commemorating armistice - carla...

Delta

CARLA Qualtrough Member of Parliament Delta

Commemorating

ARMISTICE

Constituency Office #104– 7511 120th Street Delta BC V4C 0C1 (778) 593-4007

Hill Office Confederation Building Rm 133

House of Commons Ottawa ON K1A 0A6

[email protected]

MEMORIES of:

P. Broznitsky………....2

K. Carswell….……...…3

Roz Greer…………......4

B. Knoblauch……..….5

Laurel Crosby………..6

L.&E. Edgeworth…...8

H&M.Latondresse.10

R. McMillin………….12

Y&G Parenteau…...14

R. Rigsby…...….…....16

P. Rehinger…..……..18

P. Buchanan…...…...20

Bill Risk……………….20

Fran Taylor…….…...21

B. Yamasaki……..….22

Price of War………..24

This year, we mark the 100th anniversary of the Armi-stice – the agreement to end the First World War. Every year since 1931, on Nov. 11 at 11am (the actual day and hour of the signing of the Armistice), Royal Canadian Legions across the country plan ceremonies of Remembrance in our communities. I am thankful to the Legion and the Ladies’ Auxiliary, who have, for all these years, ensured that Canadians never forget those who served and sacrificed for all we have today.

To commemorate this important anniversary, we gathered stories from our own community about relatives who contributed to the war cause. We met with the de-scendants of the brave soldiers who volunteered to travel overseas to fight for freedom. We were moved by how proud they were to share the stories, letters, postcards, pictures, medals and memorabilia of their long lost loved ones.

I am very grateful to all of these people who contributed to our project. They have allowed us a personal glimpse into a critical time in our history. I en-courage you to read these stories and take a moment to reflect on the freedoms and peace in our lives today, and perhaps you too will be inspired to learn more.

Carla Qualtrough, M.P.

2 Carla Qualtrough, MP

The birth of his son in 2003, and a keen interest in history, spurred Ladner resi-dent Peter Broznitsky to look into the First World War service of his two grandfathers – one English– one Russian.

Several years later, his family research brought him to won-der about the 27 names listed on the WW1 panels of the cenotaph in Memorial Park.

Peter spent countless hours over several years researching the identity of the people named and their connection to Ladner. While doing so he found out that approximately 300 (mostly young) men from Ladner enlisted and more than 27 died in battle but he has not been able to find out why other causalities were not named on the ceno-taph. The criteria for listing the names is a mys-tery.

For more details on Peter’s extensive research, which goes well beyond Delta, please visit his website at: www.russiansinthecef.ca.

PETER BROZNITSKY Local Historian

“Talk to a veteran soon. You don't have to ask hard questions. Something simple like how was the food? What sports did you play overseas? It could lead to some inter-esting discussions. Don't wait to ask!!”

Delta

Kathleen Carswell (nee Corbett) from Tsawwassen is the granddaughter of William Henry Hart. William was born on March 13, 1884 in Newton Abbot, Devon, England.

He was married to Elizabeth Roach of New Westminster, B.C. William was a farmer. His enlistment date was 26th August, 1915 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. William served as a sapper in the Army—3rd Canadian Division with the 8th Field Company of Canadian Engineers.

He died of shrapnel wounds to his head on May 17, 1916 at the age of 32. His death certificate states the “Circumstances of Casualty” as:

“Died of Wounds

He, with three other sappers, were building a bomb store

in the communication trench in the rear of trench 71,

Hooge, on the night of May 16th, 1916 and while standing

on the surface, some five or six feet above the bottom

or the trench, he was wounded by a rifle bullet passing

through the neck and the base of his skull. He received

first aid, and was conscious when

taken to the dressing station.

Later, he was evacuated to No. 10

Casualty Clearing Station where he

succumbed to his wounds.”

He is buried at the Ljssenthoek Military Cemetery in Belgium, the resting place of 10,755 casualties of the Great War.

KATHLEEN CARSWELL Remembering her Grandfather, William Henry Hart

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Roz Greer, from Tsawwas-sen, has extensive records on her father’s service in WW 1.

He was William Finlay Fid-des, born in Aberdeen, Scotland in 1889. His fa-ther was John Fiddes and mother was Jane Faffan. William had seven brothers and two sisters. Before the war he was an apprentice to a cabinet maker.

William Fiddes served with the Canadian Expedi-tionary Force. He enlisted in September 1914 in Vancouver. He served in France for four years, was wounded, and suffered with influenza. He was honourably discharged in April 1919, with the rank of Corporal.

Roz says that father did not talk much about his experience in war with the exception of a story about how he bought (or skillfully acquired) eggs from French farmers and how he sometimes found himself sleeping against mud walls. Roz recalls that her father was very proud of his Scottish heritage and was active with the Gaelic Society of Vancouver and the Seaforth Highland-ers in Vancouver in the years following the war.

ROZ GREER Remembering Her father, William Finlay Fiddes

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BONNIE KNOBLAUCH Remembering her Grandfather and 2 Uncles, James, Joseph & James Jr. Sperring

James Sperring, Bonnie Knowblauch’s grandfather, was born in London, England on June 21, 1868. He immigrated to Canada in 1895, when he was 27. On December 14, 1915, when he enlisted, he was married to Catherine. His Attestation Papers #760484 lists his occupation as a shipper. James Sperring was with IFC 11

th Irish Fusiliers of Canada

and achieved the rank of Sargent. He survived the war and returned to Canada.

Joseph Sperring was Bonnie’s uncle. He was born on June 12, 1887. He signed up to serve on Janu-ary 1, 1916, with the IFC 11

th Irish Fusiliers of Can-

ada. He was not married. Joseph fought in France and fell on April 15, 1918. He died of his wounds in an army hospital on Sept. 2, 1918. Joseph’s At-testation Papers #760689 list his occupation as a candy cutter. Joseph’s remains lie in the Ligny-St. Flochel British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.

James Jr. Sperring was Bonnie’s second uncle. He was born on December 23, 1897. His occupation was electrician. He signed up to serve on February 3, 1916, with the 54

th Battalion. James never mar-

ried. He was killed at Vimy Ridge on April 9, 1917, and is buried nearby.

In 2015, Bonnie visited France and Belgium and found the graves of both her uncles. She recounts a very emotional visit. Look-ing at the photos of her uncles Bonnie questions the gap in their dates of birth, because they look much closer in age.

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Laurel Crosby, from Ladner, shared the story of her grandfather’s service in the Great War and told us about a connection that intertwined her family with her husband John’s family, long before they met. She also shared the story of her husband’s great-uncle Harry Viner’s service and sacrifice.

Robert Simpson Jr. was Laurel’s grandfather. He was born on May 8, 1892 in Carlisle County, Cumberland, England. He came to Canada in 1911 and worked with a crew of men building roads.

Robert volunteered for service on September 15, 1914 and served from September 23, 1914 to May 10, 1919, part of the time with his father, also named Robert. Robert Jr. experienced some of the costliest battles in terms of casualties, serving in Ypres, St. Julien, Arleux, Passchendaele, on the Hindenburg Line, the Somme, Vimy Ridge, Hill 70, Amiens, and Drocourt-Quéant. He received the French Medal of Honour, Avec Glaives En Bronze (only 698 awarded for the entire war) for an act of extra bravery.

Robert returned to Vancouver in 1920 and worked as a carpenter and later managed a branch of the Royal Canadian Legion. He was married to Violet Montique Brooks. Robert died on January 13, 1955.

Harry Viner (pictured on the right) is John Crosby’s great-uncle. He was born in Hull, Yorkshire, England. He fought in the Boer War.

LAUREL CROSBY Remembering her Grandfather, Robert Simpson Jr. and Harry Viner

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Delta

Harry came to Calgary in 1912. When WW1 started, he enlisted and became part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. He fought in the trenches and died in Sanctuary Woods in 1915. His remains are buried at St. Eloi, Ypres.

Several years ago John Crosby’s parents were visiting Laurel and John from the Sunshine Coast. This photo was hanging on the wall of the guest bedroom. It’s a photo of Laurel’s grandfather, Robert Simpson (second from the right) and his comrades. The photo was taken at Sanctuary Woods.

A short time later John’s parents returned to Delta bearing a copy of the very same photograph that was in their possession. The soldier to the right of Robert Simpson is John’s great uncle, Harry Viner!

Harry Viner and the two soldiers on the left died at

Sanctuary Woods.

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Leslie and Eleanor Edgeworth’s fathers both served in WW 1. Eleanor Edgeworth’s father was Gilbert Leslie Abbott, born November 7, 1896, in Canada.

Gilbert served from 1917 – 1919 and fought at the

Battle of Vimy Ridge. While he was overseas he

got word that his mother had passed away.

After the war, in1922, Gilbert married Margaret

Mona Alice Chaffer or “Mona” for short. In 1936,

LES & ELEANOR EDGEWORTH Remembering their Fathers, James Edgeworth & Gilbert Leslie Abbott

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Delta

he and his family built a house on Argyle Street in

Vancouver. He also built a house in Point Roberts

made out of the driftwood that had floated

ashore. He called the house “Driftwood”. He was

an excellent gardener so his family and neighbours

always had fresh vegetables. He also worked as a

postman for 25 years. Eleanor remembers her fa-

ther very fondly. He was a very kind and friendly

person who loved his family dearly. Gilbert lived

to be 93 years old.

Les Edgeworth’s

father, James

Edgeworth, was

born in Belfast,

Ireland in 1888.

He joined the

British Army in

1907 to 1919

serving in India,

Egypt and in

WW1. James

played clarinet

in the military

band called the

Inniskilling Dra-

goons during

this time.

After the war, James came to Canada in 1919 and

moved to Vancouver in 1925. Because of his army

cavalry experience, he worked as a groom for a

bakery whose goods were delivered by horse and

cart.

James was a member of the Canadian Provost

Corps of Canada from 1939 – 1945. When he

passed away in February of 1945, he was given a

military funeral down Georgia Street, Vancouver.

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Heather and Michael Latondresse of Ladner,

shared the story of his grandfather’s service and

sacrifice in WW1. It had been passed down from

Michael’s mother, Molly, who was five years old

when her father went to war.

Thomas Sturmey was born in 1880 in Maiden-

head, Dorchester, England. He worked as a pri-

vate horse groom prior to moving to Midland,

Ontario. He married Mary Ann Molloy in 1907 in

Midland. They had three daughters. Thomas was

employed as a gentleman’s overseer and riding

instructor.

When the war broke out Thomas enlisted and be-

came a member of the Canadian Expeditionary

Force, serving in France. Molly wrote to her dad

while he was away and he was able to send

postcards back. On one of the postcards he

thanked her for the 4-leaf clover she sent, hoping

it would bring him good luck and bring him

home safely.

HEATHER LATONDRESSE Remembering her husband’s Grandfather, Thomas Sturmey

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Delta

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Unfortunately, that was not to

be. Thomas was killed on April

15, 1916 and buried in a grave

in Boulogne cemetery with two

of his comrades.

When Thomas’ personal be-

longings were returned to his

widow, she found tucked inside

of the little ‘French for Soldiers’

book that all soldiers were issued, the 4-leaf clover

Molly sent her father, still fully intact. Heather and

Michael are very happy to have the Soldiers book,

with the postcard and the intact 103 year old

good luck charm.

Heather recounted several

trips to France to visit the

Normandy region including

Vimy Ridge, Verdun and the

Somme “….so many grave

yards…so much to learn….”

During a visit to

France in 2005,

Heather and Mi-

chael happened

upon a ceremony

of remembrance of

a group of French

Resistance fighters

who were shot by

the Nazis. Every

member of the Re-

sistance group who

was killed was rep-

resented at the cer-

emony by a family

member. Thomas Sturmey, his mother-in-law and brother-in-law.


Robert McMillin of North Delta shared infor-

mation on his grandfather and great-grandfather.

Robert Alvin McMillin was Robert’s grandfather.

Everyone called him Alvin. He was born in To-

ronto on May 23, 1896. Alvin enlisted at 19, serv-

ing in the Canadian Army Services Corps, Divi-

sional Supply Command as a driver (munitions

and supplies). He saw service at the front but

fortunately he was not wounded. Alvin was hon-

ourably discharged after the war and returned to

Toronto to his family’s building company.

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ROBERT McMILLIN Remembering his Grandfather and Great-Grandfather, Robert McMillin & William Clark

Delta

Alvin McMillin (middle row, fifth from left) likely

with members of the 4th

Divisional Supply Column,

including dispatch rides (hence the motorcycles).

William Clark, holding child, is Robert McMillin’s

great-grandfather. He lived in Toronto and served

in the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada. He was

wounded at Passchendaele. Alvin McMillin mar-

ried William’s eldest daughter Helen (standing sec-

ond from right).

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YVONNE & GARRY PARENTEAU Remembering his Great-Great-Uncles, The Haldane Bothers—First Nations’ Soldiers

Garry and Yvonne Parenteau, long time Ladner residents, have an extensive collection of letters, and memorabilia from Garry’s great-great-uncles: Whitfield Haldane, Donald Grant McPherson Hal-dane and John William (Jocko) Haldane. Their grandfather was an American, Whitfield Chase, who founded the town of Chase, and their grand-mother, known as Persoons, was a member of the Secwepemec (formally known as the Shuswap) Nation. The Haldane brothers were amongst the ~4000 First Nations’ people to volunteer to fight in the First World War. Their Attestation Papers record their occupation as “farmers”.

In 1914, the two older brothers Whitfield and Donald, travelled by train to Valcartier, Quebec to train for war at the hastily prepared training camp. John followed later. Donald writes to his Mother:

“There are about 40,000 men in this camp at pre-

sent and there isn’t food enough to feed 20,000.

Some of our regiment hasn’t had anything to eat

for the last forty eight hours. …We are treated

worse than dogs.” (Sept 4, 1914)

They were sent to England and spent a terrible winter training at Pond Farm Camp (Salisbury

Army sleeping bag (1914) made of brown wool

Letters and postcards from the Haldane brothers

Delta

Plain) before embarking for France. Eventually, as the two brothers were part of the Canadian Cavalry, they were transferred to the Lord Strathcona’s Horse and in Sept. 1916, Donald writes:

“We may be getting our

equipment any day now

for they are busy sorting

out everything. We get a

sword, revolver and car-

bine rifle--quite a bunch

of weapons for one man

to handle, isn’t it?”

In France, their war records indicate that they fought at Scarpe, Vimy, and Passchendaele (where Jocho was injured). Letters were few and far between as there was little time to write and so the men filled out brief “report cards” to their family, informing them only that they were alive, or recovering and wanted to hear back. Some of the cavalry found themselves fighting on the ground with the infantry. On March 30, 1918, Donald was killed while his Brigade fought to protect against the fall of Amiens (Battle of Mo-reuil Wood). He is commemorated at the Cana-dian Memorial to the Missing at Vimy. Whitfield died of “mortal wounds” later that same year, June 4 of 1918, and lies in Wailly Orchard Ceme-tery in France. Whitfield was just 27 and Donald 25 years old. Jocko recovered from his wounds

and returned to live his life in their home town of Chase.

Yvonne and Garry have done extensive re-search into their rela-tives’ military tour and are planning to travel to England and France and retrace the steps of their great-uncles 100 years ago.

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Donald G.M. Haldane

Whitfield Haldane


Rosemary Rigsby, a Ladner resident, is a writer of poetry, prose and non-fiction. This is an abridged version of her family members’ service and sacri-fice in WW1. The complete piece can be found at http://rosemaryrigsby.wordpress.com

The Fitzgeralds of Comox: World War I

In 2016, on a visit to Ottawa, I paused at the threshold of Canada’s Memorial Chamber. Be-strode by Ottawa’s Peace Tower, the chamber holds the Books of Remembrance recording the names of Canadians who died while serving our country. The World War I Book, the grandest of them all, sat on a dais not two meters in front me. I knew that page eighty-six registered the death of my great uncle, John Woodburn Fitzgerald.

My grandmother often talked about her brother, Woody, the broth-er who nobody ever called either John or Wood-burn. Even as a child I knew he held a special place in family re-gard, and when I was older I learned why. In March

1916, at the age of twenty-two, he enlisted with the 102nd (Comox-Atlin) Battalion, CEF. The First World War was on, and bullies tramped through Europe. But seven months later, Woody was killed at the Somme in October of 1916.

I remember my grandmother telling me about the day her mother received the telegram, and the family’s tears. My grandmother was eleven in 1916, and she told me the story when I was about the same age. Tears filled my eyes too.

ROSEMARY RIGSBY Remembering her Great-Grandfather, Joseph Rigsby

Postcard from Woody

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Delta

Woody’s sacrifice has been family lore for over 100 years. But he was not the only Fitzgerald lost for the cause of democracy.

In July of 1916, Woody’s father Joseph, aged fifty-two had enlisted, and was attached to the Canadian Forestry Corps. At a time when young men claimed they were older in order to sign up, my great grandfa-ther stated his age as ten years younger for the same reason. Why? A duty to Canada where his home-steading parents had found security? My grand-mother never doubted his loyalty. But perhaps Jo-seph felt his joining would then allow his next eli-gible son, Allan, to stay home.

Allan did not stay home. He enlisted in May of 1918, and his Recruit Declaration states that he was a slight man, brown-haired and blue-eyed, with a “marked impediment in speech.” Lisping or stuttering, Allan served in France. Both he and his father returned home from the war. The family’s joy may have been diminished when they discov-ered that Allan had syphilis, a death sentence in 1918. My great grandfather lived to the age of 82, outliving his sons, whose sacrifice, and those of so many others in the years since this country’s con-federation, must ever be remembered.

Woody’s “dog tag” (ID)

Joseph is seated in the cart on the left.

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PRICILLA REHINGER Remembering her Grandfather, John Frost

The beautifully embroidered post cards that John Frost sent to his wife and baby while he served in France are treasured possessions of his grand-daughter Pricilla Rehinger, who lives in Ladner. John Frost’s Attestation Paper record that he was born in 1876 in Conception Bay, Newfoundland. When he enlisted for the war in 1915 his occupa-tion was “rancher” and he lived in Kelowna. He was married with four children. Pricilla believes he served with the Seaforth High-landers. He returned home to his family but he was never the same.

Delta

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Bill Risk, from Tsawwassen, spoke about the service of his father, Robert Risk, who was born in 1867 in Paisley, Scotland. Robert Risk served in SE Asia with the Singapore Naval Artillery and then with the Malay State Volunteer Rifles in Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia. He was a sniper.

Malaria was called the “unexpected adversary” in the First World War. Robert contracted malaria in Malaysia and almost died. Bill says his father took large doses of quinine to survive it.

In 1917, Robert left Malaysia and returned to Scotland where he worked as an engineer. Bill said that his father rarely spoke about his war time experiences.

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BILL RISK

Remembering his father, Robert Risk

PEG BUCHANAN Remembering her Father, Evan l. Jones

Peg Buchanan from Tsawwassen wanted to share her memories of her father’s service in WW1.

Evan L. Jones was born in North Wales. He volun-teered for service at age 20 and served in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. He fought in the trenches and experienced being gassed. Peg says that her father also served in the Camel Corps with Colonel T.E. Lawrence, known as “Lawrence of Arabia”. She believes Evan learned to speak Arabic.

Evan loved storytelling and Peg remembers him telling her about “planting tulips” which meant planting bombs along that train tracks. Peg said her father came back from the war as a changed man. He died in 1970.

Delta

Fran Taylor from Tsawwassen came forward with the story of Robert Hamilton, her uncle, from Newton, BC. He was born April 10

th, 1890, and

was one of three sons.

Robert Hamilton was part of the Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment, 72

nd Branch).

He died at Vimy Ridge on September 15th

1917. His brother David was killed in the same area in August 1917.

Fran recounted that when the army came to conscript the third brother, her father Frank, her grandmother told the enrollment officers that she needed his help on the farm so they were not getting Frank! They didn’t.

Fran’s dad lived up until he was 96 years old and took care of his mother every step of the way. Fran says that she never met her uncle, but is very proud of him for his sacrifice.

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FRAN TAYLOR Remembering her Uncle, Robert Hamilton

Bill recalls going on a long walk with his father around their town in 1943, while his dad shared many childhood and growing up memo-ries with him. Robert died as few months after that walk.


Brian Yamasaki of Ladner never met his grandfather Aitoku Yamasaki, but he knows his story well because it has been chronicled and past down by his family members. Brian is the proud custodian of his grandfather’s WW1 medals, some photographs and other militaria. Family members pay a silent tribute to Aitoku every year on November 11th.

Aitoku Ohama was born on September 18, 1887, in Iriki, Kagoshima, Japan. He married Ai Yamasaki, an only child. According to the tradition in Japan, Aitoku became a yoshi and assumed the Yamasaki surname.

In 1907, Aitoku and Ai Yamasaki joined many other Japanese and came to Canada, in search of a better life. They arrived in Vancouver and travelled to Calgary, Alberta. Aitoku and his wife started a grocery store business in Calgary and he also worked in a hotel. Life in Canada was not easy but they strove hard to succeed. There was much racial discrimination and prejudice against Asians, including the Japanese.

When WWI broke out, many Japanese men, including Aitoku, answered the call to demonstrate their loyalty to their adopted country. It was the belief of these volunteers that by proving their loyalty to Canada in this way, it would pave the way to the right to vote.

Aitoku enlisted in Calgary, Alberta on August 23, 1916 and became part of the 50th Battalion of the Canadian Army. This Battalion set sail from Halifax on Oct. 4, 1916. While at the front in France, Aitoku was exposed to the German’s chlorine gas bombs. He sustained very serious injuries; in particular, his lung was perforated. Upon his return from England in 1918, he was admitted to Shaughnessy Hospital in Vancouver. He was discharged from the hospital and from the Army in January, 1919. Aitoku was awarded the British War medal and the Victory Medal. His name is on the plaque on the Japanese Canadian War Memorial in Stanley Park.

BRIAN YAMASAKI Remembering His Grandfather, Aitoku Yamasaki

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Delta

After his discharge from the army, Aitoku was reunited with his wife and children, living first in Calgary and later on in Vancouver. In 1941, Aitoku travelled to Japan to settle his mother’s estate. He became very ill and his return to Canada was delayed. After his recovery, he was unable to return to Canada due to the outbreak of WWII. Aitoku was investigated by the military and city police on the charge of being a US spy due to the fact he understood English and had served in a foreign country. He was very sad to again be separated from his wife and children.

Following the attack on Pearl Harbour, Aitoku’s family was interned in Kaslo, BC. Brian’s father was 17 at the time, attending Van Tech High School. This was a very difficult time. Japanese men and boys from the internment camps formed baseball teams -- playing the game they loved helped ease the strain of internment.

In 1950 Aitoku and Ai were finally reunited – in Japan. Life was very difficult during the post war years. In Iriki, Aitoku became very involved in community affairs and local politics. He was elected Councilman for the Town of Iriki, and served in this capacity for 17 years.

Aitoku spoke infrequently about his war experiences. However, his family recalls his excitement and joy when he would meet other Japanese Canadian soldiers. They would literally jump for joy at seeing each other and hug each other in excitement. For people brought up in a reserved culture, the encounters must have been truly emotional ones!

Aitoku Yamasaki passed away in Iriki in 1966 and Ai Yamasaki passed away in 1970. They are presently survived by one son, Yoshiaki, aged 95 in Toronto,14 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and three great-

great-grandchildren who live in British Columbia, Ontario, Nevada and Japan.

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On August 4, 1914, the United Kingdom declared war on Germany. As Canada was part of the Brit-ish Empire, it found itself automatically at war as well. However, Canada had virtually no military forces to commit (under 3000 soldiers) and a very, very small navy. Because many English speaking Canadians still had strong ties to Brit-ain, Canada offered a Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) and the first contingent of 31,000 volunteers made the journey to England, where they received their initial military training. By 1916 the Canadian Government had introduced conscription.

Throughout the war, the Canadian contribution was impressive: ~630,000 Canadians (or 7% of Canada’s en-

tire population) served in the CEF, the vast majority of them were volunteers.

~425,000 Canadians went overseas ~61,000 were killed 3141 female nurses served overseas an additional 172,000 wounded, and count-

less thousands came home alive but highly traumatized by their experience.

THE PRICE OF WAR First World War

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