RAFVR, Upper Gunner and Sergeant George Walton, RAFVR, Rear Gunner.

Flight Lieutenant Clearwater and crew had flown 11 sorties over Germany, France and Holland from August 25, 1944 until the early morning of October 14, 1944. On this day, they were assigned to Lancaster MkI NF928 for the first time. NF928 had been delivered new to 12th Squadron and by this time had a total of 48 hours on her engines. This sortie was to be called Operation Hurricane in which Bomber Command was to operate 3 different raids on the German industrial city of Duisberg, utilizing over 1000 aircraft for the first time on each raid. Three Lancasters from 12th Squadron based in RAF Wickenby did not come home in the first early morning raid - NF928 was one of the three.

No one actually knows what happened to Lancaster NF928, to Flight Lieutenant (Pilot) Ray Lloyd Clearwater and to the crew of the aircraft. Speculation has the fully loaded airplane being hit by anti-aircraft fire. However 17 bodies were eventually found near the town of Dinslaken and witnesses tell of a huge explosion and ball of fire. It is entirely possible that either two aircraft collided or a dropped bomb hit NF928 from another aircraft and they both exploded. 66 years later relatives of the crew are still trying to determine the cause of the lost of the Lancaster bomber. Witnesses still survive and some of the aircraft wreckage has been recovered. It is an ongoing story that we hope to resolve at some point in the future.

All the recovered remains were eventually identified and interred in Reichswald Forest Military Cemetery, side by side. Mother Catherine passed away about 1948. Wesley Calvin married Francis Mary Jennings after World War One and eventually moved to Vancouver where he died June 7, 1981. There now is a Geo--Memorial location called Clearwater Bay, in Northern Saskatchewan named after Ray Clearwater. Located at 59.01.138 and 108.01.05. So far all attempts to locate the Pilots logbook of Ray Clearwater have been in vain.

I have put together a rough article titled The Farmer That Wanted To Fly with the intention of eventually publishing the entire story of Ray Floyd Clearwater and Lancaster bomber NF928. Would be glad to share it if anyone would like a copy.

****UPDATE****

June 18, 2013
A newly published book (May 2013) has been released by British publishing company, Flying High Ltd. Written by aviation enthusiast and relative of one of the perished crew members of HF928, Marc Hall, it is titled BOMBER COMMAND, OPERATION HURRICANE and includes the story of pilot Ray Clearwater, the crew of the Lancaster and the trail of events that lead to the destruction of the bomb laden heavy bomber. A worthwhile book for the interested!

PRIVATE JOHN STANLEY KELLY #9932 3RD BATTALION

PRIVATE JOHN STANLEY KELLY, #9932, AN ORIGINAL


My family has spent a great deal of leisure time in the Ontario resort area of the Kawarthas over the last thirty-five years. So when I was presented with an opportunity last year to purchase a beautiful medal grouping from an original 3rd (Toronto) Battalion member born in the picturesque town of Fenelon Falls, there was no hesitation. Stanley Kelly was born July 28, 1895 to parents Charles (1862-1934) and Jane Kelly, both natives of Fenelon Falls. Charles was the town blacksmith living on Francis Street, Jane was his second wife with whom he had four children including an older brother Livingston Charles who may be in fact the Sergeant Charles Kelly #522544 shown here. There is a wooden plaque within the Fenelon Falls Legion with a few names of World War I veterans that attended Red Rock school, on the outskirts of the town. Private Stanley Kelly is the first name listed on the plaque. Young Stanley moved to Toronto for employment as a gas fitter. While living in the city, he enlisted in the 10th Royal Grenadiers militia regiment and when the call went out August, 1914 joined their draft travelling to Valcartier to attest into the Canadian Expeditionary Force.

His story is uneventful except that he was assigned eventually to "D" Company commanded by Captain George Crowther Ryerson and in a platoon commanded by Lieutenant J.K. Cronyn, both scions of famous Ontario families. This company and "C" Company were decimated in the 2nd Battle of Ypres on April 23 near Kitchener's Woods. Capt. Ryerson was killed and Lieut. Cronyn was severely injured. This battle has been described in a past blog. Somehow, Stanley seemed to survive this battle, if indeed he was involved (his duties within "D" company are unknown at this time-he may have been assigned to rear echelon duties).

However, Stanley was not so lucky a few weeks later when the 3rd Battalion was again thrust into battle at the Battle of Festubert in May. Private Kelly was buried in a trench as a result of a shell burst. He suffered "shock" was was sent a divisional Rest Centre. Canadian losses in this battle were 2,468 including 661 dead. He participated a few weeks later in the 2nd Battle of Givency, in June when the 3rd Battalion lost 115 men, killed and wounded. On October 25, 1915, Stanley reported to the No. 1 Field Ambulance near Ploegstreet Woods complaining of knee pain and immobility of his knees. He was sent to a number of hospitals and eventually had cartilage removal operations on both knees. Another operation on his left knee April 1916 to remove a piece of his left tibia. The condition was deemed to have been caused by the shell explosion in May 1915. Stanley was also hospitalized for 3 weeks for Pneumonia at Ramsgate 1916. He recovered and was assigned to the Canadian Army Medical Corps after a couple of Medical Board hearings where he spent the balance of the war serving as a batman and stenography work after training in Bath, at Shorncliffe. He was operated on a second time 1917 for "crossed toes". Apparently he had a painful congenital condition from childhood deformity of his 2nd toes crossing his big toes on both feet. The tendons were cut and he was free to walk in several weeks. Stanley's final hospitalization was in November, 1918 at Bushy Park with Influenza.

Private Stanley Kelly was sent to the discharge Centre in Rhyl, Wales February 1919 returning to Canada on the H.M.T. Belgic landing in Halifax March 10, 1919. He was discharged in Toronto June 5, 1919 as "Medically Unfit" after spending some time in Christie Street Military Orthopedic Hospital.

Not much is documented on the remainder of Stanley Kelly's later life other than he returned to Fenelon Falls, never married and died in 1981 at the age of 84. Then it would appear that Stanley is another young lad that "fudged" about his tender age on his attestation, really being born in 1897 making him 17 years old at attestation. I have not been able to locate any photos of the man (but I am still trying). He is buried in the family plot with his parents and siblings in the town cemetery. Some older veterans at the Legion remember Stanley but couldn't tell me much about him, including his later occupation. Stanley still apparently has distant relatives living in the area. I found mention of his injuries in a news clipping Fenelon Falls Gazette 1915. The town Maryboro Lodge Feneleon Falls Museum has an invoice from Charles Kelly Blacksmith to a town gentleman for "services rendered". His name is mentioned on the Town of Fenelon Falls Memorial which lists all the men in the town that have served in the wars. The grouping that I purchased includes the 1914-15 Star medal, British War medal, Canadian Victory medal, "Services At The Front" pin, "For Services Rendered" pin and an stainless steel identification bracelet with his name, service number and "D" Company inscribed.

CORPORAL JOHN ALFRED NEWTON #426149

CORPORAL JOHN ALFRED NEWTON #426149

The seventh of the eight "Friends of My Grandfather" from his photograph and the most difficult initially to locate was Corporal John Alfred Newton #426149. Newton was neither an original 3rd Battalion man nor was he a member of the 23rd Reserve Battalion, like the other seven soldiers. Before I had the service records of the friends, my search for a Corporal Newton went through a number of possibilities on the Library and Archives Canada website of Attestation Papers. Finally deciding there were no other options, I sent away for John A.'s service record and lo and behold, he was indeed our man.

14 Alexandria Road, West Ealing, London, England

John Newton's view from the Vimy Memorial France

John Alfred Newton was born February 11, 1888 in a small Norfolk village by the name of West Rudham to farm labourer father Robert and mother Susanna. The 1901 Census shows him as an 14 year old "Cowboy" farmer with six sisters and an older brother, Issac R. Newton. Apparently in a few years he left the family and spent 6 years with the 3rd Battalion, Norfolk Regiment. At some point, probably about 1910-12, John emigrated to Canada and was employed as a farmer when he enlisted in the 46th Battalion in Weyburn, Saskatchewan on December 24, 1914. Possibly due to his prior military experience, John Newton was sent on the urgently required 1st Reinforcing Draft of the 46th Battalion sailing from Montreal July 5, 1915 on the S.S. Elele. By July of 1915, after the disastrous 2nd Ypres, Givenchy and Festubert the British and Canadian commanders had realized the urgent requirement of tr
ained Commonwealth troops consequently a large number of the recruiting 2nd Contingent Battalions were asked to sent one or two reinforcing drafts well ahead of the main battalion force. As we have seen over and over again, on arrival in England reinforcing draft soldiers, most with prior military experience, were sent almost immediately on arrival to First Contingent units and so it was with Private John A. Newton. On arrival in England the draft from the 46th "Suicide" Battalion was taken on service to the newly forming 32nd Reserve Battalion. By August 28, 1915, Private John Alfred Newton was in the field with the 3rd (Toronto) Battalion, who at the time were in reserve near Ploegstreet Woods. John service record Casualty Sheet's last entry is dated December 28, 1916 in which it states that "Confirmed in the rank of Corporal effective from July 1, 1915".So he was already rightly a Corporal in the 46th Battalion. He actually spent one month attached to the N.C.O.'s School as an instructor, 2nd Army, April 9, 1916 to May 6, 1916.

The objective of the 3rd and 4th Battalions Oct 8, 1916

Except for a 2-day hospitalization February, 1916 for influenza, the only other listing in the Casualty Sheet is "Killed In Action" October 8, 1916. The circumstances of Corporal Newton's death are unknown as is his grave site. His name is commemorated in the Vimy Ridge Memorial. The Battle of the Somme and specifically the involvement of the 3rd (Toronto) Battalion I believe have been previously covered on this blog site. Suffice to say the conditions were horrific. "Of the 14 officers and 481 ranks that went into battle that day attacking a German defensive position known as The Quadrilateral, near Le Sars, only 1 officer (Major A.W.Haddon) and 85 ranks were left". 3rd Battalion War Diary. A complete description of the battle and casualties can be found here on this website.

Sometime in the short time between John Newton's enlistment and his death it appears his father died with mother Susanna becoming a widow and moving to 14 Alexandria Road, Ealing, London. It was here his three World War I medals, Memorial Plaque, Scroll and Memorial Cross were sent. His mother, as a widow, also received the soldier's War Service Gratuity of $180. as well as the balance of his modest wages as Assigned Pay and a small pension. A small price to pay for a valuable and heroic life!

PRIVATE SYDNEY CHURCHWARD #1024345

  At first glance, Sydney Churchward's service in the Canadian Expeditionary Force seems no different from tens of thousands of others who left the United Kingdom for a new life in Canada. Sydney left Buckfastleigh, Devon, England about 1910 with two brothers and travelled to Toronto where he found employment as a machinist. He soon met and married Sadie, a native of Ballymena, Antrim, North Ireland. Sydney found steady employment as a policeman in the City of Toronto while the young family settled in at 236 Weston Road, Toronto. However by 1916, Sydney had seen his brothers and friends off to England to fight in the Great War. The pressure was overwhelming so on September 20, 1917, Syd left his comfortable position as one of Toronto's finest for a Privates position in the 234th (Peel) Battalion, recruiting in nearby Ravina Barracks. The 234th Battalion embarked for England from Halifax on the HMT Scandinavia April 18, 1917 arriving Liverpool April 29, 1917. Soon after arrival the 234th was absorbed by the 12th Reserve Battalion in East Sandling. After several months of training, Sydney Churchward found himself assigned to the 3rd (Toronto) Battalion as a reinforcement soldier in the field near Ypres arriving October 17, 1917. Two interesting items of note: first, one of Syd's witnesses on his military Form of Will was Sydney Francis Chaney, 123rd Battalion and a 2nd Regiment Queen's Own Rifles veteran whose younger brother, James Chaney had been an original 3rd Battalion recruit and survived the war until October 31, 1918 making him one of the last casualties of the 3rd Battalion. Second, Sydney Churchward's attestation paper very specifically mentions under distinctive marks that he had "3 gold teeth, one crown, and one open space on the upper jaw". This dental description of Sydney's congenital peculiarities is to become significant in later years. Private Sydney Churchward soon found himself thick in the horrific Battle of Passchendaele. On November 6, 1917, The Canadian Corps advanced on and took the village of Passchendaele after months of brutal attacks. The 3rd Battalion was to act in two capacities during the battle: first, it was to provide 10 platoons to capture the German strong points of Vine Cottage and Goudberg. This force was to consist of an assault party composed of Syd's "C" Company, two platoons of "A" Company with "D" Company in support. The second role for "B" Company was to support the 2nd Battalion in their effort to take the hamlet of Mosselmarktand the vital Vindictive Crossroads. 88 riflemen of the 3rd Battalion were killed in this action or would later die of wounds in the attack on Vine Cottage and nearby Goudberg. One soldier, Corporal Colin Barron was awarded a Victoria Cross for his brave actions in the taking of Vine Cottage. 20 men have known graves, 56 have nameless headstones with their names mentioned on the Menin Gate Memorial. Private Sydney Churchward #1024345 is one of the latter. However, here is where his biography gets interesting. In 2002, at the request of a local farmer, a group of Belgium enthusiasts called "The Diggers" exhumed the remains of three Canadian soldiers near Passchendaele. With the remains were identifying items linking them to the 3rd (Toronto) Battalion. Most importantly however, one of the skulls had three gold teeth and a gap on the upper jaw. The total story can be found here at THE DIGGERS Syd's journey is far from finished. In the meantime, the three soldier's remains have been re interred in Passchendaele New British Cemetery on June 9,2003. Sydney Churchward's name remains with the 252 from the 3rd Battalion on the Menin Gate Memorial out of a total of some 56,000.




***NEW DEVELOPMENTS***

April, 2011 The story of the three re interred 3rd Battalion soldiers is not over. I personally suspected at the time that when the DNA testing was inconclusive and still the soldiers were given a military burial in Passchendaele New British Cemetery, the entire situation was somewhat rushed and more could have been done to identify one or more of the heroic men. Now it appears that others feel the same way. There are several ranking interested parties including Canadian Forces, Queen's Own Rifles Regiment, the Belgium "Diggers"and military enthusiasts such as myself that have started investigating other possibilities to the identity of the three soldiers. One main area of investigation is the finding of a large number of Canadian CEF hat badges, collar badges and identity badges in a leather pouch found on the "person" with the three gold teeth. Several of these badges were from 1st Contingent battalions possibly meaning that the man was a collector and that he was also a member of Canada's 1st Contingent joining in 1914. There was only two men of the 3rd Battalion soldiers lost on November 6, 1917 and one can probably be easily eliminated. More details are on the horizon. Stay tuned!

July, 2012 This week we were able, with the assistance of Ancestry.ca, to confirm some more biographical information on Sydney Churchward and his family; Sydney married Sadie Wilson in Toronto October 30, 1915. We believe Sadie was a Barnardo Home child. Sydney and Sadie had two children born in Toronto, Dorothy (1916) and Sydney (1917). Sadie and the two children returned to England in 1919 via Portland, Maine.

This week we were also contacted by relatives of Syd from the United Kingdom including a grandson. He confirms that he was never contacted for DNA testing. More to come..............

The inspiration for this story belongs to Adam Saunders, a Major in the 2nd Queen's Own Rifles of Canada Regiment and a Toronto Real Estate agent. Thanks to the story and photographs from "The Diggers" website. The photo of the three graves plus one was taken by myself in 2007 - situated next to the three unidentified soldiers is the grave of Lieutenant Gordon Alan Cockburn, Canadian Field Artillery who lost his life November 8, 1917 while in service with the Royal Flying Corps. Lt. Cockburn was a native of Toronto, living with his parents at 324 Spadina Road when he enlisted in Toronto with the 43rd Battery. Also to be found nearby in the Passchendaele New British Cemetery are the remains of Second Lieutenant Lorne S. Crowther, Royal Flying Corps, the younger brother of Major Beverly Crowther MC, 3rd Battalion, Killed in Action at Hill 60 May 3, 1917. Lt. Crowther was Killed in Action while flying with the 29th Squadron over Passchendaele September 20, 1917. The cemetery itself overlooks the ground of the 3rd Battalion's assault on Vine Cottage.

FORTHCOMING BLOGS

It has obviously been many weeks since my last blog. Our move to Milton, my back surgery and the every complexities of life have all contributed to my inability to contribute. That should start to change in coming weeks as the "dog days" of summer set in and I find myself with more free time.

I remain committed to profiling brave and heroic men who volunteered to fight for our Canadian freedom and for the motherland Britain. Some of my future blogs will profile men such as West Toronto Policeman and former Mimico resident, Sydney Churchward, who lost his life fighting in the 3rd (Toronto Regiment) Battalion during the Battle of Passendaele, November, 1917. Sydney is pictured above.

Others will include the 4 Dewhurst brothers, one of whom, Samuel Dewhurst was killed September 30, 1918 while fighting with the 3rd Battalion and is buried in Upton Wood Cemetery, France. Also the 4 Keating Brothers of Huntsville,ON distant relatives of my wife by birth, all of whom survived the war, including young (17 years) Howard Keating #4360, who spent 11 days with the Royal Canadian Dragoons. The remaining three Clearwater brothers, again great uncles of my wife, Lynn, all of whom served at the front and suffered terribly on returning home in one way or another.

We intend as well to profile men of the 23rd Battalion such as George Cubitt, Frank Richards, Daniel O'Brien, Leopold Lawless, Patrick Murphy and others who courageously stepped in as reinforcements for the 3rd, 4th, 13th, 14th, 15th, and PPCLI Battalions after these units suffered horrendously during the 2nd Battle of Ypres, April, 1915.

Here's wishing everyone has a great summer!

Cheers
Bob

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.