Letters home from Private Edward Ray Jackson who joined the 160th Bruce Battalion of the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Forces in 1916, 8 months before his 18th birthday. He served as a gunner in France with the 1st Battalion of the 1st Canadian Division under Marshal Ferdinand Foch and was wounded in action at Arras on August 30, 1918.
Between August 26 and September 7, 1918 seven men from my community were wounded in action at Arras including my grandfather's brother, and another four were killed there including my great grandfather's brother. They all enlisted with the 160th Bruce Battalion, some died with the 18th Western Ontario, 1st Infantry, and 43rd Infantry Battalions, also the 1st Motor Machine Gun Brigade and Canadian Engineers 2nd Tramway. I am from Cape Croker Reserve, where an unequalled enlistment rate from any community in Canada came from native or non-native. Some of the men who left my reserve also crossed the ocean on the SS. Metagama, stayed at Witley and almost certainly knew your father in law. It is an honourable thing to remember these experiences, it is the least we can do.
Hi Patrick Thanks for your comments. I'm sure they might have known each other even if they were in different companies. Ray's was Company B. Those who died at that time at Arras are buried in Upton Wood Cemetery which we visited a year ago. Many died the day Ray was only wounded. He was lucky.
The majority from Cape Croker were from 'C' Company. I know 'B' Company enlisted from Hepworth. There were some here in 'B' Coy. I know our Veterans Band was requested to play at military funerals throughout Bruce Battalions Legions. Legionnaires had stronger bonds amongst themselves than amongst most other groups.
Between August 26 and September 7, 1918 seven men from my community were wounded in action at Arras including my grandfather's brother, and another four were killed there including my great grandfather's brother. They all enlisted with the 160th Bruce Battalion, some died with the 18th Western Ontario, 1st Infantry, and 43rd Infantry Battalions, also the 1st Motor Machine Gun Brigade and Canadian Engineers 2nd Tramway. I am from Cape Croker Reserve, where an unequalled enlistment rate from any community in Canada came from native or non-native. Some of the men who left my reserve also crossed the ocean on the SS. Metagama, stayed at Witley and almost certainly knew your father in law. It is an honourable thing to remember these experiences, it is the least we can do.
ReplyDeleteHi Patrick
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments. I'm sure they might have known each other even if they were in different companies. Ray's was Company B. Those who died at that time at Arras are buried in Upton Wood Cemetery which we visited a year ago. Many died the day Ray was only wounded. He was lucky.
The majority from Cape Croker were from 'C' Company. I know 'B' Company enlisted from Hepworth. There were some here in 'B' Coy. I know our Veterans Band was requested to play at military funerals throughout Bruce Battalions Legions. Legionnaires had stronger bonds amongst themselves than amongst most other groups.
ReplyDelete