As noted last week, Nova Scotia born George Price was killed in action just a few minutes before the Armistice to end WW l was to take effect.
I first learned of this story just a few weeks ago while doing other research and stumbling upon a very strange looking marker. Investigating further I also saw an image of a guard of honour. It seemed to be made up with men from several regiments. One stood out to me instantly. He was wearing the kilt of the Toronto Scottish Regiment. One of my old units.
Thus my digging in to get the full story, which I started to bring you last week.
I first learned of this story just a few weeks ago while doing other research and stumbling upon a very strange looking marker. Investigating further I also saw an image of a guard of honour. It seemed to be made up with men from several regiments. One stood out to me instantly. He was wearing the kilt of the Toronto Scottish Regiment. One of my old units.
Thus my digging in to get the full story, which I started to bring you last week.
While researching, it reminded me that there is a reoccurring theme that crops up regularly about Canadian war heroes. Be it a Victoria Cross or Medal of Honor recipient, our Iran hostage heroes, the men of the Devil's Brigade, those who played such instrumental roles in the Great Escape, and fellows like George Price, shown here. (Probably before he joined the army.)
Heroes all, that are well represented by various forms of commemoration in far away lands, yet so sparsely honoured here at home in Canada.
Heroes all, that are well represented by various forms of commemoration in far away lands, yet so sparsely honoured here at home in Canada.
This map covers about a dozen kms to the north east and south east of the Mons area of Belgium. To the left (west) of Mons some 100 kms is the famous Vimy Ridge. In the immediate area of this map, about 280 Canadians would be
either killed, wounded or became Missing In Action in the 2 days leading up to the 11 a.m. November 11th Armistice.
At the top of the heavy blue line is a village called Sur Haine. This is where a sniper's bullet took the life of George Price with one shot into the chest from the back. It came from up an incline some distance off and out of Price's sight.
Within minutes the Canadian was dead. He has been claimed to be the last soldier from the Commonwealth to be KIA in the war. He was buried in the immediate area at the Town of Havre's Communal Cemetery.
In 1958 Price's remains were removed and laid to rest at the Military Cemetery at Saint Symphorien. (Shown above at bottom of heavy blue line.) In the same cemetery also at rest is Lt. Maurice J Dease an Irishman and British Officer who's award of the Victoria Cross in August of 1914 was the first such award in the war. Also at rest in this same cemetery is Pte. John Parr of the 4th Bn,.. Middlesex Regiment who was KIA 21 Aug. 1914, the first of the commonwealth to die in action in the war.
Price's actions would be memorialized in several ways over the years including last month.
To begin, on the 50th anniversary of his death, a contingent of still living veterans of the very battle from the 28th North West Battalion, Sask. Regiment, (now the Regina Rifles Regiment) visited the Price grave. While there they also unveiled a memorial tablet that was affixed on the side of a wall of one of the very houses Price and the three others tried to clear back in 1918.
Here is that plaque...
either killed, wounded or became Missing In Action in the 2 days leading up to the 11 a.m. November 11th Armistice.
At the top of the heavy blue line is a village called Sur Haine. This is where a sniper's bullet took the life of George Price with one shot into the chest from the back. It came from up an incline some distance off and out of Price's sight.
Within minutes the Canadian was dead. He has been claimed to be the last soldier from the Commonwealth to be KIA in the war. He was buried in the immediate area at the Town of Havre's Communal Cemetery.
In 1958 Price's remains were removed and laid to rest at the Military Cemetery at Saint Symphorien. (Shown above at bottom of heavy blue line.) In the same cemetery also at rest is Lt. Maurice J Dease an Irishman and British Officer who's award of the Victoria Cross in August of 1914 was the first such award in the war. Also at rest in this same cemetery is Pte. John Parr of the 4th Bn,.. Middlesex Regiment who was KIA 21 Aug. 1914, the first of the commonwealth to die in action in the war.
Price's actions would be memorialized in several ways over the years including last month.
To begin, on the 50th anniversary of his death, a contingent of still living veterans of the very battle from the 28th North West Battalion, Sask. Regiment, (now the Regina Rifles Regiment) visited the Price grave. While there they also unveiled a memorial tablet that was affixed on the side of a wall of one of the very houses Price and the three others tried to clear back in 1918.
Here is that plaque...
The plaque of course told of the 11 November sacrifice of George Price, and gave details of his last minutes of life presumably.
Over the years it was decided to widen the canal, which runs off to the left and under the footbridge, shown above. To do this several homes had to be removed. One of these had the plaque fastened to it side. Above we see the plaque almost in its original position but now without the house.
Over the years it was decided to widen the canal, which runs off to the left and under the footbridge, shown above. To do this several homes had to be removed. One of these had the plaque fastened to it side. Above we see the plaque almost in its original position but now without the house.
Here we see the posthumous British War Medal and Victory Medal and also the memorial plaque, also known as the dead Man's Penny. Over 1.3 million who served and lost their loves during the Great War were awarded this medal. It is engraved..."he died for freedom and honour." Some 600 were awarded to women with the sex altered accordingly. The plaque had the name of the deceased, but no rank as all were to be treated equally.. The family donated these items to a Nova Scotia Legion in the 1960's or 70's.
Here we again see the marker along the canal memorializing George Price, but with some improvements in the 1980's.
It appears that in about 1991 and old motor vehicle bridge was replaced crossing the canal, and as shown in the above picture. That year this new bridge... a walking bridge..or footbridge if you will,..was dedicated to and named after Pte. George Price of Nova Scotia.
In April 2015 quite a crowd from Canada and Belgium gathered near where George fell to his death to rename a public school in his name. Here is a picture of the events that day...
It appears that in about 1991 and old motor vehicle bridge was replaced crossing the canal, and as shown in the above picture. That year this new bridge... a walking bridge..or footbridge if you will,..was dedicated to and named after Pte. George Price of Nova Scotia.
In April 2015 quite a crowd from Canada and Belgium gathered near where George fell to his death to rename a public school in his name. Here is a picture of the events that day...
Several hundred officials, bureaucrats, school leaders military from Canada and Belgium, and students gathered in Ville-Sur-Haines in 1915 to rename their municipal school after George Price. Here we see an official presenting an artistic sketch of the school to the Canadian Ambassador to Belgium, his honour Denis Robert.
Those living in Ottawa or planning a trip to the capital are encouraged to visit the incredible Canadian War Museum down town. It is just minutes walking distance from the Parliament buildings.
There you will find an exhibit for WW1 and within it, the medals donated by the price family and the Royal Canadian Legion.
Next week I will bring the final blog on this subject with the issues that first got me going on it...
see you then
Bart
Those living in Ottawa or planning a trip to the capital are encouraged to visit the incredible Canadian War Museum down town. It is just minutes walking distance from the Parliament buildings.
There you will find an exhibit for WW1 and within it, the medals donated by the price family and the Royal Canadian Legion.
Next week I will bring the final blog on this subject with the issues that first got me going on it...
see you then
Bart
RSS Feed