A Remembrance Day Salute

A Remembrance Day Salute

As the years roll by and veterans of the First World War depart this earth to join their fallen comrades, the memory of soldiers’ sacrifices in that conflagration grows dim.

With that in mind, on this Remembrance Day the Cobourg Daily Star is running a special salute to the men and women of the First World War.

We print an excerpt about Vimy Ridge from Percy Climo’s book, a review of the book, and photographs from the book.

As Well, ou will find a story about the six surviving Victoria Cross winners from the two world wars, including the last of the First World War VC heroes, Charlie Rutherford of Colborne.

Vimy Ridge

The winter months of the year 1917 were cold and severe. Week by week the snow piled up and before Spring there was quite an accumulation. To add to the difficulty, fuel was in short supply and local dealers were hard pressed to keep up with the demand. Private homes, public buildings, and other places were just getting by with deliveries of fuel in small quantities. Many other palaces in Ontario fared much worse than Cobourg. It was a difficult winter season.

With the exception of the office of Deputy Reeve, the 1917 Cobourg town council was placed in office by acclamation. Mr. George Greer, a King Street businessman, was the Mayor.

The people kept up their war effort. The Canadian Army needed more and more soldiers. Recruiting for volunteers never ceased. The Sixth Draft of the Cobourg Heavy Battery was up to full strength, and the January 12th issue of the

See Vimy Ridge/ Page 6

The Cover of Percy Climo’s new book.

Photo of Private Samuel W. Angove, Cobourg, who died Sept. 3, 1916

August 6, 1914 -- Members of the Cobourg Heavy Battery march to the station down King Street in Cobourg. The men were on home defense service.

Soldiers on board-The train leaves from Cobourg heading for the war.

Third Overseas Draft—Men of the Cobourg Heavy Battery positioned in front of the Cobourg armory. These men departed for overseas March 28, 1916

Vimy Ridge

Cobourg World reports Major James McKinnon receiving volunteers for the Seventh draft By February, Major E.A. Mac- Nachton, was at the armoury re- cruiting for the 256th Railway Battalion. To qualify for this group, a man must be strong and able to do a hard day's work, in addition to passing the regular Physical standard, and age limit was set at forty-eight years.

Captain A.S. Morrison, who had been returned to Cobourg in early December, was called upon and gave a most descrip- tive lecture to a capacity audi- ence in the Cobourg Congrega- tional Church. His stories of the fighting in France and Flanders was listened to with great In- terest particularly the engage- ments with the enemy by our Canadian troops. He had been in- volved in some of the major bat- ties on the western front and was home on furlough.

The 235th Battalion of North- umberland and Durham had been in winter quarters in Belle- ville. It was being transferred to Ottawa in Early March.

The ladies of Cobourg never missed an opportunity to extend hospitality to the men in uni- form. Early in February, the I.O.D.E. tendered an oyster sup- per to the Sixth and Seventh drafts of the Cobourg Heavy Bat- tery. The meal was served in the school room of the Congregation- al Church and was followed by a musical entertainment in the sanctuary making for a most en- joyable evening.

Sixth Draft Departs for Overseas

Very suddenly, the call came for the Sixth Cobourg Heavy Bat- tery draft to entrain for an east- ern point. With only about twen- ty-tour hour's notice, the men hurriedly made ready to depart. Lieut. R.E. Davidson was the officer of this group.

As the boys marched through the main streets, en route to the depot, with the Cobourg Citizens Band playing military selec- tions, they were given a suitable ovation by the citizens who lined the streets on either side.

At the Depot, the platform was as usual packed with people. The boys had had' their last leave a short time before, and this gave those from out of town an oppor- tunity to visit their homes and say good-bye. The Women's Pat- riotic Corps provided lunch for the draft en route to their next stopping place (Halifax).

"When the train pulled in, it was noticed that an Army Ser. vice Corps from a western point occupied one of the cars. Again good-byes were said and the draft speedily entrained The Band played “O Canada,” and the National Anthem and as the train pulled out, hearty and pro- longed cheers were given for Lieut. Davidson and the men of the Sixth Heavy Battery draft."

Officers, N.C.O.'s and Men of the Sixth Draft Lieu*. R.E. Davidson, O.C., Cobourg; Sergt. R.G. Hamblyn, Bowmanville; Sergt. E. Turner, Guelph; Corp. R.N. Bucknell, Cobourg; Corp. R.O. Smith, Ottawa; Corp. J. Martin, Syra- cuse, N.Y.; Gunners: W.H. Adams, Cobourg; G.C. Auld, Warkworth; G.F. Ash, Cobourg; F.J. Burge, Cobourg; C.G.,Bonnycastle, Campbellford; C. Bak er, Cobourg, A.M. Baidwin, Coaticooke, Que.; C.R.D. Bottomly, Oshawa; F.M. Butler Rochester, N.Y.; H.J. Cava- naugh, Cobourg; J.A, Detlor, Bancroft; F. Dimler, Cobourg- C.W. Erskine, Cobourg; A.L'. Edgar, Bowmanville; A.G. Greer, Canton; H. Gorman, Cobourg; G. Gains, Newcastle- F.C. Hall, Coaticooke, Que.; L.T. Holmes, Picton; R.M. Houghtailing, Cobourg; A, Hugg. Pembroke; H.L. Hartman, Bob's Lake; J. Kemp, Peterborough; E.J. Leishman, Toronto; J.H. Lithgow, Toronto; E.J. Lane, Guelph; L.J. Lafferty, Peterbor- ough; J. McDonnell, Cobourg; N.S. McGrimmon, Oshawa; R. McGlynn, Cobourg: D. B McMannis. Grafton; E.A. Peters, Canton; J.W. Smale, Cobourg; R. Storks, New- market: G.A. Sheppard, Cobourg; W.J. Seguire, Wark- worth; J.W. Scott, Cobourg; W.R. Spear, Cobourg, G.N. Thomas, Coaticooke, Que.; S.G. Thomas, Cobourg; W.C. Thornton, .Peterborough; and Gunner Wilkinson, Coaticooke, Que

Climo relates our military history
By Lawrence F. Jones

When Percy L. Climo pub- lished his book Early Cobourg in early summer 1985, the Cobourg Daily Star described his work in these words: "Cobourg's greatest historian is at it again."

Now, 15 months later, Per- cy Climo is still "at it" and has just released the result of years of painstaking work -- Cobourg 1914-1919: A Magnificent Sacrifice, the story of this community during the First World War.

Climo relates the military history of Cobourg from the establishment of the first - Northumberland militia reg- . iment after the War of 1812 to the recruiting of combat units -- infantry and artil- lery for the most part -- dur- ing the 1914-1918 war until, their return home after the armistice of November 11, 1918.

The first unit to be mobil- ized in Cobourg on the out- break of hostilities between Britain and Germany was the Cobourg Heavy Battery.

But Canada was ill- prepared for mobilization for war and the Battery fell vic- tim to confusion and costly errors, which the author de- scribes.

However, as the country as quickly as possible put it- self on a war footing, the re- cruiting and movement of troops became more effi- cient and Climo reports no further instances of bad military management.

During the four wartime years, recruiting continued for the Cobourg Heavy Bat- tery (12 reinforcement drafts were dispatched overseas for this unit alone), the 40th Northumberland Regiment, the 14th Field Battery, and the 139th Battalion. Climo lists the names of just about every Cobourg soldier sent overseas in four years, ex- cept of the 139th, whose names were not available.

The people of Cobourg gave freely of their time. ta- lents and money to make life more comfortable for the soldiers, who had been their friends and neighbors.

Bands led the march to the railway station as each new- ly recruited formation left town, scores of townspeople lined the streets and flocked to the station to say farewell.

Percy Climo, a young boy then, was present at some of these parades, remembers them and describes them well. He has given a good picture of the times, as he knew them, and as they were presented in the news- papers of those years.

Of four Climo brothers, Percy and Sidney were too young for the army,--but Vic- tor and Cecil saw active ser- vice overseas. Percy, a na- tive of Cobourg, graduated in engineering from Queen's University, and practiced his profession widely.

He has long had an in- terest in local history and is a life member of the Cobourg and District Histor- ical Society.

He has written widely on Cobourg and Northumber- land county historical sub- jects, and now is the author of two published books and the co-author of another.

Percy is grateful that his two brothers returned safely from the battlefield (although Cecil was wound- ed), because so many laid down their lives for King and country -- 56 of them from Cobourg.

It is fitting that Climo con- cludes his latest book with these words of Laurence Bi- nyon:

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them.

Cobourg 1914-1919: A Mag- nilicent Sacrifice. By Percy L. Climo. Published by Percy L. Climo. $9.50. Available at book stores.

Only six Victoria Cross winners still alive in Canada
By Bruce Levett
The Canadian Press

p>In the blaze of noon on Oct. 25. 1854. Lieut. Alexander Robert Dunn of the 11th (Prince Albert's Own) Hussars. drew his sabre and then -- from the walk to the canter to the gallop -- charged headlong into history

Dunn was the first Canadian -- out of 93 Canadians or men serving with Cana- dian units -- to win the Victoria Cross down through the years. He won it for gallantry in the charge of the Light Bri- gade in the Crimea, nearly two years before there was a Victoria Cross.

Today, only six VC winners remain alive in this country. They likely will be the last because Canada now discour- ages the awarding of foreign decora- tions to its citizens -- and that includes Britain's highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy.

The six survivors are:

Lt.-Col. Charles Rutherford. 94 -of Colborne, Ont., the only VC left from the First world war. (?)

Each year, on Remembrance Dav, there are fewer who recall those heroes and what they did.

Dunn was born in York (now Toronto) in 1833 and studied at Upper Canada College, later going to Harrow in Eng- land. There, at 19, he joined the 11th.

The young Canadian was described as "six feet three inches in stature, a most powerful and skilful swordsman." when he was shipped to the Crimea with his unit.

At one time, every schoolboy had to learn the poem concerning how the Light Brigade--"cannon to the right of them, cannon to the left of them, cannon in front of them, volleyed and thun- dered" -- charged toward the Russian artillery as the consequence of some- body's monumental blunder.

Dunn made that ride and -- the cita- tion records -- was pounding back at a hammering gallop when he noticed a Sgt. Bentley, his horse played out, fight- ing off three Russians Dunn turned back and killed all three (?)

metal of the same Russian guns Dunn and his men had charged that bloody noon.

Originally, the medals came with a blue ribbon, a color later changed to dull crimson.

The medal itself is a Maltese cross, with the words For Valor below a ram- pantlion surmounted by a crown. On the back is inscribed the name of the reci- pient and the date of presentation,

Col. Rutherford might well have qual- ified for an acting award at the time of his exploit in the First World War.

As a young lieutenant with the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles, he became separated from his company in the re- gion of Monchy-le-Preux, France. Alone, he wandered into a crowd of Ger- mans, convinced them they were sur- rounded, and took 35 prisoners without firing a shot.

Col. Mahony, then a major, was wounded twice in 1944 defending the (?)

He was captured, escaped, and was cap- tured again.

Col. Foote, a Presbyterian minister, was a captain during the Dieppe action and he wasn't even supposed to be there, going in with the men of the Royal Hamilton Light Infantry against orders.

He carried Canadian wounded, one after another, through the surf to the departing boats and shook off hands that attempted to drag him aboard the last departing craft.

Foote went back to that fire-swept beach to comfort those wounded who had to be left behind. He went into pris- on camp with them.

Col. Tilston, then a major, was shot in the back during training and blown up when his Jeep hit a land mine in France -- and all that was before the exploit which won him his Victoria Cross.

The VC action cost him both legs. He was hit three times while leading a com- pany of Essex Scottish across 500

Victoria Cross
From page 6
Enemy with an anti-tank gun and a Thompson submachine-gun.

Few Canadians today recall how it was that Pine Street, in a quit residential neighborhood in Winnipeg, came to be renamed valor Road.

From one short block on this street three young men left for the First World War.

Only Lieut. Robert Shankland came back to display the VC he won at Passchendaele. Sgt. Frederick William Hall, VC, is buried in an unknown grave at Ypres in Belgium; Lance Sgt. Leo Clarke, VC, is buried in a churchyard near Le Havre in France.

A world war later, a similar coincidence occurred when Col. Mahony and Sgt. Smith left the same thoroughfare in New Westminster, B.C. – 5th Street – to win the ultimate medal in Italy.

Canada’s six surviving VC winners today are private men.

Some continue to show up at their local Royal Canadian Legion halls from time to time, where their privacy is closely guarded by staff and the old companions around the,

When approached for interviews, none wanted to have anything to do with raking over the past—not even such an illustrious past as theirs.