In the past 150 blogs I have brought you stories of men, and in some cases, women from Both Canada and the US who have become heroes in their own right. When writing these stories I sometimes have to tell you that the subject of the day's blog might not necessarily be a BORN Canadian... or BORN American, But their stories are still very important to either the US or Canada because of a particular relationship that having existed, the full story of this or that nation's Medal of Honor recipients, or Victoria Cross recipients would be incomplete without also telling their stories. Thus when I write that there are 106 Canadian MOH recipients...or with connections to Canada, you know what I am talking about. That said, there are about a couple of dozen Canadians in these columns... that aren't really Canadians MOH recipients. The same concept applies with Canada's 94 VC recipients. Over half were NOT Canadian born as noted when the stories are told. But many sites talking about the Canadian VC's do not readily make note of this fact.
Of the ten men above mentioned, all are brave lads from Newfoundland. All but the tenth man. And it is he that I'll talk about today.
Of the ten men above mentioned, all are brave lads from Newfoundland. All but the tenth man. And it is he that I'll talk about today.
The first nine were soldiers with the Newfoundland Regiment in WW1 and wore the collar dog as shown here. The 10th was possibly in the unit, or attached to the unit on loan from another British regiment. In a picture shown below it appears that the 10th man is wearing the same collar dog though.
This regiment would become famous for its heroism and places like Ypres and Cambrai and would be the only British Regiment later in the war that received the British Government's honour by being allowed to add the Prefix...ROYAL to the beginning of their name whilst the war was still on-going. They also became known as the
This regiment would become famous for its heroism and places like Ypres and Cambrai and would be the only British Regiment later in the war that received the British Government's honour by being allowed to add the Prefix...ROYAL to the beginning of their name whilst the war was still on-going. They also became known as the
BLUE PUTTEES, a nickname for the colour of their clothe puttees. These strips of material when tightly fastened to the leg as shown in the figure in upper left. They were usually an army greenish colour called Olive Drab. But with the quick call for troops and that rapid response to the, then British Colony of Newfoundland's call for men, they lacked many things..including parts of uniforms. The best local suppliers could due was BLUE and thus the nickname. Puttees were still used in WW11 and beyond by Canadian forces, I can remember wearing then back in 1965 when I started a career in the reserves, with the Toronto Scottish. As a private I would be often be cursed at by my corporals for having the darn things unravel as I marched.
But there was a justice. In 1967 I was promoted to Corporal! And while still remembering all those curse words. hehe. The Newfoundland Regiment's puttees are shown to the upper right, and those of the French army at Bottom right and the Germans at bottom left.
But there was a justice. In 1967 I was promoted to Corporal! And while still remembering all those curse words. hehe. The Newfoundland Regiment's puttees are shown to the upper right, and those of the French army at Bottom right and the Germans at bottom left.
About 75 Kms north east of Amiens France, of which you have heard in past blogs, is Monchy le-Preux. It would be within a few miles of Monchy that the Newfoundland Regiment would shown their prowess on the battlefields. It would also be here that it would fall to the ten men above to hold the lines, that if lost, would have resulted in Monchy falling to the Germans. A catastrophe that would require over 40,000 men to recapture according to Major General Sir Beavoir de Lisle, commanding officer of the 29th Division, of which the Newfoundlander Regiment was attached.
The date was 1 July 1916 and was the first day of the Battle for the Somme. Before the day was out the Regiment would be almost decimated. It and the Essex Regiment were moving eastbound while the Germans were heading westbound and like a train, were about to collide on the grounds shown above. As the Newfoundlanders advance on their objectives, shown as heavy dots above, they at first were advancing ahead of other friendly forces in the areas. Soon they encountered British wire obstacles that they had to crawl over. Then they found open land that was very heavily guarded by enemy MG positions and artillery. Soon, because they were so far in advance, the Newfoundlanders took the blunt of the enemy force. In fact, within very short order most were either killed, wounded or taken prisoner.
Word got back to head quarters and the Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. James Forbes-Robertson. He immediately sent an officer out to see what was going on. Soon he got the devastating news that all of the unit was either dead, wounded or missing in front of their position. Forbes-Robertson grabbed all the men he had at his disposal... less then two dozen HQ staff, and ran forward grabbing what ever weapons and ammunition they could find from the wounded or dead. Racing forth his own band of brothers were themselves cut down in minutes to himself and only nine men.
For several hours the Newfoundlanders held that line until reinforcements could come up from the rear. By the following morning the Newfoundland Regiment, that started out the day before with 780 men were reduced to 110 survivors, and of those only 68 could make it to roll call the next morning. Forbes-Robertson's nine men and himself became the heroes of the British army that day. They'd be labelled the Heroes of Monchy and everyone of the surviving ten were later awarded for their bravery. Eight would be awarded the Military Medal. His Lieutenant received the Military Cross and Forbes-Robertson would get the Distinguished Service Order, just one medal below the Victoria Cross.
The date was 1 July 1916 and was the first day of the Battle for the Somme. Before the day was out the Regiment would be almost decimated. It and the Essex Regiment were moving eastbound while the Germans were heading westbound and like a train, were about to collide on the grounds shown above. As the Newfoundlanders advance on their objectives, shown as heavy dots above, they at first were advancing ahead of other friendly forces in the areas. Soon they encountered British wire obstacles that they had to crawl over. Then they found open land that was very heavily guarded by enemy MG positions and artillery. Soon, because they were so far in advance, the Newfoundlanders took the blunt of the enemy force. In fact, within very short order most were either killed, wounded or taken prisoner.
Word got back to head quarters and the Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. James Forbes-Robertson. He immediately sent an officer out to see what was going on. Soon he got the devastating news that all of the unit was either dead, wounded or missing in front of their position. Forbes-Robertson grabbed all the men he had at his disposal... less then two dozen HQ staff, and ran forward grabbing what ever weapons and ammunition they could find from the wounded or dead. Racing forth his own band of brothers were themselves cut down in minutes to himself and only nine men.
For several hours the Newfoundlanders held that line until reinforcements could come up from the rear. By the following morning the Newfoundland Regiment, that started out the day before with 780 men were reduced to 110 survivors, and of those only 68 could make it to roll call the next morning. Forbes-Robertson's nine men and himself became the heroes of the British army that day. They'd be labelled the Heroes of Monchy and everyone of the surviving ten were later awarded for their bravery. Eight would be awarded the Military Medal. His Lieutenant received the Military Cross and Forbes-Robertson would get the Distinguished Service Order, just one medal below the Victoria Cross.
Here are nine of the ten heroes. Lt. Col. Forbes-Robertson is standing in the back centre with cane. Note several of the men are wearing puttees. When I enlarged this picture, the image of his collar dog looked very much like that of the Newfoundland Regiment. Forbes-Robertson was a company commander with them, but was asked to lead the Regiment for a short period while the commander was off recovering. On his return Forbes-Robertson, would soon be sent back to his old regiment... the Border Regiment.
Forbes-Robertson during the war would be warded a second DSO (or a bar to the first to be more accurate), a Military Cross and MID's ( mentions in Dispatch). And he would also get the Victoria Cross as well. That would come from actions in April of 1918 at the Battle of Estaires near the French Belgian border.
Forbes-Robertson was a substantiated Captain, but had been acting as a major at some points of the war and a Lt. Colonel at others, and was in the later rank when he was commanding one of the Border Regiment's battalion. (He would later also command another Bn of this unit) On four different occasions in this battle he would lose horses from under him, would receive wounds yet would continue to rally his troops by foot till another horse came along and through sheer bravery and audacity would hold the lines from incredible German fire power. His April 1918 actions would be recognized by the King and he would be awarded the VC with its publishing of the London Gazette on 22 May 1918.
Later Forbes-Robinson would also hold the rank of a Brig. General whilst carrying out the duties of a staff officer. After the war he continued with the occupation army and served as commanding officer of several different regiments. In 1934 he retired after having served 30 years in the army. He then moved to the Cheltenham area of Gloucestershire England and passed away in 1955 at age 71.
This hero was born back in 1884 in Scotland and died in England on 7 July, 58 years ago Sunday past. His story is not usually included in the lists of Canadian VC's but he certainly did most honourable service with the Newfoundland Regiment, later the Royal Newfoundlanders, and yet later earned his VC and perhaps should be include because of his service.
NOTE:
I will again unfortunately be away from my computer on research tomorrow. I will be doing catch up columns on Sat and Sunday so please stay tuned in.
Bart
Forbes-Robertson during the war would be warded a second DSO (or a bar to the first to be more accurate), a Military Cross and MID's ( mentions in Dispatch). And he would also get the Victoria Cross as well. That would come from actions in April of 1918 at the Battle of Estaires near the French Belgian border.
Forbes-Robertson was a substantiated Captain, but had been acting as a major at some points of the war and a Lt. Colonel at others, and was in the later rank when he was commanding one of the Border Regiment's battalion. (He would later also command another Bn of this unit) On four different occasions in this battle he would lose horses from under him, would receive wounds yet would continue to rally his troops by foot till another horse came along and through sheer bravery and audacity would hold the lines from incredible German fire power. His April 1918 actions would be recognized by the King and he would be awarded the VC with its publishing of the London Gazette on 22 May 1918.
Later Forbes-Robinson would also hold the rank of a Brig. General whilst carrying out the duties of a staff officer. After the war he continued with the occupation army and served as commanding officer of several different regiments. In 1934 he retired after having served 30 years in the army. He then moved to the Cheltenham area of Gloucestershire England and passed away in 1955 at age 71.
This hero was born back in 1884 in Scotland and died in England on 7 July, 58 years ago Sunday past. His story is not usually included in the lists of Canadian VC's but he certainly did most honourable service with the Newfoundland Regiment, later the Royal Newfoundlanders, and yet later earned his VC and perhaps should be include because of his service.
NOTE:
I will again unfortunately be away from my computer on research tomorrow. I will be doing catch up columns on Sat and Sunday so please stay tuned in.
Bart
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