Alton’s Finest
Lt Wallace Lloyd Algie born in Alton, 10 June 1891, now part of the Town of Caledon, Ontario. He graduated from the Royal Military College of Canada and in April 1916, he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force.
Son of Dr. James Algie, and Rachel Algie, of Toronto, Ontario. Brother of Ada E., Ethel I. and Bessie Algie of Toronto, Ontario. Dr Algie Caledon Township’s first medical officer.
Enlistment of Lt Wallace Lloyd Algie
Lieutenant Lloyd Algie listed his civilian occupation as banker. Service number 916711 attested with the 198th Battalion, CEF. Previous service, 2 months in Queens Own Rifles as a Sergeant, and four months as a Lieutenant with the 40th Regiment. Medical exam 19 September 1916 at Camp Borden. He stood 5′ 11″ tall, 142 pounds, with good physical development.
Sailed per SS LACONIA on 25 September 1916, and upon arrival detailed to Canadian Military School on 6 October 1916.
Attached to the 95th Battalion at Brighton on 19 December 1916.
Lt Wallace Lloyd Algie qualified in 19th Course CMS and granted Certification, at Crowboro on 23 December 1916.
Attached to 5th Reserve Battalion from 25 January 1917.
Qualified 1st Class Bombing Course, Aldershot on 23 February 1917.
Lt Wallace Lloyd Algie ToS of the 20th Battalion in France from 28 May 1917.
20th (Central Ontario) Battalion
The 20th Battalion organized in October 1914 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel John Alfred Walker Allan, mobilized at Toronto and recruited in Aurora, Milton, Parry Sound, Owen Sound, Whitby, Barrie, Brampton, York, Simcoe, Niagara Falls, Dundas and Sudbury. Embarked from Montreal 15 May 1915 aboard MEGANTIC, and later disembarked in England 24 May 1915 with a strength of 35 officers, 1100 other ranks.
Col Allan left the battalion on 27 August 1915, returned to Canada and discharged from the CEF in October of 1915. LCol C H Rogers took over command. The battalion arrived in France 14 September 1915 as part of the 2nd Canadian Division, 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade.
20th Battalion on the Western Front
Prior to Lt Algie’s arrival with the 20th, the battalion had seen action in the Ypres Salient, having enjoyed the winter battling lice, trench foot, and disease. Steel helmets issued in March of 1916, and the 20th Battalion participated in the action at St Eloi.
Following their engagements on the Somme in 1916, the winter of 1916-1917 spent holding different parts of the line, patrolling, and carrying out trench raids. Just prior to Algie’s arrival, the Casualties of the 20th Battalion relatively light, under one hundred, of whom only six killed during the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
Hill 70
Following Vimy, the battalion spent the summer in intensive training exercises, learning the new principles of fire and movement.
On 15 August 1917, the Canadians began their attack on Hill 70, where Sgt Frederick Hobson of the 20th Battalion earned his Victoria Cross.
Sgt Frederick Hobson VC Citation
During a strong enemy counter-attack a Lewis gun in a forward post in a communication trench leading to the enemy lines, was buried by a shell, and the crew, with the exception of one man, killed.
Sjt. Hobson, though not a gunner, grasping the great importance of the post, rushed from his trench, dug out the gun, and got it into action against the enemy who were now advancing down the trench and across the open.
A jam caused the gun to stop firing. Though wounded, he left the gunner to correct the stoppage, rushed forward at the advancing enemy and, with bayonet and clubbed rifle, single handed, held them back until he himself was killed by a rifle shot. By this time however, the Lewis gun was again in action and reinforcements shortly afterwards arriving, the enemy were beaten off.
The valour and devotion to duty displayed by this non-commissioned Officer gave the gunner the time required to again get the gun into action, and saved a most serious situation.
Battle of Passchendaele
Lt Wallace Lloyd Algie appointed Lewis Gun Officer on 5 November 1917. Remarkably, the 20th Battalion lost not one Officer in the Second Battle of Passchendaele. Of 71 Other Ranks killed, 37 never recovered from the battlefield.
Leave
Following the battle, Lt Algie granted 14 Days Leave on 10 December 1917.
While on leave, he visited the ancestral home of the Algies in Scotland and saw the monument to Covenanter martyrs James Algie and Thomas Park.
Lt Wallace Algie admitted No 2 Red Cross Hospital, Rouen, 26 April 1918, PUO slight. Headache, back pain, later discharged 4 May 1918.
Bellacourt
At Bellacourt, 5PM, 17 May 1918, the Official Photographer of the Canadian Corps took a photo of all Officers of the Battalion. It was taken in an orchard behind Headquarters Mess.
Bellacourt Military Cemetery
Lt Wallace Lloyd Algie attended a Lewis Gun Course for one week from 17 June 1918.
The battalion pulls out of the Amiens front on 20 August 1918, and Lt Algie granted 14 days Leave to UK.
Major George Henry Musgrove
During Lloyd’s leave, Major George Henry Musgrove DSO killed in action and later buried at Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery, Haucourt.
On 30 September 1918 near Inchy-en-Artois, Lt Algie took temporary command of B Company and Lt Lent assumed duties of Lewis Gun Officer.
Victoria Cross Citation
An extract from ‘The London Gazette’, No. 31155, dated January 28, 1919, records the following:
For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice on the 11th October, 1918, north-east of Cambrai, when with attacking troops which came under heavy enfilade machine-gun fire from a neighbouring village. Rushing forward with nine volunteers, he shot the crew of an enemy machine gun, and, turning it on the enemy, enabled his party to reach the village. He then rushed another machine gun, killed the crew, captured an officer and 10 enemy, and thereby cleared the end of the village. Lt. Algie, having established his party, went back for reinforcements, but was killed when leading them forward. His valour and personal initiative in the face of intense fire saved many lives and enabled the position to be held.
Also killed in action, Lt Charles Innes Giles MM (Ramillies British Cemetery) and Lt Harold Stinsoll Wilson (Niagara Cemetery). Charles the son of Alexandrina Giles, of Toronto, Canada, and William Giles. Three and a half years’ active service. Twice previously wounded. Lt Wilson the husband of Edwina Verity Wilson, Madison Avenue, Montreal.
On March 28, 1919, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario presented Algie’s posthumous Victoria Cross award to his father. It is now on display at the Imperial War Museum in London, England.
Niagara Cemetery
Iwuy is a village approximately 8 kilometres north-east of Cambrai and NIAGARA CEMETERY, IWUY, is 1 kilometre south-east of the village.
The Royal Canadian Legion, Alton Branch 449 Lt Algie VC, is named in Lloyd’s honour.
Colours
The 20th Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force Colours lost in 1929 fire at St. Alban’s. They had been located in the Chapel of St. Alban-the-Martyr in Royal St. George’s College on 120 Howland Avenue.
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