J.D. and Mary Ellen Grant of Smith Falls, Ontario had two sons serve in the Great War. The elder boy, Donald enlisted first and served with the 38th Battalion. He was wounded on the Somme. Younger brother, Baxter served in France for only three months, in the 2nd Battalion. Only one of the Grant Brothers would return to Canada.
Donald Harwood Grant
First of the Grant Brothers, Sergeant Donald Harwood Grant 410499 was born 31 October 1893 in Smith Falls, Ontario. N.o.K. Mr. J.D. Grant (Smith Falls Ont.), and Mrs. Mary Ellen Grant. He was a Salesman. Baxter attested 24 February 1915 at Ottawa, Ontario with the 88th Battalion, 42nd Regiment. He stood 5′ 8″ tall, 162 pounds, with healthy complexion, hazel eyes, and auburn hair. He was Presbyterian.
Garrison Duty
Donald transferred to 38th Battalion, 24 February 1915. Promoted Corporal on March 1915. Promoted Sergeant, 31 May 1915. On 30 June 1915, Minister of the Militia and Defence Hughes refused to authorize the departure of the 38th Battalion for Bermuda, in spite of the fact that the acting Adjutant-General, Brigadier-General W.E. Hodgins, supported by the Chief of the General Staff, strongly recommended the choice of this unit. A few weeks later, Hughes changed his mind again, allowing the 38th to go to Bermuda.
Sailed from Halifax to Bermuda, per S.S. CALEDONIA, 8 August 1915. Donald is posted to the Canadian Garrison Regiment in Bermuda. The Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) sailed from Halifax on 10 September 1914. The RCR landed three days later in Hamilton, the capital of Bermuda. They relieve the 2nd Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment. Likewise, the 38th Battalion relieve the RCR. The RCR left Bermuda for England, via Halifax, on 13 August 1915.
As was the case with the RCR, the 38th Battalion did not receive a formal order to serve in Bermuda. Rather, the military authorities invited the Commanding Officer to volunteer the services of his unit for the assignment after the Minister had given his approval.
Training
The 38th Battalion’s stay in Bermuda lasted ten and a half months. Nevertheless, that unit was luckier than many others, since it finally went to the front instead of being dismembered in England to reinforce the fighting battalions. It was replaced in the islands by the 163rd (French-Canadian) Battalion, which stayed there only six months, from 29 May to 27 November 1916.
Once they had landed in Bermuda, the troops of each unit were dispersed to various points on the islands: Prospect, where their headquarters were located, Boaz Island, St. George’s Island and St. David’s Island. Their task was twofold: to do their military service as such, and to begin or continue their training. Sergeant John Anderson Church, who served with the 38th Battalion from 23 February 1915 until 18 November 1916, summed up the assignment thus: “Our military duties consisted of drills, mounting sentries on the look-out for German [submarines], patrols along the beaches and in the town.”
Donald spends Christmas of 1915 in Bermuda.
End of Training
Finally, on 3 April 1916, Lieutenant-General Bullock notified the Canadian military authorities that the 38th Battalion had completed its training. They are ready to leave for the front. The authorities reacted promptly this time. Ten days later, the Commander in Chief, Bermuda, was advised of the decision to replace the 38th Battalion with a French-Canadian unit. “As soon as the necessary arrangements can be made, and transport and escort are available.”
The 38th greeted the news joyfully, and Sergeant John Anderson Church wrote. “The knowledge that we were going brought a marked uplift in the spirits of the men, and there was an end to the grouching over drills. Parties were held all over the island, as many of us had made friends. The sergeants from Prospect held a big party at a downtown hotel, paid from surplus mess funds.”
England via Halifax
Donald sailed from Bermuda back to Halifax on S.S. CANADA. Sailed from Halifax to England onboard S.S. GRAMPIAN, 23 May 1916. Donald spends less than three months in England. Donald is at Chiseldon Camp.
His record reveals nothing out of the ordinary during that time. However, his photos help illustrate what he was up to. There was the ACC Sports competition. Appointed A/Sergeant 9 June 1916.
Ypres Salient
The first of the Grant Brothers to see service is Donald. He arrives at Le Havre, France on 14 August 1916. He is confirmed in the rank of Sergeant, on the same day. Like his brother Baxter, his service on the Western Front will be short. The Grant Brothers spend far more time in training in the Great War, than they do at the front.
The 38th Battalion entrains and arrives at ST. LAWRENCE CAMP on 18 August 1916. ‘A’ and ‘C’ companies move to the forward trenches that same night. The balance of the battalion arrived the next day. On 21 August, the battalion marches to the Connaught area. Then, they arrive at QUEBEC CAMP, on 26 August 1916. The Battalion is in the trenches of the Ypres Salient at the end of the month.
Somme
On 23 September 1916, the 38th Battalion pull out of the trenches, and begin training. The rest of the Canadian Corps is currently on the Somme, fighting the Battle of Flers-Courcelette. Following the battle, the Canadian Corps move to the Vimy area, and the 38th Battalion moved back to Albert on the Somme, 12 October 1916.
Near Bouzincourt, the 38th Battalion is being relived in the line on 19 November 1916. While pulling out, Donald is wounded. GSW, non-penetrating abdominal cavity. Quickly admitted No. 12 General Hospital, Rouen, GSW Abdomen, 19 November 1916.
Recovery
Firstly, admitted 1st Southern General Monyhull, Birmingham, 23 November 1916. Then, may return to light duty, 26 December 1916. Finally, Sergeant Donald Harwood Grant is discharged on January 1917. The following month, his brother Baxter arrives in England. Baxter’s training lasts until the end of the year, before he heads overseas. However, Donald spends the remainder of the Great War attached to No.3 Canadian Casualty Deport at Seaford. His fighting is over.
Later in 1917, Donald Harwood Grant is admitted No.14 Canadian General Hospital, Eastbourne, Influenza, 27 October 1918. The news of the Armistice is received while Donald is still a patient. Finally, he is discharged 14 November 1918.
Embarked Liverpool SS BELGIC, 23 June 1919. Then, disembarked at Halifax, 1 July 1919. And then, two days later, Struck off Strength on 3 July 1919, in Ottawa.
Baxter Ogilvie Grant
Second of the Grant Brothers, Private Baxter Ogilvie Grant 542013 was born 16 March 1895 in Smith Falls, Ontario. Next of kin, Mr. J.D. Grant (Smith Falls Ont.), and Mrs. M.E. Grant (Orilla, Ont.). A separate address was provided for Baxter’s parents at this time. He was a Machinist. Baxter attested 11 April 1916 at Kingston, Ontario. He stood 5′ 6″ tall, 128 pounds, with fair complexion, gray eyes, and brown hair. He was Presbyterian.
Training in Canada
Firstly, after enlisting, Baxter trains in Canada with the 3rd Division Cyclist Platoon. He is fortunate. He could be training in England, where conditions are not so comfortable. Baxter starts off on the wrong foot, however, and is docked 6 days pay in April 1916.
At last, arrived in England aboard SS CANADA, 6 February 1917. Then, transferred to East Ontario Regimental Depot, 21 September 1917. Secondly, Baxter immediately transferred to 6th Canadian Reserve Battalion, 21 September 1917. Finally, transferred to 2nd Battalion, 6 December 1917 for the purpose of proceeding overseas. The Grant Brothers have had many opportunities to see each other in 1917, and we assume they did.
Western Front
Firstly, Baxter caught up with his unit at Camblain Chatelain, and moved into the forward trenches east of Hersin-Coupigny on 22 January 1918. Baxter was in the thick of it three nights later when a German night raid in their trenches resulted in 3 men killed, 8 wounded, and 5 missing.
Then, on 1 February 1918, the unit is in Brigade Support, at Les Brebis, with most of the men enjoying the baths and a clean change of underclothing. Training was then carried out at Bracquemont starting 9 February 1918, and a week later Baxter was back in the trenches, this time in Bully-Grenay. However, trench mortar activity is almost constant, and after five days in the line, the unit is back in support at Bracquemont.
Final German Spring Offensive
Five days of support is followed by a return for R & R at the baths in Les Brebis, starting 6 March 1918. More training in the area, and once again they are alotted the baths on 13 March 1918. Then, on 20 March 1918, the 2nd Battalion marches to the left sub-sector of HILL 70. They are attacked the next day, but the unit beats them back, inflicting heavy casualties upon the enemy. Here, the fighting is intense. Finally, the unit is relieved by 23h00, on 23 March 1918.
After cleaning up for four days at Bracquemont, Baxter spends some time in Villers-au-Bois with his unit.Then, they proceed to Dainville, arriving 17h00 on 28 March 1918. However, they find the town was hastily evacuated – all the villagers left, yet they left their livestock.
While relieving the 8th/10th Gordon Highlanders in the line forward of Arras, Baxter is killed in action, shortly before midnight on 29 March 1918. Before the end of the month, Baxter’s brother Donald receives the news of his death back at Seaford Camp in England. Now, only one of the Grant Brothers will return to Canada.
Faubourg d’Amiens Cemetery
Private Baxter Ogilvie Grant is buried at Faubourg d’Amiens Cemetery, Plot VII, Row C, Grave 24.
The Grant Brothers
Sergeant Donald Harwood Grant was one of the last Canadians to return to Canada. However, his record does not record any leave of absence. Furthermore, all Canadians awaiting demobilization were afforded plenty of opportunities to travel back to France, and Belgium. Therefore, we assume he did travel back to Faubourg d’Amiens Cemetery to visit his brother’s grave. However, the photo is one supplied by the IWGC, predecessor of the CWGC. This is extremely important. If families requested a photo of their loved one’s grave, the IWGC would facilitate the request.
The Arras Memorial and the Arras Flying Services Memorial were built on the ground at this site where the French military graves had been.
Brothers
The McMurray Brothers and the Pearson Brothers have been covered in previous posts.
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Comments
3 Responses to “The Grant Brothers in the Great War”
Very interesting piece of history, thank you. At least one of the brothers made it home. All must be remembered with eternal gratitude.
Is there an official history of the IWGC and the CWGC so we can follow their individual histories? Am trying to understand how/when the changeover from the French graves there was made to this Btn. as well as the timeframe for each. Also, in terms of numbers in separate cemeteries for both world wars, what is the comparative numbers of graves for each of their cemeteries?
Great question. The CWGC does respond to requests for information regarding the history of the cemeteries. No one knows them better than they do. The finest corporation in the world, I must add. As for the French Graves, the CWGC would have information about their exhumations, but no information after the fact. Much of the information regarding the histories of the IWGC/CWGC cemeteries is archived. CWGC is your best source for such information. If you are interested in a particular cemetery, you may learn much which is not available online by asking the CWGC.