Private Joseph Charles Montgomery
644829
Enlisted with the 157th Simcoe Foresters
Served with the 116th Ontario County Battalion
Born in Midland – 1891
Died of Wounds in a German POW Camp – July 24, 1917
It was a glorious morning. The crisp springtime air lifted the congregation as they rose to witness the union of two of their own. At the alter, standing erect and clad in the colours and uniform of his regiment, was one of Joseph and Isabella Montgomery’s youngest sons. The battalion was on leave and he used it to his fullest advantage, to marry the one he loved most dearly. Thus, as the organ sung the sweet song to signal the start of the ceremony Private Joseph Charles Montgomery peered down the aisle in Ebenezer Methodist Church. On the right and left stood the entire community, all joining in to witness and celebrate the solemn sacred ritual. With her first step down the aisle, the genuine look of adoration instantly appeared on Joseph’s face as he saw his bride-to-be, Margaret Ida “Myrtle” Guthrie join him to be married.
The couple participated in one of the most common ceremonies conducted by the men as they prepared for war. They and their girlfriends wanted to get married before they went off to war. One cannot specify why they were eager to squeeze this in before they went off on the most dangerous adventure once young man could take, however they did it and often. The challenge was in the Spring of 1916 Canadians knew that this war was a murderous affair and there was a good chance they would return with scars or injuries from combat…if they returned at all. Yet, couples like Myrtle and Joseph, got married and quickly celebrated their union…so to speak.
Private Montgomery was enlisted in the 157th Simcoe Foresters Battalion. The battalion trained at Camp Borden throughout the spring and summer of 1916. Joseph would have the chance to return home to Ebenezer to visit Myrtle on occasion. On one of these breaks he would learn that his wife was with child. Joseph was going to war and was going to be a daddy. Like many of the men in the unit, who were also fathers or father’s-to-be this news introduced another aspect of war that was rarely felt by the ordinary, single unattached soldier, he was needed by others…and they needed him to come back home….in one piece.
The Simcoe Foresters travelled to England as a unit in the fall of 1916, landing in Liverpool on the 28th of October. Soon after they arrived, the men of the 157thlearned the unfortunate news that despite enlisting together, training together and coming together as a unit for over 10 months they would be disbanded with the men be sent and integrated into other battalions. Montgomery would join a Company of his mates and be sent to the 116th Ontario County Battalion. Others were integrated into the 1st, 19th and 125th Battalion. With the men of the 157thcoming from farms and communities on the west side of Lake Simcoe in Central Ontario, the 116th was formed by men on the east side of the lake. Interesting, just before the men of the 157th joined the 116th, three companies worth of men from the 116th had been sent to reinforce other battalions, including the 2nd, 3rd, 18th and 19thBattalions.
While the men were training at Camp Witley, about 20 miles outside of London, Montgomery would have received the tragic news. With a bounce in his step, he would have excitedly tore open the letter in the hope and anticipation of learning if he was going to be a father of a boy or a girl. Unfortunately, the letter would not provide him with such elations, to the contrary, it informed him that the son that his wife Mrytle had delivered died soon after being born. Thus, as he returned to barracks the look on his face would have notified his mates of the most sorrowful of news.
Within days of receiving the sorrowful news, he would learn that his battalion was being sent over to France. They arrived on the 11th of March and immediately prepared for the upcoming operations centres around Arras. The Canadian forces were congregating at Vimy and prepared for the colossal upcoming battle. As the history of the battalion details, the 116th were kept in reserve at Vimy and were primarily used as a pioneer battalion in the Spring of 1917. Montgomery’s bulk 6 ft tall frame would have been put to good use as the men dug trenches and dugouts or building new roads needed to transport supplies and war materials to the front.
Private Joseph Montgomery first real introduction to the war happened on the 23rd of July. The battalion was ordered to participate in a raid on German positions near Lens at a slag heap called Fosse 4. The network of trenches was referred to the men as the Mericourt Maze. Their orders were to have all four companies participate in an early morning operation to raid the trenches defending the German, destroy their dugouts and take some prisoners. It was a test to see what the men were made of. And while the test would prove successful on the whole, it would tragically end the lives of 38 men killed in action. Montgomery’s role in the raid, being attached to D Company, was to rush forth and relieve the men of B and C Company that has led the attack from zero hour. From within the dense clouds of smoke and gas his unit snaked their way forward in search of their battalion mates. However, once found they encountered German soldiers responding with ferocity in a counter-attack offensive. Montgomery was hit in the back and spine and was unable to join his mates as they retreated back to the Canadian lines. Seriously injured, Montgomery was taken prisoner by the Germans and carried back by their stretcher bearers for care behind their lines. It was reported that Private Joseph Charles Montgomery succumbed to his wounds at C Reserve Lazerette C Prisoner of War Camp at Roost-Warendin.
The loss of her child would devastate the beautiful young Mrytle Montgomery and she would not have another. Thankfully, she was able to recover from her loss and remarried at the age of 40 and lived to the age of 86.
Remember them.