The Fallen of November 1, 1914

Officers Aboard HMS Good Hope, Falkland Islands, 18 October 1914
(Midshipmen in the front row)

The Battle of Coronel, November 1, 1914

The Battle of Coronel took place on 1 November 1914 off the coast of central Chile near the city of Coronel. German Kaiserliche Marine forces led by Vice-Admiral Graf Maximilian von Spee met and defeated a Royal Navy squadron commanded by Rear-Admiral Sir Christopher Cradock.  Two ships were lost, the HMS Good Hope and the HMS Monmouth.  Four young men from the Royal Canadian Navy were Midshipmen on the HMS Good Hope on which all hands were lost.  All of them were graduates of first class of the Royal Navy College of Canada, set up in 1911 shortly after the Canadian Navy itself was established in 1910.  Details of the battle, newspaper articles,and ship descriptions, and information about memorials may be found online at The Coronel Memorial.

Midshipman Malcolm Cann, 18, of Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.

Midshipman John Victor W. Hatheway, 19, of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Midshipman William Archibald Palmer, 20, of Ottawa, Ontario.

Midshipman Arthur Wiltshire Silver, 20, of Halifax, Nova Scotia.

These young men are commemorated at the Halifax Memorial which stands in honour of the memories of the men and women of the Navy, Army, and Merchant Navy who lost their lives and have unknown graves.

Canada's Fallen October 24 to October 31, 1914

War Illustrated of the 31st October 1914 

I found an amazing blog this morning that posts pictures from an inherited bound copy of The War Illustrated.  These pictures of Canadians getting settled in on Salisbury Plain were striking to me - partly because of the clear interest in the soldier's "fatigue caps," which would normally be described as touques (the spelling is contested) in Canada.  I can only imagine how cold and inhospitable the open pump bathroom would have been.

Seven Canadians fell during this week, all but one in England.

October 24, 1914

Private Charles Goscombe of the Canadian Army Medical Corps died leaving his wife, Livinia Goscombe, of II, James St., The Common, Woolwich, London, England.  He is buried in Fort Massey Cemetary, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Gunner George Read died at 36 years old.  He is buried in Bulford Church Cemetery, Wiltshire, United Kingdom.

October 25, 1914

Corporal William Ogden, 43 years old and from Saskatoon, died by accidental gunshot wound while he was testing rifles.  There is a lovely article from the Salisbury Plain Benefice, which includes a photograph of his grave which may be found in Orcheston St Mary churchyard, Wiltshire, United Kingdom.

October 29, 1914

Private Samuel Herbert Smith, 28 years old died accidentally when he fell off a transport wagon and was killed instantly when he landed on his head. He had previously served for two years with the Royal Engineers in England, and was reported to have formerly been a Captain in the French Foreign Legion.  Private Smith was from Liverpool, but had been in Montreal for 18 month before he enlisted. He is buried in Amesbury Cemetery, Wiltshire, United Kingdom. The Canadian Virtual War Memorial has copies of his attestation papers and an image of his battalion's war diary.

October 31, 1914

Gunner Theophilus Walter Burdock was found drowned at Bath, Somerset, England he was 38 years old.  Although he was born in England, he enlisted at Valcartier indicating that his profession was Lumberjack.  Gunner Burdock is burried in St. John The Baptist Churchyard, Batheaston, Somerset, United Kingdom.  

Private Alexander Ogilvie was 28 years old at his death and is buried in St. Peter's Cemetery, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, United Kingdom.

Private A.R. Ridley-Thompson is buried in Efford Cemetery, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom.

Canada's Fallen October 16 to October 23, 1914

Canadian soldiers marching through Amesbury, Wiltshire in 1914. Photo by T.L. Fuller

I find it somewhat inspiring to think of the young men, filled with anticipation and a sense of adventure, many returning to Britain as part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force arriving on Salisbury Plain.  It is hard to imagine 30,000 men arriving all at once.  Canadians at this point are yet to be tested in the field.  The first Canadian to die on the other side of the Atlantic was Private William Herbert Vaughan Hartley, who died by accident.

October 19, 1914

Sapper John Allan who was part of Canada Permanent Force, died at Halifax, Nova Scotia on October 19, 1914.  The only known memorial is page one of the First World War Book of Remembrance.

Capt. A. Campbell

Captain Alexander Campbell was the son of the late William James and Sarah Jane Campbell, of Ottawa, Ontario.  He was husband of Ellen Margaret Campbell, also of Ottawa.  He is buried in Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa, Ontario.

Private William Herbert Vaughan Hartley was from Blackburn, Lancashire, England.  He was also husband of Ellen Hartley, of Montreal. It was reported in the Huntingdon Gleaner October 22, 1914

"On Sunday morning, on the road between Salisbury and the plain where the Canadian contingent is encamped, the body of a soldier was found.. It was lying face downward, the mouth close to the grass. The body was that of Private Wm. H. V. Hartley, C Company, 34 years old, of the First Royal Montreal Regiment. He had got leave on Saturday and went to town where he spent the evening. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death. The burial took place on Tuesday in the village church-yard at Shrewton, with full military honors. He was an Englishman and came to Canada 2 years ago. After a few months stay in Toronto, settled in Valleyfield. He obtained employment in Valleyfield with the Montreal Cottons. Since his enlistment, Mrs Hartley has been without support and has received aid from the municipality and from individuals. Her five children are all under seven years of age, and apart from her husband's sister she has no relatives in Canada"

Although there was considerable, his death is recorded as "death by asphyxiation."  He was buried with full military honours at St. Mary Churchyard Extension, Maddington, Wiltshire, United Kingdom.

October 20, 1914

Colour Sergeant E.J. Lock was 27 at the time of his death.  He had prior military experience with the Royal Marines and is buried in Greenback Cemetery Bristol, England.

October 21, 1914

Gunner Percy Sawyer was killed by being kicked by a horse, and was treated by Maj. John McRea, famous for writing In Flanders Fields 18 months later.   The cororner's inquest ruled the death accidental.  Gunner Sawyer is buried in St. Thomas A Becket Churchyard, Tilshead, Wiltshire, United Kingdom.

A version of the story, including a picture of the grave, and much more information about Canadians on Salisbury Plain may be found at the Toronto Star from April 20, 2014.

October 22, 1914

Gunner John H. Lunn died on October 22, 1914, and is buried in Fort Massey Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Canada's Fallen October 1 to October 15, 1914

Over 1000 members of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in front of their Ship in October 1914

During the early part of October, the first 30,000 Canadians left for England.  The first contingent left on October 3, 1914, and arrived in England on October 14, 1914.  Five Canadians fell during this period, all in Canada.  One of these fallen, Private Teddy Burgoyne, from a high profile family in St. Catharines Ontario, was murdered while on duty by another sentry.

October 6, 1914

Private John W. Barnes was buried in Ross Bay Cemetery, Victoria,  BC.  Reference – Phoenix Pioneer October 17, 1914

From the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

October  7, 1914

Private Arthur Theodore Burgoyne was shot to death while on duty with the Welland Canal Force by a fellow sentry Private Frank Hartley.  He was 17 years old.  The Ottawa Citizen reported on October 9, 1914:

"The murder was the result of a trivial altercation, in the course of which Hartley suddenly raised his rifle and discharged it within a few feet of Burgoyne's face."  Hartley was apparently apprehended immediately by four other sentries, and treated roughly before he was taken under arrest to St. Catharines."

It was later reported that on the day of the killing, Hartley had appeared at roll call improperly dressed and was reprimanded by Sergeant Clarence Burgoyne. Testimony indicated that later Hartley and Burgoyne were standing together; Hartley suddenly wheeled and swore, "I'll shoot you". He raised his rifle and shot Burgoyne dead. Hartley was tried on 11 March 1915 for murder, but the jury found him guilty of manslaughter and he was sentenced to 13 years imprisonment.

Before his enlistment Private Burgoyne was an employee of the Bank of Toronto.  He is buried in Victoria Lawn Cemetery, St. Catharines, Ontario.
 

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Captain Alexander James Fowlie died in Halifax.  He was survived by his wife Minnie and daughter, Adele.  He is buried in St. Stephen’s United Church Cemetery, Black River, New Brunswick.

October 10, 1914

Private Joseph Cobb died Oct 10, 1914 while in Halifax.  He is buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

October 11, 1914

Private T. Stone was a member of the Royal Flying Corps.  He is buried in the Nanaimo Public Cemetery in BC.

Canada's Fallen September 21 to September 30, 1914

September 21, 1914 - Camp Valcartier

The end of September marked that last weeks that the first contingent of the Canadian Expeditionary Force trained in Canada before leaving for Europe.  During the period September 21 to September 30, seven more men fell.

September 21, 1914

Private Thomas William Hardingham died of a gunshot wound received on the Rockcliffe range.  He was 27, and was the first casualty of the Great War to be buried in Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa, Ontario.

September 22, 1914

Leading Signalman George Hawkins is buried in Veteran's Cemetery, Esquimalt, BC.

September 24, 1914

Private Alfred John Cook is buried in Mount Hermon Cemetery, Quebec City.

Private H.R. Longhurst is buried in Mount Hermon Cemetery, Quebec City.

September 25, 1914

Private Leopold Mayer of Montreal is buried at Notre Dame des Neiges Cemetery, Quebec City.

September 26, 1914

Detail of the Baptistry

Bombadier George Howe, son of Robert Howe of Toronto is commemorated in the Baptistry of Saint Thomas Anglican Church in Toronto.  On enlistment for First World War service, Bombardier Howe was employed as a Railway Freight man. Bombardier Howe also served with the Canadian Scouts during the South African War.  He was 33 at the time of his death.  He is buried in Mount Pleasant Cemetery in Toronto.

September 29, 1914

Private O Baxter died of illness and is buried in Mount Hermon Cemetery, Quebec City.

Canada's Fallen September 13 to September 20, 1914

Bibliothèque et Archives nationales du Québec

In the overarching history of the Great War, this week marked the beginning of the "Race to the Sea" which is a term that describes attempts by both the Franco-British and German armies to envelop the northern flank of the opposing army through Picardy, Artois and Flanders.  At home, Canadian troops were training in Canada.  By the beginning of September, 32,000 were already at Valcartier camp training in anticipation of their departure to France.

September 13, 1914

Private John J. McKay of Morrisburg, Ontario died of pneumonia at age 32 leaving behind his wife, Mabel.  He is buried at Mount Hermon Cemetery, Quebec City.

September 15, 1914

Private John N. Stevens is buried at Valcartier Military Cemetery.

September 17, 1914

Corporal George Hague (Haig), son of Joseph and Alberta Hague of Niagara Falls, drowned at Port Colborne on 17 September 1914 while bathing. He and another soldier were diving from a canoe near the Niagara Grain and Feed Company's mill. He was 18 at this death, and is buried in Fairview Cemetery, Niagara Falls, Ontario.

September 18, 1914

Lieutenant Fred Kellett died of heart disease and was given a military funeral.  He was 36 years old and from Brandon, Manitoba.  He is buried at Mount Hermon Cemetery, Quebec City.

September 19, 1914

Private R.A. Wellesley of Vancouver, BC died of pneumonia after a short illness and and is buried at Mount Hermon Cemetery, Quebec City.

September 20, 1914

Private John Thomas Insley of Edmonton also succumbed to pneumonia and is buried at Mount Hermon Cemetery, Quebec City.

Canada's Fallen of September 6 to September 12, 1914

The first page of the First World War Book of Honour

I have found, as I look for information about these people who died 100 years ago that the amount and kind of information that is available is highly variable - and almost always minimal.  Today I am posting the image of the first page of the First World War Book of Honour, because there is very minimal information about most of these men.

September 8, 1914

Private John P. Desales was from British Columbia and is buried at the Valcartier Military Cemetery.

September 9, 1914

Private George F Cox was from Alberta and is buried at Mount Hermon Cemetery, Quebec City.

September 11, 1914

Private Edward (Edgerton) Forsyth, 20, of the 44th Regiment was killed by a train in the Montrose rail yards on 11 September 1914. He had received his discharge from the Force and was on his way home. It was assumed that he fallen under the wheels of a freight car when he attempted to hop a ride to Grimsby, where he lived. He was buried by the 44th Regiment in Drummond Hill Cemetery, Niagara Falls. He was survived by a father, sister and brother. (Guarding Niagra, p 107)

September 12, 1914

Gunner A. Beck, also sometimes listed as Private, is buried at the Valcartier Military Cemetery.

Gunner (Bombadier) Adolphe Gallant was born in PEI and survived by his parents Isaac and Priscilla Gallant of Sydney, Nova Scotia.  Gallant died at the age of 26 and is buried in the Holy Cross Cemetery in Sydney.