tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1654787233463471463.comments2024-03-12T05:42:37.571-03:00First World War Veterans of Guysborough CountyBruce MacDonaldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05082024294095144086noreply@blogger.comBlogger252125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1654787233463471463.post-83967442036878669222023-11-07T11:07:52.779-04:002023-11-07T11:07:52.779-04:00My great great grandfather and great great uncle&#...My great great grandfather and great great uncle's regiment. Thank you for sharing this. HeyyyMissMarshallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11293174792498357249noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1654787233463471463.post-71802495895197001992023-03-11T19:08:29.350-04:002023-03-11T19:08:29.350-04:00You're welcome, Eric. Indeed, it is important ...You're welcome, Eric. Indeed, it is important to remember this generation of men and women who gave so much in service to their country.Bruce MacDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05082024294095144086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1654787233463471463.post-36372848363120123652023-03-11T14:59:14.020-04:002023-03-11T14:59:14.020-04:00Thank you for publishing this so we can continue t...Thank you for publishing this so we can continue to remember those that gave.Eric Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08959208873715572891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1654787233463471463.post-60244422749685546622022-11-13T19:16:07.678-04:002022-11-13T19:16:07.678-04:00You're most welcome! CRT units played a crucia...You're most welcome! CRT units played a crucial role in the war effort, one that is often overlooked. Infantry bands were important morale boosters for soldiers serving at the front.Bruce MacDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05082024294095144086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1654787233463471463.post-62932135446238662632022-11-13T04:43:44.949-04:002022-11-13T04:43:44.949-04:00My Grandfather, Spencer Walton, served in the Cana...My Grandfather, Spencer Walton, served in the Canadian Railway Troops during WW1, and also played in the corps infantry band, which performed recreational concerts for the soldiers and concerts the wounded at army hospitals. He survived the war, and returned to family life in Toronto. My grandfather was proud to have served with the Canadian Railway Troops, thanks for your informative article. Treasureette on Etsy.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06390566056067239838noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1654787233463471463.post-49529724821330676742022-08-06T20:48:51.575-03:002022-08-06T20:48:51.575-03:00You're most welcome, Eric! When I first starte...You're most welcome, Eric! When I first started researching First World War soldiers, it took some time to sort out all of the various medals and decorations. I thought this would be helpful information for others doing similar work.Bruce MacDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05082024294095144086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1654787233463471463.post-36409918922517231382022-08-06T13:44:53.607-03:002022-08-06T13:44:53.607-03:00Great overview! Thank you for writing this.Great overview! Thank you for writing this.Eric Edwardshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08959208873715572891noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1654787233463471463.post-58248252826001665972022-05-13T16:24:00.938-03:002022-05-13T16:24:00.938-03:00Thanks for the feedback! There are a lot of intere...Thanks for the feedback! There are a lot of interesting stories on the blog. HI hope you find them just as interesting!Bruce MacDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05082024294095144086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1654787233463471463.post-22586530620815195372022-05-13T16:21:20.280-03:002022-05-13T16:21:20.280-03:00It is truly perfect! I read your account of Jack ...It is truly perfect! I read your account of Jack Crittenden -- fascinating, and now I shall read some more!<br />Pitaphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11560904346658655705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1654787233463471463.post-68811944845334154282022-05-13T15:56:45.273-03:002022-05-13T15:56:45.273-03:00Thanks for the link! I have not come across a copy...Thanks for the link! I have not come across a copy of this print anywhere else in Nova Scotia. It is a striking image, the best by far in terms of a cover image for a Canadian First World War book. Bruce MacDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05082024294095144086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1654787233463471463.post-79249672093117043662022-05-13T15:31:46.543-03:002022-05-13T15:31:46.543-03:00Thanks for the info. I was able to locate a copy i...Thanks for the info. I was able to locate a copy in the CDN archives, but it's listed as artist unknown! here's the link if you are interested! https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?app=fonandcol&IdNumber=3000604Pitaphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11560904346658655705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1654787233463471463.post-54842669616588957352022-05-13T15:24:20.238-03:002022-05-13T15:24:20.238-03:00Hello—I found the image at the Mulgrave Royal Cana...Hello—I found the image at the Mulgrave Royal Canadian Legion. It was in a frame, with the name of a First World War veteran, Jack Crittenden, written on the back. The title is "To Her Undying Honour." There were no markings on the back and there is no indication of its source on the front. I have a high resolution scan of the image. Contact me by e-mail if you are interested in a copy.Bruce MacDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05082024294095144086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1654787233463471463.post-29054006883578108562022-05-13T15:06:51.379-03:002022-05-13T15:06:51.379-03:00Hi Bruce, can you tell me about the art on your bo...Hi Bruce, can you tell me about the art on your book cover? Do you know who painted the original or what it's called?Pitaphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11560904346658655705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1654787233463471463.post-5134019475659190182022-01-27T15:36:34.555-04:002022-01-27T15:36:34.555-04:00Thank you for the commentsThank you for the commentsAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09300578701359983138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1654787233463471463.post-2390987237427478332022-01-20T17:12:19.319-04:002022-01-20T17:12:19.319-04:00Thanks for your comment. I hope that the blog post...Thanks for your comment. I hope that the blog post added to your knowledge of your family's story.Bruce MacDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05082024294095144086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1654787233463471463.post-88020933543225946882022-01-20T15:59:08.808-04:002022-01-20T15:59:08.808-04:00I had only learned of him during the last 2 Rememb... I had only learned of him during the last 2 Remembrance day's and I wish I was able to know him just like my Uncle too. But if there was something I know about my family, It is that we had chosen the right thing to do. May he and My Great Grandfather Arthur rest in Peace and Bug each other like they must have in this life to the other they are in right now ...<br /><br />thank you for gathering this knowledge, good sir. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02893226770473264107noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1654787233463471463.post-46786509638738773362022-01-04T11:36:54.176-04:002022-01-04T11:36:54.176-04:00Thanks for the comment, Phil. Unfortunately, I hav...Thanks for the comment, Phil. Unfortunately, I have never heard of the poem you mentioned. Library & Archives Canada has a guide that summarizes the information it has on Canadian Railway Troops, available as a pdf file at this link: https://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/005/f2/005-1142.29.014-e.pdf . You might find reference to the poem in the unit's war diary, perhaps as an appendix, but that is a long shot. The war diary itself would make for interesting reading and should be available online through LAC's advanced search engine. Contact me by e-mail if you are interested in accessing the war diary - it can be a cumbersome process.Bruce MacDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05082024294095144086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1654787233463471463.post-55171673928942085572022-01-03T20:38:47.906-04:002022-01-03T20:38:47.906-04:00Great Article. My great grandfather, Harold Maher ...Great Article. My great grandfather, Harold Maher (1102541) fought with the 7th Canadian Railway Troops. My father used to tell me a story of a poem he used to recite called "the poem of the 7 CRT". Would love to know if you have heard of this or any ideas on how to find this lost poem. Philhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05732768408692465289noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1654787233463471463.post-25155712040673863872021-11-23T11:24:52.637-04:002021-11-23T11:24:52.637-04:00Thanks for your comments, Vincent. I'm glad th...Thanks for your comments, Vincent. I'm glad that you found the CRT post informative.Bruce MacDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05082024294095144086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1654787233463471463.post-36402672774792143522021-11-23T11:23:51.507-04:002021-11-23T11:23:51.507-04:00You're welcome. CRT personnel worked in or clo...You're welcome. CRT personnel worked in or close to the forward area throughout the war and were often subjected to artillery bombardment. Unlike the front line infantry soldiers, there were no trenches or dugouts in which to shelter. It was a very perilous task. The war brought so many tragedies to families, overseas and on the home front. The Halifax explosion impacted so many residents, my wife's family among them. Fortunately in their case, there were no fatalities.Bruce MacDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05082024294095144086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1654787233463471463.post-45384513768417230262021-11-22T16:39:07.837-04:002021-11-22T16:39:07.837-04:00Cheers. J Vincent Pelrine - Antigonish NSCheers. J Vincent Pelrine - Antigonish NSAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02892163855752380282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1654787233463471463.post-65215957998451448832021-11-22T16:37:58.409-04:002021-11-22T16:37:58.409-04:00Thank you for sharing Bruce. My great grandfather...Thank you for sharing Bruce. My great grandfather Richard Stewart at the age of 37 joined the CRT from Halifax with the expansion in March 1917. I'm only recently finding what the function of the light railway was. He survived the war but lost his wife and one of his 8 children in the Halifax Explosion. He was given compassionate leave to return home a few months later to sort out arrangements for the remaining 7 children. I always pictured him as well behind the lines... but the more I learn it seems the CRT were almost right up to the trenches. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02892163855752380282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1654787233463471463.post-60244540949330899482021-11-09T14:38:08.269-04:002021-11-09T14:38:08.269-04:00Thanks for the comment, Mike. I am familiar with t...Thanks for the comment, Mike. I am familiar with the area, as my grandparents resided at Salmon River Lake, not far from Roachvale. Herman's story is quite remarkable and truly indicative of the dangers of military service during the First World War. It also reflects the sacrifices that these young men made, in service to their country.Bruce MacDonaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05082024294095144086noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1654787233463471463.post-7932898561226325902021-11-09T09:22:54.079-04:002021-11-09T09:22:54.079-04:00"We Will Remember them""We Will Remember them"Mike McAllisterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13256980368063380058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1654787233463471463.post-2754882345761793952021-11-09T09:21:18.357-04:002021-11-09T09:21:18.357-04:00I met Herman in Roachvale, Guysborough conty in th...I met Herman in Roachvale, Guysborough conty in the early '60s when I was a child. I can vividly remember seeing Herman's wounded leg and hearing, from my relatives, a story of Herman's WWI service. He lived not far from my Grandmother Maggie (nee Chisholm) McAllister. The Longs were Maggie's nearest neighbours. The Trans Canada Trail now crosses an old railway trestle, part of the never completed rail line on what was the McAllister farm.Mike McAllisterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13256980368063380058noreply@blogger.com