From 1914 to 1918
When the First World War broke out in 1914, Canada was a self-governing colony of the British Empire. Deep political and cultural ties with Britain meant Canadians were entered the First World War when Britain declared war on Germany. This conflict, which lasted from 1914 to 1918, is the bloodiest in Canadian history. More than 600,000 men and women served from a nation of just eight million people.
As early as 1865, a volunteer company was formed to protect the Canadian border along the St. Clair River against Fenian Raids. In 1872, a Lambton regiment was given the title of the St. Clair Borderers. During World War I, this regiment supplied troops to the fighting fronts through the 70th and 149th Battalions.
Those who stayed behind on the home front worked in factories, farmed, and raised money and supplies to contribute to the war effort overseas. Local groups formed in response to the war and raised funds and more supplies, chapters such as the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire and the Women's Conservation Committee collected scrap metal and cloth for the Red Cross.
Even children, such as Petrolia's Ned McRobie who served as mascot of the 149th, were called upon to “do their bit” and contribute to the war effort.
Soldiers from Lambton fought in the Somme, at Vimy and Ypres. After proving ourselves overseas, Canada emerged from the war as a nation and was no longer viewed as simply a colony of Britain. While we were respected by the world, the heavy losses Canada incurred contributed to a sense of post-war disillusionment.
WWI Artifacts in the Museum Collection
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Stories
Many First World War servicemen around Canada posed for portraits before travelling overseas. Soldiers would have given these photographs to relatives and loved ones as mementoes and keepsakes. Some would later be poignant and precious reminders of men who died in Europe.
Some photographs document individual soldiers, while others groups of men or a entire company. Both the Lambton Heritage Museum and Lambton County Archives are home an incredible collection of these images.
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Major Robert Gibb Stewart of Courtright |
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Robert Gibb Stewart was born on October 14, 1872. At the age of eleven he joined the cavalry, of which his Father was then a Major, and for twenty-one years was connected with C Squadron, 1st Hussars. He attained the rank of Major. During the Boer War he volunteered for service but his senior officer was chosen. Robert worked at his Father's lumber mill, for nine years. He continued his education; he went to Sarnia and at a business college studied stenography and typewriting. He returned to Courtright and spent two years in the grain business, also dealing in hardware. He sold out and was engaged by the Michigan Central Railroad as inspector of railway ties. He was foreman of the freight handlers on the Michigan Central Railroad dock at Courtright and the coal business at Courtright. Politically he is a Liberal like his father, trustee of School Section No. 18 for eight years; and justice of the peace in 1896. In 1903 he was elected a trustee for the village of Courtright, and the following year a member of the council for Moore Township. He belonged to the Moore Lodge, No. 294, A. F. & M., Courtright; Valentine Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Moore Town, and of Court Silva, I. O. F. He belonged to the Presbyterian Church and was a teacher in the Sabbath-school. Major Stewart was married January 17, 1894, in Moore Township, to Miss Laura Stockdale and they had 4 children. ~ Story told by Alice Gibb, London |
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Bertram Moore Elliott of Florence |
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~ Story told by his niece Doreen Pitel, Petrolia View Bertram Moore Elliott's Declaration of Recruit.
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Charles Sampson Elliott of Florence |
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Charles Samson Elliott of 1st Depot Battalion, W.O.B. Regiment was born on December 22, 1894 in Florence, Ontario. He was a farmer. He signed his Declaration of Recruit (below) on May 17, 1918. See a photo of Charles Sampson Elliott with his brother Bertram Moore Elliott above. View Charles Sampson Elliott’s Declaration of Recruit. ~ Story told by his neighbour Doreen Pitel, Petrolia |
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Millicent Waterfield of Forest |
| My grandmother, Millicent Waterfield was born on February 17, 1890 and died on May 29, 1956. During the war many sacrifices were made not only by the brave men overseas but by the folks at home. Rationing became a large part of everyday life. Each family was allowed a small amount for essentials; Millicent saved her ration coupons and used her portion to bake for the boys and along with the Agenda Club and the Red Cross filled boxes for the boys of baked goods, cigarettes, warm knitted scarves, socks, hats and mittens. Millicent was a song writer, poet, and a piano player. She was a member of the Minstrel Show, as their piano player. The show performed novelty numbers and told silly jokes to raise money for the Red Cross.
During a memorial service of 1000 people in the Forest United Church Millicent read a poem she wrote about the brave boys lost in the war. As a member of our greatest generation Millicent faced each trial with courage and through it all stood proudly, sang loudly and continued to be charitable and supportive. A legacy we all can learn from and be proud of. ~ Story told by Deborah Rose, Forest, granddaughter of Millicent Waterfield |
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Roland Milton Wight of Arkona |
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Roland Milton Wight, was born on 2nd February, 1897, Warwick Tp., Lambton Co., Ontario. He reported to service and had a medical examination on 13 October 1917 in Sarnia, Ontario. He enlisted at 20 years and 7 months on June 14, 1918 with W.O.R. (Western Ontario Region) and his Regimental Number was 3138681. Roland was discharged by a Medical Board, London Ontario, 14 June 1918. Roland was a soldier at the time of World War I but he didn’t go overseas. Discharge page-Procedure on discharging from the C.E.F., Soldiers called up under the Military Service Act 1917. This form from 1st Depot Battalion W.O.R., London, Ont., Jan. 10, 1919. Regimental No. 3138681, Pte. Roland Milton Wight. You are directed to report on or before Jan. 20, 1919 for the purpose of being discharged from the Canadian Expeditionary Force. This will be carried out by your reporting in person to your Depot at London, Ont. Transportation to the Depot is enclosed herewith, and return transportation will be furnished to you after your discharge. Should you fail to report in person or forward the release mentioned, within the time frame aforesaid, you will be declared a deserter and be subject to Military Law. Roland Wight lived a long life as a farmer. His uniform was in a closet at his house, folded in a cardboard box with pieces of cedar. In August 1918, he was granted 10 Harvest leave to work on farm of Frank Wight, Thedford, Ont., R.R.#2. Signed R.D. Black, Officer Commanding- and he had a stamp with permission to Wear Civilian Clothes while working on the farm. View Roland Wight's Discharge Form. ~ Story told by Linda Koolen, granddaughter of Roland Wight |
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John H. McLaughlin of Moore Township |
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John H. McLaughlin (Uncle Mac) was born in Lambton County, on the 10th Concession of Moore Township, present day Petrolia Line in St. Clair Township. He served at the front with Lambton's The unique stories that I would like to share is not what happened post war in Canada after the Great War, but how Uncle Mac's life unfolded in the United States. Unfortunately after the war, and returning home wounded after serving in battles on the front, like many others, Uncle Mac could not find employment in Canada so he moved to the United States and landed employment at Ford Motor Corporation in Detroit, Michigan. He worked under Henry Ford, Edsel Ford, the only son of Henry, Edsel's eldest son, Henry Ford II along with his brothers, Benson and William Clayford. “Uncle Mac was instrumental in overseeing the assembly line and shared a story with me of how he helped another man, who was about to be fired, for being under the influence of alcohol while at work.” I believe Uncle Mac's sensitivity, and the understanding of brotherhood and camaraderie that was manifested while at war encouraged him to help. He knew this man to be an avid painter, so Uncle Mac presented him with a canvas, paints and brushes, took him aside and asked the man to paint him a picture. By the time the painting was completed, the man had straightened up and ended up keeping his job. Uncle Mac not only gained a friend but a painting that day. They became good friends and the gentleman did his job well at work and had great respect and admiration for my Uncle. Uncle Mac occasionally visited our farm in Lambton County and would often share thoughts to me about the war. He explained that you didn't want to get too close to anyone as a friend because you never knew, later in battle, that you may not see them again or you might be assigned for their burial duty. This happened to him on more than one occasion. He said he didn't know which was worse, bullets flying by him or having to bury his buddies. When he was wounded in battle, he told me of three German soldiers who carried him back to his regiment on a gurney they made out of blankets. The one German soldier gave him his luger pistol and told him (in broken English) to hold and keep it aimed at them so they wouldn't be shot carrying him back to the Canadian trenches. He said that these particular German soldiers were happy to be captured because they were starving, cold and needed food and warmth more than fighting and to sustain themselves. Maybe because of experiences like this, that he had in the war, that he was able to provide a unique sensitive approach to help the gentleman the way he did that day on the assembly line. Uncle Mac's career at the Ford Motor Corporation at the River Rouge plant which at the time was the largest industrial city the world had ever seen. Uncle Mac was an enterprising adventurer and he was the first to test the Ford manufactured amphibian jeep vessel in the Rouge River in Dearborn, Michigan. These vessels were manufactured and used in World War II. Upon retirement, Uncle Mac would often visit his relatives here in Lambton County and I was fortunate to have him demonstrate to me his sharp shooting skills with his Lee-Enfield rifle that he used in the war. He left me this rifle with photos and many delightful stories that I will always cherish and was privileged to hear. Oh yes, he presented me with the painting from the gentleman that he received all those years ago that I told you about and the unique way he not only saved his job but probably, like an old soldier, saved his life. Uncle Mac died in 1992 at the age of 94 and is buried in Farmington Hills, Michigan, close to where he worked and lived along beside his wife Marion who was my Grandmother's sister. ~ Story told by Paul Smith |
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Thomas Gleeson of Oil Springs and Petrolia |
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“My Grandfather, Thomas Gleeson was born outside the Petrolia and Oil Springs area in 1895. The corner that was adjacent to their farm was known locally as Killarny Corners as the owner of the store was from Killarny Ireland. He had 12 brothers, however at the time he joined the army the family had moved to Sarnia at 330 Queen Street. He worked for Imperial Oil both before and after the war. Thomas served with “B” company 1st Depot Battalion, Western Ontario Regiment of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. He was 22 years 8 months old when he enlisted. The brothers, in the army, all ended up in France. Great Uncle Pat told me a story at my Grandfathers funeral and it went like this. Great Uncle Pat's group were sent to a staging area where many Canadian troops were billeted in tents of course, he said it was a huge tent city. He was walking along the rows of tents when he stumbled on to his brother, my Grandfather. They had not seen each other in many months so it was a joyous occasion. It was further enjoyed when my Great Uncle Pat informed my Grandfather that he knew where another brother was, so of course they went to see him. Well, as he told me, they got together at a cafe or something and there were a group of American soldiers basically harassing some local French women. The boys from Petrolia advised their American cousins that all women are ladies and should be treated as such. Well, he said, “the fight was on and the Americans learned their lesson.” That is the only story I ever heard of my Grandfather during the war. He died in 1970.” ~ Story told by Gerry Bezaire of Grand Bend, Thomas's great-grandson. With contributions from Thomas's last living son Charles Gleason, Gerry's uncle. |
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Hugh Murray McQueen of Petrolia |
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Hugh resigned Commission in Order to go to the Front more quickly. He took a commission in the 70th Battalion, C.E.F. to insure a place with that battalion when it went overseas on April 30th, 1916; he reverted to the rank of private. Hugh's determination to get to France as quickly as possible prompted his transfer to the 58th Battalion, with whom he crossed the Channel soon after his arrival in England. He went all through the heavy fighting in the summer of 1916, and was wounded at the Somme. Recovering, he returned to France, but was gassed during the winter campaign. While convalescent in England he was offered an appointment on the instructor's staff. This he turned down because he believed himself too fit for such work. During the last six months he saw much strenuous fighting, and was continually in the trenches until killed in action on September 30, 1918. Great sympathy will be felt for his parents, who are now in Peru in connection with Mr. McQueen's interests in the oil fields, he is Vice-President of the International Petroleum Co. Hugh will also be missed by his sisters, Jean and Margaret and his brother Neil (Mac). ~ Story told by Judith A. MacDonald, Sarnia |
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George Gray of Plympton Township |
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George, the son of Donald and Mary (Black) Gray, was born 30 November 1888 according to his Attestation Paper. The 1890 Farmers Directory for Lambton County shows Donald Gray living at concession Front, lot 25, Plympton Township (Aberarder post office). According to his obituary, George completed his education and then went to the Canadian Northwest. He was unmarried when he enlisted 12 December 1914 at Winnipeg. The next of kin noted on George's Attestation Paper is a brother, Daniel A. Gray, living at 327 Russell Street, Sarnia. George gave farmer as his occupation on the Attestation Paper. Private George was serving with the No. 12, Platoon, No. 3 Company, 2nd Battalion of the CEF at the time of his death near Festubert, Artois Region, France. He was in the process of completing a communications trench when a German shell struck the trench beside him and exploded. His death occurred because “pieces of the shell had struck him in the back and his death was painless and virtually instantaneous. ” His commanding officer, Lt. T. C. Biggar, noted in his letter to George's brother Daniel, that he had “…marked this [George's grave] with a cross, giving his name and regiment number and stating that he was killed in action on the 30th of May, 1915.” Since the Circumstances of Death Register notes no record of burial, the marker was probably destroyed by later fighting. ~ Story told by Alan Campbell, Sarnia who researched George Gray as a voluntary project for the Plympton-Wyoming Museum. |
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Private William Wright of Plympton Township |
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On February 22,1916, seventeen year old, “blue eyed, 5’ 8 ½” tall, fair complexioned” William Wright signed up, in Watford, to join the 149th Lambton Battalion, of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, to go to Europe and help defend the motherland (Great Britain). William was one of six children of John and Janet Wright who farmed in Plympton Township. The 149th battalion trained first in London and then at Camp Borden during 1916. They left for England, from Halifax NS, on March 28, 1917 on board the SS Lapland. The Lapland actually hit a mine 12 miles from Liverpool, but was able to make port successfully. The battalion was then broken up to fill other regiments and battalions, already short of soldiers due to the high casualty rate. William was sent to the 49th battalion of the Loyal Edmonton Regiment. This regiment was part of the famous Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (one of the remaining three infantry regiments currently in Canada). This regiment was very active in the later stages of WWI and participated in the 2nd battle for Cambrai after the September 25th 1918 breakthrough of Canal du Nord. Cambrai was a strategic area for the German Army and blocked the Allied push into Germany. This time period in the fall of 1918 was known as “the last 100 days” during WW1 at the Western Front. William’s battalion attacked during the late night of September 28, and came under very high machine gun fire near the town of Tilloy, located about 1000 yards north of Cambrai. William was among 40 soldiers from the 49th battalion, alone; killed on September 29, 1918. The accompanying map is the battle map for the siege of Cambrai and shows the objectives of all the battalions. You can see the narrow area assigned to the 49th battalion and the village of Tilloy just on the north side of Cambrai. Read the 49th Battalion War Diary detailing the events of September 28-29, 1918. William’s burial cross, was returned to his family when the Imperial War Graves Commission started to replace all the original wooden crosses in the 1920s. What is confusing is that William was killed on September 29 but the cross lists October 5. We suspect he was buried on October 5, 1918.
The Route of the Cross In the 1920s the Imperial War Graves Commission started removing the WW1 wooden burial crosses from the graves and replacing them with the existing headstones that are present in the WW1 graves. The wooden crosses were apparently offered to families of the fallen, or burned if they were not wanted. Williams Wright’s parents must have requested his cross. When William’s father John died, his mother Janet moved (with the cross, William’s medals, and a large picture of William) to her son Frank and his wife Marion’s house in Plympton Township. They had 3 children- Murray, Doris and Ruby. Murray remembers, as a small boy, seeing the cross at his place. When Frank died, the cross and medals were passed to Doris and the picture stayed with Murray. Doris (Miller) was interested in history and did talks at Remembrance Day about her uncle William. At some point in time, the cross and medals were then passed to the Wyoming Legion. The cross became stored in the Legion’s store room until it was realized the PWHS was doing research on Plympton’s fallen soldiers. The cross was then offered to the historical society’s museum ~ Story told by Don Poland |
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Alexander Falconer of Plympton Township |
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At the age of 32, on September 12, 1916, he registered for military service with the army under the 31st Battalion and went overseas. He was killed in action on July 28, 1917 and was buried in Noeux-Les-Mines Communal Cemetery, Par de Calais, France. ~ Story told by Hazel Higgins of Wyoming, Ontario. Alexander was Hazel’s grandmother’s brother |
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Cecil Russell of Plympton Township |
| Cecil Edward Russell was born in Plympton Township February 14, 1901 to William Russell and Leah Bailey. When WWI broke out Cecil and his two older brothers (Clarence and Orvil) volunteered for military service. Cecil volunteered for the U.S. Cavalry.
~Story told by Doris Ellerker-Leland, Kitchener |
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Orvil Russell of Plympton Township |
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Orvil, William and Cecil Russell were brothers and each went into a different branch of the services. ~Story told by Doris Ellerker-Leland, Kitchener |
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Sgt. William Clarence Russell of Plympton Township |
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View the William Clarence Russell's Family Tree.
~Story told by Doris Ellerker-Leland of Kitchener
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Harold John (Doc) Irvine of Sarnia |
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Harold Irvine was the older of two sons born to Robert and Mary Irvine of Sarnia. Harold, along with his brother Tom, enlisted in the 5th Field Ambulance, Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps in March of 1915 and was sent to France. At the time of his enlistment, Harold was attending the University of Toronto studying medicine. It was clear that the CEF was going to need lots of doctors, and as a result, Harold was discharged in 1916 to return to Canada to complete his medical training. Graduating from U of T in 1917, Harold re-entered the Medical Corps as a doctor with the rank of Captain. As luck would have it, rather than returning to France, Harold was posted to the British garrison in St. Lucia as senior medical officer. He remained in that posting until 1919, when he returned to Canada. Harold served briefly in the fledgling Canadian Air Force at its creation in 1921 – h e took a short-term posting to Camp Borden to set up medical facilities, and is believed to be the first MO in the air force. Harold settled in Brigden with his family until 1939, when he was called back to active service and promoted to Major. Harold was posted to the 12th Basic Training Centre in Chatham, Ontario as chief medical officer (MO1), and was later posted to Petawawa. It was in Petawawa in 1945 that he suffered his first major heart attack, which resulted in his being discharged from the army. In light of his training and his service, he was offered a position at Parkwood Veterans Hospital in London, a post he held until his death in 1957. View Harold John (Doc) Irvine's Attestation Papers. ~ Story told by David Irvine, Forest, grandson of Harold Irvine |
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Thomas Irvine of Sarnia |
| Thomas followed his older brother Harold into the Canadian Expeditionary Force, specifically the Medical Corps, in May of 1918, following his 18th birthday. Thomas was one of the Canadians who were transferred to Russia in 1918 in support of the anti-Bolshevik, or White Russian forces. Family legend has it that Tom was one of a number of Canadian soldiers who escaped Russia by seizing a train and taking it to Vladivostok, where they commandeered a ship for the voyage home. He returned to Canada in 1919.
View Thomas Irvine's Attestation Papers. ~Story told by David Irvine, Forest |
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Charles William Lynn of Sarnia |
 On September 21st 1915, Charles Lynn signed up with the 70th Overseas Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Forces.
He listed his father as Mr. George Lynn, Jubilee Cottage, Wesley, Somersetshire, England. Charles sailed from Halifax on the S. S. Lapland on April 24th, 1916 and arrived in Liverpool on May 5th, 1916. He was transferred to the 39th Battalion on October 7, 1916 and drafted to the 18th Battalion and fought in France. He was discharged on 26 August 1919 at Halifax. ~ Story told by Janet Kelch of Sarnia, Charles’s granddaughter |
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Arthur John Gunne of Wyoming |
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Private John Gunne was born Charles Arthur Exmouth Gunne on May 29, 1895 to Reverend John Michael Gunne, the minister of St. John's Anglican Church, Wyoming, Camlachie and Wanstead and Eliza Eddrup Saunders. Arthur resided with his mother in London when he enlisted on April 19, 1916. His occupation was a trainman. He served with the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles. He was killed in action on September 15th, 1916 near Courcelette in the Somme region of France. ~ Story told by Sunday Thompson of Watford |
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