4 The South Marysburgh Mirror Back Stories A Tribute to Dr. J. Howard Walmsley by Bill Cowan Sally (Cowan) recently a(cid:425)ended her 50th anniversary reunion at Queen's University, and while there went on a tour of the Museum Of Health Care. Among other ar(cid:415)- facts, she noted a military uniform worn by a young Queen's graduate of 1914, who on receiving his medical degree, went off to serve his country in the first Great War. Captain Dr. J. Howard Walmsley was serious- in that ly wounded conflict. His injury oc- curred while serving in Belgium at Casualty Sta(cid:415)on, Poperingue. Prior to that he served in France as a surgeon in the Canadian Army medical corps. Sta(cid:415)on Poperingue was de- stroyed by an aerial bombardment in May 1918. Dr. Walmsley was wounded in that bombing, his le(cid:332) arm being seriously injured. Following hospitaliza(cid:415)on in Eng- land he returned to duty as senior medical officer to the Canadian Ar(cid:415)llery's hospital at Witly, Surrey. In 1919, a(cid:332)er the war ended, he along with a doctor friend served as surgeons at the Lady Minto Hospital in Cochrane. Dr. Walmsley returned to Prince Edward County in 1920 to prac(cid:415)ce medicine. He became a devoted Doc- tor, beloved by his pa(cid:415)ents, family, friends and neigh- bours. The stories are s(cid:415)ll told of this great man and his service to this community. I will recite a few in this trib- ute. Howard was the son of the late James (Jim) Walmsley and his wife, Florence Davis. Born in October 1890, his mother passed away in 1892, leaving Howard to be reared by his paternal grandparents, Mr. & Mrs. Samuel Walmsley on the "Centennial" farm in Athol Township. The part of Athol where the Walmsley's resided was se(cid:425)led by the Irish in the early 1800s. Also residing nearby were the Sco(cid:425)s, the Reids, the Slavens, the John- sons, the Gilmores, the McKibbons, the Vaughens, the McCaws, the Crawfords, the Walkers and the Mar(cid:415)ns to name a few. His great grandfather, James Walmsley, came over from Belfast in 1815. Dr. Walmsley's father married Annie Creegan, and Howard lived with them in Picton prac(cid:415)cing medicine from their home. He passed away December 27th, 1969. We would like to thank you all for your ongoing support and patronage. We are closed for the season after Christmas. Have a wonderful winter and we will see you when the sap flows. With warmest wishes and regards, Karol & Steve Now for a story: My friends, George and Howard Bellwood, were born and grew up on a farm on Waupoos Island. In the 1920s & '30s, the island was a remote, difficult-to-get-to place, and in the winter the road to it was over the ice. The Bellwoods, Tom & Mary, farmed on the east end of the Island. Mary Bellwood became very sick and Dr. Walmsley was sent for. He travelled over the ice driving his horse and cu(cid:425)er. Doctors worked much differently in those days. There was no OHIP then and o(cid:332)en they were paid with such items as apples, pork & beef, maple syrup, etc. Making house calls was a way of life. Dr. Walmsley stayed with looking a(cid:332)er Mrs. the Bellwoods for two weeks Bellwood. George and Howard recall this event as a very scary (cid:415)me in their life. Mary's health deteriorated and Dr. Walmsley said that she had to be taken to the hospital on Hill Street in Picton. Of course there was no ambulance service to the island so the good doctor packed her up in his cu(cid:425)er and set off across the ice to the mainland. It was spring and the ice was ge(cid:427)ng so(cid:332). Sure enough, as they neared the shore, the horse and cu(cid:425)er, and the doctor and Mary went through the ice, under the water. Dr. Walmsley could stand on the bo(cid:425)om and was able to carry Mary Bellwood in his arms to shore. She was in the Picton hospital for 11 months, recovered and lived a long life. Thomas and Mary Bellwood are buried in St. Johns Anglican church cemetery in Waupoos. They were loyal members of St. John's Anglican Church. They are many other such stories however (cid:415)me and space do not allow. Dr. Walmsley and wife, Marian Creeggan, had four children - Kathleen, Jim, Tommy and our very own Elizabeth (Walmsley) Robb. Marian Creeggan's brother, Jack Creeggan, was the seventh Bishop of the Diocese of Ontario. Elizabeth's grandfather, the Reverend A. H. Creeggan, was the Rector of The Parish of Marysburgh from 1894 - 1900. Her aunt, Isabel Creeggan, was our Choir director at St. Philip's for many years. She married the Reverend Ed Downey, an honourable assistant at St. Philips. He was the former Dean of Christ Church Cathedral in O(cid:425)awa. Dr. Walmsley and his family were members of St. Philips when living in Athol Township. This great Chris(cid:415)an man's legacy was his devo(cid:415)on to his country, his pa(cid:415)ents and his family. Men like Dr. J. Howard Walmsley come along once in a very long (cid:415)me.