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Category: Soldiers

Between 1914 and 1919, over 650,000 Canadians served at home and overseas during the Great War. On the Western Front in Belgium and France, Canadian soldiers of the Great War distinguished themselves in numerous battles, including Second Battle of Ypres, Battle of Vimy Ridge, and Second Battle of Passchendaele. In Canada’s Last Hundred Days of the Great War, Canadian soldiers at the sharp end of the spear breaking through the enemy’s formidable trench defences, the Hindenburg Line. Their efforts have inspired these soldier stories.

Collections

Many collections used to bring the soldier stories to life. First, and foremost, the Personnel Records of the soldiers serving in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF). This collection, like the others to follow, digitized and made available by Library and Archives Canada (LAC). Secondly, the War Diaries of the CEF often provide vital information about a soldier’s life not contained in their service file. Finally, Circumstances of Death (CoD), War Graves Registers (GRRF), and Veterans Death Cards provide further information on The Fallen. These three collections in conjunction with records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) vital to cases of identification and recovery of The Missing.

Courts Martial Records (FGCM)

Additional collections used to present the soldier stories include Courts Martial Records. Courts martial had the authority to try a wide range of military offences that resembled civilian crimes like fraud, theft or perjury. Others, like desertion and cowardice – purely military crimes. Records of individual courts martial consist of an average of 20 to 25 documents, mainly standardized forms. These document the trial and the charges under the Army Act.

MIKAN photo collection

Finally, the most powerful way of bringing soldier stories of the Great War to life, the images of the MIKAN collection digitized by LAC.  Often complementing these photos – images held by the Imperial War Museum (IWM), some of which also contain images captured by the Official Canadian War Photographers (CWRO) during the Great War. Both LAC and IWM have film collections which further bring the reality of the soldier stories of the Great War to life.

  • Lieutenant Michel Spruyt de Bay in the Great War

    Lieutenant Michel Spruyt de Bay in the Great War

    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.

    Lieutenant Michel de Bay
    Duke of Connaught and Sir Arthur Currie inspecting a Guard of Honour of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry. September, 1917. MIKAN No. 3397741

    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.

    Lieutenant Michel de Bay
    Graves of Maj.-Gen. M.S. Mercer, 3rd Div. & Lt. Edward Simpson Botterell, 15th Infantry Bn. May 1918. MIKAN No. 3403369

    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.

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

    More

    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

    Maple Copse Cemetery

    Lieutenant Gordon Stanley Fife Maple Copse Cemetery. CEFRG

    Hooge Crater Cemetery

    Lieutenant Daniel Galer Hagarty Hooge Crater Cemetery. CEFRG. Son of Lt. Col. Edward William Hagarty and Mrs. Charlotte E. Hagarty, of Toronto, Ontario.

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