Military Medal & Two Bars
Sergeant Henry George Sivertz 707191 born 15 November 1893 in Victoria. B.C. He stood 5′ 6″ tall, 150 pounds, with fresh complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. He was Lutheran and a school teacher. Two brothers also served, Gustave Sivertz 707210, 103rd Battalion (2nd C.M.R.), wounded severely at Vimy went on to become Commissioner of the Northwest Territories and Christian Sivertz 707227 103rd Battalion (2nd C.M.R. & 11th Battalion, Canadian Engineers).
Enlistment
Henry George Sivertz attested 3 July 1916 with 103rd Battalion, CEF, at Victoria, B.C. Father Christian Sivertz and mother Ellenburg Sivertz of 1278 Denman Street, Victoria, B.C.
103rd Battalion
Firstly, organized in November 1915 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Edward Constant Joseph Lelievre Henniker. Secondly, mobilized at Victoria and recruited in Victoria. Thirdly, embarked from Halifax 24 July 1916 aboard SS OLYMPIC.
Then, the 103rd Battalion disembarked England 31 July 1916 with strength: 39 officers, 939 other ranks. Later, a draft of 263 to 29th Battalion in October 1916, and a draft of 138 to 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles in December 1916. Finally, absorbed by 16th Canadian Reserve Battalion on 10 January 1917 and disbanded by Privy Council Order 2342 of 1 September 1917. Furthermore, perpetuated by The Canadian Scottish Regiment.
Private Henry George Sivertz transferred to ‘C’ Company, 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion 7 July 1916.
2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles
Organized in December 1914 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel John Cecil Lathom Bott. Firstly, mobilized at Willows Camp, Victoria. and recruited from 30th British Columbia Horse (Vernon) and Victoria Squadron of Horse. Finally, left Montreal 12 June 1915 aboard MEGANTIC and arrived in England 21 June 1915.
Secondly, strength: 28 officers, 605 other ranks arrived in France 22 September 1915,1st Brigade Canadian Mounted Rifles. Then, designation changed from regiment to battalion on formation of 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 1 January 1916. Finally, returned to Canada 24 March 1919. and demobilized on 2 April 1919. Furthermore, Colours donated by Mrs GC Johnston and presented at Bramshott in March 1919 by Brigadier-General Dennis C Draper and perpetuated by The British Columbia Dragoons.
Henry’s unit sailed 23 July 1916, arriving Liverpool, 31 July 1916. In addition, Private Henry George Sivertz completes his will 30 September 1916 bequeathing all to his mother.
France
Private Henry George Sivertz entered the Western Front on 23 December 1916 with the 3rd Entrenching Battalion at Marœuil, Pas-de-Calais, laying pipe lines.
Then, at Chateau Étrun, the Sivertz brothers receive Bombing instruction at the Brigade Bombing School in January 1917, leaving for the trenches on 4/5 January 1917. However, the trenches found to be in a horrible state, and the battalion begins pumping and repairing trenches. Finally, a small German patrol found in No Man’s Land dispersed by bombs on 7 January 1917. Two days later, the battalion in Brigade Reserve.
‘C’ Company relieves ‘D’ Company of the 5th C.M.R. on the right front, 16 January 1917.
Major George Chalmers Johnston commanding 2nd C.M.R. sets up HQ in Bois des Alleux (nord de Mont-Saint-Éloi) as of 23 January 1917.
Grenade and Lewis Gun instruction begins at Raimbert on 18 February 1917.
Sir Julian Byng
Sir Julian Byng decorates men of the 2nd C.M.R. on 25 February 1917, including Lt. Frederick Ambler Heather and Lt. James Foord (MC’s), CSM A. Whitmore 107623, Sgt H.C. Manning 107425, and Lance Corporal W. Hayward 107241 (DCM’s), and Corporal A.J. Castle 2066, Private L.M. Anderson 107054 (MM’s).
The battalion moves to Maisnil-les-Ruitz on 19 March 1917, and to Villers-au-Bois on 22 March. In addition, Sir Julian Byng sends congratulatory message on 31 March 1917, “My great appreciation of their repeatedly successful raids.”
Lt. James Archibald Hudson Christie, ‘C’ Company killed on 9 April 1917. Finally, Major Thomas Godfrey now in command of ‘C’ Company.
Lance-Corporal
Private Henry George Sivertz appointed Acting Lance-Corporal 10 April 1917. Following the Battle of Vimy Ridge, ‘C’ Company in La Folie Wood on 18 April 1917.
Lance-Corporal Henry George Sivertz to First Army Rest Camp, 28 August 1917, returning 15 September 1917. Then, to General Course Divisional School, 20 October 1917. In addition, Lance-Corporal Henry George Sivertz promoted Corporal 24 November 1917, returning to unit 25 November 1917. Finally, Corporal Lance-Corporal Henry George Sivertz awarded Military Medal 2 April 1918, London Gazette No.30606.
Battle of Amiens
The battalion jumped-off from CASPAR TRENCH at 2:15 am and began the fight at Hangard, 8 August 1918. Then, to encourage the troops, the commanding officer mentions the Germans have drowned 14 Canadian Nurses and bombed several to death a short time back. Furthermore, Demuin bridgehead consolidated at 06:30 am, only an hour after ZERO HOUR. Finally, in the afternoon, the battalion moved to the south side of Demuin and bivouacked there for the night.
The battalion moved to the east side of VALLEY WOOD at 09:30 am, 9 August 1918. At 09:00 pm, ‘C’ Company moved behind ‘B’ Company on the attack, afterwards moving 400 yards west and northwest of Le Quesnoy. Finally, the battalion holding off a counterattack by the Germans just east of the village.
Lance Sergeant
Corporal Lance-Corporal Henry George Sivertz appointed Lance Sergeant 17 August 1918.
Then, on 19 August 1918, Lt-Col GC Johnston gives special mention to Lance Sergeant Sivertz for highly courageous, efficient work and devotion to duty during the attacks on Demuin and Le Quesnoy during the Battle of Amiens.
Lance-Sergeant Henry George Sivertz awarded Bar to MM on 30 August 1918 for actions during the Battle of Amiens. In addition, Lance-Sergeant Henry George Sivertz appointed Sergeant 7 September 1918.
Captain John MacGregor
Captain John MacGregor MC, DCM wounded leading ‘C’ Company on 29 September 1918. At this time, ‘C’ Company cleaning up machine gun nests at a house capturing 5 enemy machine guns and dealing suitably with the crews. Captain John MacGregor single-handedly putting one of these machine gun nests out of action and later awarded the Victoria Cross.
Killed-in-action
Then, on 28 September 1918, the 2nd C.M.R. learn Sivertz awarded the bar to the Military Medal. The following day, Sergeant Henry George Sivertz killed-in-action, 29 September 1918.
Furthermore, a second Bar to MM awarded posthumously, 10 October 1918 (actions of 29 September 1918).
MM & Two Bars
Firstly, The medal awarded to Warrant Officers, Non-commissioned Officers and non-commissioned members for individual or associated acts of bravery on the recommendation of a Commander-in-Chief in the field. Secondly, the silver, laurelled bar awarded for a subsequent act or acts of bravery and devotion under fire. Thirdly, Canadians have received 13, 654 Military Medals, including 848 first bars and 38 second bars. Finally, including Sergeant Henry George Sivertz, only six Canadians paid the Ultimate Sacrifice while meriting two bars to the Military Medal in France during the Great War.
Firstly, Lance Sergeant John Bernard Adamson 887422, Triangle Cemetery, Inchy-en-Artois.
Secondly, Sergeant William John Groves 451450, Valenciennes (St Roch) Communal Cemetery.
Thirdly, Company Sergeant Major John Bercy Ironside 407019, Vimy Memorial
Fourthly, Lance Corporal Joseph Thompson Milne 434307, Ligny-St. Flochel British Cemetery, Averdoingt.
In conclusion, Lance Corporal Claude William Moore 151064, Vimy Memorial.
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