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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.

  • Private Edward James Reynolds In the Great War

    Private Edward James Reynolds In the Great War

    Shot at Dawn

    Private Edward James Reynolds the seventh Canadian Shot at Dawn during a short period in the summer of 1916 when the CEF executed seven men. As part of the British Army, these sentences approved by General Sir Douglas Haig. Though 222 sentences of death passed during the Great War, only 25 Canadians faced a firing squad at dawn. Decisions of the courts-martial appear, more often than not, to have been quite random and arbitrary, as with the case of Pte Reynolds.

    Private Edward James Reynolds
    Private Edward James Reynolds

    Enlistment of Rifleman Edward James Reynolds

    404436 Rifleman Edward James Reynolds born on 2 January 1896 in Toronto. In April 1915, Reynolds enlisted in the 35th Battalion. By November 1915, Reynolds was a member of the 3rd Battalion in the line near Ploegsteert.

    Bronchitis

    Admitted to No. 2 CFA with Bronchitis, 3 May 1916. Discharged from 1st Can Div Conv Coy on 18 May 1916. Transferred to APM by order of ADMS for duty with Traffic Control.

    A photo of Pte. Eddie Lock and Sgt. Slater, 3rd (Toronto) Battalion taken in the trenches at Plogsteert Woods, near Ypres, September, 1915.

    Rejoined 3rd Battalion on 4 July 1916.

    The Bluff

    On 25 July 1916, the Germans exploded a mine under a portion of the front line called “The Bluff”. The 3rd Battalion ordered forward to plug the resulting gap in the front line. However, Reynolds fell out from his platoon only to be found 2 days later at his battalion’s transport lines. Reynolds claimed that he had been ordered back and got lost. This excuse accepted.

    MIKAN No. 3395781 Private Edward James Reynolds
    Stretcher Bearers going to his help in Hedge Row Trench (The Bluff). (5th Battalion). 9 August, 1916. MIKAN No. 3395781

    Desertion

    During the following night (26 July 1916), Reynolds ordered to accompany a ration party up to the front line. Again Reynolds fell out and went back to his battalion’s transport lines. This time Reynolds arrested and charged with desertion.

    Transport wagons. 1st Divisional Train (Cdn. Army Service Corps). July, 1916.
    Transport wagons. 1st Divisional Train (Cdn. Army Service Corps). July, 1916.

    In confinement awaiting trial from 25 July 1916. The Battalion now in reserve at Bulford Camp, south-west of Nieuwkerke.

    Nieuwkerke (Neuve-Eglise) Churchyard – only Squadron Sergeant Major Harry Collins, Lord Strachona’s Horse (Royal Canadians) of the CEF lies buried at Nieuwkerke Churchyard.

    FGCM

    Found guilty by a FGCM and sentenced to death 8 August 1916. At this time, the battalion at Munque Farm, just west of Ploegsteert Wood. Gen Sir D Haig approves the sentence.

    Private Edward James Reynolds
    La Grand Munque Farm

    No evidence Commanding Officer Lieutenant Colonel William Donald Allan DSO made any attempt to spare Edward’s life. Only a week after the execution, LCol Allan admitted to hospital with neuralgia and Influenza. Evacuated to England, he died of “an abscess on the brain”. His remains later repatriated and buried at Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto, Grave 11-27.

    Chalk Quarry

    At 05:27 on 23 August 1916, Reynolds (aged 20) executed by firing squad at Chalk Quarry located at Sheet 27.J.28.c.70.15, just east of Cassel, France. His remains brought back 30 km to Longuenesse Souvenir Cemetery, Plot IV, Row A, Grave 39. Perhaps the only instance where the exact location of execution noted.

    Chalk Quarry – a peculiar name as no quarry appears to have existed, nor is the area known for a chalk substrate like Vimy.

    During the summer of 1916, the CEF executed seven men (one for murder).

    Private Edward James Reynolds
    Memorial – Pte. Edward James Reynolds remembered on the REYNOLDS family memorial located at St. John’s (Norway) cemetery, Toronto, Ontario.
    Private Edward James Reynolds

    Killed in Action

    The truth of Edward’s death related to the family following the Great War.

    Private Edward James Reynolds
    Private Edward James Reynolds

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    Shot at Dawn Memorial is a monument at the National Memorial Arboretum near Alrewas, in Staffordshire, UK Private Edward James Reynolds
    Shot at Dawn Memorial is a monument at the National Memorial Arboretum near Alrewas, in Staffordshire, UK

    Private Pierre-Côme Laliberté born on 24 February 1896, in Deschaillons, Lotbinière County, Québec. Baptized Pierre-Côme Laliberté. Son of Ludger Laliberté (deceased in 1907), and Eugénie Hamel, of Montréal, Québec.