Lieutenant Michel Hubert Alexander Spruyt DeBay in the Great War

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Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry

Second Lieutenant Michel Spruyt DeBay, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, wounded in the fighting around Ypres on 8 May 1916. Son of John S and Jessie M J Spruyt de Bay, of 21, rue Africaine, St Gilles, Brussels, and 156 Rue de Livourne, Avenue Louise, Brussels, Belgium (later Caledonia Springs, Ontario), native of England. Received his commission when Princess Patricia’s regiment formed. He belongs to an old Belgian family on the paternal side, whose chateau has several times been mentioned since the war began as occupied by the Germans.

MIKAN No. 3397739
P.P.C.L.I. with Colours, this shows the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry on the March, with bayonets fitted and led by their band, July, 1917

Lieutenant Michel Hubert Alexander Spruyt DeBay’s unit sailed 3 October 1914.

S.S. ROYAL GEORGE
S.S. ROYAL GEORGE

Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry

Organized in Ottawa on 10 August 1914 for service with the British Expeditionary Force, and initially Commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel F.D Farquhar. Then, recruited amongst ex-soldiers of the South African War, and embarked from Quebec City aboard ROYAL GEORGE. Later, disembarked in England 14 October 1914, and arrived in France 21 December 1914. Later, joined the Canadian Corps 25 November 1915 with the 3rd Canadian Division, 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade. Finally, dsbanded at Ottawa on 19 March 1919. Previously, found a goat in Ypres in 1915 which became the regimental mascot, and its kid, also a mascot, killed at Sanctuary Wood (Battle of Mount Sorrel), June 1916.

Sanctuary Wood is one of the larger woods in the commune of Zillebeke. Later named in November 1914, when used to screen troops behind the front line. In addition, it was the scene of fighting in September 1915 and the centre of the Battle of Mount Sorrel (2-13 June 1916) involving the 1st and 3rd Canadian Divisions.

Men killed in their sleep, DeBay lost his servant last night, and Hill’s was badly wounded sleeping in the open.

Letters of (Lt Col) Agar Adamson, Polygon Wood, 30 April 1915.

Battle of Frezenburg Ridge

We moved up last night from our support dugouts, having been fairly well shelled. Gow (Lt) shot badly, was alive when we left, 4 men killed, 9 wounded, 2 went mad, 6 in what is called a state of collapse, having been shelled all day and having to remain underground all day.

Letters of (Lt Col) Agar Adamson, Bellewaerde Ridge, 6 p.m., 7 May 1915.

The following day, Lieutenant DeBay wounded in action, and admitted to Fishmongers Hall Hospital, London, shrapnel wound light right arm, 10 May 1915, and later the same day, Lt Col Agar Adamson admitted to Lady Ridley’s Hospital, London, slight wound shoulder.

Michel Spruyt De Bay
Battle of Frezenburg Ridge

In the Battle of Frezenburg Ridge, the PPCLI held out against several German frontal assaults. Facing heavy artillery and machine gun fire the last of the PPCLI originals stood firm and counted not the cost. The Regiment on both of their flanks were driven back and the men almost surrounded. Finally, reinforced by a trickle of British soldiers their stand proved successful and by 3 p.m., 8 May 1915, the battle over. The line had held.

PPCLI Memorial Michel Spruyt De Bay
P.P.C.L.I. Memorial Battle of Frezenburg Ridge, 14 April 2017. CEFRG

Casualties

The casualties of the PPCLI, 392 killed, wounded and missing. Over 80% of the men had become casualties (the PPCLI decimated no less than three times during the Great War). In addition, amongst the dead Captain Harry Stuart Dennison (Ypres Menin Gate Memorial), and Lieutenant Richard Gilpin Crawford (Bailleul Communal Cemetery, Nord), Norman Allan Edwards (Ypres Menin Gate Memorial) and Percy Ernald Lane (Ypres Menin Gate Memorial). Furthermore, six officers wounded, Gault, Hill, deBay, Martin, Guy Triggs (KIA 28 September 1918 – Ontario Cemetery, Sains-les-Marquion), and Captain Agar Adamson. Finally, Agar evacuated wounded to England and spent the next 5 months recuperating. he spent a happy time with Mabel (wife) and Anthony enjoying a beautiful English summer.

Michel Spruyt De Bay
Graves of three P.P.C.L.I. men. [Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry]. August, 1916

Lieutenant Michel Spruyt DeBay incapacitated all service, 10 July 1915. Light duty at home, unfit for service for 11 months, light paralysis. This Officer has now recovered except unable to fully extend the right index finger. Later discharged as fit from Granville Canadian Special Hospital, Ramsgate, 3 February 1916 with final medical examination 25 April 1916.

Battle of Mount Sorrel

Canadians fought the Battle of Mount Sorrel in the Ypres salient from 2 to 13 June 1916. The Canadian Corps held the southern part of the Ypres salient. The Germans attacked the Canadian lines to secure the last remaining high ground still in British hands. They also sought to divert Allied resources from the large offensive prepared in the Somme region.

Major-General Malcolm Smith Mercer
Graves of Maj.-Gen. M.S. Mercer, 3rd Div. & Lt. Edward Simpson Botterell, 15th Infantry Bn. May 1918. MIKAN No. 3403369

The 3rd Canadian Division (PPCLI in the 7th Infantry Brigade), later formed in December 1915, the target of a crushing German bombardment on the morning of 2 June. The barrage devastated the forward Canadian positions and killed hundreds, including the division commander, Major-General Malcolm Mercer, the highest-ranking soldier of the Canadian Corps killed in the Great War.

Lt Col Agar Adamson

Col. Adamson and Lieut.-Col. Stewart, P.P.C.L.I. Battle of Passchendaele. November, 1917. Col. Agar Adamson, the Commanding Officer of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, is likely in the center, with the officer on the right being Lt. Col. Charles James Townshend Stewart, the unit’s Commanding Officer in 1918. The officer on the far right is Lt Leonard Vivien Drummond-Hay, MC, MID, PPCLI. MIKAN No. 3397742

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.

Voormezeele Enclosure No. 3

Voormezeele Enclosure No. 3 located 4 kilometres south-west of Ieper town centre on the Ruusschaartstraat, a road leading from the Kemmelseweg (Connecting Ieper to Kemmel N331). Firstly, from Ieper town centre the Kemmelseweg reached via the Rijselsestraat, through the Lille Gate (Rijselpoort) and straight on towards Armentieres (N365). Then, 900 metres after the crossroads the right hand turning onto the Kemmelseweg (made prominent by a railway level crossing). Finally, turn right onto the Kemmelseweg and follow this road to the first crossroads, turn left here into Ruusschaartstraat. The Cemetery located 1 kilometre after this junction on the left hand side of the road just before Voormezeele Dorp.

Michel Spruyt De Bay
Lieutenant Michel Hubert Alexander Spruyt deBay. CEFRG

The Voormizeele Enclosures (at one time there were a total of four, but now reduced to three) originally regimental groups of graves, begun very early in the Great War and gradually increased until the village and the cemeteries captured by the Germans after very heavy fighting on 29 April 1918.

Largest Burial Ground

Voormezeele Enclosure No.3, the largest of these burial grounds, begun by the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry later in February 1915 – their graves are in Plot III, the other Plots from I to IX are the work of other units, or pairs of units, and include a few graves of October 1918. In addition, Plots X and XII are of a more general character. Plots XIII to XVI made after the Armistice when graves were brought in from isolated sites and smaller cemeteries to replace the French graves (of April and September 1918) that were removed to a French cemetery. Finally, these concentrated graves cover the months from January 1915 to October 1918, and they include those of many men of the 15th Hampshires and other units who recaptured this ground early in September 1918.

Duke of Connaught and Sir Arthur Currie inspecting a Guard of Honour of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. September, 1917. MIKAN No. 3397741

Pheasant Wood Cemetery

1,611 Commonwealth servicemen of the Great War buried or commemorated in Voormezeele Enclosure No.3. 609 of the burials unidentified but special memorials to 15 casualties known or believed to be buried among them. Finally, other special memorials record the names of five casualties whose graves in Pheasant Wood Cemetery not found on concentration.

Completed in July 2010, Fromelles (Pheasant Wood) Military Cemetery is the first new war cemetery to be built by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in fifty years.

The cemetery designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

King George V inspecting the Royal Guard from the Canadian Corps provided by the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry and was commanded by Captain G.W. Little, at Sebourg Chateau the King’s Headquarters near Valenciennes, 5th December 1918.

Below, Sebourg Chateau near Valenciennes, King George V’s headquarters guarded by men of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry.

Michel Spruyt De Bay
Photograph taken on 5 December 1918. IWM (Q 9761)

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