Private Frederick James Pulsford
690316
Born St Peters Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands
Lived in Hamilton, ON
Enlisted with 173rd Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders
Died Aug 25, 1917 at Hill 70
It was a week of sturdy handshakes. Wide smiles. Great memories rekindled. Clinking glasses…shouts of praise and joyful reunions! As he completed his rounds, he visited the homes of his aunts and uncles, cousins and their families and ensured he did not skip the places of his childhood friends. With each stop tears would be shed, expressions of thanks would be exchanged, and each call would end with a comforting hug and a promise to return shortly and safely. The soldier in question was Private Frederick James Pulsford and he was using his last furlough before completing his training with the Canadian 173rd Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders to visit his family on Guernsey in the Channel Islands.
One can imagine the excitement that rushed through the home of each family he visited. It had been less than two years since his father and mother, Alfred and Harriett, moved their family from the island to Canada. His father had been a veteran of the Royal Naval Reserve with over 27 years in the service. However, this primary form of employment was working as a police officer in the island’s main city of St. Peter’s Port. In May 1912, the family that consisted of Frederick, his parents and his 6 sisters and 3 brothers all immigrated to the new world, eventually settling in the city of Hamilton, Ontario. During his furlough from the 173rd, as Frederick went from house to house, the extent of the Pulsford family’s contribution to the war effort would have been reinforced to him over and over and over again…at least 20 times for that matter! It was recorded that Frederick could count 17 cousins and 3 uncles in the service of King and Country.
By the fall of 1915, with war raging across the continent, the need for new replacement soldiers to join the cause had extended from England to its' overseas territories. Recruitment efforts were rapidly ramping up in cities across Canada. It was at this time, in February of 1916 when Frederick enlisted with the Hamilton-based 173rd Battalion. The 173rd was associated with the Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders which was composed of men from the Hamilton region which were predominantly of Scottish origin or ancestry. At this time, Frederick was 28 years of age and was working in as a lathe hand in Steeltown's burgeoning metal manufacturing industry.
Upon enlistment, now a soldier Private Pulsford's military experience began with his training for war in Canada followed up with additional training in England. In March, he was transferred to the 116th Ontario County Battalion and joined them as they prepared for the upcoming battle of Vimy Ridge. On June 29th Pulsford incurred his first injury incurring a bullet would to his hand. Thankfully, this only kept him out of the lines for a couple weeks before joining his mates in the trenches just prior to their baptism of fire in the raid at Fosse 4 in Avion.
The Raid turned out to be a resounding success as it proved that the collection of rookie soldiers could prove themselves effective on the field of battle. From their fine work, the battalion was sent to Lens in August as Currie's Canucks embarked on operation with the attack on Hill 70 aimed to deceive the Germans and pull soldiers away from the Passchendaele sector. While Hill 70 was one of the lesser-known operations conducted by the CEF, it proved to one of the bloodiest engagements they participated in while serving in Flanders. It was on the 22nd of August when the 116th had their rest at Auchel cut short and hurried down to relieve some of the decimated units at Lens.
The Battle of Hill 70 began on August 15th and eventually cost Currie 9000 of his soldiers. By the 25th, with the 116th now in the line, the battalion, filled with still relatively green soldiers, faced the well-entrenched Germans who were situated in the nearby battered city of Lens. From their hidden positions the Germans volleyed scores of artillery shells at the Canadian positions. It was only dumb luck for a man to not get hit by the incoming fire. The boys desperately clung to the sides of trenches and dugouts and searched a place to protect themselves from the onslaught. It during this evening where the pride of the Pulsford family was hit. Shellfire ripped into his back and stomach, gravely injuring the young islander. His mates tried to help him by carrying him to medical care in the rear, however the degree of the injuries would take his life.
Private Frederick John Pulsford is memorialized on the war memorial in St Peters Port in Guernsey. HIs remains rest in Villers Station Cemetery in Villers-au-Bois, France. Remember him.