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April 18th, 2021

4/18/2021

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My last entry in this space told you about the creation of the very first Nurse's Corps in the US Army. While stating that this  group of distinguished nurses amounted to 30 members, I missed noting that at least four were from Canada.

Beatrice MacDonald's rise within the corps was mentioned and her heroic service would be recognized be being a recipient of the Distinguished Service Cross. One medal down from the Medal of Honor. Details of her story have appeared  in past blogs in this space.

Not only being a recipient, she would be the first woman, and in fact THE FIRST OF EITHER SEX to be so awarded in the US Army.
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This image is of the 1918 army's Distinguished Service Cross.

MacDonald's services no doubt went on to serve as a paving stone for others to follow. Trails of their own footprints left in a history typically overwhelming by their male counterparts. Trails for all to follow across the US and Canada and elsewhere as well.

Four of these "followers" led equally important trails within the US Navy. These four would be the first...and only female recipients... ever to be awarded the US Navy's... Navy Cross. This is equivelent  to the DSC, but one created for the navy, and again just one medal down from the Medal of Honor.
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This image is of the navy's  Navy Cross

I have mentioned in the past that there were only 4 Navy nurses who earned this highly coveted award. Much has been written in this space about the recipients, three of whom died while falling to the deadly  epidemic of 1918, and whist performing care for their inflicted patients.

One of these three, I have just discovered was another Canadian woman, named Miss Lilian Mary (Louise?) Murphy from St. Catharines Ontario. She was only 31 years old when she succumbed to the epidemic, having served only 9 months in the service before losing her life. 

The sole survivor of the four NC recipients was Mrs. Lenah S Higbee, oft noted in this space, the 2nd ever Superintendant of the US Navy Nurse Corps. She was born in Chatham New Brunswick.

Nurse Higbee would become the first women living, and the first woman ever in the US Navy to be awarded their Navy Cross. Over 6000 NC's have been awarded, yet only 4, to the above nurses.

In the south east corner of the state of Mississippi there is a place called Pajcagoula, and located there are the famous shipyards of Ingalls Industries. Back in 1945 they built a war ship and christened it with the name  USS Higbee in honour of Superintendant Higbee.

The same shipyard is now building a second vessel in honour of this Canadian nurse and hope to launch it in about 2024, with the name... USS Lenah H Sutcliffe Bigbee.

Past blogs have told you about other ships in the US military in honor of Medal of Honor recipients  like Douglas Munro, and James Stoddard.

In a few years time we are supposed to see the launching of a Canadian war ship honouring Nova Scotia's William Hall, VC, Canada's third ever Victoria Cross recipient and our first and only VC recipient of colour.

On that note I shall close for today but state that the next blog will finish off two stories regarding folks of colour being... or not being... properly recognized during our recent Black History Month across Canada.

Please join me a week from today.

Bart
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new info arriving

4/11/2021

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I have not yet confirmed a few news pieces of info re recent blog materials.The details should be sorted out by next Sunday. So today's blog will be delayed till next Sunday. 

Hope you understand,  and will join me then,
Bart
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Is She a He...Part ll

4/5/2021

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Since my return to this space several weeks ago, I began by sharing upsetting news spewed out by an American  TV talk show host, regarding female members of the US military.  I followed up with a blog about last month being both Medal of Honor Month, the how's and why's of it's creation, and Women's History Month in the US. (Canada's WHM is celebrated in October.) If you missed these stories please have a look at them after reading today's blog.

Next week I expect to again fall backward to bring news not yet covered about Black History Month in February. As I see it,  Canada gets a failing grade for almost a  complete failure in  recognizing one of our own Black history heroes during that month. Despite his being oft noted in earlier blogs here.

But today let's take a train ride back to the US deep south and stop off in Georgia, the very state who's lawmakers are taking the lead of so many others states in the midst of doing their  best to restrict the vote of the Blacks.

Next Monday marks the 158th birthday.. to the day.. that events took place leading to the creation of the Medal of Honor.

Congress's first presentation of six medals would later be presented to the first group of the famous Andrews Raiders who captured a train and rode off into history. It's youngest member, Jacob Parrott, would be presented with the first ever actual Medal of Honor for his deeds, (though others with earlier deeds would also later receive the medal.) The story of the Raiders has appeared in this space in the past.

In the early days of the US Civil War, things were going bad for the North's Union army and navy. One of the ways to boost army moral was thought to be the creating of the  MOH. In Feb 1862 Senator Wilson introduced a resolution that the medal be created  and awarded to the MEN of the army. In June of that year the entire senate introduced a resolution that the medal be presented to selected ENLISTED MEN of the army. In July President Lincoln extended the  prerequisites to include  officers.

Clearly, the legislation of those early days called for awards for men, but I can find no evidence stating that these medals could also be awarded to women.  Taking Mary Walker's case aside. She was promised the MOH by Lincoln, but then he was assassinated. It fell on President Andrew Johnson who awarded it on November 11 1865. 

Yet another reason for some thought on November 11th each year.

From the medal's very beginning to this week, over 3,550 medals have been awarded. (These numbers do not include over 1,000 illegally purged medals. )

All but one went to men!

Is it possible that many  qualified cases were overlooked because of the wording of the legislation? Did such wording give further excuse to the men of the day to preclude women from getting this most coveted award?

This concept also applied to other medals. Have a look at this...
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The Distinguished Service  Cross is a military medal for heroism and is the second highest medal in service in the army, the first of course being the Medal of Honor.

This is a WW l certificate which accompanied the actual medal being awarded. There were over 6,300 of these certificates and  accompanying medals awarded during the Great War. The above, and 25 others were quite unique. The 26 out of 6,300 plus... went to women. Not one of these women's actions, we are to assume, had been heroic enough to be awarded the Medal of Honor.

We sometimes hear the cute phrase that Heroism Knows No Gender. But the numbers seems to suggest otherwise !

During the war some 5 million men were mobalized  for US military service.

At the same time over 9 MILLION WOMEN mobalized themselves for service!
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General Pershing awarded the DSC, with above certificate to Nurse Jane Jeffree, shown above, proudly wearing her medal. Badly wounded from a German air raid in France, Jeffree ignored her terrible wounds and pain and disregarding personal security, continued to aid  the wounded.

Her above document is most interesting. While one of the 26 female recipients of the DCS in WW l  her's was no doubt the same as the other 25. While difficult to see, the second line has the usual notation of male gender with the word...himself. It is scratched out and substituted with the word...herself.

At line five the words... his gallant....are replaced by...her gallant... and at line 6 the words awarded him, are altered to read awarded her.

Here is an unaltered certificate for a male recipient in the same war.  Note the signature variations in the two documents shown here. Suggesting that in some cases the Commander in Chief may have actually signed the document in person.
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Beatrice MacDonald from PEI was in the very first ever group of less than 30 selected to start up the US Army's Nursing Corps. She would serve 2 terms in France, where she was head nurse. Her hospital was well signed with a cross some 40 ft. high and  30 across. During the Battle of Ypres she and her staff felt well protected due to the signage, and even though only about 3 miles from the front lines.

But the Germans bombed the hospital anyway. There were many deaths. She would fall to what many thought was her death. But she survived, losing an eye from the shrapnel.

By war's end she would be awarded the DSC, received a Mention in Dispatches by General Haig,  would get the Croix de Guerre, the Royal Red Cross, the Military Medal and would become the very first service member in the United States to be awarded the Purple Heart. Her DSC was also the first time ever in the US that the medal was awarded.  Much has been written about her on this site.

Before she could be awarded the DSC, officials realized that the wording on the document needed to be changed like the one shown above. It paved the way for the rest of the female recipients.
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While the two above news items note  this hero's being the first woman to be decorated with the DSC, they both  failed to mention it was also the first  OF EITHER SEX to be so awarded. Also worthy of note, the Ottawa paper, Ottawa being the Capital city of Canada, ought to have realized and told its readers that this hero was A CANADIAN from PEI.
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Here we see Secretary of War Baker presenting MacDonald with the  Distinguished Service Cross.

For the next 20 years or more, one must wonder how many others women qualified for this and other medals. Decisions to deny perhaps based on  male oriented wordings, rather than heroism.

But in 1943, if not earlier, things saw a change.
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Drop down to the 3rd last line and note that when legislation uses the male term, it also MAY also refer to the kinder sex.

There is still more to come...  but I shall leave that until this Sunday,

cheers,
Bart
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Is She A He?

3/28/2021

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Jacob Parrott was only 17 back in 1862 when he and 20 other volunteers were tasked to go into enemy territory during the US Civil War and capture a train.

The group, becoming known as Andrews Raiders, were given the job to cut telegraph lines,  destroy rail track behind them and proceed through enemy territory in Georgia to friendly territory. They were also to burn important bridges en-route.

Success would mean a possibly quick end to the war. But they were captured and tortured before final release, as told in earlier blogs in this space.

He and five others would make their way to DC and tell of their horrible ordeals. The six, Parrott being the first, would  be the first of most in the group and, over the years 3,500 plus to receive the Medal of Honor over its  158 year history.

The six would be personally  presented with actual medals by the Secretary of War and then led up the street to meet  and have a brief chat with Abraham Lincoln.

That day was 25 March 1863.
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This is an army type of the CW era Medals of Honor, is held at West Point and said to be Parrott's actual medal. It might be a possible duplicate.

Several years ago I made contact with family who claim they had the original and sent along this wonderful image of it's reverse. It is shown with Jacob probably in his early 20's.
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Over the years several, but not all  of the US states have celebrated Andrews Raiders and the Medal on what was termed Medal of Honor Day.

Finally, in 1991 President Herbert W Bush signed a proclamation setting the date in stone as one to remember, celebrate  give honor to all those who have bestowed with the medal since its inception in 1863. 

Here  is his proclamation of 30 years ago....
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A few days back... on the 24th a US TV station carried a story on its website with regards to this important event. In highlighting the accomplishments of the Medal of Honor men of its state, that being Michigan.

It noted that it had 110 recipients with connection to the state, and then listed each with brief details about their citations. This was a wonderful action on their part to highlight those brave soles. It however missed # 111.

That hero was Canadian sailor James Stoddard from Ontario. He had enlisted with the US Navy for one year and was assigned  to serve on the USS Marmora. (shown below)
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Within 6 months of enlisted, Stoddard found himself serving on the  the 207 ton stern wheeler assigned to  drive the Confederates back from taking over Yazoo City, Mississippi.  In order to do so he and a handful of other sailors  had to fasten their  riffled howitzer onto a field carriage and  bring it into action against a far greater enemy force. They had succeeded in driving them off but not until their gun was silenced and they had to resort to hand to hand combat.

When all was said and done the enemy retreated. Stoddard and two others where later awarded the Medal of Honor for their heroism. In addition he was promoted from the rank of Seaman to that of Acting Master's Mate.

His story should have appeared in the above mentioned media story, but it was missing.

But the military and government still remembered him!

In the mid 1940's James Stoddard's heroism was remembered and in so doing the ship USS Stoddard was launched. (image below)  The vessel with a crew of over 300, would serve in WW11 and Vietnam and in both wars would itself be awarded three battle stars for its incredible performance in those wars.
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This story continues on Sunday April 4th.

Please join me then.
Bart
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I'm Back!

3/20/2021

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Over the past 8 years I have been honoured and privileged to share with you some of Canada's unique history. More to the point, incredibly important stories that have, for so long been forgotten, or worse yet, never known.

Close to 550 blogs in this space told you part of the history of Canadians, or those with connections to Canada that wore the uniform of the United States and went on to earn the Medal of Honor. This being the highest medal the President can award to the brave soldiers and sailors, airman and marines, and coast guard men and women for their service. Duties that in the earliest days often did not need to be in the face of the enemy, but later requiring more strict scrutiny and mostly bravery in the face of the enemy.

Over this stretch of some  92 months I also shared with you many stories of Victoria Cross recipients and ventured off into other stories of military importance to one of or both Canada and the US. In addition many a story appeared in this space regarding women's history, often with connections to those in uniform.

While these blogs cover more weeks since, than there are days in the year, the research  began before 2000.

It has taken its toll on me and culminating with  a partial rest and missed blogs for the past three months.

But I am now back to continue doing my part in filling this void in our shared heritage.

While very much on my mind, Black History Month both in Canada and the US got no coverage in this space last month. Sadly some of the Black History stories appearing here previously, apparently got NO COVERAGE what so-ever by the Canadian press in this year. ( But more on that in the next 2 blogs.)

Professional historians (of which I am not,) will recall that a few days ago, but many a year long gone, some 60 conspirators chose to kill their leader. He was a general, but history has us recalling him as being the Emperor of Rome.

It was on the 15th of March that the plan was set in motion and Emperor Julius Caesar was stabbed to death. He had been warned earlier of being careful as harm would come to him by the 15th. And indeed it was. This was back in 44 B.C.

Rather than taking care, he was slaughtered by his enemies... fellow politicians if you will.

History's famous line to...Beware of the Ides of March, could have come yet again, but this time in North  America. Just change the date to read January 6th. And reverse the offender and victim roles.

Thankfully that mission failed!

On a more positive note, the 17th of this month marked the death of Ireland's Saint Patrick. A fitting note in this space, as the Irish have been often mentioned in past blogs. While there are some 3,550 US Medal of Honor recipients (not including the illegal purge numbers of over 1,000,) over 250 of these went to Irish heroes. While recipients came from about 50 countries, the Irish  receives the highest foreign born numbers. Of about 700 of these foreign born men, Canada's numbers at about 120, were the 3rd highest of all of these countries.

On another March date, well documented in past blogs, the 25th marks Medal of Honor Day in the United States.

A few weeks earlier, on the 8th, men and women around the world should have given some serious thought to what has become International Women's Day.

Sadly, the following day a US TV host made incredibly derogatory remarks about women in the Forces. He of course probably knew nothing about the women who DIED on the grounds at Gettysburg, the women that took to the guns when their husbands were killed during the Revolutionary War, and were no doubt killed in every war the Americans fought in probably since.

His remarks zeroed  in on pregnant soldiers who continued to serve their country, many in the face of the enemy I suspect. And some probably lost their lives in this service.
I guess they couldn't afford fake doctor reports about foot spurs.

It is unknown if his diatribe was against all female members, those being pregnant of those soon to be mothers in actual combat missions.  Regardless, his remark was that it makes 'a mockery of the US military'.

And we should assume his insight was based on his profound BOOTS ON THE GROUND experience.
 OOOOPS!

It appears that he has never served in the military.

All this of course happening in March. Women's History Month in the United States.

I will continue with these thoughts on Sunday the 28th.
Please join me then.

Bart













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On Day One...

12/14/2020

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I have just spent about 6 hours writing a portion of today's blog. Weebly just killed all of it. This has  happened dozens of times in the past and I am not in the mood to recreate this again today.

I will return after Xmas....

Hope all have a great celebration and use your masks till we meet again
Bart
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unexpected delays

12/13/2020

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Verifying a few details is taking longer than expected..but the blog will appear tomorrow.

Please join me then for an important revelation.
thanks,
Bart
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Our Duty to Remember... Part II

11/29/2020

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For far too many Canadians, and probably some from around the word, we see that Remembrance Day has passed for yet another year and we can move on until the next one rolls around.

But perhaps we should remember who it is that allows us to enjoy that day in the first place. In fact... to enjoy all days!

In my case both, my parents served in WWII. Each has told me and my siblings many stories of the years they spent away from home in service to our country and the free world.

We have also been told the story of a relative that was tied to a tree and used  by the enemy for bayonet practice, a matter confirmed by the Red Cross years later. Perhaps we can remember our grandfather who was buried alive in a shell crater, and dug up in time. That, either before or after having five of six horses shot out from under him and eventually managing to come home with the Military Medal pinned to his chest.

Another relative in WWII would show his bravery by standing up and motivated his men to follow him through heavy enemy fire. He came home with a Victoria Cross pinned to his chest.

As I step out of my front door I am reminded of all the WWI  men and women who never got the chance to come home again as I walk or drive along Shelbourne Street... the Memorial Avenue lined with trees on either side. The plan to have one tree per member lost fell aside for many reasons, but of late a plan evolves to have more  planted, and even massive gates at either end.

While not facing the enemy myself, many of my students have. One would lose a husband and a father. A decades long military friend was assigned to lead a patrol, but in the last minute, plans were changed to allow another officer to take the lead that day. It was his last.

Each of us has our own ways to remember. This blog, starting its 9th year in two weeks helps Canadians, Americans and others elsewhere to remember by reading about those that have gone before us. Those in particular that have  come home with the highest medals one could earn in both Canada and the United States. Many had fallen and their medals arrived by mail or presentations back home to family.

Almost 550 stories have appeared hear to help you and I to keep these men and women in our minds as we remember  them not just on November 11th... but on all our days.

Last week's blog gave an update on the Remembrance Illuminated 2020 showing of over 100 paintings of WW11 by some 50 or more official Canadian war artists.

That show took place on the 9th 10th and 11th of November. The later being a busy day for me.

For the 15th year, (less one due to illness,) I attended and paid my respects at the grave to the late Rowland Bourke of Victoria. Several members of the HMCS Malahat, the  local Naval Reserve unit also attended and held a brief ceremony. It was their 7th year attending  and the numbers  were a little lower than usual. This due to the dreaded  Covid-19 affecting millions around the world.
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For those that are new to the blog, Rowland Bourke has been written about  often in this space.

English born, but raised in northern BC, a terrible accident happened while clearing the  land. A cousin was lost in the blast and he lost an eye.

Then the Great War began. He tried to enlist but the army and navy and air force all declined him in Canada because of his loss of site in one eye. Not to be defeated, he sold his land, donated a considerable amount of the proceeds to the local community to help look after returning injured troops and left for greener pastures. So he thought!

But then the Americans in all three services also declined him. So he then paid his own way to England and tried a third time. Getting the same result he persisted and persisted and persisted and the Naval  Reserves finally gave in and took him on.

They'd planned on keeping him well  out of harm's way and chuckled as his fellow officers would joke about him driving boats into... instead of along side the  docks. But soon the planned invasion came and he was allowed to tag along... as long as he stayed way back from the action.

But for Rowland Bourke it was a start!

If you drive through the Channel Tunnel traveling between England and France, one of the exits is at Calais. Turning left and traveling about 100 km northbound along the coast line you come to a place called Ostend. Traveling about another 25 kms you arrive at a harbour called Zeebrouge. Both of these ports are at an entrance to a canal that travels inland about 25 kms to Brugge.
During WWII the Germans used these waterways as graving docks for servicing and supplying their submarines.

If the Allies could destroy the two ports they could neutralize the submarines from exiting, and thus the British attacked both with the hopes of scuttling vessels and blocking access in and out of each.
But the Allied intelligence got the enemy strength wrong, and with the tides and weather not cooperating, the attacks at both harbours were disastrous. Conditions for the Brits turned so bad that most of their ships were destroyed. And then they recalled the tag along fellow.

His name was Rowland Bourke!
At Zeebrugge in April 1918, Lt Rowland Bourke  moved to the front of the line to rescue sailors from certain death by enemy fire or drowning. His crew managed to save 38 men from this fate. He would later be awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) by HRH King George V.
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 The DSO is just one medal lower than the Victoria Cross, the highest medal for bravery in the British Empire. Here we see the front, at left, and back of the DSO.

Less than two weeks later a similar mess occurred when the British attacked the Ostend Harbour.  This time Bourke made repeated trips in to look for survivors in the water. He would hear a call for help and look for the fellow and head off, only to return several more times and eventually, after several men were saved, he withdrew and carrying some 55 shots into his hull from the enemy. He lost 2 of his crew on that day.

Once again HRH King George V would reward Rowland Bourke with a medal. This time it was the Victoria Cross.

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Here is the naval Victoria Cross. It is the same as the VC for other services with the exception of having a blue ribband above the suspended medal. At about the time of his latest award all blue ribbons were disbanded and from then till today all are the same red colour.

This is the man who lies at rest with his wife in Victoria at the Royal Oak Burial Grounds. And it was here that I made my first stop on November 11th.


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The first of the two images above shows me visiting the grave on Remembrance Day many years ago. The marker at that time was the flat marker shown here. Hard to see but in my left hand is a poppy about to be placed on the marker.

Seven years ago several groups and folks organized the arranging of a new marker at the grave site. In the lower picture we see myself and behind me is the Belgium Ambassador to Canada at the time, the honorable Bruno Van Der Plyme. To his left is the former Commander of Maritime Pacific, Rear Admiral William Truelove.

Years later the Rear Admiral was posted to the Canadian Embassy at Washington, and from there was most instrumental in assisting with several US cases I was working on. One on point was the unveiling of a new marker in the DC area for a Nova Scotia colored  man and recipient of the US Medal of Honor. His name was Joseph Noil and has been oft noted in this space.

He had been buried under the wrong name for about 130 years till I and many others joined efforts to solve that puzzle.

The young fellow I was shaking hands with is Shane Jones of Victoria. one of Rowland Bourke's descendants.
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These four pictures were taken bu a local photographer by the name of David Cox. He also attended the Remembrance Illuminated 2020 showing and  has attended several such events in the local area and developed a following of those who like his professionalism, and profound interest in the military.

At above left I am placing a poppy  and to the right is Commander Miller of HMCS Malahat also placing a poppy and wreath.

Commander Miller reminded me that when he was taking his Basic Officer training at Albert Head I was an army Sergeant Major and one of his instructors that very year. 

Ironically it was another Commander years earlier that assisted in the unveiling  the new VC marker 7 years ago. And that Commander was a seaman on "goffer" staff at Albert Head when I was on the first or 2nd of five years as a Sergeant Major and instructor there. He rose in rank from a goffer to its commander.

In his first appearance at the grave he made a commitment, at my request, to have his unit adopt the grave with plans for these annual visits and ceremonies.

Each commander since has followed with this new tradition.

In the last picture we see Shane 7 years and a few feet taller. He stands with his mother Judy and husband Jason, who payed an instrumental role in the original planning of the new marker and its unveiling.

Having lost a lot of weight, my clothes sure look like they need replacing. But never the less that is me proudly looking  on.

I shall return to this space on December 13th

Hope you will join me then.

Bart




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Our Duty to Remember...

11/22/2020

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It was probably back in the late 1950's when  some of the kids in our family accompanied our father, proudly wearing his WWll medals and legion crest as he set off to his designated space. He was of course selling poppies in the days before November 11th. It would not be long before I and other siblings were asked to hold onto the trays that slung around our necks and actually work the beat selling poppies for several days for the legion, and our nation.

Embarrassingly, I have to admit that some of us also enjoyed to odd nickel or dime that failed to make it into the pot, probably with our help.

Over the years we would some times even see our Dad, marching with other WWII vets. As the years passed he would join others in the back of military trucks in the procession and giving friendly waves to those thousands gathered to be part of the day. Like Dad, I too would march with the Toronto Scottish for years behind their famous Pipes and Drums as we proudly marched along Young Street or Avenue Rd or University Avenue in Toronto. (memory fails on locations)

Years later I would be living in BC and yet again, in November would attend parades in Sydney and see my father either marching or, in later years riding in army trucks with his companions from the local Army and Navy or Royal Canadian Legion, he being a long time member of both.

The duty for me to remember was pounded into my head by  parents who were both WWII veterans. Dad even for about 2 decades after the war. So, from the mid 50's to this year, on just about every Remembrance Day I have been out in support and to give thanks to those who served or continue to serve. Be it at the war front or the home front.

Two blogs ago in this space I brought you the story about a celebration during Remembrance Week of those who served. By using lights and technology, well over 100 images where projected outdoors, telling us the story of the war. And in so doing also remind the audience that it was the 80th anniversary of the end of the first year of that terrible conflict.

The slides shown were not just a bunch of pictures. The images were of 50 or more actual official Canadian War Artists and well over 100 or their historic paintings. Each told stories we have a duty to remember... all year round!

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Here again is the front cover of the program that brought these wonderful images to the community  on November 9th-11th in Victoria, BC.

It was produced by Christ Church Cathedral and the Canadian Scottish Regimental Association. Both having a very long tradition of supporting the community they so proudly serve.

While the logos above are difficult to see, they  represent agencies that  have supported this and so many other causes. They represent Veterans Affairs Canada, The Royal Canadian Legion,  United Rentals, Shoestring Filmworks, Kobalt Systems, Alaris Design, local artist Robert Amos, the Pacific Coast Branch of the Western Front Association, and the Royal United Services Institute of Vancouver Island.

For the three days, each night over 100 images were shown in about a 25 minute span, and shown again and again for several hours. The Cathedral sits on the traditional territory of the Lenkwungen-speaking people, specifically the Songhees and Esquimalt Nations.
Regular followers of this space know of my interest, not only in the military but many women's issues and in particular  those who have accomplished much on both fronts.

The earlier blog brought you  a few comments on one of the official artists... Mrs Molly Jean (Lamb) Bobak, Vancouver area born and resident for years on the east coast. During the war she was a commissioned officer and she would married another officer, who also was one of the official War Artists.

Both his and her paintings were included in the presentation here in Victoria. Local  historian John Azar, who's name has appeared many times in this space, was the Project Lead on the  Remembrance Illuminated 2020. He notes that that while clearly not advocating war,  he and others behind this project recognize that when the call to arms came, it was met. Yet they, and so many others  would be the first to say they pray for peace. But that aside, they... and we... must not fail to remember and honor those who have served and continue to serve our nation... and the world.
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Here again, I bring you an image of Lieutenant Molly Jean Bobak. And here are several of her paintings featured in the recent showing here in Victoria...
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The first is titled... Pvt Roy and the 2nd is called CWAC Cook at Work. (PVT is the short form for a Private, and the CWAC stands for the Canadian Women's Army Corps.)

And here are a few more of her paintings...
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I believe there are over 100 of her paintings and an incredible diary of paintings  almost day to day for years, held at the Library and Archives Canada.

I highly encourage you to check these out by going to...   www.bac-lac.gc.ca  and typing in ...Mary Lamb Bobak. This should lead you to not only her paintings but also a daily diary which is fascinated. It covers several years and includes her sketches on  most pages and explanations about the events of the day.

While there you can also type in my mother's maiden name Cathryne H (Blackley) Armstrong to see several of her paintings, though these are not official artist paintings.

I attended the first showing of the Remembrance Illuminated 2020 program and stood in the cold and rain throughout this most impressive production. The efforts of those involved should not go unnoticed. But a clearer night surely should have been arranged... hehe

I shall return next Sunday to give more on my Remembrance activities on November 11th this year.

Hope will join me then,

Bart


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"That man in the Coffin Might be my Daddy!"

11/10/2020

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From coast to coast to coast, Canadians and others in the millions will stop at 11 am tomorrow to honour our service members. Those who fell in service to Canada and the British Empire, be it as soldiers, sailors, airmen, coast guardsmen and women, merchant marines and others whose lost their lives in service during many wars.

Tomorrow, had the terrible Covid-19 not struck, tens of thousands would have gathered at the tomb of Canada's unknown soldier of WW l. They would have joined hands and hearts, not in celebrating any war, but to give remembrance to about  57,000 Canadians killed and another 141,000 wounded in the Great War.

This gathering traditionally takes place at Ottawa's Confederation Square, at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, but tomorrow it will probably be carried via the internet instead.

This tomb has been on the visiting agenda of  many heads of government, bureaucrats/politicians from around the world and also members of the Royal Family whilst in Ottawa. 
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Here we see the National War Memorial in Ottawa. At its base is the tomb of the Unknown Soldier adorned by poppies placed at one of the annual ceremonies.

The idea of the memorial comes from the November 1920 unveiling of the  Unknown Warrior's tomb at Westminster in London. A commitment was then made to have the same done in Canada. It only took till  2000 to see the light of day. These remains were exhumed from near Vimy and brought home to Canada in May 20 years ago.

Knowing that Canadians took past in the London ceremony I  recently did an internet search for their names.

In a rather stunning result, the first hit I came up with was from a newspaper in Pennsylvania. It was from Pottsville, about 100 miles  North West of Philadelphia.

Regular followers of this blog might remember the name of Pottsville. And it is thanks to this fellow... and my blog.

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This fellow's name was John Hanna, a Union soldier during the US Civil War. He was one of the 29 veterans  near the end of the war that were selected to serve as members of the funeral Guard for President Abraham Lincoln, and his son Todd  whilst being escorted from DC to Springfield Illinois for burial.

Each of the guard were later awarded the Medal of Honor, (an event that became part of the illegal scandal of 1917) when some 1,000 medals where  removed from the official  records. A matter often noted in these blogs in the past.

The Medal of Honor recipient was born in Atlantic Canada, as was one other guard member. He too was awarded a Medal of Honor that was later purged.  Here is a picture of the very medal  Hanna was awarded...

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His name is inscribed with the name of his unit, and the fact that the medal was awarded for his being on the funeral guard escort, and dated in April 1865.

The connections of this story to Pottsville is due to my locating his grave for his Canadian descendants. It is in Pottsville.
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NOTE: above left image seems to have eaten the first line.. that lines says....

It lay apart last night in a room especially....

Whilst hoping to get some names of the Canadians in attendance, this article did not contain any.  Another site did note that two Canadian private soldiers, one from a Canadian infantry unit, and one from a Canadian Machine Gun unit, were on the guard of honor back in France that escorted  the Unknown Soldier to the French shore on its first leg of the journey back to England.  But their names are also unknown to me so far.

Nor did the article tell of the very man who played such an instrumental role in the  creation of the memorial in London.

That man was a chaplain by the name of David Railton, MC. He was serving in his religious capacity  during the war and actually at the front lines. There he saved many wounded soldiers lives and was awarded the MC... the Military Cross... for his bravery.

While on brief respite at his billeted quarters near Armentieres France, he visited a small backyard and noted a small white wooden cross marking a grave. In a black pencil note it read...  "An Unknown British Soldier, 1916, member of the Black Watch."

After much thought and discussion  over the next few years, he finally contacted the Right Reverend Bishop Herbert Ryle, Dean of Westminster with the thoughts that this concept should be adopted and a unnamed soldier should be exhumed from a grave in France and moved to Westminster, with an appropriate ceremony to boot.

After due consideration the powers to be right up to HRH George V approved and a plan was developed and put into action as evidenced by the great news story from right here in Victoria in 1920. Here it is...
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This article gives the names of three officials from Ottawa who attended the ceremony.

Here also is a group picture of Victoria Cross recipients said to be the Honour Guard for the London Memorial....
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Discovering a list of those above, I checked and do not believe any of these recipients were Canadian soldiers.

While the original request from the padre called for the monument to be called the unknown comrade, officialdom thought it was too provoking and ought to better reflect that the remains were of an interred warrior, which in itself  reflected service in  the army and navy, marines and newly created Air Force  of the day. 

The public were advised that since the Abby space was very limited in size, any seeking entrance to see the ceremony at the Abby  had to write to request permission. 

100 women were selected who lost all of their sons, others were so selected for having lost their only son. One 13 year old girl wrote telling of the horrible loss of NINE brothers. She and the above were admitted, as was a 12 year old boy who wrote and said..."that man in the coffin might be my daddy." 

The procession, unveiling of the new Cenotaph on Whitehall and the actual coffin were shown to the select crowd on May 11th, 1920. At exactly 11 am there was the call for the two minute silence, and then, the cenotaph was first unveiled for public viewing. Then they moved into the Abby to see the actual coffin being  lowered into the grave. It lay in earth undisturbed since the Abby was first built in the  11th century.

Over 40,000 viewed the grave on the first day, and some  1.25 million would pay their respects within the next week.
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Here we see several dignitaries and guests viewing the grave, located below the Union Jack, and a painting depicting what the painter saw at the ceremony. He shows HRH King George V facing the coffin. The painting today hangs in one of the offices of the Parliament Buildings in London.
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While a temporary marker was installed over the grave in 1920, the above permanent marker was installed the following year. It is made out of black marble from Belgium. The engraving is made form melted down brass shells. 

This marker is the ONLY AREA within the Abby where visitors are forbidden to walk.

I would highly recommend you take a few minutes and google the Unknown Warrior  at Westminster and you will find at least 3 very short video clips.

They are most interesting!

I shall return to this space on November  22  and hope you will join me then.

In the mean time I would appreciate it if you could do me a favour.

Please pass this blog to your friends and neighbours.

Nowhere else in the blog world will you find blogs like these,  now well over 500 strong. You could also send a quick note to the local press to tell them of this work. Their audiences would surely appreciate  the work done here.

Thanks, and cheers till Sunday the 22nd.

Bart
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