The Molson family never failed to supply its full quota of fighting men of notable skill and energy at times when the country’s liberty and institutions appeared to be threatened. Captain Percival Molson MC of McGill University happened to be an exceptional athlete. He earned every athletic honour the University offered and earlier set a world record in the long jump at the American Athletics Meet in 1900.
Percy also won the Individual Trophy as the school’s best “all-round athlete” for three consecutive years, a feat unmatched in McGill sports history. An inaugural inductee to the McGill Sports Hall of Fame in 1996, his bequest of $75,000 helped construct the university’s football stadium, later dedicated in 1919 as Percival Molson Memorial Stadium.
Early of life of Percival Molson
Son of John Thomas Molson and Jane (Jennie) Baker (nee Butler) Molson, of Montreal, Quebec. At the age of 16, Percival played on the 1897 Stanley Cup championship Montreal Victorias. He later became McGill’s first-ever Olympian, competing in track and field at the 1904 Summer Games in St Louis.
Molson initially graduated from McGill in 1901 with a B.A., followed by a B.Sc. in 1904. He captained the hockey team in 1902-03, starred in track, racquet sports and football. He earned every athletic honour the University offered and set a world record in the long jump at the American Athletics Meet in 1900.
Exemplary Sportsmanship
Percy renown for his sportsmanship and earned the unique distinction of never having been penalized in any sport for unfair tactics. In one particular hockey game versus Queen’s, Molson penalized by the referee for an illegal body check on George Richardson, captain of the Golden Gaels.
Molson also played with Montreal Amateur Athletic Association of the Canadian Rugby Football Union. Later after graduation, Molson became the youngest member to serve on the McGill Board of Governors, chairing its Finance and Stadium committees.
Percival Molson a member of the 1897 Stanley Cup winning team, the Montreal Victorias.
In football he played for the Montreal Football Club and known for sure hands and excellent kicking skills. In track and field he made the 1904 Olympic team, competing in the 400m.
Attestation of Captain Percival Molson
Date of Attestation 26 April 1915, age at enlistment, 34 years. At this time, Captain, 2nd University Company (McGill). Prior Military Service/Active Militia as a Member of the McGill Contingent of the Canadian Officers’ Training Corps as of 29 September 1914. Height 6 feet, ½ inch, weight 165 lbs. Medium complexion, blue eyes, brown hair. Church of England. Scar over right knee, scar bottom 3rd and 4th finger of right hand. Prominence of outer end of left clavicle.
Manager, National Trust Company (Montreal, Quebec), single. Next of Kin, mother, Jennie B. Molson, living at 556 Pine Avenue West, Montreal, Quebec.
Members of the COTC across Canada recruited into university companies, and despatched to fill the ranks of the Patricia’s. The second of five such companies came mainly from McGill, as did its commander, Captain Percival Molson.
Percival Molson embarked for England on 29 June 1915. Lieutenant Molson attached to the Canadian Record Office, 9 September 1915 to 12 October 1915. Lt Percival Molson proceeded to the PPCLI in France on 15 October 1915.
Battle of Mount Sorrel
In the Battle of Mount Sorrel, in which the Patricias occupied Sanctuary Wood, No. 1 Company practically wiped out on 2 June 1916. For the narrative of this event, in which a great deal of the responsibility fell on junior officers of No. 1 Company, notably on Lieutenants Molson and W. E. C. Irwin, we resort to the record of the official historian.
Lieutenant Percival Molson’s Military Cross Action
No. 2 Company, on the left, escaped rather more lightly from the bombardment, thanks partly to the proximity of the British and German lines at the Appendix, but chiefly because the overwhelming of their trenches was not essential to the scheme of attack, which apparently did not include the immediate capture of Hooge village and an advance along the Menin road.
Captain Niven’s company, however, was very early isolated, and remained with both flanks in the air for nearly eighteen hours. While casualties among the men during the morning bombardment were surprisingly light, all the officers were hit by noon. Captain Niven was one of the first, though his wound was not so serious as to incapacitate him for command.
Lieutenant D. G. Hagarty, one of the officers representing the University of Toronto in the Second University Comparty, was killed, Lieutenant G. Triggs was badly wounded. The right trench became untenable as the bombardment increased, Lieutenants P. Molson and W. E. C. Irwin with great coolness withdrew their men to the left trench, which, with the Appendix, held all through the day, proved a very valuable position from which to enfilade the Germans advancing on the right.
When the Germans came over, the right half-company under these officers held them in a short sharp fight, and Lieutenant Irwin counter-attacked with a party of bombers so effectively that the enemy advance in this direction was demoralized. Irwin fell badly wounded in both legs, but Molson continued to lead ‘a desperate and successful resistance to German attacks’ He in his turn was painfully wounded in the face, and the command fell for many hours to N.C.O’s.”
PPCLI Decimated
PPCLI losses heavy on 2 June 1916, Lieutenant’s Fife, Hagarty, Spruyt de Bay and Company Sergeant Major’s Conway and MackKenzie killed. Hamilton Gault, the founder of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, wounded for a third time, badly shot in the leg. Major-General Malcolm Mercer, the highest-ranking soldier of the Canadian Corps also killed.
Lieutenant Michel Spruyt DeBay
Lieutenant Michel Spruyt DeBay killed in action at Sanctuary Wood on 2 June 1916. Severely wounded in the head about 11.00 A.M. on 2 June, and apparently never regained concisouness. Lt DeBay in Warrington Avenue at this time, about six bays from its junction with Hill Street. Placed in a dugout and died shortly afterwards. Later, Base reports Michel Spruyt De Bay’s correct death as 3 June 1916.
Three days later, the Germans exploded four mines under the Canadian positions and captured the village of Hooge.
On 4 June 1916 Molson admitted to No 7 Stationary Hospital, Boulogne with a devastating gunshot wound to the face. A bullet entered his left cheek and exited the right cheek, thereby fracturing his jaw. Treated with a jaw wiring procedure. “Fractured mandible. Ascending ranuis [sic] Right side. Wired up in France and removed at Queen Alexandra’s Military Hospital, Millbank one month later. Bony union. Discharged from the Queen Alexandra’s Military Hospital on 23 July 1916, and the next day granted leave to Canada until 1 April 1917.
In April 1917 Molson returns to Europe. Considered medically fit to return to duty by the Medical Board. His face has healed and the hypersensitivity is lessening. “He is able to chew his food fairly well.” He joins the 7th Reserve Battalion at this time.
Return to France
On 1 June 1917, Captain Percival Molson rejoins the PPCLI in France.
On 4 July 1917 awarded the Military Cross. (London Gazette, Supplement 30111) for actions at the Battle of Mount Sorrel in 1916.
The following day, 5 July 1917 reported “Killed in Action.”
Death of Captain Percival Molson
On the 5th Captain P. Molson, M.C., as an officer and a man peculiarly admired and beloved, and Lieutenant D. MacLean, who was standing beside him were killed by a direct hit from a trench mortar shell which also killed two of their men and wounded several others. He was not only a fine fighting officer but an administrator of great experience, and played a very important part in raising the University Companies.
A peculiar coincidence of Captain Percival Molson’s death is that it took place within the lines of a company of a different unit, the 42nd Royal Canadian Highlanders, which had been brought to France by his own brother, Col. Herbert Molson. Col. C. B. Topp, author of the Regimental History of the 42nd Battalion, gives the following description.
Here it was during this tour that Captain Percy Molson, M.C., of the P.P.C.L.I., was killed within the lines of the company of the 42nd which his brother had brought to France. Captain Molson, with Lieutenant McLean, was standing in the village square discussing the disposition of one of the platoons of his company holding a detached post on the left and temporarily attached to B Company of the 42nd when a trench mortar shell exploded close by, killing both officers instantly and tearing a gaping crater in the cobblestone pavement.
Col. C. B. Topp
Grave of Captain Percival Molson MC
The wooden cross placed over the first resting place of his body in the battlefield cemetery at Villers au Bois Station, near where he fell, and which now stands in the vault of the Thomas Molson family in Mount Royal Cemetery.
Percival Molson Memorial Stadium
In Percival Molson’s will he left $75,000 to McGill University to help pay most of the costs for the construction of the stadium. Although it was officially dedicated as McGill Graduates’ Stadium at an intercollegiate track meet on Oct. 22, 1915, the Board of Governors of the university renamed the facility Percival Molson Memorial Stadium on October 25, 1919, in honour of this fallen hero.
Molson also bequeathed sums of money to various individuals, and charitable donations to many organizations. Among these the Montreal General Hospital ($10,000), the Charity Organization Society, Montreal ($5,000), and the Boys’ Home at Shawbridge ($5,000).
He left all of his clothing, jewellery and personal effects to his two brothers, Kenneth and Walter Molson, and bequeathed his automobiles to his mother, Jennie Baker Butler (widow of Thomas Molson) and his sisters, Lillias Savage Molson and Mabel Molson.
