Borden Motor Machine Gun Battery
Private William James McVicar served with the Borden Motor Machine Gun Battery in the Great War. Killed along with two of his comrades during the Battle of Passchendaele. Exhumed from his battlefield burial location and reinterred at Passchendaele New British Cemetery in 1921.
Enlistment of Pte William James McVicar
Born 21 June 1896 in Ainsworth, British Columbia, Canada. Next of kin, his mother, Eliza (Mrs. Dan) McVicar, Nelson, British Columbia. A single journalist/advertising copywriter by trade. Living in Nelson, BC, with his brother.
Standing 5′ 9″ tall, 135 pounds, with fair complexion, brown eyes and brown hair. Examined on 8 June 1916 just before his 20th birthday. William attested with the 196th Overseas Battalion. On 11 October 1916, William completes his Will, bequeathing all to his mother in Nelson, BC.
196th Overseas Battalion
Organized in February 1916 under the command of Major Reginald Walter Brock. Mobilized at Winnipeg and recruited in Brandon College, the universities of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. Embarked from Halifax 1 November 1916 aboard SS SOUTHLAND, and later disembarked England 11 November 1916 with a strength of 32 officers, 974 other ranks. Amalgamated with 222nd Battalion on 4 January 1917 to form 19th Canadian Reserve Battalion.
Private McVicar sailed from Halifax per SS SOUTHLAND on 31 October 1916. One year, and 10 days later, Pte W J McVicar saw dawn for the last time.
England
Arrived at Liverpool on 11 November 1916, and transferred to the 19th Reserve Battalion at Seaford Camp.
Transferred to the Machine Gun Depot on 2 March 1917 at Seaford. Moved to Crowborough the following day. Just before proceeding overseas, William informed of his brother’s death.
Private Donald McVicar, 47th Battalion, killed-in-action on 16 March 1917. Donald’s body lost – commemorated on the Vimy Memorial.
France
Private William James McVicar entered Le Havre, France on 23 April 1917. Arrived at Carmiers the following day. Transferred to Borden’s Motor Machine Gun Battery on 3 May 1917, finally arriving at his unit on 29 May 1917.
Borden’s Motor Machine Gun Battery
The 1st Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade began recruiting on 11 August 1914 and formed on 2 September 1914. From its inception, a totally mobile and functionally independent unit, but always attached to higher units and therefore not truly independent.
Three original batteries, the Eaton Motor Machine Gun Battery, the Yukon Motor Machine Gun Battery and the Borden Motor Machine Gun Battery. The Borden Battery also known as the Holland Battery (commanded by Major Edward Holland VC). Holland earned his Victoria Cross as a 22 year old sergeant in the Royal Canadian Dragoons, Canadian Army during the Second Boer War in South Africa. Sir Sam Hughes named the Holland Battery the Borden Battery in honour of the current Canadian Prime Minister – Sir Robert Borden.
On 19 August 1916 the Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade formed. It consisted of the two original batteries – also known as Sifton A and Sifton B (after the Canadian Minister of the Interior) supplemented by 3 other batteries – “C” (Borden Motor Machine Gun Battery), “D” (Eaton Motor Machine Gun Battery) and “E” (Yukon Motor Machine Gun Battery)
Pte McVicar’s First Action
McVicar’s battery moved into position in the Line on 1 June 1917, and he witnessed a furious 10 minute barrage by the enemy the following day. One man partially buried when a shell landed in their position. On 3 June 1917, the battery retaliated, expending over 26,000 rounds SAA in the afternoon, and 20,000 more in the early hours after midnight.
After firing 50,000 rounds after midnight on 9 June 1917, the battery spent the rest of the month cleaning, repairing equipment and training.
The battery took holiday on 2 July 1917 and attended the Canadian Corps Sports. The remainder of the month spent on anti-aircraft duty in Bois de Verdrel. The battery finally returned to the line on 11 August 1917, expending 34,500 rounds.
Battle of Passchendaele
The battery under Captain Nicholson and Lt Kill moved into barrage position Sheet 28.D.4.d.2.3 at about 5:30 pm, 9 November 1917.
Guns set on barrage targets by 4 am. 8,000 rounds with the battery (another 48,000 rounds at nearby WATERLOO DUMP).
10 November 1917
At zero-hour 6:05 am all guns opened fire and carried on for sixty minutes. The enemy commenced a heavy barrage at 6:30 am and continued until two pm. Lt Albert Edward Kill (Menin Gate Memorial) killed by shell fire about 30 minutes after barrage opened.
About 10 am heavy rain began to fall causing great damage to emplacements and filling shelters. Impossible to keep guns in good condition.
At 1:30 pm three men killed, and three wounded by shellfire. Fifteen minutes later, Captain W C Nicholson wounded, passing command to the adjoining battery temporarily. At about 3 pm, Lt Adams arrived and took charge of the battery. Shortly after is arrival Sergeant H A Maude wounded and evacuated to the ADS.
Private William James McVicar initially buried at Sheet 28.D.4.d.2.3 (same position of the battery during the battle).
Passchendaele New British Cemetery
Private William James McVicar exhumed in 1921 and placed in Passchendaele New British Cemetery, Plot X, Row C, Grave 17.
Also killed Private William Kee (Menin Gate Memorial) 863147. Oddly, no battlefield grave reported for Kee.
Private Alfred Daw 797016 (Passchendale New British Cemetery, Plot VII, Row B, Grave 28).
On 12 November 1917, Captain Holland returned to the battery, having fully recovered from being wounded by gas. The battery ended the action expending 56,000 rounds SAA.
Private William James McVicar also commemorated on the Nelson, BC Cenotaph.
Major Reginald Walter Brock
In 1919, Major Reginald Walter Brock became Professor of Geology and Dean of Applied Sciences at the University of British Columbia. He was President of the Royal Society of Canada in 1935–36. Killed in a plane crash on 30 July 1935. His wife, also onboard, died the following day. Brock Island and Brock River named in his honour.
More
- Home of CEFRG
- Blog
- CEFRG on FaceBook
- CEFRG on YouTube
- Soldiers and Nursing Sisters
- Units (Brigades, Battalions, Companies)
- War Diary of the 18th Battalion (Blog)
- 48th Highlanders of Canada
- 116th Battalion CEF – The Great War
- Les Soldats du Québec Morts en Service
- Montreal Aviation Museum
- Battles of the Great War
- Cases
- Cemeteries
- Memorials
- On This Day
- About CEFRG