Lieutenant Michel Hubert Alexander Spruyt de Bay, PPCLI

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Lieutenant Michel de Bay: Grant Him Eterenal Rest O Lord. Let Perpetual Light Shine Upon Him.

Lieutenant Michel Hubert Alexander Spruyt de Bay

Lieutenant Michel Hubert Alexander Spruyt de Bay was born in 1889 in England. Son of Mr. J. S. de Bay and Mrs. Jessie M. J. de Bay of 21, rue Africaine, St. Gilles, Brussels, Belgium, (formerly Caledonia Springs, Ontario) and later 156 Rue de Livourne, Avenue Louise, Brussels. Lieutenant Michel de Bay a native of England, however, his record does not reveal his birth city. Michel belonged to an old Belgian family on his paternal side, whose chateau mentioned several times already before 1916. Michel commissioned when the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) formed.

Lieutenant Michel Spruyt de Bay — On 3 October 1914 S.S. ROYAL GEORGE sailed from Gaspe Bay for Plymouth with part of the Canadian Expeditionary Force and then taken over as a British troopship. Then, resumed passenger voyages on 10 Feb 1919. Her last voyage on this service commenced on 10June 1920. Then, used as an emigrant depot ship at Cherbourg. Finally, served as a Hospital Ship during the Dardanelles Campaign, and scrapped in 1922.

Lieutenant Michel de Bay sailed from Quebec per S.S. ROYAL GEORGE 4 October 1914, embarked South Hampton, 20 October 1914.

Battle of Bellewaerde Ridge

Lieutenant Michel de Bay joined his unit in the field in Ypres, Belgium on 7 April 1915. Then, in the Battle of Bellewaerde Ridge the PPCLI held out against several German frontal assaults. By 8 May the battle over, and the line held, but the PPCLI had suffered decimating casualties, 392 killed, wounded, and missing. Over 80% of the men had become casualties, including the commanding officer, Lt-Col. Agar Adamson, and Lieutenant de Bay, wounded on the last day, near Hooge, 8 May 1915. Finally, Michel’s recovery long, nearly a year passes by before returning to duty.

Wounded

Lieutenant Michel de Bay invalided to England and admitted Fishmongers Hall Hospital, London, shrapnel wound right arm, 10 May 1915, discharged 25 May 1915. Incapacitated for General Service for 2 months, 10 July 1915. Then, medical leave to Canada at Public expense, 17 August 1915 and incapacitated for General Service for 2 months, 20 October 1915. Michel’s recovery long, and complicated due to paralysis.

Light duty at home, unfit for Service for 4 months, light paralysis, right arm, 10 January 1916. Then, admitted Granville Canadian Special Hospital, 2 February 1916. Then, fit for service, 22 February 1916, discharged Granville Canadian Special Hospital, 23 February 1916. However, Michel cannot fully extend his right index finger. Finally, on 25 April 1916 at Shorncliffe, the medical Boar declares he has fully recovered.

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

Return to France

On 30 April 1916, Lieutenant Michel Spruyt de Bay embarks at Le Havre. Then, on 7 May 1916, Lieutenant Michel Spruyt de Bay rejoins the PPCLI in the field.

Lieutenant-Colonel Agar Stuart Allan-Masterton Adamson had been on leave from 20 May to 3 June 1916, when the Germans launched a major attack on the Canadian positions in the Ypres Salient, just prior to the Battle of Mount Sorrel. Losses are heavy once again for the PPCLI, and again, among the officers.

Major-General Malcolm Mercer

On 3 June 1916, the highest ranking officer of the Canadian Corps killed in battle. Major-General Malcolm Mercer did not go down without a hard fight, wounded twice, before falling mortally wounded a third time on 3 June 1916. The previous night, Brigadier Victor Williams wounded and taken prisoner, Lieutenant-Colonel Herbert Cecil Buller killed, along with Lieutenant-Colonel Alfred Ernest Shaw of the 1st C.M.R., and the following Lieutenants: Gordon Stanley Fife (Maple Copse Cemetery), Daniel Galer Hagarty (Hooge Crater Cemetery), Andrew Angus Wanklyn (Sanctuary Wood Cemetery), and Michel Hubert Alexander Spruyt de Bay.

Major-General Mercer’s body recovered 21 June 1916 by a burial party. However, most high-ranking officers of the Canadian Expeditionary Force Killed-in-Action in Belgium, buried at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery.

During the Great War, the village of Lijssenthoek situated on the main communication line between the Allied military bases in the rear and the Ypres battlefields. However, close to the Front, but out of the extreme range of most German field artillery, became a natural place to establish casualty clearing stations. Finally, the cemetery first used by the French 15th Hopital D’Evacuation, and in June 1915, used by casualty clearing stations of the Commonwealth forces.

Lieutenant Michel Spruyt de Bay erroneously reported as having died on 2 June. However, he succumbed to his wounds on 3 June 1916, and Michel buried at Voormeezelle Enclosure No.3, Plot XI, Row A, Grave 11.

Lieutenant Michel Hubert Alexander Spruyt de Bay. Voormeezelle Enclosure No. 3. CEFRG

It would be very interesting if our friends in Belgium could identify where the chateau of the Spruyt de Bay family was in the Ypres Salient.

Sanctuary Wood Cemetery

Lieutenant Andrew Angus Wanklyn PPCLI buried here. The British couple pictured had previously visited Sanctuary Wood Cemetery, unaware their relative was buried here. Sanctuary Wood one of the larger woods in the commune of Zillebeke. Named in November 1914, when used to screen troops behind the front line. Then, 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.

Maple Copse Cemetery

Hooge Crater Cemetery

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Lieutenant Michel Spruyt de Bay in the Great War