In the early 1900's thousands of young boys and girls were struggling in England with poverty, and in some cases living in the streets or allies begging for their every meal. Rescue organizations including the various churches did the best they could to help with the situation and soon organizations were sending these youth off to other countries for protection, and hopes of a better life. Thousands came to Canada. One such story tells of a vessel bringing 50 boys across the Atlantic on a 9 day voyage, and then a 12 hour rail ride from the landing at Quebec to Ottawa and a start on a new life... often in a care facility or via adoptions.

One of these boys was an Englander by the names of Stephen Sargent Claude Nunney who was born in either 1891 or 1892. There were 8 children in family and his parents etched out a living in a London steam laundry plant, But by age five Stephen lost his mother due to food poisoning. The family would then relocate from St Leonards to Kentish Town. In 1905 Stephen, then aged 12 or 13 found himself and 2 brothers rescued and spirited off on a boat like that above noted to Quebec and then railed to Ottawa. The fate of his brothers is unknown but Stephen  went to live under the protection of a woman for many years in the Ottawa area and when she died he moved off to a second home in Lancaster Ontario.

Then came WW1.

In June of 1913 Stephen enlisted in a Ontario militia unit called the Stormont and Glengarry Regiment. He signed up for part-time service and was enrolled as a Private soldier. In February of 1915 Stephen heard the call for troops to go overseas and enlisted at Lancaster Ontario, again as a Private, with the 38th Canadian Expeditionary Force. Both cap badges are shown above.

When joining the army, part of the paperwork involved the collection of information and the signing of what is called the Attestation Paper. If you have a relative who served  for Canada in WW1 you should be able to find their AP by going to the Government web site at...   http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/databases/cef/001042-100.01-e.php

Here is the top portion of the front  of Nunney's AP...

I include this as there are some interesting observations to be made re this man.

A fellow in England has done many years of serious background investigation into Nunney and his early life. He notes that whilst enlisting with the name of Claude Joseph Patrick Nunney, his actual formal documentation has been discovered and lists  his true names being  Stephen Sargent Claude Nunney. (The Sargent being his mother's maiden name.) This same documentation claims a birth in 1891...not 1892. It also notes clearly a birth in England...where the family had lived for many generations being Oxford bred. Yet he claimed a birth in Ireland.

This may have been because he might have not had any personal  papers when he came across the Atlantic, or lost them, or decided he would not disclose his true identity, place and date of birth  for unknown reasons.

Claude, as I shall now call him, no doubt received some basic training in Canada and was then shipped of to England. His unit would soon be assigned to garrison duties in Bermuda, and it may have been there that this image of him was taken. He wears no heroism ribbons yet, as the picture shows.

Claude's unit would spend about 10 months in Bermuda, probably then headed back to England briefly and by August would be in France and soon at the Western Front.  

The 38th CEF formed part of the 12th Infantry Brigade, which in turn, was part of the 4th Canadian Division.

In April the 4th along with the 1st through 3rd Canadian Divisions all found themselves going into fierce  battle at Vimy Ridge. Claude's 38th CEF would be fighting in the area shown below on the right map. They were at the top dark box in the centre line of troop formations and battling eastward. (Right, on the map.)

On 9 April 1917 Claude Nunney found himself in charge of a Machine Gun section and trying to stop an advancing enemy said to be numbered at about 200 Germans. Soon Claude was on his own as the rest of the section were either killed or wounded. His actions managed to hold off the enemy for three days despite being wounded twice.  For his most conspicuous gallantry he was  recommended and later awarded the  Distinguished Conduct Medal.

Less than 3 months later and just a few miles north east, at  a place called Avion Claude would again show his leadership skills. This time as a Corporal probably, he had to take charge when his platoon officer and sergeants were either killed or wounded. His actions to motivate and lead the troops on for days, and even travelling out into heavy defended German terrritory to rescue a wounded comrade were again recognized for the bravery involved. He would be recommended for another award... The Military Medal, and he would get this  in mid 1917. He would also get yet a third battle wound. And this time he would be away from the unit recovering for about 2 months.

A fourth battle wound in May of 1918 saw him yet again being off to recover, and this time it took another 3 months of rest and care.

About a dozen miles east of Arras France Claude would take yet another battle wound. He was in the Company Headquarters when, all of a sudden enemy concentrated fire was heard. He raced out to investigate and without any orders requiring the actions, he made it back and forth from numerous company dugouts to ensure the men were allright and provide additional motivation. During all of the time that he made it from unit to unit, he was under constant rifle fire.  Very heated fire that finally found its mark  and causing serious injuries. 

For this bravery he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. But later this was upgraded, to that of a Victoria Cross. His would be one of only 2 for the regiment, but 7 VC's were awarded in full for the battle to Canadians. He was also nominated, unsuccessfully, for the Croix de Guerre for his heroism at this battle.

This final wound took his life several days later. His VC was therefore a posthumous award. 

Claude Nunney lies at rest today at the Anbigny Communal Cemetery Extension in France. 

There is a Royal Canadian Legion Post with a historic plaque on the property in Lancaster Ontario and his VC medal group is on display at the armouries in Cornwall Ontario. A squadron of Cadets also in Ontario are named in his honor. 

His Victoria Cross was awarded for actions on 2 September 1918...  96 years ago Monday past.

Bart 

This is yet another one of those stories you sometimes hear about a soldier that began at the bottom, as a Private and ended up as General. And if that is not enough, along the way this fellow collected  A Military Cross, only one down from the VC in those days, a Croix de Guerre which some would argue is equivalent to the VC or US Medal of Honor, and the CBE Chivalry Medal.

Frederick MW Harvey  was born  in September of 1888 at a place called Athboy in County Meath, Ireland. He attended school at the Portora Royal High School and Ellmore College. On the sports field he was soon becoming a major rugby player. His game had been so improved that he made the International team from Ireland that went up against Wales in 1907.

In 1908 Frederick immigrated to Canada where it is believed he may have taken up the work of a rancher, and had a passion for horses and of course Rugby. The later would see him return to Ireland temporarily in 1911 to again represent the country internationally, this time against France. A country he would see again a few years later in a different sort of battle of wits. Fred's surveying work took him into the north country of Alberta and also at High River.

In 1915 Fred became Private Frederick Harvey with the 23rd Alberta Rangers, a militia unit also known as the Canadian Mountain Rifles. Their cap badge is on the left. With continued demands for soldiers, Fred switched over to the 13th Overseas Expedition Forces at Medicine Hat in May of 1916, cap badge in centre. It would be here that he would be commissioned as a Lieutenant. By late 1916 he would be transferred yet again, this time to the Lord Strathcona's Horse, where he would find a military home for most of the rest of his life. This unit was a part of the Canadian Cavalry Brigade.

On 27 March 1917 Lt. Frederick Harvey was in command of a troop of cavalrymen on horseback moving forth against the enemy. They were in the area of the village of Guyencourt in France, and about 140 Klms west of Luxemburg. The village was about where the "B" is shown on the map above.

He was very much in the forefront of his troops when he found some barbed wire entanglements, trenches and  a machine gun started to pour led his way. He jumped off the horse and using his old rugby day skills as a runner raced forward, got over not only the entanglements and trenches but managed to kill several of the machine gunners. He then picked up their weapon and hauled it off to friendly lines. 

About three months later Lt. Harvey would be awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his bravery that day. Later the DSO would be upgraded to a Victoria Cross. Here is his London Gazette official announcement of the award.

Just a year and three days later Lt Harvey would yet again rise to the task at hand. But this time he would find his troop, one of four troops in a battle against several hundred Germans who were  well dug in on the high ground in an area called the Moreuil Wood. (In the area of  "A" in above map.) Because of it being a high point, it obviously gave the Germans the advantage over the Allies and had to be recaptured by Harvey and his men.

Three of the troops performed a charge similar to that of the famed Light Brigade of many a year earlier, The clashing of swords and the terror of horses clambering over the un-mounted Germans cost all sides many casualties. While 70 % down, the allied troops kept on the advance, by reversing and having another run at it... mostly now on foot with hand to hand swordsmanship eventually taking the ground for the Allies.
 
The Captain in charge, like most of the company, were killed. He would later get the VC...posthumously.  Harvey would be awarded the Military Cross. And not long after, the French Government would award him the Croix de Guerre.

Frederick stayed with the regiment till the war's end...and beyond. While wearing the same cap badge he was promoted to captain and taught at RMC for several years. Later he was posted back to the regiment he would ultimately command it.  From 1939 to 1945 at retirement, Harvey commanded the  13th Alberta  Military District with the rank of Brig. General. From 1958 to 1966 he served as the Lord Strathcona's Horse Honorary Colonel. On his chest he would proudly wear the British chivalry medal...the Commander of the Order of the British Empire. (CBE)

In August of 1980 General Harvey passed away at Fort Maclead Alberta. It was just 6 days short of his 92 birthday. And that birthday was 125 years ago Saturday past.  

Bart