John P McVeane was born in Toronto Ontario in 1842 and after basic education was studying law when the Civil War broke out. Like thousands of other Canadians he crossed the border into New York to sign up and go off to war. He no doubt heard the earliest of calls from President Lincoln, and from him to the Governor of the state to raise 25 regiments of not more than 1,000 men strong in each, and the NEXT DAY recruits were being taken into the 2nd Buffalo regiment, better known as the 49th New York Volunteer Infantry. By day two McVeane was enlisted, and somehow with the rank of Sergeant, which suggests possible previous service there or in Canada. 

By war's end there were no less than 60 soldiers coming to that unit  from British North America (read Canada) and 6 out of 10 would be less than 21 years of age according to the incredible research done by a fellow Ontarion..Tom W. Brooks who is a well known CW researcher, especially from a Canadian prospective.

This regiment would do most honourable service in the war, and would lose a general, a full Colonel, a Lt Colonel (from Canada) and a major alone from their HQ companies.  

In short order McVeane was downgraded for unknown reasons from Sergeant to Private, and as such he participated in battles at Lewisville, Williamsburg and the Seven Days Battle in Virginia and at Crampton's Pass, Antietam and Fredericksburg in Maryland and about this time he was promoted to Corporal  in Jan of 1863. Four months later he was again promoted up to the rank of Sergeant, and probably because of his bravery at Chancellorsville.

McVeane's 49th New York were part of the Howe Brigade, shown in blue at right...and just west of Fredericksburg.  Just miles from where Scott earned His MOH and a few months earlier after Scott, in yesterday's blog.  The battle was part of the Chancellorsville Campaign and, in turn part of the overall advance on Fredericksburg. To further confuse, it is sometimes referred to Mary's Heights, as seen above.

The 49thNY  came up against the 58th Virginia in the Confederate army and under Major General Early's Brigade. It was here that a couple of companies of the Union 's 49th, with the aide of one company of the 7th Maine and a few field guns held their ground and repulsed and enemy force far superior in number. Later in the same battle, while advancing on the Confederates, Sergeant McVeane shot a color guard member and seized the colours. Still continuing  he advanced on a building and took several Southerners prisoner. By days end the North had captured upwards of 200 prisoners. For this action McVeane would later be recommended for a Medal of Honor.

McVeane's unit would march forth and be in battle at Gettysburg and Rappahannock and, probably whilst at the first he was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant. 

Then came  the fierce battle at the Wilderness where the firing was so heavy the woods caught fire and many soldiers from both sides literally burned to their deaths. It would be here that Lt John P McVeane would be shot and killed on the battlefield. While his exact birthday is still unknown, he may have died before his 22 birthday fighting the cause for a foreign country. Like thousands of other Canadians he would be laid to rest on American soil where he remains to this day.

Many years after the war a monument was raised at Gettysburg for the 49th New York Volunteer Infantry, of which at least 60 Canadians served, with one as a Colonel (who was killed in action in the war)  and with McVeanne also dying for the cause. He would be the first from Canada to do so of many of those 60.

On 21 September 1870 the President of the United States awarded a Medal of Honor posthumously to McVeane. It was mailed to his mother who promptly sent it back. She objected to the inscription which indicated his rank, at the time of the action, being that of a Sergeant. Apparently his mother would complain that she was embarrassed to show it to anyone as it should have inscribed his later rank of 2nd Lieutenant. The US government disagreed and promptly returned it noting that it was so inscribed as it reflected his rank on the date in which his bravery was being rewarded.

McVeane's Medal of Honor was the only one awarded to this 3 yr regiment of over 1,300 men.

That medal and some documents are held, at last accounting, with a serious collector in Western Canada. I have asked a number of times, and am hopeful that some day that individual will share with the world an image of this historic replica of yet another brave Canadian.

A Canadain who died one week ago today... on 10 May 1864,  99 years ago.

Bart

Alexander Scott was only 6 years old when the family left Montreal and moved south about 75 miles and stopped at Burlington Vermont to take up farming. He'd get his public school education there and become a labourer on the family farm. When the War with the South began Alex's fathered signed up with the 5th Regiment Vermont Volunteers.

As a  labourer in his youth and with his father off to war, Alex was the man of the house with 2 younger sisters, his mother and grandmother all living under the same roof. Perhaps it was difficult making ends meet when Alex finally made the choice to follow in his father's footsteps and joined up with the 10th Vermont Volunteer Infantry.  The 10th was a 3 year regiment and had just started up a month earlier when Alex signed the papers committing himself to three years of service.

Within 2 months his father would die from war wounds while in an Annapolis hospital!

Alex had yet to serve three months in the Union Army before his commanding officer recognized talent in the young soldier. He would be with the unit above Washington on the Potomac River when his bosses would approach him for a very special mission. He was soon sent off to prevent Southern sympathizers from sending signals across the Potomac near to General White's gorillas at Sugar Loaf Mountain Maryland. In fact he was event sent off to capture some of the spies. He was still a buck private at the time.

In one of his first battles... at Orange...sometimes called Locust Grove Virginia, he showed what a hero he was. When the troops got lost in the woods he became disoriented. He was on a mission to seek a doctor to bring back and help a badly wounded Sergeant. He was soon crossing open lands and taking shots from the enemy.. he continued to crawl along on his mission when it was finally discovered that it was his own side firing at him.

In Jan. of 1864 Alex was promoted to Corporal and as such was soon moved into the Colour Guard. He would be carrying the state flag at the battles of the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Tolopotoray Creek, Cold Harbour and the Weldon Railway. Carrying the unit, state of national flags was a very dangerous occupation during the Civil War. It was these fellows that had to mark out the friendly territory for their own men and leading the units into battle with their various signals. Obviously they were a very high priority target for the enemy to take out.

It would be at Monocacy Maryland that Alex would make history.  This  is just below Frederick and about 40 miles west of Baltimore and about the same North West of Washington DC. The battle would become known as the one that saved Washington. Indeed it did just that.

Hundreds of cavalry horses were killed in the battle that saw about 5,000 Union troops try to take on about 15,000 Confederates. The Union lost the battle but they won the day by holding off till more troops could arrive from DC and thus, preventing southerners from marching on to DC.

In the battle several heavy guns were taken and the union had to recapture them, they got some but then lost them, and again retook some. The battle prevented the southern advance but was still a win for them... the only Confederate win on Union soil throughout the war.

Cpl Alexander Scott was out in the front with his colours through much of the day and when a Sergeant was so exhausted, he pleaded with Scott to grab the National flag. That of course meant that he was not carrying just one  flag....  on a nine foot pole... but two. As the union troops retreated it has been documented that this fellow was amongst the very last to leave those front lines. And for that, many years later he would be awarded the Medal of Honor.

Then came the battles at Winchester and Fisher's Creek. Alex was offered a promotion to Sergeant several times and refused each claiming  that he would prefer to stay on in serving with the most honorable occupation of being in the  colour  guard.  At Fishers Creek he and another fellow would be the first over the enemy ramparts, colours in hand. That action alone often saw the soldiers get a  MOH, and perhaps Alex was due a 2nd one. (there were only 19 in the history of the medal, so say many, but in error. There were at least 21 and possibly four others. See my past blogs in this space on Charles Robinson)

Cpl Alexander Scott's war came to an end at the battle of Cedar Creek in the fall of 1864. It would be here that he again was in the lead with his flag when he took a serious cannon ball wound to his arm, which almost paralysed him. He recovered later in the day and rejoined the unit only to take another wound to the thigh. His color Sergeant at his side was shot dead, again he apparently had two flags to bring back to friendly lines and did so. 

After the battle he was hospitalized for several months only to rejoin the unit still suffering from his wounds. Not long after he was mustered out of service.

After the war his Colonel William Wirt Henry was asked to take the unit flags and present them to the Legislature in Vermont. By that time 20 men had either died or got wounded carrying those flags. Scott's blood must have been on them, with that of many other brave lads.

By 1866 Alex was living in Flint Michigan and worked in the lumbering industry and also as a deputy City Marshall. In 1868 he married. Four years later he moved to Washington DC and took up work in the Patent Office as a draughtsman. A decade or so later he was the deputy in that office.

In the 1890's His Colonel served as the Council at Quebec for the US Government. It was from Quebec, Alex's home province, that the Colonel he sat down one day and wrote up a glowing account of Alexander Scott. Then so did the former Adjutant of the regiment. And then his company commander did the same. And in 1897 Scott was mailed his Medal of Honor. He was by that time an active member of various veterans organizations including the Grand Army of the Republic. In the photo above he is proudly wearing his Medal of Honor on HIS right, and to HIS left is the GAR Membership badge.

A Washington Post article in 1905 carried a short article noting that the "United States Medal of Honor Club" was having its annual meeting in Washington at the time. listed three or four officers and then gave Alexander Scott's name with the note beside it that he was... "the President." This organization could well have been the forerunner of today's Congressional Medal of Honor Society of the United States.

In 1915 the same paper ran a story about a MOH hero that died and was being buried at Arlington. Pall Bearers came from the MOH Society to perform this final task of honor. One of these was Alexander Scott, who, according to the article had then enjoyed the rank of a Captain.

Alex died in 1923 and rests today at Arlington with about a dozen other Canadians MOH recipients, and at least another dozen Canadian service men. His second wife is buried with him.

Bart

The pages of history have yet to turn over any information on the early life of New York born Lee Nutting yet accept that he was born in October of 1837.

Enlistment records tell us that he was among the first to join the 61st New York Volunteer Infantry when it was formed  in October of 1861. He signed up for 3 years and was accepted as a private. Perhaps he had some previous service because within days he was listed as being transferred from H into A company and with the rank of Sergeant.  

The records of the 61st show that they did honorable service in numerous battles including at Manassas, the siege of Yorktown, Seven Pines, the campaign before and at Richmond, White Oak Swamp, Malvern Hill an Antietam. And at about this time Nutting's worth had been recognized with a promotion to  2nd Lieutenant.

This is one of famous CW photographer Mathew Bailey's pictures. It is of the 61st New York officers but it is unknown if Lee Nutting is in the picture. 

After the regiment fought at Antietam they continued on to Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville and then Gettysburg. At  each of these battles Canadians fought and came away with Medals of Honor from at least three of them. Nutting was wounded at Gettysburg but recovered and continued on in the war, His performance there may have been the reason why he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant, only to be followed just five months later with yet another promotion, this time to Captain. 

It would be after further battles at the Mine Run, Rapidan River and the Wilderness, that the 61st would find itself at a small unincorporated village known as Todd's Tavern in Spottsylvania Virginia.

Todd's Tavern is about 60 miles south of Washington DC and is shown above with the red marker "A".

In the aftermath of a horrible cavalry confrontation between the Union and Confederate troops the infantry had to march forth. Here the 61st were being attacked from the North and the West and then Captain Lee Nutting now leading a colour party, pushed forth in his own counter-offensive. In the charge that he led, several officers and men were wounded and killed. He continued to advance though receiving several wounds and only stopped when he dropped by yet another bullet. In later life it was revealed that that day he had his bible I his left shirt pocket, and in that bible was lodged a bullet from the battle. Had it not been there, he'd surely have been killed that day. His wounds were so bad that within a couple of weeks his war came to an end with him being released from further service.

Captain Nutting, pictured here, moved back to New York after the Civil war and by 1874 had medical conditions that required him to apply for a medical invalid pension.

In later years he became somewhat active in veterans groups, held reunions for the 61st in his own home and was one of the officers who gave a speech at the dedication to a 9 foot high memorial to his old regiment at the very spot where they fought at Gettysburg. He was also a very good friend in later life with his former commanding officer...none other than Nelson Miles, who in the early 1900's as a General would be the very head of the body of generals tasked with the great purge of over 900 Medals of Honor in the 1916/17 era. A purge that he was very much against, but he had very clear marching orders, despite their lack of legality, but more on this in another blog.

In August of 1893 Captain Nutting was awarded a Medal of Honor with a citation that noted in part that he was the leader of a charge under horrendous fire and continued till he was repeatedly wounded and dropped by an enemy bullet.  His was one of only five Medals of Honor to  his regiment despite the fact that it fought in well over two dozen major battles and skirmishes, in its 4 years of service.

Nutting moved to Nova Scotia to live with his eldest daughter in the last few years of life. His wife died there in 1907 and he died in 1908 and both are buried in Bridgewater and later joined at the same cemetery by that same daughter.

In the fall of 1989 former President Charles McGillivary, of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society traveled to New Brunswick and took part in an unveiling ceremony at two graves of Canadian MOH recipients in the Saint John and St Stephen areas. These two markers were of the new type developed a few years earlier, by several people including McGillivary. He also was  a Canadian MOH recipient from WW11 in the Battle of the Bulge, He was the only Non -American born ever to serve as president of that highly honourable society. The 2 markers unveiled where the first in the history of the medal to be unveiled outside of the United States. The following year, again in the fall two similar markers were unveiled in Nova Scotia, one  at Halifax and the second at Bridgewater for Captain Nutting. The later two became the third and forth outside of the US to be unveiled. (I have visited each grave)

The new marker, as shown above, was placed in front of the twin markers for Nutting and other members of his family in Nova Scotia, and shown to right.

In 2006 a joint ceremony of the 20th Maine Re-enactors out of New Brunswick and the Civil War Living History Association sponsored another ceremony at the Nova Scotia burial site of Lee Nutting. Family were located, the legion was involved and others to boot. Over 50 attended a serious service that  is often performed for veterans and especially former members of the GAR, the Grand Army of the Republic which was a veterans group in the US from shortly after the CW till about 1900. They feel that a veteran of their wars cannot be relieved of their duty until such time as the ceremony is performed and they are then put to rest. Part of the ceremony is the placing of the GAR marker.

These are some examples of the GAR markers found across the US and at many grave yards even in Canada.

The act of bravery resulting in Nutting's being awarded the Medal of Honor occurred a week ago from the past Sunday, and 151 years earlier.

Bart

The story begins in late 1864 when as Union General had a great idea to load up a ship with explosives, park it along side the famous walls of Fort Fisher, blow up the ship, which would knock down the walls then march in with thousands of troops and take it over. The enemy would be so confused, that it would simply be a matter of marching in so they thought, Sound familiar. I do believe that is about what the Americans said many a year ago when about to try and  take  Canada! 

Fort Fisher clearly had to be taken by the Union. It  protected the access to the port of Wilmington North Carolina. This port was the last stronghold for the blockade runners that regularly brought in supplies and troops for the Confederacy. Its destruction would mean the war would soon end.

So plans were drawn up that would only involve a highly select crew. Coming from the USS Agawam, pictured above, at least one of those pictured was involved in the execution of the plan. It would be none other that the commander of the vessel...Alexander C. Rhind. He is at extreme right and has his foot on a step. Others in the photos may also have participated

Of the several Canadians serving on the vessel, at least 3 would take part in the mission. Two of the three would be awarded a Medal of Honor for their bravery. A third, Lt Sam Preston from Toronto was the subject of past blogs which argued that while not qualified on the date of the event, he later became so and ought to have been awarded one. But this never happened.

Those selected were volunteers who well knew that it was a suicide mission and most onboard did not expect to ever see them again. The men made up their wills and even sent home letters before they set off on the day in question. 

The decision was made to strip down the USS Louisiana, pictured to left, and as illustrated in the Harpers Weekly in the weeks to follow. She was a 295 ton, 150 foot long side-wheeler.
 
The men had to first sail her to a friendly port and strip her down, including all weaponry, and then  packing her with over 215 tons of gunpowder in 50 pound sandbags and canisters placed at several points throughout the ship.  Then an elaborate timing mechanism had to be wired throughout the ship that would allow for the lighting, while two were still on board and then exit without delay.

But for the entire sail back to the start point, another 100 miles away, the crew would then be siting on a time bomb just waiting to explode. Any accidents or sparks on the deck or enemy shelling would surely blow them all to eternity. But a job is a job and they sailed her back to the start point without incident.

Putting the plan into play, another vessel was tasked to tow them into the spot from which it would be steered into place. The towing was because the Union did not want the enemy to hear the engines of any vessels and tip them off that something strange was in play. But when they got to the appropriate point they were called off, with the vessel still under foot and ordered back out of the harbour area. Apparently weather conditions became too unfriendly.

But then they had to sit for several days for conditions to become more favourable. Still sitting on their self-created time bomb all of the time. Finally, on December 23 1864 they got the go-ahead, hooked up yet again and towed into place. But then there was another problem. There was too much light, and a real fear that the enemy would surely see them if they moored at the originally place, the 150 yard point off the fort. So they anchored it at 450 yards away from the target.

This is one side of Fort Fisher, from the water looking in at the massive walls. The high mounds contained batteries of very heavy cannons. The left was in Civil War days and the right in more recent years.

When the Louisiana was finally in place and all fuses checked, all of the men left the vessel in rowboats and headed out a dozen miles into the sea and the awaiting USS Agawam. But the Commander and Torontonian  Lt. Sam Preston, above mentioned, stayed on board to set the lighting mechanism in action. It seems that they had numerous problems and so the two officers decided to actually light the cabin on fire, and if all else failed that would spread to the powder all over the ship and blow her up.

But like most of the steps so far, this also failed. After the cabin was lit the two officers also made their escape back to the Agawam. And there they waited and waited and waited. Finally after a 30 minute delay the ship blew...but not nearly as expected. The tides carried her further away, and into a spot that would have no effect on crumbling the walls as hoped for. In fact the winds blew off about 80% of the gun powder, and the big bang was little more than a baby puff. The noise could be heard 20 miles away but since it was in  the early am, most of the confederates were still down in their bunkers...very deep under ground. Many were not even awaked by the explosion because the earth muffled the sounds.

Fort Fisher would be taken... but certainly not on this day. And Wilmington would fall soon after and the war would soon be over.

It was on the USS Agawam that Commander Rhind actually presented Medals of Honor on 12 May 1865 to either 8 or 9 sailors, Garvin being one of these and John Neil from Newfoundland being another.

That was 148 years ago Sunday.

While there is some heavy disagreement with a grave yard in California and the Congressional Medal of Honor Society of the United States and the Medal of Honor Historical Society of the US and myself, it is strongly believed  that John Neil would end up serving some 32 years in the US, mostly in the navy and possible briefly in the army first at the beginning of the Civil War. 

More research is needed but it is believed he is buried in a grave that does not state  that he is a MOH recipient, but eyes are watching and investigations continue.

Bart 

One hundred and fifty years and one month ago the US government's Naval Department issued a General Order number 11. In this publication,  for the first time ever, it announced that the recently created navy Medal of Honor had been approved by the President of the United States for awarding to 41 sailors.  

In this General Order the reader is told that Charles Robinson is one of the 41 who has been awarded the medal. It does not go on to say that Robinson, the subject of several blogs on this site, came to Halifax Nova Scotia after the Civil War where he spent about 30 years, got married and raised a family, served on the Halifax Police force, and operated several businesses, and finally died and now rests in the downtown area at Holy Cross cemetery just a few feet away from former  Prime Minister Thompson.

A few more General Orders came along 150 years ago and in many of these there would be other Canadians listed as being recipients, some even from Halifax.  Then on the last day of the next year another general order listed 146 navy men who were, by the order, awarded Medals of Honor. Ten of these heroes were Canadians. One of these was Charles Michael Asten, also from Halifax Nova Scotia. He was born there in either 1833 or 1834 with parents having immigrated from Ireland before his birth.

Much research is still needed to be done on this fellow but it is known that he moved off to the US and ended up enlisting in the US Navy at Chicago for Civil War service, and before his term would be up he had served on at least three different  vessels. He chose to serve under his 2nd rather than first given name.

It would be while on the USS Signal, the paddle wheeler above, that Asten's battle bravery  would later be recognized with the Medal of Honor. 

The Union had about 60 of these "tinclads" in service later in the war. This one was number 8, and  driven by the steam operated stern paddlewheel. They were called tinclads as they were not as well armoured as the big gunboats, and theirs usually consisted of about only 1 inch of iron above the waterline. They also had a flat bottom so that unlike many of the other war vessels,  they could travel up and down the many shallow rivers and streams and still do major damage with their powerful cannons along these routes.  They also operated as escorts to troop and supply ships and in the search of underwater mines (torpedoes) 

The USS Signal was operating with her 50 man crew along the Red River area of the North Western part of Louisiana under the command of Admiral Porter's expedition. (Red A above) They were on patrolling and escort duties keeping an eye out for the enemy and watching the supply ships moving materials forward. Then they got the order to carry a messenger with an important dispatch from an army Major General to a point about 20 miles beyond Alexandria.

Soon they came under cavalry fire from the shorelines and this seemed hit and miss for a few miles but about 4 miles along the river they met up with two other Union ships  and as they rounded a bend near a place called Dunn's Bayou, just a few miles from their destination at Alexandria, all three vessels came under very heavy cannon fire. The USS Signal alone was said to have been hit 38 times in just 4 minutes of the most pounding fire from Confederate shore batteries. 

Two of the ships were sunk, The USS Signal was so badly damaged that the commanders decided it had to be abandoned but they did not want the enemy to take the ship, So they tried to set it afire... but it wouldn't burn. They then managed to get it into mid-stream and then sunk it, but as they left it the Confederates no sooner boarded her and pulled off some of the bigger guns.  Guns that had already lobbed over 300 shells at them in very short order. Many of the crew escaped but it is said that upwards of 30...including Quarter-Gunner Charles Asten were taken prisoner and sent off to Camp Ford, about 140 miles to the west near Tyler Texas.( Green A on above map)

Located just north of Tyler by a few miles, this camp was originally a Confederate army camp, but by mid war it was  turned into a POW camp. By war's end it would have housed over 5,500 prisoners, mostly navy, and was the largest camp of its type West of the Mississippi River.

In its earliest days the prisoners were few in number and were therefore allowed to roam about more freely, usually with a guard but not always. As the war progressed many more were captured and imprisoned here. The very wooden wall had to be eventually cut to half its height just to get enough wood to expand the walls to enlarge the area another 18 acres to accommodate the growing population within. 

The men would later be paroled and allowed to go back to their Union lines. Without more research I cannot share where Asten went from Camp Parole but it is known that by about 1870 he was living in Rhode Island where he had married and had one son.  An 1880 census has him living at Providence and working as a trunk maker.

While buried in Rhode Island at death in 1885, at the very young age of 51, some say he  died back at his place of birth, Halifax NS, but no evidence has verified this as of yet.

Like so many others who earned Medals of Honor, there seems to be so little available to say exactly what they did, but it is known that he left his sick bed to man the guns in the battle on the Red River  on 5 May 1864, and it is believed that he was one of the captured soldiers, made a POW, who was wounded in the battle. A battle that took place, 149 years ago last Sunday.

Bart

A few days ago, on May 8th over 100 people gathered in Victoria to witness the unveiling of a new grave marker in honour of Rowland Bourke. Yesterday I brought you the first part of this story. Today I bring the 2nd part. The 3rd part of this story requires you to come to Victoria and visit this historic marker.

If you missed yesterday's blog. Please have a look at it before reading today's.

We left off yesterday with a few notes on the very moving comments of Jason Jones, Admiral Truelove, Ambassador Puijm, Father Jo Nnanna and Lt Commander Raeburn. Navigating us through these waters was our very capable MC, Darwin Robinson.

In my opening remarks I brought forth comments about the very first Victoria Cross investiture in 1857, notes about the 100th and 150 celebrations of that event and some history on the fact that the Bourke VC came with a blue ribbon, not the normal red (crimson) ribbon so well known today. I also noted that the marker that was about to be unveiled, was most historic. Not only for what it represents, but for the marker itself. There being only one in the entire province up until a few days back. Bourke's makes 2.

Bet you've never seen one like this eh!

In order to have this marker placed on site, the committee had to do three things. First it had to get permission from the family. But that took finding them. For years, efforts were not successful. Then came along HMCS Malahat, and myself, and some great training from my good friends at the Victoria Genealogical Society.

One of our committee members... Naval Reservist Lieutenant Peggy Kulmala is tasked with Public Affairs functions at her home unit in the reserves  and in her full time day job at CFB Esquimalt. In  that capacity she put a notice up on face-book and within days, with incredible irony, Jason Jones was doing a search on his relative Rowland Bourke and came across the face-book posting. And rest is history.

But at the same time I had contacted the cemetery with regards to a new marker, had been told that family approval was a requirement, and was already in search mode. I had found hints that needed exploring in both Vancouver and the US but dropped my search with the news of the Kulmala discovery.

 Once contact was made, the family very quickly gave approval, but for many reasons they insisted that the old marker also remain in place.

Step 2 required the Board at Royal Oak to revisit a policy in place since day one that upright markers in that area of the park were not allowed. Serious considerations were discussed and ultimately the very exciting development that came forth was that permission would be granted, but that this was a once in a lifetime waving of the rules, not one that would set any ground work for further similar claims. The decision  was very much based on the uniqueness and historic importance and accomplishments of the man being honoured. 

The third step was in getting approval from those that run the program...the folks at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission at Ottawa. They considered the application, required supporting information from the family and gave the go ahead. Then the gracious folks at Veterans Affairs Canada, agree to fund the project.

That brings us up to the unveiling of a few days ago, after of course considerable efforts being made by the unveiling committee, and MANY MORE behind the scenes. The committee consisted of Peggy Kulmala and Jason Jones, above mentioned, Lorraine Fracy the Client Services Manager at Royal Oak and myself.

These combines efforts brought the public the ceremony of May 8th.

So now finally, we can remove the cover and unveil for you this wonderful new marker that informs the viewer that he or she is standing  in the presence of a truly Canadian hero of days gone bye. It cries out again, and hopefully a thousand more times...  Lest We Forget. 

From left to right, facing the picture are myself, Belgian Ambassador to Canada, Mr. Bruno van der Pluijm, Jason and Donna's son Shane and Rear Admiral Truelove, Commander, MARPAC (Maritime Forces Pacific)

While not seen in this picture, the original marker remains in place and is at the feet of the CTV cameraman. When you stand there you can read one after the other without having to move about. Commander Bourke lies at rest between both.

At the top of this marker is the Navy crest with the word... Canada''' underneath.

The letters RCNVR stands for the Royal Canadian Navy Volunteer Reserves.

The crest below is of course an engraving of the Victoria Cross.

The grade of the landscape makes the marker actually look like it is not straight and when questioned about this one of the members of the park's great workers brought out a level and showed me how straight it actually was.

He had a rather unusual look on his face when I asked if it was possible to do some landscaping so as to show all looking straight.

Can you imagine!

The Bugler did a fine job as did the Petty Officer's Guard, consisting of both air force and navy members.  and all remained standing for about an hour in the hot sun. I hope they know how much pride the audience felt for the men and women in the Canadian Forces today and more specifically to them for their excellent performance. I believe the PO actually stood at attention throughout. The audience gave them a well deserved applause, and there efforts were acknowledged by the speakers as well.

The committee joins in sending kudo's and a warm BZ to profoundly thank them for setting aside regular duties to help us celebrate this historic occasion on the 8th. 

The image on the left shows Rear Admiral Truelove presenting the national flag flown over Government House to Mrs. Judith McWilliams Bourke as I look on. To the right is a group shot of several involved in the events of the day. At the far right is Lorraine Fracy from Royal Oak, and a much valued committee member. To her right are the descendants from Victoria BC, gathered around Jason, another valued committee member. Next is myself and to my right, is a brief outline of our camera shy great MC, Darwin Robinson. To his front is Ambassador van der Pluijm. To his right is Rear Admiral Truelove. Next is the Royal Navy's Lt Commander Raeburn and finally we have Commander  Sprang the Commanding Officer of HMCS Malahat, who's unit has participated in Nov 11th services at the Bourke grave for the past 3 years.

The Honorable Lt. Governor had prior commitments and expressed disappointment in not being able to attend the ceremony. She however was most gracious in providing the above letter that was read to the family and others and this was most well received by all in attendance.

With the help of the area's MP, Ms Elizabeth May, a letter I sought from the Honorable Peter McKay, the Minister of National Defence, the above letter was supplied. A later letterhead copy was also received.

Both of these letters were read aloud at the ceremony and later presented as keepsakes to Mrs. Judith McWilliams Bourke.

I should close with the note that we are not the only ones celebrating this event. While the committee's work was in obvious honour of Rowland Bourke, in Belgium another ceremony will be taking place on the 24th of this month. At the very harbour where the two battles took place the people of Ostend have cleaned up an older monument that commemorated the later of these two battles. With harbour improvements, this monument had been actually moved closer to the very place where the battles took place.

I had the idea that on the 95th anniversary, ie 10 May they would do their unveiling. However they had  invited their very special guests... the King and Queen of Belgium, but Their Royal Highnesses  could not attend on that date, and so another was affixed... the 24th. It is anticipated that a member of the British Royal family will also attend, as will the Canadian Ambassador to Belgium.

When first learning of these events I contacted the host city and proposed that their ceremony and ours be both performed on the same day... and same time and that through computer connections, we could both watch each others ceremonies, but that seemed to get too complicated and remained destined to be separate  events.

But I am sure the Canadian embassy is well aware of the fact that there were many Canadians involved in that battle and that these will be recognized at the event.

My last note on this matter is to thank all those who have attended, and those who worked so hard in the background to play a role in having this ceremony be brought to a conclusion with so few hickups.

And a note of thanks to several photographers who have supplied me with photos. Micheal Bourque, Diane Clarke, Claudia Borman, Richard Buysschaert, and John Azar of the CF100 Commonwealth Society and the Pacific Coast branch of the Western Front Society but to name a few.

For more great photo's check out the HMCS Malahat website.

And finally to the press, those at CFAX, CTV, the Times Colonist, the Saanich News, CFB Lookout, and the Victoria Genealogical Society website  for giving this ceremony such great coverage.

There were also many people who went to great  lengths to spread the word about this ceremony.

Thank you all.

Bart

Ninety five years ago today Rowland Bourke's tenacity and persistent to head into a very dangerous harbour not once or twice or three times... but four times till he found the sources of those screams for help, saved three men from either drowning or being killed from enemy artillery and  machine gun fire.

One of the men in later life would marry and have children... and one of those kids would grow up in England. After the press coverage of the work being done by the committee to have a new marker commissioned for Rowland Bourke got well under way, he made contact with descendants  of Bourke a few months back, here in Victoria BC. He wanted to thank them for their relative's saving his father's life. Thus saved he survived the war, returned to London, married, had kids, and one of them was the fellow making the contact.  Without Bourke he would never have been born!

Some of this has been in three different blogs in this space over the past several months.

Well folks two days ago well over 100 people gathered at the Royal Oak Burial Grounds  in Victoria British Columbia under a wonderful sunny sky with more than a slight breeze to yet again give honours  to this incredible hero.

Most sat in a viewing stand under an awning to shield them from the sun. The breeze was apparently so bad a few times the awning stated rocking. Perhaps a few may have thought  someone above was sending signals that we were all being wached from above, and our actions hopefully approved. 

As you can see from the above photo's The Rowland Bourke grave stone is like most others unless you are within a few feet of it. As you look over the left image you see me looking at it and comparing it to others in the immediate area. They are all the same. Almost.

I and others felt that this marker ought to be different..to stand out to make the location of his place of rest easier to find and to attract those wandered about the gorgeous park to walk over to see why this site is different. Then they will discover that a hero lay at rest here. Hopefully that will cause some curiosity that will result and some investigation to see who he was and what he did... And thus our mission is accomplished. Yet again another will learn of this brave man's deeds.

At 1 pm sharp descendants, and friends, a few politicians, members of many groups, joined by quite a few from the extended military family, those from the world of museums, archives and cultural interests were all on hand for this historic occasion. We were all asked to stand for a smart General Salute from a sharply dressed and drilled  honour guard of men and women from CFB Esquimalt. They were giving the customary salute for the arrival of Commodore Craig, who is the commanding officer of all Naval Reserves in Canada. He most graciously accepted an invite as Bourke of course was a Naval Reserve officer in Britain and here in Canada.

We then stood for the customary General Salute upon the arrival of Rear Admiral Truelove, who is the commanding Officer of MARPAC, the naval element on the west coast of Canada. A third General Salute was then performed for the arrival of Ambassador Bruno van der Pluijm, who represents Belgium in Canada. Among those already having arrived was Lt. Commander Mark Raeburn, the Commanding officer of the ROTC Venture program in Victoria. This officer is in the Royal Navy and was attending  at the special request of the British High Commission at Ottawa.

On the left and above is a picture of the ceremony's most able MC, Mr. Darwin Robinson, former Mayor of Esquimalt BC, and neighbouring community just outside of Victoria. Most fitting that Darwin could be with us as Rowland Bourke actually lived in the Town of Esquimalt for close to 30 years after the war, also worked there, and finally passed away whist a resident of that community. His former home still stands.

Next to Darwin is a picture of the Unveiling Committee's Chair... and that would be me. The third gentleman is Captain Jo Nnanna from the clergy who brought us prayers and some most moving spiritual guidance. And to the right is an image of Rear Admiral Truelove.

The Admiral painted for us  a picture of a man being honoured. A man who's actions clearly show us that he stood out amongst many others. A man of courage and conviction and tenacity to keep going forward no matter what the dangers, no matter what level of guts and bravery were needed to take those extra steps to get into the thick of things and save their comrades.  Bourke was described as a man who's actions were unparalleled  in many circles and on that note, not only saved lives... but saved nations.

On briefly outlining his acts of bravery the Admiral noted how fitting such a high level of character of man now has such a high mountain commemorating his deeds and  a strength of character  as solid as a rock an thus having such a rock near Bella Coola now carrying his name.

He then profoundly thanked the Ambassador from Belgium who honoured us all by taking time to be with us at the service and for bringing forth the true warmth that the Belgium people have for the Allies and particularly Canadians for the price we paid on Belgium soil in the years past.

When his brief greeting was over the Admiral accepted a Canadian National Flag from me and presented it to Mrs. Judith McWilliam Bourke, who's grandmother was a sister of Rowland's. At my request the Rt. Honourable Lt Governor of BC had the flag flown over Government House at Victoria on the 23rd and 24th of April, as those dates were the 95 anniversary of the first battle at Ostend harbour in Belgium and where Rowland Bourke would later be awarded the Distinguished Service Order, (a bravery medal junior only to the Victoria Cross) for saving 38 men from drowning in the first battle at that place.

Government House flew the flag and removed it and gave it to me to have it presented to the family in honour of Mr. Bourke. And this the Admiral did with great dignity, and no doubt incredible pride. This gift from the representative to Canada's Queen, will no doubt be a cherished heirloom for the descendants.

Ambassador Pluijm, pictured on the left brought us warm greetings from Belgium and spoke most fondly of Belgium's national feelings of compassion for Canada and when a Canadian steps on their shores they are treated most respectfully. This of course is due to the service our foremothers and fathers gave to the cause in wartime and the dreadful price we paid for that service. On a most personal note he related the stories he had heard repeatedly from his father and uncle on how they had been so deprived during days of battle and how it would be the Canadians who would be providing chocolates from their rations to the Belgium people, somewhat of a different story today.

The Ambassador spoke at length about the plans for national celebrations in the not to distant future in honour of wartime service and also brought forth some information about the people in Belgium who will also be celebrating the 95th anniversary of the battles at Ostend on the 24th on this month, but more on that later.

The British High Commission's Lt. Commander Mark Raeburn spoke with considerable pride about the creation of the Victoria Cross back in 1857 and noted that there had only been five Canadian naval men who were awarded the medal. He explained that in battle, the awarding of the VC requires actions in the face of the enemy. A condition rather difficult for the navy, who by the vary nature of the service, often involved battle from miles away... even over the horizon.  Thus there being so few Naval VC's.  

In commenting on Bourke's actions, in the face of the enemy,  the Commander noted that the unveiling service, was another step in commemorating Bourke's bravery and most selfless actions. He added that...""in the erection of this memorial we are ensuring that his legacy shall remain a source of pride and a source of inspiration for generations to come."

Jason Jones is Judith's son. He and his wife Donna and three children, Amy, Jodie and Shane were all at the service. Jason, on the right, above, brought profound thanks to the gathering for the honour we bestowed on the family. But truth be told, it was the family that bestowed honour on those gathered. Jason brought us  the story about how the move started for the creation of the marker and of the family's pride in now seeing it in place. With very deep emotion, Jason told those gathered of his contact with the fellow above mentioned from England who's father was saved by Commander Bourke, who, in those days was a Lt. (He was promoted to Lt. Commander after the VC action and just before the investiture of both the DSO and VC at Buckingham Palace.) (Still later he was promoted to Commander)

This is getting rather long so I will cut it off here but will bring a special Saturday blog to finish up on the ceremony,

till tomorrow,

Bart

 

Other duties have prevented me from bringing you a new story today, and tomorrow I will be at the Unveiling Ceremony spoken about on Monday. 

With well over 100 blogs posted on this site in the last several months, it is time for a few days off. I will be back at it on Friday. Please stay tuned... 

Bart

Many years ago when I was writing columns in Halifax, I started to give some coverage to the issues involving the disabled. I soon met a fellow who produced a national magazine that covered a vast array of issues that these men and women... and children were encountering daily. It was not long before he invited me to contribute columns in his magazine.

He would point out to me things that, without paying attention, you might not realize. Here is a great example. We take it for granted that when the local pizza shop has a phone number like...
M Y   P I Z Z A,  sure, its a great way to remember their number... but how does a sight challenged person use that cute number when he or she CAN NOT SEE THE DIAL. By doing this, you have just made it more difficult for anyone with sight challenges to call for that pizza. It also happens to be against the law, federally, and I suspect in provincial legislation all across the country. But it happens all the time. No one does it deliberately, but the result in still the same.

My friend also taught me that when speaking about people with disabilities I should recognize that they also HAVE ABILITIES, and not to label them with the issue that they deal with every day of their lives.

Fresh with this new insight I complained to Elections Canada who at the time where advertising numbers to call them using the above method. They soon came to agree with my argument and at the time made some changes.

Now having said all that, I'll get back to Rowland Bourke. There have been two blogs about Rowland in this space over the past several months. They told of his incredible heroism and also that he had AN ABILITY to see out of only one eye. But folks that did not stop him from have a most incredible career in the military and beyond.

I first came to learn about Rowland when visiting the Royal Oak Burial Ground in Victoria BC. I had heard rumblings that not only were there quite a lot of veterans buried on site, but also that one had been awarded the Victoria Cross. On asking questions, I set off to find him, and ultimately had to get help, but nevertheless I soon was standing at his grave marker, a small dark coloured flat marker. It clearly noted that he was indeed a VC recipient.

The marker was a little difficult to find, and if you are off at a distance it would be lost in a sea of other markers of similar description. But what surprised me even more was that it did not have a small white cross beside it.

Many years earlier a very kindly and patriotic neighbour actually made up hundreds of these small crosses and brought then to the graveyard and mounted them each year at the graves of all known veterans. Over the years he probably had help, and in his later years the task was taking over by the great crews at the cemetery. But surprisingly, there was not one at Bourke's grave.

A few days later I called and after enquiring, was told that his name may not have been put on the list of all the vets and that it would be corrected for 2008. Well, it wasn't. Another call and a promise to correct it for 2009. And this time the good folks did it and have done so ever since. I have continued to visit the grave every Nov 11th since 2007.

Finally it dawned on me in 2010 that, since Rowland was a hero in the Naval Reserves in England, and on emigrating to Canada served with the Canadian Naval Reserves I should contact the local reserve unit... HMCS Malahat and invite them to join me with a few of their sailors on the 11th. The Commanding Officer decided that it was a most worthwhile cause and not only came out with some sailors, but laid a wreath and also gave a short talk about Mr. Bourke's activities back in 1918. In addition he made the statement that HMCS Malahat would make it their duty to conduct a brief service at his grave side on November 11th from that day forth. And HMCS Malahat has not only done so, but arrived now for 3 years and in each has arrived with more sailors than the year before. Kudo's to them.

In early October of 2011, I has discussions with Lorraine Fracy, the Client Services Manager at the Cemetery and learned that like I, she believed that a more prominent marker ought to be in place at Mr. Bourke's grave. We both knew of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission monument  program and in the past she had actually enquired about the possibility of having such a marker on site. Word came back that before such could take place family had to be contacted and given approval. Past results apparently did not locate any family.

My friends at the Victoria Genealogical Society and I started to search for family. At the same time the folks at HMCS Malahat were of similar mind and actually posted an item on face-book. The timings was perfect as a family member discovered the post and contacted the Naval Reserves and they contacted the cemetery and I put on hold my searches and the ball started rolling. The cemetery then had to sit and think most seriously about a very long standing  bylaw that did not allow for the placement of upright markers in many areas of the cemetery. Bourke's in particular being one of these.

The matter had to be taken to the Board and after serious consideration it was agreed that due to the significance of the honors awarded to Mr. Bourke, and him being the only one with such medals in the park, that a one time only waver of the rules was in order. This decision was not taken lightly and the cemetery made it abundantly clear at the time that it was a one of a kind situation.

Once decided on, the cemetery made contacts with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and Veterans Affairs Canada and later approval was given for the funding of a marker for Mr. Bourke.

From there Lorraine Fracy, Jason Jones, (Rowland was his Great Grandmother's brother), Lt (Navy) Peggy Kumala of HMCS Malahat and I formed a committee to organize a suitable unveiling that would not only bring dignity to the unveiling but serve to yet again bring Rowland Bourke's story of heroism to the community.

That service will now be held in two days time....at 1 p.m. SHARP on Wednesday 8 May at the Royal Oak Burial Park on Fallais Drive in Saanichton. There is no charge to attend the serve, and there is plenty of parking on site. It is open to all.

At that ceremony you will witness for the first time ever on Vancouver Island and the second in BC history, a marker of this type being unveiled. Two days after its unveiling will mark the 95th anniversary from the battle in which Rowland Bourke earned his Victoria Cross. The British Admiral in charge of the battle would later describe Rowland Bourke as the BRAVEST OF ALL VC HOLDERS.  The Belgian Ambassador to Canada has chosen to come to Vancouver on business this month so that he could come to Victoria and be with us for this service on the 8th. The British High Commission in Ottawa has directed its most senior Officer currently serving on the west coast of Canada to participate in our service.

Our Own Navy's top ranking officer, Rear Admiral Truelove, who commands all Maritime Forces on the west coast will participate. The Commander of all Naval Reserves in Canada will attend, as will many other very senior officers, a Guard of Honor, several descendants and others from the military, museum, cultural,  archival and other communities.

Please come out on Wednesday to support all the work this committee has done, and even more that many have done behind the scenes to recognize our hero, and indeed all those who have, who currently are, and who will in the future wear our uniform with pride and honour in the years to come.

The freedoms we enjoy today did not come from the ink in the pens, it came from the bullets that came out of the ends of those guns and from the men AND WOMEN who carried them.

Thanks,

Bart

Like a handful of other Medal of Honor recipients, Robert John Coffey was also born at Saint John New Brunswick. And like some of the others, his records also wrongly spell the home town calling it St. John or St. Johns. But that had little effect on his very successful career in uniform.

His family moved to Montpelier Vermont  and Robert would get his common school training there and  continued when the family moved to Morristown, 40 miles to the north. He then attended the first term at the Academy of Hyde Park, a few more miles to the north but when the Civil War broke out Robert set his education aside and took up the cause for the North.

In early 1861 Robert was back in Montpelier and became one of the first to enlist in one of the first regiments raised in Vermont... the 2nd Vermont Volunteer Infantry. He would be mustered into Company F as a private soldier. But soon he got an opportunity to switch over to F Coy of the New England Guard Company from Northfield, which became a company of the 1st Vermont Volunteer Infantry.

Shortly after a month in service Robert and the 1st would find themselves in the midst of one of the first land battles of the war. It would be at the village of Big Bethel Virginia. Here the Union force of about 4000 would be humiliated by a Confederate force of only about 1500. It started with the Union dividing it's troops into two columns. These both advanced on an enemy that was well dug in and had artillery fire awaiting the Union's arrival. Each column was travelling along a parallel road that they knew would converge about where the enemy was expected.

Along the route, for some reason some muskets were fired by the Union troops on one of the columns. But farther up on the column, the Union soldiers thought the enemy was now pursuing them from the rear so they stared to retrace their steps. When they finally realized that they had got it wrong they again about faced and headed off in the right direction again. When they arrived where the road converged. their comrades in the other column saw them, noted they were wearing grey...the usual colour of the Confederates, they started to shoot at their fellow soldiers... who then shot back. Eventually someone figured out what was going on and hollered out the password. But for curious reasons, the others didn't have the passwords so Union soldiers kept firing on Union soldiers till it was eventually sorted out. Meanwhile dozens lay dead from friendly fire.

This ridiculous event woke the Confederates up from their early morning sleep, and they enjoy the show for awhile and then started to fire on both columns who were in disarray and ultimately had to retreat from the battle to regroup.

Clearly not a  good day for the Union!

Within days the three month term of Robert's unit elapsed and all were released.

It would only be a matter of days before this Saint John's soldier would yet again enlist, but this time it would be with a regiment with a three year term. This was the 4th Vermont Volunteer infantry, and again he would serve in K Company. Enlisting as a private he was promoted to the rank of 3rd Sergeant in quick order and would stay with this regiment and fight in over 20 battles and skirmishes including at Lee's Mill, Williamsburg, White Oak Swamp, Crampton's Gap, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Marye's Heights, 2nd battle at Fredericksburg, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spotsylvania, Cold Harbor, Petersburg and Weldon Railroad.

At many of these battles fellow Canadians earned their Medals of honor.

At Lee's Mills Robert would receive a wound just below the leg, and in the 1880's he was still pulling pieces of shrapnel out of his leg.

Perhaps he used one of the needles out of his sewing kit, shown above, to pick away at the bone fragments coming out of  the leg wound. Also above is a image of the dog tag probably purchased from a suttler at one of the camps, as the government never issued these identity tags during the war. Thus, so many graveyards today have deceased buried under the term... "Unknown."  The front (left) says War of 1861 and United States across the bottom. The right image has the name Serg.t RJ Coffey and his place of enlistment..ie Montpelier Vt.

It would be at Salem Church, also known as Bank's Ford,  that Robert's bravery would earn him a Medal of Honor. Here is what a newspaper about a month later had to say about the event... (though claiming in error that it was at Fredericksburg)

And just two weeks earlier at the first battle of Fredericksburg, Robert would much later state that... "I had a bullet go through the top of my  cap, grazing the  top of my head, just close enough to not draw blood."

That could have become the death of him, pardon the pun! But he lived to fight another day...and many more after that.

Robert is pictured above and to the left of the pole in front of the tent during Civil War days.

In September of 1864 he and about 150 other originals from a unit of over 1000 were the only ones left in the Regiment to be released from the services.

In 1867 Robert Coffey married. He would be in the hotel business then and operated hotels in several centers. He joined the Grand Army of the Republic  in 1873 and would go on to serve his fellow veterans from there for at least 21 years and in such capacity actually started about 20 of the GAR posts in the state. Robert later accepted a position in the National Guard of the state and move up in ranks from Captain to Major and then to Colonel. He would also continue his service by becoming the Superintendent of the Soldiers home at Bennington.

Robert led a very full life and died still young, at age 59 and is buried at Montpelier Vermont.

Nine years earlier...on his 50th birthday, he received in the mail his Medal of Honor. And that was for the action on 4 May 1863... 150 years ago tomorrow.

Bart

NOTE: many of the pictures and details containing in this blog come from the resources of the Vermont Historical Society. Kudos to them for making the materials available and doing such great work with their own website. It can be found at     http://vermontcivilwar.org and it is highly recommended as a site you ought to visit... but only after reading over 100 blogs in this space.  hehe.