Tag: military medal
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Sergeant William Merrifield VC MM in the Great War
Sergeant William Merrifield VC MM born in Brentwood, Essex, England on 9 October 1890. Merrifield came to Canada at the age of 12 with his father. They moved to Sudbury, onto Ottawa and eventually settled in Sault Ste. Marie. In 1914, Merrifield enlisted with the 2nd Battalion to fight in the Great War. He served…
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Pipe Major James Groat in the Great War
Pipe Major James Groat DCM, MM & Bar one of several pipers of the 16th Battalion, CEF, awarded medals of gallantry in the Great War. Groat’s Distinguished Conduct Medal, Military Medal and Bar, represent three awards for gallantry in the face of the enemy. In 1915 the 16th Battalion, Canadian Scottish, had 17 pipers, but…
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Corporal Joe Keeper in the Great War
Corporal Joe Keeper MM, a member of the Norway House Cree Nation born at Walker Lake, Manitoba on 17 January 1886. A long-distance runner, Joseph Benjamin Keeper a member of the 1912 Canadian Olympic team. 1912 Olympics Joseph Benjamin Keeper won seven-mile road races (11,265 m) in 1910 and 1911. In 1911, he set a…
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Corporal George Turner MM in the Great War
The battlefield experiences of Corporal George Turner MM, 44th Battalion, CEF, in the Great War. Turner wrote of his life in the trenches to Colonial Commerce (vol. 28, no. 2 (28 February 1919)), providing a quintessential account of the 44th Battalion (New Brunswick). Private William George Turner 219854 born in St. John’s, Newfoundland on 25 June 1894.…
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LCpl Alexander MacGillivray MM in the Great War
LCpl Alexander MacGillivray MM a piper killed at Hill 70 who refused to draw lots. “He would go in anyway.” Any piper who had grounds for suspecting he had been discriminated against in the ballot, taunted his comrades with injustice, and insisted on accompanying the attacking troops. Brave men, who met death when it came…
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RSM James Kay in the Great War
Humble Beginnings RSM James Kay born 19 February 1880 in Torhead Croft, Pluscarden Valley near Elgin, Moray, Scotland. An only child of Helen Smith and Alexander Kay and lived with his grandparents John and Mary Smith of Torhead, Pluscarden, Elgin, Scotland. Boer War In 1900 at the age of 19 he joined the 2nd Battalion…
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Winnipeg Grenadiers in the Great War
The 78th Battalion (Winnipeg Grenadiers) led by Lieutenant-Colonel James Kirkcaldy. Two Victoria Crosses (Honey and Tait), the only surviving quadruple-amputee (Curley Christian) and the HALLU EIGHT, only a few of their incredible stories. 78th Canadian Infantry Battalion The 78th Battalion (Winnipeg Grenadiers) organized in July 1915 initially under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel James Bertram Mitchell,…
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Captain William Frederick Tucker in the Great War
Unsung Hero Captain William Frederick Tucker rose in the ranks from a Private in the 29th (Vancouver) Battalion – Tobin’s Tigers. Tucker earned two medals of gallantry, wounded and remained at duty during the Battle of the Somme, and Mentioned in Despatches by Sir Douglas Haig. Company Sergeant Major Tucker earned his Military Medal on…
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22nd Battalion (French Canadian) in the Great War
Van Doos Royal 22e Régiment The 22nd Battalion (French Canadian) also known as Royal 22e Régiment, or more familiarly, The Van Doos (English translation of vingt-deux). Organized in October 1914 under the command of Colonel Frédéric-Mondelet Gaudet, CMG. Mobilized at St-Jean, Québec. Recruited throughout the province of Québec. Second in command, Lt-Col Charles Tarien Tarieu De Lanaudière.…
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Lance Corporal Delbert Bean MM in the Great War
In loving memory of my dear husband who made the supreme sacrifice Lance Corporal Delbert Bean the son of Eugene and Nina Bean, of North Hatley, Quebec, Canada. Husband of Ethel Bean (Nee Smith), of 808, East 14th St., Chester, Pennsylvania, U.S.A. North Hatley In 1792, Captain Ebenezer Hovey, an American from Connecticut found Lake…