Private Hormisdas Haynes born 19 August 1874 in St James Parish, Montreal. Son of Johnny and Mary Louise (Rheaume) Haynes of Montreal. Husband of Marie Florida Haynes (nee Plessis-Belair), of 3086 St Dominique, Montreal. Married 11 September 1909. Their son, Joseph Alexandre Sosthène Haynes, baptized 27 May 1910.
Attestation
Hormisdas (Hormidas) Haynes (Hayiens) 2002009 attested with the 150th Carabiniers Mont-Royal, CEF on 28 October 1916. Hormisdas a cigar maker by trade. Apparent age noted as 32 years (Hormisdas actually 42 years of age at this time). He stood 5’8″ tall, 139 pounds, with ‘black’ complexion, brown eyes and black hair. A Roman Catholic.
150th Battalion
Organized in November 1915 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Hercule Barré. Mobilized at Montreal and recruited in the Montreal district. Draft of 99 to 69th Battalion in March 1916. Embarked from Halifax 27 September 1916 aboard LAPLAND, later disembarked England 6 October 1916 with a strength: 24 officers, 515 other ranks.
Draft of 75 to 22nd Battalion in November 1916, then drafts of 50 to 22nd Battalion and 47 to 127th Battalion in December 1916. 14th Infantry Brigade, 5th Division from 13 February 1917 to 9 February 1918, then drafts of 100 each to 14th, 22nd, 24th, 87th Battalions and to 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles in February 1918. Finally, absorbed by 10th Canadian Reserve Battalion in February 1918, and Colours donated by officers and friends of 65th Carabiniers Mont-Royal. Presented by Lieutenant-Colonel H Duverger on 21 September 1916 and later deposited in 65th Canadian Mounted Rifles armouries. Perpetuated by Les Fusiliers Mont-Royal.
Recruiting poster
Described as “this rabble” by Colonel Reginald John Gwynne (HQ 683-188-5) 178th had 25 officers and 283 other ranks at the time. Recruiting poster, drawn by A.J. Racey of the Montreal Star, was “reproduced in the illustrated papers of all the allied nations. It showed a Tommy in khaki, cocking his thumb at a ‘world sphere’ (on which the French game-cock was doing his best to thrash the German Eagle) and calling on all French Canadians to come over and help”.
Private Haynes completes his last will and testament on 5 February 1917, leaving everything to his wife. Likely little to leave, as the City of Montreal had seized and sold his assets of 1200 boul St Laurent the previous month. Nevertheless, Hormisdas would continue to send half his pay home during his service.
England
From Halifax per SS CANADA 3 March 1917, later arriving in England on 14 March 1917.
Private Hormisdas Haynes transferred from No. 4 Company, 150th Battalion to 178th Battalion, 17 March 1917. On 19 March 1917, T.o.S. by the 10th Reserve Battalion.
10th Reserve Battalion
Organized at Shoreham on 4 January 1917 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Henri Joseph Marie Romeo DesRosiers. Formed by absorbing 69th and 163rd Battalions, later absorbed 178th Battalion on 15 March 1917 and 258th Battalion on 17 October 1917. Reinforced 22nd and 150th Battalions, the latter absorbed later in February 1918 after the disbandment of the 5th Division. Absorbed by 20th Canadian Reserve Battalion on 28 March 1918 but re-constituted at Bramshott on 8 April 1918., and moved to Ripon on 9 February 1919. Finally, returned to Canada 24 June 1919, and disbanded on 2 July 1919.
France
S.o.S. to the 22nd Battalion on 25 August 1917, arriving in France two days later.
22nd Battalion Lineage
This regiment originates on 4 June 1869 and incorporates both Regular and Reserve Force components. The Royal 22e Régiment originated in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec on 7 November 1914, when the 22nd (French Canadian) Battalion, CEF authorized to be formed. Redesignated: 22nd (French Canadian) “Overseas” Battalion, CEF on 7 June 1915, 22nd Regiment later on 1 April 1920.
Royal 22nd Regiment on 1 June 1921 and Royal 22e Régiment later on 15 June 1928. Then, on 1 September 1954, amalgamated with Le Régiment de Châteauguay, retaining the same designation. Finally, on 2 February 1956, amalgamated with Le Régiment de St Hyacinthe, retaining the same designation.
Private Hormisdas Haynes joined his unit on 31 August 1917, with Lt Rene Cosme Joseph De Satge and 40 Other Ranks. The battalion currently training at Petit-Servins.
On 14 September 1917, Lt-Col Tremblay assumes temporary command of the 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade, while Major Dubuc assumes temporary command of the 22nd Battalion. The following day marked the 1st anniversary of the 22nd Battalion in France. Hormisdas enters the trenches for the first time on 21 September 1917, near Villers-au-Bois.
Military Medal
On the night of 7/8 November 1917, the battalion relieved the 6th Canadian Infantry Brigade in the Passchendaele front line sector, and in turn relieved by 18th and 20th Battalions on 8/9 November 1917. By 16 November 1917, the 22nd Battalion once again returned to the Vimy Sector. Unknown, but likely Hormisdas did not earn the Military Medal during the Battle of Passchendaele.
Honoury Captain G E R Crochetiere
On 2 April 1918, just after dawn, Honoury Captain G E R Crochetiere instantly killed by shell. Greatly loved by all ranks, the battalion’s Chaplain buried in Bailleulmont on 4 April 1918. Major J A Fortier MC officiated.
Hormisdas sentenced to 14 days F.P. No.1, 27 April 1918, for when on active service: neglecting to obey an order given by a superior officer (NC) 22 April 1918 (deducted $15.40 in pay). Private Haynes yet to earn the Military Medal as he is still referenced as Private Hormidas Hayiens.
Pte. Léopold Delisle
At 04:24 on 21 May 1918 Pte. Léopold Delisle of the 22nd Battalion executed by firing squad. His remains located in Bellacourt Military Cemetery, Plot II, Row J, Grave 6.
Raid of 27/28 May 1918
The first of two opportunities for Pte Haynes to earn the Military Medal came on the night of 27/28 May 1918. Many messages of congratulations received from military leaders immediately following the raid, including the Canadian Corps Commander, General Sir Julian Byng.
Battle of Amiens
If Pte Haynes had not earned his Military Medal in May 1918, then likely he earned it during the Battle of Amiens.
Military Medal
Unlike the Bar to the Military Medal, the initial awarding of his MM certainly not posthumous.
Battalion attacked enemy positions east of Cherisy on 28 August 1918. Major G.P. Vanier wounded, and 22 Other Ranks killed, including Private Hormisdas Haynes.
Second Battle of Arras
Bar to Military Medal
Bar to MM awarded posthumously to Private Hormisdas Haynes, London Gazette No. 31173 (13 September 1918).
Very likely, Hormisdas earned the Bar to the Military Medal on the day of his death, 26 August 1918, during the Second Battle of Arras.
Quebec Cemetery
Cherisy a village and commune in the Department of the Pas-de-Calais, a little South of the straight main road (D939) from Arras to Cambrai. Take the D38 from Cherisy to Hendecourt. Then, approximately 2 kilometres from Cherisy turn left just before Sun Quarry Cemetery onto a dirt track. Finally, continue for 1 kilometre before turning left to arrive at Quebec Cemetery.
Cherisy village captured by the 18th Division on 3 May 1917, but lost the same night. Remained in German hands until retaken by the Canadian Corps on 27 August 1918. Quebec Cemetery made by fighting units and those buried there, mainly men of the 22nd and 24th Battalions Canadian Infantry (both from Quebec), killed between 26 August and 28 September 1918. Quebec Cemetery contains 195 Great War burials, 12 of them unidentified. The cemetery designed by G H Goldsmith.
Pension of $480 per annum granted to his wife effective 1 October 1918.
Strangely, Private Hormisdas Haynes MM & Bar not commemorated at the Canadian Virtual War Museum, but Hormidas Hayiens commemorated in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa every 13th of September.
Mystery
Why are the two heroic actions of Private Hormisdas Haynes MM & Bar unknown today? The problem lies with the adjutant(s) of the 22nd Battalion. Simply, the adjutant of the 22nd Battalion rarely mentioned awarding of medals. Normally, the family of the soldier is sent the citation for the medal. If this is the case for Hormisdas, some living relative may have the correspondence. Hopefully, they will may see this post, and contact CEFRG.
Why is Private Hormisdas Haynes MM & Bar unknown today? Indeed. A group known as Les Soldats du Québec Morts en Service hope to rectify this issue.
Unfortunately, the soldiers who died in the First and Second World Wars received little recognition in Quebec. Thus, many of these heroes are illustrious unknowns. With the desire to pay them tribute, Paul-Émile Richard and Josée Tétreault combined their skills and expertise to build this database.
We determine Quebec soldiers as: any person (male or female) born in Quebec or living in Quebec at the time of their enlistment, or who are buried in Quebec.
In addition to honoring the memory of our deceased, this database is intended to serve as a tool for genealogical research. Bearing in mind that the graves of soldiers buried overseas do not appear in Quebec’s civil registers, it is sometimes difficult to retrace the relatives we lost in these conflicts.
https://devoirdememoires.ca/