It was almost 170 years ago that the actions of a Nova Scotia journalist rocked the boats of officialdom so bad that the press of today still enjoy his results.
That fellow was Joseph Howe. He used his newspaper... the Nova Scotian, to expose government corruption going back for about 30 years. Government of course then did the typical by accusing him of libel and hauling him before the courts. No lawyer in town would take on the case and so he gave an oration in court on his own behalf that lasted 6 hours.
The jury, while instructed to find him guilty, did the opposite and acquitted him. It took them only 10 minutes of deliberation before announcing their verdict. He would later claim that..."The Press in Nova Scotia is Free. A benefit still enjoyed across the country to this very day.
Howe would go on to become the province's Premiere, a Father of Confederation, though opposed, and later an MP, and still later the province's Lt. Governor.
In August of 1871, Howe attended a massive family gathering for Howe's, of various spellings, across North America. In his address at Framingham Massachusetts. His words of wisdom included the following...
That fellow was Joseph Howe. He used his newspaper... the Nova Scotian, to expose government corruption going back for about 30 years. Government of course then did the typical by accusing him of libel and hauling him before the courts. No lawyer in town would take on the case and so he gave an oration in court on his own behalf that lasted 6 hours.
The jury, while instructed to find him guilty, did the opposite and acquitted him. It took them only 10 minutes of deliberation before announcing their verdict. He would later claim that..."The Press in Nova Scotia is Free. A benefit still enjoyed across the country to this very day.
Howe would go on to become the province's Premiere, a Father of Confederation, though opposed, and later an MP, and still later the province's Lt. Governor.
In August of 1871, Howe attended a massive family gathering for Howe's, of various spellings, across North America. In his address at Framingham Massachusetts. His words of wisdom included the following...
For the last 20 years and more of research, 12 in doing these blogs and almost 600 blogs, in my own humble way I am trying to honour Mr Howe's wishes to document and preserve the materials noted within each edition in this space.
Sadly, I see much room for improvement by Canadian governments at all levels and the press in doing the same!
And in doing this work I often turn to the materials found at the US government web site of the Department Of Defense, and within, from the materials under the weekly title ... "Medal of Honor Mondays." ( searchable on the net.)
I highly recommend you Google this title to read of the incredible heroism covered by Medal of Honor men (and one woman) dating back of course to the US Civil War days of 1861-5.
Sadly, I see much room for improvement by Canadian governments at all levels and the press in doing the same!
And in doing this work I often turn to the materials found at the US government web site of the Department Of Defense, and within, from the materials under the weekly title ... "Medal of Honor Mondays." ( searchable on the net.)
I highly recommend you Google this title to read of the incredible heroism covered by Medal of Honor men (and one woman) dating back of course to the US Civil War days of 1861-5.
This is the cover page of that site.
In one of the last month's issues the site tells briefly about the incredible bravery of Charles E Hosking Jr. and his Medal of Honor. But it does not include a wonderful tidbit about his service.
He ran away as a youth to join the army. Being too young in the US he fled to Canada...and was only 16 yrs old, and obviously gave fake birth details.
In one of the last month's issues the site tells briefly about the incredible bravery of Charles E Hosking Jr. and his Medal of Honor. But it does not include a wonderful tidbit about his service.
He ran away as a youth to join the army. Being too young in the US he fled to Canada...and was only 16 yrs old, and obviously gave fake birth details.
This is Charles wearing his Canadian army uniform. It is that of the famed Black Watch. His service was cut real short. Less than 3 months.
As told in this space in the past he and other mates were in a pub drinking and acting silly when he had mentioned his home town in the US. An older man in the bar that very night knew the name of the town... because it was also that man's hometown.
The man, an insurance man by trade, was in Montreal on a holiday when he saw Charles in the bar. On hearing his last name immediately contacted the family back home.
He knew who to call as the parents were, in fact one of the agent's customers, and the agent had earlier been told by his clients that Charles was "missing."
The family contacted US authorities who contacted Canadian authorities and ultimately Charles was released from the Black Watch after less that 3 months service.
A year would pass and at age 17 he would run away again. This time he found a new home... and uniform... with the US Coast Guard. But a child-hood heart problem caused his early release and sending off back to his home yet again. This, after about 6 months service, and still underage.
As noted in an earlier blog, when finally of age he would join up with the US Army and would go on to serve several enlistments and postings with several units and would end up wearing the rank of a Master Sergeant, as shown below.
As told in this space in the past he and other mates were in a pub drinking and acting silly when he had mentioned his home town in the US. An older man in the bar that very night knew the name of the town... because it was also that man's hometown.
The man, an insurance man by trade, was in Montreal on a holiday when he saw Charles in the bar. On hearing his last name immediately contacted the family back home.
He knew who to call as the parents were, in fact one of the agent's customers, and the agent had earlier been told by his clients that Charles was "missing."
The family contacted US authorities who contacted Canadian authorities and ultimately Charles was released from the Black Watch after less that 3 months service.
A year would pass and at age 17 he would run away again. This time he found a new home... and uniform... with the US Coast Guard. But a child-hood heart problem caused his early release and sending off back to his home yet again. This, after about 6 months service, and still underage.
As noted in an earlier blog, when finally of age he would join up with the US Army and would go on to serve several enlistments and postings with several units and would end up wearing the rank of a Master Sergeant, as shown below.
Among several postings, he would be in Germany and fighting in the famous Battle of the Bulge. It would be here that PEI born Charles McGillivray would earn a Medal of Honor, and in fact in later years go on to become the President of the Congressional Medal of Honor Society.
Hosking would serve in Korea and do three tours in Vietnam. It was during his last tour that he grappled with an enemy soldier about to toss a grenade towards several of his mates. The grenade was trapped between the two as they stumbled to the ground and then exploded, killing both.
For this action Charles Hosking was awarded the Medal of Honor, but posthumously.
Hosking would serve in Korea and do three tours in Vietnam. It was during his last tour that he grappled with an enemy soldier about to toss a grenade towards several of his mates. The grenade was trapped between the two as they stumbled to the ground and then exploded, killing both.
For this action Charles Hosking was awarded the Medal of Honor, but posthumously.
President Nixon presented the MOH to Charles' 7 year old son, and is said to have actually draped it around his neck as well.
Above also shown is an image of his dad's grave marker.
Above also shown is an image of his dad's grave marker.
In 2000 the Police Benevolent Association of Ramsey NJ, his hometown, dedicated this memorial to him at Veterans' Park.
More on Sunday,
Bart
More on Sunday,
Bart
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