The Little Black Devils of Canada
HOSTI ACIE NOMINATI
Sergeant William John Garratt 81299 born in Rapid City, Manitoba on 3 September 1888, a Farmer.
William joined the Royal Winnipeg Rifles because his father Peter Levens Garratt fought with the the RWR (Little Black Devils) during the Red River Rebellion.
Garratt stood 5′ 9″ tall, 160 pounds with dark complexion, brown eyes and black hair at the time of his enlistment on 12 December 1914, with the 32nd Battalion. Parents Peter Levens and Mary Garrett, of Enderby, B.C.
32nd Battalion
Organized in November 1914 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Harry James Cowan and mobilized at Winnipeg, and later recruited in Saskatoon, Brandon, Moosomin, Portage la Prairie, Weyburn, Lloydminster, Moose Jaw and Roblin. Embarked from Halifax 23 February 1915 aboard SOUTHLAND (or VATERLAND), and later disembarked England 7 March 1915 with a strength of 35 officers, 962 other ranks. Became 32nd Canadian Reserve Battalion, and later absorbed by new 15th Canadian Reserve Battalion on 4 January 1917 – perpetuated by 12th Manitoba Dragoons.
England
The 32nd Battalion sailed aboard SS VADERLAND, 23 February 1915.
Private Garratt admitted with VDG and left orchitis, Shorncliffe, 19 April 1915. To Moore Baracks, 18 May 1915 and later to Central Hospital, Lichfield 2 June 1915.
Garratt proceeded on draft to 8th Battalion, CEF, 17 July 1915.
8th Battalion (90th Winnipeg Rifles)
Organized in Valcartier Camp September 1914 and composed of recruits from Winnipeg and from the 96th Lake Superior Regiment of the Active Militia, firstly commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Louis J Lipsett. Embarked Quebec City 1 October 1914 aboard FRANCONIA, and later disembarked England 14 October 1914 with a strength of 47 officers, 1106 other ranks.
8th battalion disembarked in France 13 February 1915, with the 1st Canadian Division, 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade, and later reinforced by 18th Canadian Reserve Battalion. In addition, returned to England 23 March 1919, and disembarked in Canada 4 May 1919. Finally, demobilized 8 May 1919, no colours, mascot, a bear. Brass band: “Pork, beans and hard tack”. Used instruments of 125th Battalion. Perpetuated by The Royal Winnipeg Rifles.
Garratt T.o.S. in the field, 22 July 1915. Pte Garratt absent from roll call until 9:30 pm, and docked four days pay, 26 August 1915. Garratt admitted No.1 Canadian Field Ambulance, Haemmorhoids, 13 November 1915, later rejoining his unit 27 November 1915.
Private Garratt granted 7 days leave to England, 14 April 1916, and admitted to hospital while on leave, 29 April 1916.
AWOL
Absentee without Leave, 7 July 1916. Private William Garratt to Barnwell Military Hospital, Cambridge (VDG and VDS) until 13 July 1916. Then, admitted Cherryhinton Military Hospital, Scabies, 13 July 1916. Skin Disease (scabies), Military Hospital, Cambridge, 18 July 1916, and finally, discharged 21 September 1916.
Readmitted for VDG, Military Hospital, Shorncliffe, 27 September 1916, and later discharged 28 September 1916.
Previously reported AWOL, now reported admitted to Military Hospital, Shorncliffe and struck off strength accordingly, 20 October 1916. Reported to CCAC, 30 October 1916.
Private Garratt S.o.S. on transfer to 11th Reserve Battalion, Shorncliffe, 5 October 1916.
11th Reserve Battalion
Organized at Shorncliffe on 4 January 1917 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel P. Walker, and later formed by absorbing 11th and 100th Battalions. Absorbed 197th Battalion on 6 February 1917, 221st Battalion on 29 April 1917, 200th and 223rd Battalions on 14 May 1917, and later absorbed 14th Canadian Reserve Battalion on 15 October 1917.
In addition, reinforced 27th, 78th and 107th Battalions. After absorbing 14th Canadian Reserve Battalion, also reinforced 16th, 27th and 43rd Battalions. Finally, asorbed by 18th Canadian Reserve Battalion on 29th March 1919.
Private William Garratt to 18th Reserve Battalion, 22 May 1917.
18th Reserve Battalion
Organized at Seaford on 12 January 1917 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel K. C. Bedson. Formed by absorbing 144th and 203rd Battalions. Absorbing 181st Battalion on 29 April 1917, 190th on 14 May 1917, 141st on 21 May 1917, 151st Battalion on 17 October 1917 as well as the 2nd Independent Company and British American Draft from Winnipeg, and reinforced 8th, 44th and 52nd Battalions. Later it reinforced the 78th, 107th and 3rd Labour Battalions. After August 1918, the 13th Canadian Reserve Battalion reinforced the 44th Battalion, and finally, moved to East Sandling on 5 March 1917, Dibgate on 8 March 1917, Seaford in April 1918. Furthermore, arrived in Canada 20 June 1919, and disbanded – had brass and bugle bands.
Wounded
Private Garratt to hospital, wounded, 17 February 1917. GSW upper arm (flesh wound only), slightly septic, and later transported to England via HS BRIGHTON, 25 February 1917. Then, transferred to Graylingwell War Hospital, Chichester, 26 February 1917, and to Shoreham-on-Sea, 5 March 1917, and S.o.S. to Manitoba Regiment, Hastings, 12 March 1917.
Garratt S.o.S. on Commission to Casualty Clearing Depot, 16 March 1917, then to Canadian Convalescent Hospital, Epsom, 2 April 1917. Finally, William ceases to be attached to 1st CCD and S.o.S. to 18th Reserve Battalion, 28 May 1917.
Re-drafted to 8th Battalion, Dibgate, 4 July 1917, but admitted to No.22 Casualty Clearing Station (orchitis), 2 August 1917. Finally, to No.51 General Hospital (VDG), Etaples, 5 August 1917.
Promotions
To Course, 13 October 1917, then appointed Lance Corporal, 20 October 1917. In addition, promoted Corporal, 3 November 1917.
Lieutenant and Adjutant Howard Allen Archer
On 24 January 1918, Lt & Adjt Howard Archer whilst making a tour around the front line, stopped to speak to the garrison of a post, when he received a direct hit from an enemy Pineapple (stick grenade), being killed instantly.
Funeral of Lieutenant (later Captain) & Adjutant Howard Allen Archer at Mazingarbe Communal Cemetery Extension with full Military Honours, 26 January 1918. Son of Thomas and Margaret Archer, of Manitou, Manitoba; husband of Eva F. Archer, of “C” Victoria Court, Regina, Saskatchewan.
Mazingarbe Communal Cemetery
Mazingarbe Communal Cemetery used by units and field ambulances from June 1915 to February 1916. It contains 108 Commonwealth burials of the Great War and 24 French war graves. The adjoining Communal Cemetery Extension begun by the 16th (Irish) Division in April 1916 and used until October 1918. In addition, it contains 248 Commonwealth burials of the Great War and two German graves. Finally, the extension was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.
Corporal Garratt promoted Sergeant, 8 February 1918, and then, Sergeant William John Garratt granted 14 days leave to Paris, 23 February 1918.
Military Medal
Sergeant William John Garratt awarded Military Medal in the field, 24 April 1918.
On 13 September 1918 in Wanquetin, the unit war diary notes the following awards also appear in Orders. Sergeant William John Garratt MM one of five men in the battalion to be awarded the DCM, including Sgts F Stevens, George Francis Hilliard, W J Garratt MM, and Lance Corporal Russell Rae, in addition, DSO to Rev Canon Frederick George Scott, MC to Lts Albert William Dodd, Harold Shier Churchill, F M Ross (A/Adjt).
Distinguished Conduct Medal
Sergeant William John Garratt MM awarded DCM, 4 January 1919.
Sergeant William John Garratt MM, DCM proceeded to England from Les Waleffes (province de Liège, Belgium), 27 March 1919, and finally, returned to Canada aboard HMTS EMPRESS OF BRITAIN, 25 April 1919.
Special Thanks
In conclusion, a special thanks to Linda Garratt McAllister for having suggested this post – a rare opportunity to present citations for the Military Medal, and Distinguished Conduct Medal. Usually, only Victoria Cross citations are to be found, other citations, if they exist, seldom discovered.
Comments
4 Responses to “Sergeant William John Garratt in the Great War”
The citations certainly personalize the notice of awards, and the details give a measure of the reality behind battlefront award recognition!
Thanks so much for suggesting this post.
Thank you so very much!!! This article will be a treasured addition to the memoirs our family has collect over the years.So very grateful for your time to do this for him.
A pleasure relating his story.