Daily Blog

Recent blog requires 2 corrections!

7/27/2017

They say that when you don't make mistakes, you don't make anything!

So I have been caught, not for the first time..making things.

My last blog brought you brief comments about the dedication ceremony to honour Canadian born Alonzo Pickle in Minneapolis in the days to come. He is a Medal of Honor recipient, and one of about three dozen who have so far been, or about to be honoured by the US Customs and Immigration Service for their bravery.

Most fitting that the department is the one to honour these men, since that very agency serves the immigrant population. Some 750 of these over the years were awarded with the Medal of Honor.

By mistake I noted the ceremony will take place on the August 9th at the USCIS new complex in Minneapolis Mn. Trouble is, I misread my notes and gave you the wrong date. That service will take place on the 3rd.

In addition I made reference to the Canadian offices of the Consulate General, also in Minneapolis, as one who reports to our Embassy at Washington DC. I have now been informed that the office actually reports to folks at Ottawa and not DC

Sorry folks.

At the above ceremony several new US citizens will be taking their oath of citizenship. Congratulations to all.

cheers till Sunday,
Bart

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Five Score and Fifteen years ago....

7/23/2017

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Google tells me that in days gone by, a score equated to 20 years. Therefore, if my math is correct, five and 15 meant 155 years ago. That would take us back to 1862.

And on 15 February of that year Senator Henry Wilson, Chair of the Senate Committee on Military Affairs introduced a bill which included, that it be ...

In the December past, another senator rose and tabled a bill to create the Navy Medal of Honor, and the above was thus to extend the medal to soldiers as well as sailors.

A few days after the Wilson resolution, the following appeared in one the newspapers of the day...

The very first actual presentation of Medals of Honor would occur the following year on March 25th and would go to the six recently released POW's of the Confederates...The Andrews Raiders, who traveled well over 100 miles into enemy territory, captured a train and escaped with several boxcars attached and heading north out of Georgia and towards Chattanooga. The stories of the first six and birth of both the army and navy Medals of Honor have been often noted in this space.

If you paid the 2 cents to buy the 8 page paper on the 20th, (above) you could have read a most interesting story on the same page. It told of a fellow by the name of Grant who was promoted from Brig. General to Major General. Not having a crystal ball, it made no mention that some day he would become President of the United States.

As interesting is another from the same page that told of the recent Union destruction of Fort Henry on Feb 6th and the battle just as successful at Fort Donelson a week later.

It was during both of these battles that Charles Robinson would get honourable mention in his citation for his Medal of Honor, that also notes actions during the Yazoo Expedition in December of 1862. His was the very grave at Halifax NS noted in the last blog and honoured on July 4th.

And speaking of Halifax, There was a wonderful story about the Gettysburg Campaign of 1-3 Jul 1863, in that city's local paper a few weeks back. It was written by a former Canadian military officer of some 37 yrs service. Add to that close to 20 years as an author, writer and researcher with many impeccable credentials, to include being awarded a medal for preserving Nova Scotia's history and heritage with his writings etc.

I however am wondering why, with such expertise and background, his wonderful piece on Gettysburg failed to give a single mention to Canada's considerable involvement, especially across the Maritime provinces, and indeed the entire country in the US Civil War and of course the very battle he wrote about.

Numerous references to Gettysburg have appeared in this space over the years. many touching on Canadian Medal of Honor men including Alonzo Pickle, born in Quebec and a member of the famed 1st Minnesota Infantry. The actions of these men, at a loss of some 82% would see many of the men laid buried on the very lands that the author above noted, probably walked during his visit to the famed battle field.

Sgt. Pickle, wounded at Gettysburg, would be one of those identified and acclaimed by President Calvin Coolidge. The president would later state that these men were so brave, that their regiment ought to be placed at the highest in the known annals of war. He would add... "The First Minnesota are entitled to rank as the saviors of their country."

Pickle would be awarded the MOH for actions later in the war. But it would take 32 years to get to his doorstep as evidenced in this cute news clip... (ignore left column)

And speaking of Sgt Pickle, I am pleased to note that the United States Customs and Immigration Service will be dedicating a 2nd Ceremony room in one of their facilities to another Canadian MOH man, on 9 August.

For a few years they have honouring foreign born recipients and have done about 30 so far I believe. Recently I told of a ceremony in Florida and the dedicating of a room in the name of PEI born Charles MacGillivary. The ceremony coming up will honour Sgt Pickle, and it will be at the new offices on Marquette Avenue in Minneapolis Mn.

This office is just a handful of blocks away from the Canadian embassy's Consulate General's office, which I have advised about the event, and understand will participate in the ceremony.

More of this in a blog a few weeks from now.

The US offices are at top of map at Marquette, while the Cdn offices are below as shown on the map.

In the middle of this twisted 8 map, Dah! .... is the US Customs office and at the top is Morgan Avenue.

Staff at both offices should be familiar with this road. But I wonder how many known how it got it's name. It is named after a Civil War general by the name of George Nelson Morgan, who as Colonel, commanded the First Minnesota in some of the battles Pickle fought in. He got promoted to Brig, General and moved out of the Regiment just before the Gettysburg Campaign. Morgan was a Canadian, and one of 7 Canadians of General rank during the CW.

His son George Horace Morgan, also an officer, and Canadian born, would rise to the rank of Colonel, and during his career would earn a MOH during the Indian Wars. He was wounded by a native shot of lead that he carried around for over 60 years before it dislodged near his heart and finally took its toll... and his life. A Camp in Bosnia carries his name.

And that's enough for this week,
Bart

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Our forefathers and mothers found those large stumbling blocks. Instead of going around them, they went though them. That process gave us the paving stones to walk though our generation!

7/16/2017

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Traveling along those walkways we've survived through another Canada Day on July the first and the 4th of July Independence celebrations south of the 49th Parallel.

We give thoughts to our fallen on Remembrance Day, we have a Flag Day in the US a Memorial and Veterans Week and many other days to celebrate one theme or another honouring our veterans of today and those long since gone.

But on many of the very days set aside, we are too busy trying to figure out what we will be doing on that day or that long weekend, and, truth be told, many spend considerably more time thinking about getting away to the cottage or wherever, and little, if any, on the very theme of that day.

So, today. I am going to briefly take you back to Canada Day and the 4th and suggest that we all ought to remember those that came before us EVERY DAY of the year.

It is far too soon for me to be looking back over a variety of careers I have had since my mid teens. But I will say that throughout all, I have somehow been blessed with gaining friends who have known of and supported my various endeavors for several decades. Many have appeared in these blogs, though not identified in most cases.

One of these strong supporters sent we a wonderful poem last year on Remembrance Day. It is so fitting that I want to share it share it with you. Here it is...

Canada Day is gone for another year. We have seen and heard in the media of the events across the country to reflect on where we have been as a nation, where we have come from and where we hope to go. But how many of us thought of who brought us here.

If you like the work I am doing with this blog I plead with you to pass this poem and even the website along to someone you know this week and encourage them to read and reflect on, yes another day, that we need to remember our heroes, those medaled and not who's bodies shelter ours from harm's way.

Another good friend in Canada, decided to pay his respects on July 4th to a Medal of Honor hero buried at Halifax Nova Scotia.

Charles Robinson was awarded his MOH for actions during the US Civil War and later moved to NS where he married and spent some 30 years raising a family there before passing away. His story had been often noted in this space over the past 4 years and more.

My friend, a credentialed and respected local historian and author to boot, has adopted this grave and ensures that the flags of both countries remain in place. We need to get another Grand Army of the Republic marker as someone in Halifax has decided the one that was in place was best suited in his or her own living-room I guess.

Charles is in great company. Within a dozen steps or so, one of Canada's Prime Ministers also lays at rest.

Regulars visitors to this site have also read in past blogs about the Ontario fellow named Dodds who ran away from home as a teen and went south to the US. Fitting I guess because he first came to America from Britain, landed in the US and was later with chased with the rest of the family out of the US because of their support of all things British at the wrong time in US History.

That aside the 16 yr old lied about his age, joined a cavalry regiment and soon was awarded a Medal of Honor for saving the life of his wounded company commander who was trapped under his wounded horse. Later in the Civil War the Sergeant would go on to receive three wounds and lose an arm in another battle. Still later, back in Canada he would become an author, printer, entrepreneur and US agent at Peterborough.

Here is an image of his actual Medal of Honor. His medal was the ONLY ONE anyone in his regiment was awarded. Several other Canadian soldiers had the same distinction in other regiments in that war.

Here is his release document. Look closely at the DATE.

It's at the bottom of the page and says it was the 4th of July!

While the Medal of Honor saw its birth during Civil War days for both the army and navy, Britain's Victoria Cross predated the MOH by several years.

Whilst primarily a medal for those born in Britain, it was very soon extended to those from wherever, who fought on behalf of the empire.

Six of these came to six Americans. One in 1921 to the first of the Unknown's at Arlington, four to WWl heroes who were so awarded while fighting in Canadian units and one. for actions of a Maine born sailor who was a serving... illegally... in the Royal Navy during the Shimonoseki Campaign of 1864.

William Seeley's story, also told previously here, had him working his uncle's boat in the area when he decided he wanted to join in on US Independence ceremonies in Japan. Being only 14 yrs old, his uncle forbade it so he just slipped into the waters in early July... It was the 4th... He would soon find himself, illegally, under aged, and in the Royal Navy.

Seeley's final resting place is in Massachusetts were he later lived and died in 1914.

And just before signing off I want to tell you something that you probably have not heard about in the press today..16 July. Have a read first...

The very document (original handwritten) directing that the capital no longer move about from place to place but be fixed at one spot.

While dated on the first, it was signed into law, by George Washington on July 16th. That was 227 years ago TODAY. .

And speaking of birthdays, you just read my 400th blog.

I hope you like it, continue to support my efforts to preserves Canada's MOH and VC history, help me to gather more and more information about these. often forgotten heroes, and spread the word about the work being done in this space.

see you next week,
Bart

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A few more catch-ups on recent Victoria Cross and related news you might have missed...

7/10/2017

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Back in May the media brought forth many stories of Canadian heroism 100 years earlier during the famous battle for Vimy Ridge.

Today's blog, a day late, starts with a fascinating story from Waterdown Ontario, about 10 Kms west of Burlington. And it touches on Vimy and a tree. Well actually lots of them! And a 3rd generation of one of these was being planted at the Royal Canadian Legion in Waterdown.

While history well records the price mankind paid during the Great War, less obvious sometimes is the story of destruction to the vegetation. The area of the Vimy Ridge, for example, had all of its oak trees blown up.

But luckily, a Lieutenant from the 5th Canadian Expeditionary Force did something about it. His name was Leslie Miller and he came from a farming family in Scarborough Ontario (Toronto.)

He had discovered a burnt remnant of an oak tree half buried, and dug around to get a handful of acorns. He then sent these back home to Ontario with the request that they be planted on the family farm. That was one hundred years ago. Ten remain today and stand some 150 feet high.

Another youth of the era, a friend of Miller's, often visited the family farm and no doubt in later years watched the oaks grow skyward. During several visits to Vimy over the years, this friend.... Mr Monty McDonald... noted how barren the Ridge was of any trees. He then got to thinking about what to do... and then remembered the oak acorns that had come back to Canada from Vimy, and their growth to the day, in Scarborough.

While the story becomes a little confusing, depending of the source, either a graff from the Ontario trees was married up with some strong stock from BC, and seedlings produced. Some 120 of these were apparently sent to Vimy, one to represent each Canadian regiment who fought there. But because of tree diseases in Canada the offer was blocked.

Another version is that acorns were sent and were to be planted on land adjacent to the land were the famous Vimy memorial now stands.

Mr McDonald is shown at the Connon Nursery in Flamborough Ontario were the seedlings have been produced. A Vimy memorial society has been formed and controls the sale of these limited seedlings to Veterans groups like Royal Canadian Legion and others whom they believe have a bonafide interest in using them to keep the story of the Vimy heroes, and all of Canada's veterans alive and flourishing. The Waterdown Legion being one of these.

Moving on, and westward to Saskatoon, there is another story about trees that I hope you have had a chance to look at.

In mid June the press reported that it was the 94th year anniversary of Saskatoon's memorial called the "Next of Kin Memorial Avenue of Trees." This is located almost entirely within a cemetery in the city.

It started with 112 elms, complete with bronze plaques containing the names of veterans who fought and died in the Great War. Today is has expanded to about 1200 trees in memory of those lost in WWll and Korea.

These plaques mark the entrance into the memorial road, which is located within the Woodlawn cemetery in Saskatoon.

Many share the thoughts that these memorials, living and lasting that they are, become much more pleasant to enjoy than marble markers. They note however that while similar memorials existed in many Canadian communities most have gone due to the ever increasing encroachment of growing communities and need for expansion.

The press coverage noted that this is the last existing memorial of this type to maintain its integrity in the country. But there is another here in Victoria BC, that has lasted, though reduced in size. And there is a move afoot, with growing momentum, to bring more local awareness to the importance of this memorial.

More on the Victoria memorial will be covered in a future blog.

Looking back to Ontario again, there is a wonderful story that was released in late June about the York Cemetery in the north west area of Toronto.

It noted that with some donation of land a new memorial to the Victoria Cross recipients has been created. It claims pride in noting that the memorial is the first in the country to commemorate the names of 99 recipients, all being honoured in one place, for the very first time. They could have added several to that number if they checked with my records, but that aside, the memorial is fabulous.

It appears that upon entering the gates you travel along until you come to the area shown at the bottom where plaques contain the names of the 99 recipients.

With the names of each recipient are also brief descriptions of the heroism that resulted in their awards. Five were for actions before the Boer War, five in that war, 73 for actions in the Great War and 16 during WWll.

One interesting development with this memorial is the inclusion of a QR code that with a suitable device will allow the viewer to pull up a copy of the latest VC book of 99 recipients from the net and no doubt allow you whilst standing in front to the plaque, reviewing the material about that hero at the same time.

I would love to get a copy of that QR code to post in a future blog, and an image of the Rowland Bourke WWl plaque and what the QR code displays about this hero.

So there is some homework for a Toronto reader!

There are other VC memorials across the country that list what, at the time, were thought to be the total recipients of this most prestigious medal for bravery. But as info develops, so do the numbers increase as readers of this blog well understand.

The story of the Victoria Cross Memorial at Edmonton was told in an earlier blog at this site. The above beautiful memorial unveiled in 2015 was stated to be the first ever in the country to have all the recipients names, but this was not accurate. Not sure but there were probably 98 or 99 names engraved above.

Also told in past blogs, the Ottawa plaque was mounted at the British High Commission offices in Ottawa and unveiled by Princess Anne in Nov 2014.

There are only 70 names on this plaque and is missing a significant number of recipients. Though some, being born elsewhere, are on other plaques in other countries. Still many are missing.

And in Barrie Ontario this bench was erected to the fallen in 2013 and the following year the monument at right, above was unveiled in 2014. It listed 98 recipients of the Victoria Cross, though even those numbers are not complete.

The Barrie story has also been covered in earlier blogs.

With over 6,000 memorials, plaques and the like honouring the Canadians who went off to war, and many receiving the Victoria Cross, it is obviously hard to keep track of them all, Though those touching on the above stories, clearly in my mind could have benefited with a little more homework. (As do some of my own blogs.) That aside, the efforts to create these keepsakes of our heritage well deserve kudo's and thanks to all that played a role in their creation.

The least we can do is make it a priority to get out at some time and visit them and pay our own respects to our forefathers... and foremothers... and those who wear the uniforms of today in the service of our great country. And let us not forget those on the home-front while our loved ones are standing between us and those wishing to do us harm.

And it is doubtful that all these warriors have in their hands, is just a pen or keyboard!

Before signing off today, I should also note that while many claim their creations are the first... perhaps we should reflect back to 1949. That is when a natural monument of sorts was named in honour of ALL of Canada's VC recipients.

It started with the names of VC recipients Edmund de Wind and Frederick Harvey. In 1952 five more were added.. and all 7 where then representative of ALL recipients from Canada.

To the left is a picture of western Canada's Rocky Mountains. And to its right the famed Victoria Cross Range, that honours the later five recipients.

I trust you recognize this image. It was on the back of our $10 bill for years and depicts the VC Range portion of the Rockies.

Here is another image looking down on the range...

The five red markers show the mountain peaks named after the later five VC heroes. The above left honours John Pattison, to his right George McKean and further right is Raphel Zengel's Peak. Below these are George Kerr's at left and Cecil Kinross's at right.

Of the 7 mountain tops, you will find it interesting to note that only one recipient... George Kerr from Nova Scotia... is the only one of the 7 to have been born in Canada.

Next week I shall return with some birthdays of sorts...

till then, hope the delay was worth it...
Cheers,
Bart

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Yesterday being Canada Day, I have decided to take a break for the week and shall return next Sunday, cheers till, then. Bart

7/2/2017

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Recent blog requires 2 corrections!

Five Score and Fifteen years ago....

Our forefathers and mothers found those large stumbling blocks. Instead of going around them, they went though them. That process gave us the paving stones to walk though our generation!

A few more catch-ups on recent Victoria Cross and related news you might have missed...

Yesterday being Canada Day, I have decided to take a break for the week and shall return next Sunday, cheers till, then. Bart

Author;
Bart Armstrong, C.D.,
Recipient, Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers

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Recent blog requires 2 corrections!

Five Score and Fifteen years ago....

Our forefathers and mothers found those large stumbling blocks. Instead of going around them, they went though them. That process gave us the paving stones to walk though our generation!

A few more catch-ups on recent Victoria Cross and related news you might have missed...

Yesterday being Canada Day, I have decided to take a break for the week and shall return next Sunday, cheers till, then. Bart

Author;Bart Armstrong, C.D., Recipient, Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers

Archives

Categories

Author;
Bart Armstrong, C.D.,
Recipient, Sovereign's Medal for Volunteers