The Black Watch
Lieutenant James Norman Catton born in Alexandria, Ontario on 7 February 1896.
Private James Norman Catton 133315 enlisted 22 March 1916 in Montréal, with 73rd Overseas Battalion, Royal Highlanders of Canada (RHC), CEF. A student at the time with 15 months previous service in the Composite Regiment, and 18 months with RHC. He stood 5′ 7″ tall with light complexion, grey eyes and fair hair.
Next-of-Kin, mother Mrs. Anna Bella Catton, 148 Cote St. Antoine, Montreal.
To England
James arrived in England, 10 April 1916 per SS ADRIATIC.
To France
Embarked for France, from Bramshott Camp, 12 August 1916.
Pte Robert M Ross 30300005, 48th Highlanders (15th Canadian Infantry Battalion) in France.
42nd Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada)
Organized in February 1915 initially under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel G S Cantlie. Mobilized at Montreal, and recruited in Montreal. Embarked from Montreal 10 June 1915 aboard HESPERIAN, later disembarked England 19 June 1915 with a strength of 40 officers, 978 other ranks. Arrived in France 9 September 1915, 3rd Canadian Division, 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade, and later reinforced by 20th Canadian Reserve Battalion.
Battle of Vimy Ridge
James wounded on the first day of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. Pte Catton admitted to No. 1 Convalescent Depot, Boulogne, GSW jaw, 11 April 1917. To No. 25 General Hospital, Hardelot, 19 April 1917.
Lance-Corporal James Norman Catton
Private James Norman Catton appointed Lance-Corporal in the Field, to 42nd Battalion, 8 May 1917.
Denain
On 22 May 1917 the Kaiser Guillaume II stopped in Denain for medal presentations.
Sick
LCpl Catton admitted No. 8 Field Ambulance, sick (scabies), 25 July 1917. Discharged 7 August 1917.
Admitted No. 11 General Hospital, Etaples, 16 August 1917. To No.5 Convalescent Depot, Cayeux, 21 August 1917. Discharged 30 August 1917.
Lance-Corporal James Norman Catton T.o.S. from 42nd Battalion by 13th Battalion, 8 October 1917.
13th Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada)
13th (Royal Highlanders of Canada) Battalion organized in Valcartier Camp under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel F. O. W. Loomis. Embarked Quebec 25 September 1914 aboard ALAUNIA, and later disembarked in England on 16 October 1914 with a strength of 45 officers, 1110 other ranks. Disembarked in France on 16 February 1915, with the 1st Canadian Division, 3rd Infantry Brigade, and later reinforced by 20th Canadian Reserve Battalion.
Second Wound Stripe
On the night of 14 August 1917 the Royal Highlanders moved up into trenches whence the assault on Hill 70 to be launched. Assembly complete by 2.40 o clock on the morning of the 15th, an hour and three quarters before the attack due. A Coy led by Major I M R Sinclair, B by Major F S Mathewson, C by Captain H D Ives and D by Captain W H D Bennett.
Prisoners
On reaching the German front line system, the Royal Highlanders picked up some 25 prisoners and swept forward without serious opposition, reaching their first objective, the Blue Line, on scheduled time and just as the grey light of early dawn changed to the full white light of day.
A party of the enemy hiding in a dugout, but surrendered when called on to do so. Unfortunately, a member of a mopping up party of another battalion came along at this moment and, seeing the trench full of Germans, opened fire, killing a 13th Battalion runner, wounding two signallers and narrowly missing the C.O. himself. Curiously, the German prisoners escaped without a scratch.
The Blue Line at this point ran along the top of the hill and the men could be seen by the German snipers in Hugo Trench down the forward slope, also by various observers who controlled the fire of the enemy guns.
Shells poured on the line and, to add to the distress, one of the covering batteries firing short and delivering salvo after salvo right at the Battalion’s centre, where A Coy joined up with D.
Bagpipes
Just at this time, when all ranks feeling the strain of remaining inactive under galling fire and when casualties had mounted to over 100, a skirl of the bagpipes was heard and along the 13th front came a piper of the 16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish).
This inspired individual, eyes blazing with excitement and kilt proudly swinging to his measured tread, made his way along the line, piping as only a true Highlander can when men are dying, or facing death, all around him. Shell fire seemed to increase as the piper progressed and more than once it appeared that he was down, but the god of brave men was with him in that hour and he disappeared, unharmed, to the flank whence he had come.
James likely one of 100 or so casualties wounded by German shellfire at this time. On 15 August 1917, Private James Catton hip contusion, admitted to No. 18 CCS.
Return to England
Lance-Corporal James Norman Catton 1st Q.R.D., Bramshott, On Command Officer’s Training Course at Bexhill, 31 December 1917.
To 20th Reserve Battalion on completion of O.T.C., 21 April 1918. To be Temporary Lieutenant, 1st Quebec Regimental Depot, 15 May 1918. Lieutenant James Norman Catton returns to France later in August.
Return to France
Lieutenant James Norman Catton proceeded overseas to 13th Battalion, 19 August 1918. T.o.S. on arrival from England, 21 August 1918. James arrived just in time for the Second Battle of Arras – smashing of the immensely strong Hindenburg line in front of Arras.
The four main systems of defence, consisted of the following lines.
(1) The old German front line system east of Monchy-le-Preux.
(2) The Fresnes-Rouvroy Line.
(3) The Drocourt-Queant Line.
(4) The Canal du Nord Line.
Liberation of Wallers
At 7 o clock on the morning of October 20th the 13th Battalion passed through the 14th Battalion on the right of the 3rd Brigade. The advance of the Brigade was then continued. Forty minutes later Capt. A. W. Ruston, O.C. B Coy., which was on the right flank, reported that his men had passed through the village of Wallers. Two or three machine guns were offering some opposition to his further advance. Lieut.-Col. Perry rode through Wallers at 10 a.m., in order to keep closely in touch with the progress of the advance. At 10.50 a.m. “C” Coy., on the left front, came under heavy machine gun fire and also under the fire of field guns at short range, whereupon the Colonel returned to Battalion Headquarters and reported to Brigade that his companies were temporarily held up.
Wallers, Hornaing, Erre
At 9 o clock on the morning of October 22nd a battalion of the 9th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division, passed through Aremberg and took up the pursuit of the enemy, the Royal Highlanders remaining at Aremberg during the forenoon and marching to billets at Fenain immediately after midday dinner. Casual ties during the tour in the line totaled 26 all ranks. One officer and four men were killed, while Lieut. J. J. Marshall was slightly wounded. Twenty other ranks were wounded. Leaving Aremberg, the route followed by the Battalion led through Wallers, Hornaing and Erre.
In each of these little towns and villages the troops enthusiastically greeted, amid scenes of emotion on the part of the civilians whose joy in their deliverance remained unabated. Evidence of the eagerness of these poor people to assist the Canadian advance in any way and to help in the undoing of the Boche furnished at numerous road crossings, where the retreating enemy had blown large mines. Into the resulting craters the civilians had flung all manner of bulky articles, even mattresses and furniture, with a view to assisting the Engineers to bridge the yawning gaps, lest the hated masters of yesterday should escape the retribution that was treading on their heels.
Death of Battalion Mascot Flora MacDonald
At the beginning of the march to Denain, “Flora Macdonald,” the Battalion goat, occupied her usual proud place at the head of the Regiment. She seemed in good spirits and swung into step as soon as her beloved pipes struck up one of the tunes she knew so well. But, alas, it was Flora’s final appearance! She sickened on the march and died within a few minutes.
Regimental Chaplain Major E E Graham
On October 24th all ranks of the Battalion pleased by the announcement Major E E Graham, MC, the Regimental Chaplain, also awarded the Distinguished Service Order for gallantry in rescuing wounded under heavy fire at the beginning of the Battle of Arras in August. Late in September Major Graham wounded and sent back to hospital, recovering from his injuries at the time the award made.
27 October 1918 return to Denain
The Canadians celebrated as heroes at eglise Saint Martin on 27 October 1918. Recall the absence of any pomp and circumstance during the Kaiser’s visit in 1917.
At 3 p.m. on November 1st, the 13th Battalion, including the Transport, paraded and, together with the other units of the 3rd Brigade, inspected by Major-General A. C. Macdonell, G.O.C., the 1st Canadian Division. Just as the inspection commenced, H.R.H. the Prince of Wales, who at this time was attached to the Staff of the Canadian Corps, arrived on the scene and accompanied the Divisional Commander through the ranks.
March to the Rhine
German Border
On the morning of 7 December 1918, considerable excitement prevailed amongst officers and men of the 13th, for the day’s march would carry them over the German border. Extra pains taken to see that the Battalion at its smartest, with the result that, when the men paraded in full marching order at 9 a.m., a critical inspection would not have disclosed much amiss.
Then, on reaching the Frontier, at Poteau, at 9.30 a.m., the Band of the Royal Highlanders swang to the right and played the Battalion across the Line to the stirring tune of “Blue Bonnets over the Border.” For all ranks the moment held a deep significance.
From Cologne, Germany, Lieutenant James Norman Catton granted 10 days leave to UK, 17 January 1919.
Lieutenant James Norman Catton proceeded to England with the 13th Battalion, 16 March 1919.
Huy, Belgium
James wrote to Maria Dufour in Wallers on 19 February 1919 while he was still waiting to return to England in Huy, Belgium.
Lieutenant James Norman Catton knew in less than two weeks he was bound for home from England. He told you Maria he was sad there was no time to return to Wallers. He signed the card ‘Jaques’.
Return to Canada
On 28 February 1919 the unit entrained to Liverpool, leaving two officers and 45 Other Ranks behind at Bramshott to sail on the next boat.
James (with his back to camera) marked by the ‘x’ at his feet.
James S.o.S. from the CEF in Canada on 21 April 1919. Proposed residence, 313 Transportation Building, Montreal, Quebec.
Marriage
Married 18 September 1923 to Effie Macleod, a Stenographer (b. 1894 Alexandria, Ontario). Witness W R Catton of 1552 Esplanade, Montreal and Nora MacLeod of Dunnegan, Ontario.
Daughter Juanita Norma Mora Catton born 23 February 1929, Montreal, Quebec.
Juanita married to Dermont Tenger, they had four children. A son, Michael Bruce Tenger, born 4 April 1959, Ajax, Ontario, died 13 November 2004, at London Health Sciences Centre, South Street, London, Ontario.
James died in 1970.
Juanita died 10 April 1997, North Bay, Ontario.
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