Private Wesley Albert Campbell

Private Wesley Albert Campbell

853399

Born: Nov 5, 1890 Barrie, ON

Lived in Vasey, ON

Killed in Action – July 23, 1917 at Avion in the Fosse 4 Raid

The names of 11, 285 men are engraved in the marble facing of the Canadian National War Memorial at Vimy. The memorial is dedicated for those who fell in battle in the Great War who know no known grave. 18% or almost 1 in every 5 soldier who was killed while fighting the battles of the war were never recovered. Private Wesley Albert Campbell was one of them.

Wesley Campbell was a 26 yr old farmer when he decided to travel north to the town of Midland and join the 177th CEF Battalion. Not much is known about the man. He was 5 ft 4 and only weighed 135 lbs…yet both of these two attributes would put him in the average range of his battalion mates. The 177th was raised in Midland, Ontario throughout the winter and spring of 1915/1916. The men arrived at Camp Borden in June 1916 and departed for England for training later that October. Soon after arriving, Campbell was moved to the other Simcoe Foresters Battalion, the 157th but quickly found himself with the 116th in December of 1916.

While Campbell participated with the 116th in the attack on Vimy, the battalion would not really get their true taste of modern war until the diversionary attack at the Fosse 4 trench system near Avion. The attack would be recorded as a great victory for the Canadians and the 116th, however it would prove to be a very costly adventure. 2 officers killed, 2 more missing. 10 Other Ranks killed and another 15 Missing. To lose 4 officers and 25 men after being together for between 6 mths and almost 2 years. This would be the first of many deadly days for the 116th, however for family of Private Campbell and the modest farming community of Vasey, it would be one of the deadliest.

Lest we forget.

Private Richard Colvin Howson

Sergeant Richard Colvin Howson

776085

Born Teeswater, ON 1890

Lived in Toronto, ON

Killed in Action – August 27, 1917 - Hill 70

Sergeant Howson was a tall, fit former member of the 36th Peel Regiment before he enlisted with the regional 126th Peel OS Battalion (aka Lorne Scots of Dufferin, Peel and Halton Regiment) in the summer of 1916. Richard was born in a blink of a town called Teeswater situated in Western Ontario. It was here where his father owned the town’s flour mill. The family moved to the nearby town of Wingham later in his youth (not as small, maybe two blinks?) From their comparatively sleepy rural surroundings, Richard and his younger brother George moved to Toronto to seek their success.

As close as brothers are, the pair both signed up with the 126th, George first, followed by Richard. At time of his enlistment, Richard was building a very promising career in business. His first key position was at the Commerce Bank of Canada (now Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce) followed up by assuming a branch manager for Commercial Press (a publishing company) in Montreal. While he secured a commission as Lieutenant in Canada, he reverted to Sergeant once the battalion arrived in England. George served as a Corporal in the 126th and proceeded to serve as an officer in the 116th as well.

The men of the 126th Peel Battalion were absorbed into the 116th in October 1916. The combined battalion proceeded to France on Feb 11th, 1917. Howson’s record demonstrates that he led his squad into the field on the 22nd of August. This was one week into the diversionary exercise against the German divisions holding the ground around Lens in an area now known as Hill 70. It was on their first day in relief of the 27th Battalion when Sergeant Richard Howson was hit by enemy artillery. Him and two other privates, Oliver Arnold and Howard Kemp were killed in action.

Lest we forget.

Private William John Puddicomb

Private William Puddicomb

Born in Chemsford, ON June 4, 1896

Lived in Midland, ON

Killed in Action Oct 24, 19178 in the Battle of Passchendale

Buried at Oxford Road Cemetery in Wietje, Ypres, Belgium

With the men of the 116th having spent their third day at the front at Vimy and seeing the massive amount of preparation taking place, it would certainly shake the nerves of a man, even if he was a soldier. Probably incited by the rumours of a fellow battalion-mate looking for an easy exit from the impending battle, another young man took it upon himself to ‘accidentally’ shoot himself. On March 14th, 1917 Private William John Puddicomb placed the muzzle of his rifle to his foot and tried to blow his toe off.

Williams’ desperate attempt to save himself did not resonate well with his senior officers. Following a 28 day penalty for Private Smith trying to blow off a few digits on the 12th, two days earlier, the officers needed to stem this apparent tactic quickly before other men tried to injure themselves as well. Thus, as recorded within his service files Pte. Puddicomb after being “In confinement awaiting trial 15-3-1917” he was “Tried and convicted by F G C M, 23-3-1917 for whilst on active service “conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline negligently wounding himself in the left hand (was foot) and sentenced to 58 days Field Punishment”

While William did his best to exchange a toe for a boat ride home to his unfortunate circumstance, the injury healed itself and he was sent back to the mud. This continued to be a dire situation for the young man. After participating in the raid at the coal mine at Fosse near Avion and the diversionary attack on Hill 70, the stress and burden of the war was breaking him down. On September 10th he was permitted to go to the infirmary and was hospitalized for Trench Fever/Shell Shock. The military gifted him a total of 10 days out of the line before they declared him cured and sent him back into the meat grinder of the Western Front. The 116th next destination was Passchendale.

The battalion was on their first day fighting in the seminal battle when Private William John Puddicomb fell. The battalion diary barely gave his loss any notice recognizing it with the fewest of words “1 O.R. killed”. For a man who must have been living in desperation, uncertainty and fear since the battalion arrived in France he was ultimately freed of his burden in the mud and rain of Passchendale.

Lest we forget.

Corporal Wiliam Harrison Hawkins

Corporal William Harrison Kirby Hawkins

745085

Born Guelph ON, Jan 22, 1895

Lived in Guelph, ON

Died of Wounds Nov 2, 1917 – Battle of Passchendaele

The record does not provide much more than “Died of Wounds” however it happened in one the Canadian Corp’s most arduous battle, simply called Passchendaele.

In 1916, at the time he enlisted William Harrison Kirby Hawkins was employed as a machinist. He was born in Guelph, a relatively rural town at the time, and moved to Toronto. Based on his address, he would have lived right in the heart of the city. His home is now replaced with soaring towers bordered by more towers stretching out from all directions. 100 years may have passed, however the one thing that would be the same would be the fury of activity that echoes across the century old time span.

William decided to travel up to Uxbridge to join Sam Sharpe’s 116th. The story behind his decision is unknown as he would certainly be able to enlist in a Toronto-based unit if that was his preference. Yet, he travelled up to Uxbridge and signed up on March 18th of 1916. While in training at Camp Bordon, William was appointed Lance Corporal. Soon thereafter he was promoted to Corporal while at Camp Whitley in England. When the battalion was dispatched to France in February, he reverted to the rank of a private but was given his stripes back just before Vimy.

Fast forwarding through Avion and Hill 70, we find ourselves in late October 1917. The 116th was assigned to a support position in the 9th Brigade as they set to attack the Bellevue Spur at Passchendaele. The 116th Battalion Diary records the effort as one of the “fiercest and most bloody onslaughts in its history” whereby the 9th Brigade and the Canadian Corps “destroyed the entire German garrison”. This was accomplished in an area that had just endured constant and oppressive rainfall, leaving behind a battlefield that more represented an endless sea of shell holes and sucking mud. The shell holes were filled with water stewed by the putrid, decaying remains of Ypres battles not long since passed. This was the curse for the infantry soldier as he executed his orders.

After the successful actions of Oct 26th and 27, the 116th remained in a support role as the Canadians consolidated their position. On Nov 1st, they were ordered to move into the line at Gravenstafel to support the 7th Canadian Infantry brigade…but then the order was cancelled. Then they were ordered to relive the 16th Canadian Battalion at St Jean…but then this order was cancelled. Finally, they were ordered to assist in supplying the 42nd Battalion who where already in the line at the front.

It was in these mess of a situation, where Corporal William Hawkins was assigned to lead his unit in resupply tasks across the sea of sucking mud, was hit. He received wounds to his thigh and his arm. Wounds from which he would not survive, despite being evacuated from that hellhole back to the Casualty Clearing Station at Lijssenthoek.

Lest we forget.

(if anyone is related to Corporal Hawkins or has any pictures to submit, please do.)

Lance Sergeant Samuel James Caufield

Lance Sergeant Samuel James Caulfield

678241

Born Dunminning, Ballymena, Ireland 1890

Lived in Toronto, ON

Killed in Action – Dec 20, 1917

In honour of today, being St. Patrick’s Day, I am remembering a member of the 116th of Irish descent. Born in the north of Ireland, on a green spot on the map barely registering as a place at all, a spot called Dunmining. His name was Samuel James Caulfield. His father was a labourer from a nearby farm called Killycreen and his mother was Annie. Like many others of Irish descent at the time, in 1907 his folks left to pursue a better life and found themselves in Toronto via Belfast.

Samuel grew up to become a tall strong lad, 6 ft 1 in height. He served six years with the Royal Canadian Regiment the found a job walking the beat as a policeman. Then as the winds of war came whipping through Toronto, he accepted his duty and responded by enlisting with the 169th Battalion in January of 1916. The 169th was the overseas battalion of the 109th Regiment. Departing from Canada in late October of that year, upon arrival in England Samuel was promoted to Sergeant. He spent the next few months training before being transferred to the 116th in January of 1917. The battalion proceeded to France on Feb 11th, just in time to participate in the attack on Vimy Ridge.

In the summer of 1917, Sgt. Caulfield was slightly wounded in the neck on the attack on Fosse 4 at Avion. After a month’s convalescence he was back with his men for the advances on Hill 70 followed by slogging through the mud at Passchendaele. Recognized for his leadership skills and abilities, he was again promoted assuming the rank of Corporal on Nov 25th, 1917. However, most tragically….and I will let the Casualty Form entry tell the story of his end… detailing his final days as a man, a soldier and a promising leader in the 116th.

“On the night of Dec 20th, he was one of a party which went up to the trench in advance prior to his battalion taking the front line in the vicinity of Lens. The party was proceeding along a communication trench, he being the last one when an enemy shell exploded behind him. Several fragments which hit him in the back. He died the same night at No. 7 Casualty Cleaning Station.”

The headline simply said, “Died of Wounds”.

Lest we forget.

Lieutenant Francis Alexander MacGrotty

Lieutenant Francis Alexander MacGrotty

Born: Glasgow, Scotland

Lived in Whitby, ON

Killed at the age of 22 on Dec 25, 1917

Interned at Mazingarbe Communal Extension (just to the west of Lens, France)

Francis was a Glasgow, Scotland native who emigrated to Canada with his family and signed up to Sam Sharpe’s regiment on Nov 24th, 1915. Prior to war Francis served in the 34th under Sharpe and hence answered the call when the Lt. Colonel announced he was raising a battalion. He had achieved his Sergeant’s certificate in the 34th which contributed to him being appointed a commission as a Lieutenant in the 116th. Not bad for a 22 yr old civil engineering University student.

Akin to the situation often attributed to the structure of battalions in the UK, the officers selected to lead the men in the CEF were also often from prominent families. Within civil society they could have been lawyers, bankers, teachers or doctors. Francis was no different from his officer peers. His father, Charles Francis MacGrotty (based in Whitby, ON) was Ontario’s Chief Constable. This would make him the highest-ranking police officer in Ontario.

On the ground in France and Belgium, Francis led his men through action at Vimy, Fosse Raid, Hill 70 and Passschendale…watching 126 of his battalion mates fall in battle. His war, however, would end tragically on Christmas eve 1917. While leading a platoon on a wiring mission Francis was struck by machine gun fire followed by two observed hits as a sniper as he struggled in the mud. A sad loss for a promising and successful young man.

Lest we forget.

Lieutenant John Anderson

Lieutenant John Anderson

754026

Born: 1883, Knaresborough, England

Lived in Sault Ste Marie, ON

Killed in Action: Aug 8, 1918 – Battle of Amiens

The Great War touched every region, every town and every city in Canada. No person or place was immune to the rush and drive to enlist men to help build up a fighting force capable to pushing back the Germans. By February 1916, the beginning of the third year of the war, great plans were being made to ramp up the attacks on the Western Front. However, the allies needed one key thing to ensure they could take advantage of any success realized in battle…namely, they needed more men.

Lt Col Thomas Percival Rowland was responsible for the drive to sign up new soldiers in the Algoma-Sault Ste Marie region. However, his first task was to put a team in place to manage the recruitment drive and assist in turning these woodsmen, miners, natives and mariners into soldiers. On Jan 17, 1916, local bookkeeper, John Anderson, former reservist of the 51st Soo Rifles, enlisted to join TP Rowland’s team. As Lieutenant, he would assist in the recruitment of and in leading the men for Canada’s newest northern Battalion, the 119th Algoma Battalion.

The following is a remarkable letter sent to the men of the Algoma-Manitoulin-Sault Ste Marie region by Lt. Col Thomas Rowland. This letter was used as a call out to single or married men and convince them to do their duty to their country, their king and to their community and join the 119th.

Dear Sir:

You are, I believe, of military age, physically fit and unmarried. As such, I address this letter to you, with the appeal that you will consider it, and will come forward and enlist in the 119th Overseas Battalion.

You are absolutely needed. Every man, married or single, of military age and fitness, in the great countries of France, Russia and Italy, is enrolled and subject to call on a moment's notice, to fight. In Great Britain, through conscription, every single man qualified to join her fighting forces, is about to be brought into her armies. Canada has just raised the strength of her fighting forces to half a million men.

Is there any doubt now in your mind that you are needed? That, if you do not volunteer; someone else-perhaps a married man whose wife and children need him-must take your place?

Have you considered who should make the sacrifices entailed by enlisting-The single men or the married men? Britain, through conscription, say the single men should. The world over the sentiment is the same; and is not less pronounced in Canada than elsewhere?

Numbers of young men have left their homes in this District to fight for Canada-That means, for you and for your parents, and for yours and their property. You know many of these men. WAS IT-IS IT-THEIR DUTY TO GO, any more than yours? Is it fair they should sacrifice everything, their positions, their earnings for a year or more, all their home comforts, to enable you to hold down your job and to enjoy your ease and comfort?

DO YOU THINK THEY SHOULD FIGHT-FOR YOU?

After the war is over you will be only two or three years older than you are today. The Boys will know that You will be surrounded by those who enlisted, and fought, and returned. They will want to know what you did. What will be your answer? And what, your answer in the long years to come? And to your children, and their children?

Join this Battalion, and to you the road to promotion is open. Show aptitude and military efficiency, and promotion will be given you. Show great efficiency, and higher promotion will be given you. There is nothing in this Battalion you cannot achieve. If you have been examined by the Medical Officer since the 1st of December 1915, and have been refused, write me and I will give you a certificate, which I am authorized to issue, showing you have patriotically volunteered, and unfortunately have been rejected.

If you have not been examined go to the Medical Office nearest your home, who is examining recruits for this Battalion, be examined and then be attested. By so doing you will do your duty, and will have taken a step you will never regret.

I will be glad to hear from you in answer to this appeal.

Yours Faithfully,

T.P. Rowland, Lt-Co

Commanding 119th, O.S.Ba. C.E.F.

John Anderson helped lead the men of the 119th through recruitment and training in Canada, transport to England in the summer of 1916 and stayed with the men until he was transferred to the 8th Reserve Battalion over a year later in Nov 1917. As the battalion was ramping up its readiness for a soon-to-be-planned push against the German, on April 30th, 1918 John joined the 116th.

42 men from the 116th along with a total of 1036 Canadians died on Aug 8th, 1918. This was the first day of battle for the campaign known as the 100 Day Offensive or the 100 Day Push…or now referred to as Canada’s 100 Days. John Anderson was killed participating in this offensive. His remains are interred at the Hourges Orchard Cemetery at Domart-Sur-La-Luce.

Lest we forget.

Private Benjamin Thomas Cole

Private Benjamin Thomas Cole

642058

Born: South Shields, Durham, England

Lived in Orillia, ON

Killed in Action – August 8, 1918 Amiens, France

Buried at Hourges Orchard Cemetery, Domart Sur la Luce

The conversation held at the dinner table that evening still resonates a century later. Similar conversations were held at dinner tables across Canada at that same time. One can reimagine the eyes of the innocent staring up at their mommy and daddy while they blissfully gobbled down the delectable Sunday feast. The children would be blithely unaware that the conversation taking place between their parents would be the most effectual of their young life. However, they would notice the sudden dramatic change in the countenance of their mother…her tears, the look of concern and uncertainty on her face followed by feigned attempt to disguise her fear and ensure them that all was ok. But for many of these children, especially for two Orillia tots, it would not be ok….it would never be the same.

Two and a half year later, the brothers in question, Benjamin and Frank Cole would come to learn the tragic impact of that most difficult dinner that took place a long time ago. This would be the day that with a ring at the door, followed by the delivery of a telegram, the lads would learn that their father would not be coming home.

One can surmise that Benjamin Thomas Cole and his wife Edith had that most difficult conversation in the winter of 1915/16. At this time speeches from the lectern at St. James Anglican Church, amongst friends at community gatherings or within conversations at work would be all about the war. The pressure to enlist would be incredibly high. However, it should be noted that those who were needed to help produce goods and services for the war effort or those who has familial responsibilities were typically not expected to sign up. Yet with ex-pats like Benjamin Cole, the urge to join up was too great and he decided to do his duty and sign up for the war effort. He enlisted with the 157th Simcoe Foresters Battalion on Jan 4th, 1916.

Benjamin would say a final goodbye to his wife and sons, departing for England and arriving on Oct 28th, 1916. The 157th was quickly absorbed into the 116th Battalion and a month later, on Feb 11th, 1917 touched down in France. The nature of Private Cole’s experienced in the war are not known, however once can gain a better understanding of his experiences by the impacts on his health.

On September 14th 1917, Benjamin sought medical care for treatment of what referred to as P.U.O. or Pyrexia of an Unknown Origin. The reference is included in many, many service records of Great War soldiers…both of those who died over there and those who survived the horrors of battle and returned safely home. The reference is rather vague and non-descript as the symptoms could be varied. This became known as Trench Fever, now commonly known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. This type of injury was one of the most common and also the most misunderstood. Benjamin would have had to endure great stresses on his body, brain and mind from the constant exposure to concussion caused by exploding artillery ordinances. By September of 1917 the battalion would have fought at Vimy, the Raid at Avion and Hill 70 at Lens. This meant his brain was forced to absorb the effects of constant shellfire for six straight months.

Either out of compassion or reward for his efforts, Benjamin was granted two leaves of 2 weeks each to England in early 1918. This was very uncommon for a Private soldier. Yet, did his return and joined the battalion as they prepared for the massive affair planned for late summer.

On the day of his death, August 8th, 1918, the Battalion Diary would ironically declare that the day was ‘highly successful’. Together they were able to achieve the objectives assigned to the Battalion and secured 16 field guns, 40 machine guns while taking 450 prisoners. However, in the early hours of the morning while the men were massing and ready to attack, the forward company was subject to artillery fire incurring a number of casualties. It was presumed that here, the father of Benjamin and Thomas and the husband of Edith, was struck by shrapnel from incoming shellfire. He would not survive to share in the glories of that ‘highly successful’ day.

Lest we forget.

(for additional info on Benjamin and picture...kinda..visit the following weblink https://www.simcoe.com/.../8477184-club-hears-sobering.../)