Pte. James Kendall Bright - A 'Black Watch' Soldier's Story

Date of Birth: June 19, 1894*

Place of Birth: Country Harbour Cross Roads, Guysborough County

Mother's Name: Margaret Olive Fenton

Father's Name: John William Bright

Date of Enlistment: April 4, 1916 at Guysborough, NS

Regimental Number: 901531

Rank: Private

Name of Units: 193rd Battalion; 42nd Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada); 20th Reserve Battalion

Location of service: England, France & Belgium

Occupation at Enlistment: Gold miner

Marital Status at Enlistment: Single

Next of Kin: Mr. John W. Bright, Goldenville, Guysborough County

*: Attestation papers list date of birth as June 19, 1895.

*****

 

Born at Country Harbour Cross Roads, Guysborough County on June 19, 1894, James Kendall Bright was the youngest of three boys raised by Margaret Olive (Fenton) and John William Bright and the only son to serve with the Canadian Expeditionary Force.  Sometime during Kendall's childhood, the family relocated to nearby Goldenville, where he later found employment in the local gold mines.  On April 6, 1916, he responded to Nova Scotia's first concerted recruiting campaign, enlisting with the Highland Brigade's 193rd Battalion at Guysborough.

Pte. James Kendall Bright

Kendall spent several weeks training at Guysborough before relocating to Camp Aldershot, where the battalion passed the summer months preparing for overseas service.  On October 12, 1916, he boarded the SS Olympic for the voyage to England, arriving at Liverpool on October 18, 1916.  The battalion proceeded to Camp Witley, where the unit trained as it awaited transfer to the front lines.

Unfortunately, the 193rd suffered the fate of many battalions raised during 1916 and was dissolved before year's end, its soldiers dispersed to existing infantry or reserve battalions. On December 5, 1916, Private Kendall Bright was officially transferred to the 42nd Battalion CEF and immediately proceeded across the English Channel for service.

*****

The 42nd Battalion CEF was the second of three units recruited during World War I by the 5th Battalion, Royal Highlanders of Canada, a Montreal-based militia unit affiliated with Scotland's famous Black Watch regiment.  As Canada's oldest Highland regiment, its three battalions - 13th, 42nd and 73rd - were commonly identified throughout the war as the 'Black Watch', although the title was not officially part of its name until 1930. 

The 42nd had arrived in France on October 9, 1915 and was assigned to the Belgian trenches of the Ypres Salient.  For two months, its soldiers provided work parties for trench construction and repair.  On November 21, 1915, the men were issued a second blanket, a pair of woolen mittens, a fur coat and 'trews' [trousers] as the battalion prepared for the arrival of winter.  The battalion war diary commented: "Kilts, hose tops and sporans were called in and sent to Paris to be renovated and stored until spring."  The men were no doubt relieved by the wardrobe change, as a kilt was hardly appropriate apparel for winter service in the trenches.

On December 12, 1915, the 42nd was officially assigned to the 7th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division, serving alongside the Halifax-based Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR), Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) and the Edmonton-based 49th Battalion.  The brigade commenced its first rotation 'in the line' on January 7, 1916 near Dranoutre, Belgium.  The 42nd served in the Ypres sector until early September 1916, when it relocated to the Somme region of France for its first major battle experience.

On September 15 and 16, 1916, the 42nd participated in the attack on Courcelette.  The impact on the battalion was devastating: one officer and 73 'other ranks' (OR) killed; 6 officers and 290 OR wounded, and 66 OR missing.  Only 266 'all ranks' reported for roll call the day after the battle.  The battalion spent the next several months in the Courcelette area training, providing work parties and receiving reinforcements while serving in a regular front line rotation.

The 42nd's war diary recorded the arrival of 250 'OR' on January 3, 1917.  Amongst their number was young Kendall Bright, who would spend the duration of his service at the front with the battalion.  At the time of his arrival, the unit was in Brigade Reserve at Neuville - St. Vaaste, France.  Five days later, Kendall received his first experience 'in the line' as the 42nd relieved the PPCLI in the front trenches.  As there was little fighting during winter, the men spent most of their time repairing trenches and the battalion recorded only 5 'OR' wounded during the tour.

Kendall spent the next several months serving in a rotation of front line duty, brigade reserve, and periods of rest and training.  Canadian Prime Minister Sir Robert Borden formally reviewed the 7th Brigade's four battalions on March 9, 1917 as the men trained over 'taped trenches' on a simulated battlefield.  When the battalion returned to the front lines on March 22, Kendall received his first significant experience 'under fire'. 

At 3:00 am March 23, German soldiers detonated a large mine located beneath the 42nd's position, seriously damaging a 30-yard sector of its front trenches.  The battalion managed to hold the resulting crater despite heavy enemy fire, suffering only light casualties under the treacherous circumstances.   The men spent the remaining time in the line rebuilding trenches and saps. closing the gap created by the explosion before being relieved on April 1.

The welcome break was short-lived as two of the battalion's companies moved back into the front trenches near Villers au Bois on the night of April 5/6.  The arrival of spring made conditions increasingly uncomfortable: "The weather was wretched cold and wet.  The men were put to work cleaning out assembly trenches, which had fallen in badly owing to the wet weather."  Two days later, the battalion's remaining companies moved into the line as the Canadian Corps prepared for it assault on Vimy Ridge.  The war diary described the final preparations:

"Getting platoons into their proper places for moving into their assembly trenches and distribution of material to be carried over with the attacking waves.  By Sunday midnight, final preparations were completed, and the men were waiting [sic] the order to move out."

'Black Watch' Recruitment Poster.

Kendall was amongst the 722 members of the 42nd Battalion who moved into assembly trenches at 4:00 am April 9, the Princess Pats to their right and the 102nd Battalion, a British Columbia regiment, to their left.  All soldiers were in position by 4:45 am awaiting the opening barrage, scheduled for 5:30 am.  The battalions moved out as scheduled, following the artillery's 'creeping barrage' up the ridge's steep slope.  The war diary noted that "visibility was very low, [and] the men had to advance in drizzling rain changing to sleet."  The 42nd reached its initial objective by 8:15 am, but the 102nd to its left was held up by stiff resistance.  As a result, the battalion was subjected to "sniping and rifle fire" on its left flank as well as from an elevated location called Hill 145.

By 10:10 am, the battalion had suffered an estimated 200 casualties and was experiencing difficulty evacuating its wounded.  At noon, the war diary commented that "after three different calls for stretchers none have arrived yet."  Plans to launch an attack on points of enemy resistance were postponed, subjecting the men to heavy shelling as they attempted to 'dig in'.  Fortunately, the battalion suffered only one 'direct hit' as it settled in for the night.

At 8:25 am the following morning, 25 wounded soldiers still awaited evacuation as personnel were unable to move the wounded due to a "scarcity of stretchers".  By 11:45 am, the battalion received confirmation that Hill 145 had been captured.  For the remainder of the day, the men worked on consolidating the new line and overcoming remaining points of resistance on their left flank.

At 5:45 am April 11, "what was left" of D Coy., 42nd Battalion was relieved in the line, followed by the remaining companies as the day progressed.  The war diary recorded 5 officers killed or 'died of wounds', with 291 'OR' killed or wounded.  Amongst the casualties removed from the battlefield for medical treatment was Pte. Kendall Bright.

*****

Kendall suffered a shrapnel wound to his leg during the April 9 assault on Vimy Ridge.  He may well have been amongst the wounded awaiting evacuation on the first day of fighting.  Kendall was admitted to 2nd Australian General Hospital, Wimereux, France on April 14 before being transferred to the 1st Convalescent Depot, 32nd Stationary Hospital, Wimereux six days later.  The length of his hospital stay suggests that his injuries were not serious, as Kendall was discharged to a nearby rest camp on April 21.  One week later, he was 'taken on strength' by the Canadian Base Depot, where he passed the next six weeks awaiting orders to proceed to the front lines.

A second health issue prevented Kendall's return to the line when he was admitted to 7th Canadian General Hospital, Etaples with 'trench fever' (influenza) on June 12, 1917.  He was invalided to England and admitted to the General Military Hospital, Fort Pitt, Chatham on July 3.  Kendall was discharged after ten days' treatment and transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital, Woodcote Park, Epsom, where he spent an additional week regaining his strength.  A note on his medical records stated "no disability from influenza[,] recovered" upon discharge.

On July 20, Kendall was assigned to the 20th Reserve Battalion, Epsom and given ten days' sick furlough with full transportation.  Upon his return to camp, he spent almost four months in England before being reassigned to the 42nd Battalion on November 10.  Arriving in France the following day, Kendall left to rejoin the unit in the field on November 15, 1917.

By that time, the 42nd had returned to Belgium, where it participated in the Canadian Corps' attack on Passchendaele.  When Kendall arrived on November 21, 1917 as one of 146 'OR' reinforcements, the battalion was located in Bourecq, France, where it spent one month training and recovering from its recent assignment.  The war diary commented that "the battalion was fortunate enough to have [access to a] 75 yard rifle range, a Lewis Gun range, and bombing and rifle grenade pits, and daily use was made of each."  On November 30, the diary entry recorded that "the Battalion, pursuant to a request received some time prior from the 1st Battalion of Imperial Black Watch, adopted the Red Hackle as part of its Head-dress."

The 42nd relieved the 16th Canadian Battalion in Brigade Support at Lievin, France on December 23, 1917, providing nightly work parties to wire nearby support trenches.  Six days later, Kendall returned to the front trenches as the battalion relieved the 49th in the line near Lens.  On the night of January 4/5 1918, the unit retired to Divisional Reserve at Souchez, having suffered only two slight casualties - one accidental - during its short tour.  The men enjoyed 'postponed' Christmas and New Year's dinners while camped at Souchez.

'Black Watch' World War I sporan.

On January 9, 1918, perhaps due to his previous mining experience, Kendall was temporarily assigned to the 3rd Australian Tunnelling Company.  He returned to the battalion on January 22, only to be assigned to 'Duty at Petrol Siding' two days later.  On February 19, 1918, he rejoined the battalion at Nieux Les Mines, France, where it was training and providing work parties.  Two days after his return, the battalion relocated to Villers au Bois before moving again to Neuville St. Vaast, where training and work party activity continued.

The 42nd returned to the line for its first tour of 1918 near Vimy on the night of March 6/7.  Kendall and his comrades served in rotation in this location for the next several months.  While there was little activity on its line, the battalion 'stood to' on March 28 as German forces launched a major attack on British and French forces to the south, from Oppy to the Scarpe River.  Its position was not attacked and the battalion's light casualties for the month - 1 officer wounded (poison gas), 1 OR killed, 16 OR wounded - indicate the limited fighting in its sector in front of Vimy Ridge.

On April 30, the 42nd's fifty-fifth consecutive day on rotation - "the longest continuous tour which the Battalion had ever done in the front line" - the battalion and its sister units moved into Brigade Reserve.  It casualties for the month were once again light: two officers wounded, 5 OR killed, 25 OR wounded and transferred to hospital, 6 OR wounded but remaining on duty, and 1 OR missing (taken prisoner during an enemy night raid). 

The men spent the next two months in camp near St. Hilaire, following a schedule that included training, sports and recreational activities.  On the night of June 28/29, the 42nd returned to the front trenches at Neuville Vitasse.  Once again, there was little fighting in its sector as Kendall and his comrades served one month on rotation.  On the night of July 30/31, the unit relocated to Dury, near Amiens, the battalion's furthest point south since arriving in France.  The war diary remarked that "much interest was displayed by the French troops and civilians in the Highland dress of the Battalion." 

July casualties continued to be light by comparison to earlier tours, with 2 OR killed, 2 OR dying of wounds, and 1 officer and 10 OR wounded.  The subsequent months, however, brought a dramatic increase in these numbers as the Canadian Corps participated in a major Allied offensive.  The 42nd spent the first week of August preparing for a scheduled attack at Amiens, moving by night to Gentelles Wood on August 7/8.  The attack was launched in the early morning along approximately 30 kilometres of front line, the Canadian Corps occupying a central position with French troops to its right and the Australian Corps to its left.  The objective was to capture a strategic section of the main rail line between Amiens and Paris.

The 42nd was one of three 7th Division battalions selected to participate in the initial assault, which commenced in the early hours of August 8 without preliminary artillery bombardment to preserve the element of surprise.  The 7th Brigade moved into its 'jumping off' positions as 6: 00 am, an hour and a half after the attack commenced, and moved out at 8:20 am despite a "heavy mist which hung over everything", obscuring visibility.  The unit reached its objective by 10:20 am, with the 4th Canadian Division passing through its lines at 2:00 pm as scheduled.  Casualties were light considering the scale of the assault: 12 OR killed, 2 OR died of wounds, 2 officers and 29 OR wounded.

The following day, the battalion rested near Claude Wood before moving to the newly captured village of Folies in the evening.  The location was bombed by enemy aircraft the following day, killing 3 OR and wounding 12.  On August 11, the battalion occupied positions on the newly established front line at Parvillers.  The trenches it occupied were part of the old British line captured by German forces during its Spring 1918 offensive.  A strip of 'No Man's Land' varying in width from 150 to 300 yards separated the battalion from enemy forces.

On the night of August 13/14, members of the 42nd participated in a 10-hour attack on German trenches, involving "hand-to-hand fighting during which the attack was many times pressed home with the bayonet."  The battalion was relieved in the line on the night of August 15/16.  Two officers and 30 OR were killed, 5 officers and 101 OR wounded and 10 OR subsequently died of wounds in the fighting at Amiens and Parvillers.  The 42nd retired to Hamon Wood for several days' rest and training after one of the most challenging tours of its war service.

On August 23, Kendall and the 42nd relocated to Manin, where they prepared for a scheduled attack east of Arras.  The advance was launched at 3:00 am August 26, the 42nd occupying a reserve position in the attack formation.  The battalion advanced at 10:00 am but was held up by the RCR's inability to keep pace with its progress.  Heavy artillery shelling in the late afternoon inflicted several casualties.

Pte. Charles Albert Batten, 42nd Bn. (KIA August 28, 1918) in khaki Highland attire.

The advance continued the following day, with the 42nd moving into positions along the newly established line on the night of August 27/28.  The battalion occupied a salient that jutted about 500 yards into enemy lines.  Heavy fighting took place late in the day as the unit advanced, capturing another section of enemy trench.  The battalion was relieved later that night, retiring to billets near Arras. 

In total, the 7th Division had advanced 9000 yards, gradually expanding a 3000-yard front to 7000 yards of trenches, crossing five German lines of defence, and securing six French villages.  Considering the intensity of the fighting, the 42nd's casualties were relatively light: 3 officers and 60 OR killed, 12 OR died of wounds, 12 officers and 225 OR wounded at tour's end.

The 42nd returned to the line on the night of September 5/6, taking up positions west of Cagnicourt.  Three days later, the unit relocated to trenches near Canal du Nord.  Daytime movement was impossible as the battalion occupied a reverse slope facing the canal and was thus exposed to direct enemy observation.  German infantry unsuccessfully attacked their position at 1:20 am September 10 and a second time at dusk the same day.

The 42nd was relieved on the night of September 11/12 and passed the next week in Division Reserve.  Their strength was bolstered by the arrival of 78 OR to compensate for their recent losses.  On September 19, the unit relocated to Dainville, where the men completed a second week of training before returning to the trenches on September 26 in preparation for an attack on German positions at Canal du Nord.

The battle commenced at 5:20 am September 27, with the 3rd Division occupying support positions north of Moeuvres, behind the other three Canadian Divisions.  The 7th Brigade was the first 3rd Division unit to advance following the initial attack, with the 42nd supporting its three sister battalions.  The 42nd crossed the canal in the early afternoon via an infantry bridge constructed by Canadian engineers and spent the night in the open, enduring heavy bombardment with gas shells. As a result, "the men were compelled to sleep with their Box Respirators adjusted."

The following morning, the battalion occupied a position behind a railroad embankment east of Bourlon Wood.  While the men were subjected to heavy artillery barrage, the position was well protected, although a steady rain ensured that "everybody got thoroughly wet".  The 42nd was placed in reserve once more as the other three 7th Division battalions advanced, encountering "heavy opposition".  As a result, Kendall and his comrades spent the day sheltered behind the railroad embankment.

On September 29, the battalion received orders to capture the railroad embankment and establish bridgeheads along St. Quentin Canal.  The war diary commented: "The morning was fine with a heavy ground mist which prevented any visibility….  It was feared that direction might be difficult to maintain."  As the attack commenced, "a withering fire from Machine Guns at point blank range… [that] caused very severe casualties" slowed the advance.

Under heavy fire, four advance parties succeeded in crossing the Douai - Cambrai Road and establishing a forward post.  Despite a supporting artillery bombardment at 12:30 pm, the battalion was unable to advance due to heavy machine gun fire and was forced to 'dig in' behind whatever shelter was available.  The advance resumed the following day, once again encountering fierce resistance in addition to an unsuccessful counterattack.  On October 1 - two days after its initial advance - the 42nd finally captured the high ground near the railroad embankment and withdrew from the line later that night.  The battalion suffered significant losses in the fighting: 6 officers and 55 OR killed, 11 officers and 221 OR wounded.

Once again, Kendall was amongst the wounded, suffering from the effects of exposure to poison gas during the second day's fighting.  He was admitted to the 14th Canadian Field Ambulance on October 1 and then transferred to the Canadian Casualty Recovery Station (CCRS) the following day.  Thankfully, the gas did not seriously impact his health and he rejoined his unit in the field on October 10, 1918. 

Black Watch pipe band on parade in Mons, Belgium - November 11, 1918.

By that time, the 42nd was training at Queant, where the battalion received an informal visit from HRH Edward, Prince of Wales, on October 17.  The following day, the unit was granted leave for 20 OR for the following week, "a considerable increase on the recent allotment which the Battalion had been receiving."  Kendall was amongst the fortunate soldiers granted 14 days' leave on October 20. 

When Kendall returned in early November, the battalion was training at Fosse de Prussien,Vicoigne.  Over the following week, the 42nd moved by route march through recently captured enemy territory as German forces retreated toward Belgium.  The journey to Jemappes was particularly noteworthy:

"Throughout the whole march the streets were lined with cheering civilians who gave the Battalion a tremendous reception."  By now, there was no doubt a sense that the war was approaching some sort of conclusion. 

On November 10, the 7th Brigade launched a major attack on the city of Mons, Belgium.  The 42nd's war diary recorded a tragic incident on what proved to be the last full day of the conflict:

"An H.V. shell burst in the Farrier's workshop killing two men outright and wounding ten others, four of whom afterwards died of wounds.  The majority of these men had come with the Battalion from Montreal and had been with it for thirty-seven months in France."

By the early morning hours of November 11, the 7th Brigade had established total control of the city.  The 42nd's war diary captured the excitement of what proved to be the final hours of the war:

"The [battalion] Pipe Band played itself into the city about 07.00 Hours and created tremendous enthusiasm.  Thousands of civilians lined the streets and the Grand Palace, and the Battalion was given such a welcome as it had never seen before.  Men, women and children vied with one another in expressing their hospitality - hot coffee, cognac and wines were distributed with the utmost generosity.  Soldiers were everywhere embraced and kissed.  In a few moments the whole city was bedecked with flags, flying from every window."

By 9:00 am, the battalion received official notification of the impending ceasefire, scheduled to take place at 11:00 am.  At that precise hour, the Mayor presented the Commander of the 7th Brigade with keys to the city in honour of its role in liberating Mons.  The war diary described the ceremony marking the occasion:

"Such elements of the Brigade as could be withdrawn from the line were formed up en masse and after the celebrations were completed there was a formal march past which was led by our Pipe Band…. The great square was filled with civilians and the troops got tremendous applause as they marched out…. The day was the most memorable in the history of the 42nd Cdn. Battalion by virtue of the fact that it was our good fortune to have the honour to capture the most historic City in the annals of the war."

The battalion spent the next several days resting, cleaning up, and enjoying the hospitality of the newly liberated city.  Kendall's time with the battalion, however, was cut short by the return of illness on November 15.  He was admitted to the 1st Stationary Hospital at Rouen for treatment, spending three weeks there before being discharged on December 7 and assigned to the nearby Canadian Base Details.  Health issues continued to plague him as he was readmitted to 5th General Hospital, Etaples on December 19, 1918 and then transferred to 7th Stationary Hospital, Camiers on January 23, 1919.

On February 7, 1919, Kendall was finally discharged from medical treatment and returned to the Canadian Record List of soldiers.  He was posted to the Quebec Regional Depot, Ripon, England on March 7 only to be transferred to Kimmel Park, Rhyl for return to Canada two days later.  On March 29, 1919, Kendall boarded HMT Caronia, arriving at Halifax on April 5.  He was formally discharged from military service on April 13, 1919.

*****

Kendall returned to civilian life at Sherbrooke, where he married Mary Viola Jordan, a native of Goldenville, on July 20, 1920.  He and his wife subsequently raised a family of four children - two boys and two girls - in the small village where Kendall spent the remainder of his years.  During the Second World War, he served in the Veterans' Guard.  Amongst his occupations, he served as caretaker of the local post office.  Sadly, his wife, Mary Viola, passed away in 1957 at age 54. 

Kendall Bright died at Camp Hill Hospital, Halifax on January 9, 1970 and was laid to rest in St. James Anglican Cemetery, Sherbrooke.  He was one of only a few Guysborough veterans to have served with the war's most distinguished Canadian Highland battalions.

Gravestone of Mary & Kendall Bright, St. James Anglican Cemetery, Sherbrooke, NS.

*****

Sources:

Regimental Record of Pte. James Kendall Black, No. 901531.  Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 1067 - 28.  Attestation papers available online.

War Diary of 42nd Canadian Infantry Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada).  Transcribed by Michael Thierens (2012).  Available online.

Photograph of Pte. James Kendall Bright obtained from A Short History and Photographic Record of the Nova Scotia Overseas Brigade, CEF, Public Archives of Nova Scotia, Halifax.  Reproduced with permission of PANS.

Photograph of James Kendall Bright's gravestone courtesy of Winn (Manson) Campbell, Kingston, NS.

The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada

The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada traces its roots to the formation of the 5th Regiment, Volunteer Militia Rifles of Canada in Montreal on January 31, 1862.  At that time, British North American colonial governments, alarmed by the dramatic increase in the United States' military strength during the American Civil War (1861-65) and concerned over a possible attack as a result of deteriorating British - American relations following the Trent Affair (November 1861), took measures to protect themselves.  The Montreal unit was formed "to protect the fundamental rights" of British North Americans.  Six local Scottish chieftains responded to its call for volunteers, organizing a total of eight companies.  As a result of their efforts, the 5th Regiment is officially recognized as Canada's senior Scottish regiment.

13th Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada) First World War cap badge.  Source: 'Spañiard'

The regiment was called to duty on two occasions after the American Civil War, when a series of raids by the Fenian Brotherhood, an Irish nationalist organization based in the United States, threatened Canada's security.  From March 8 to 31, 1866 and again from May 24 to 31, 1870, the Volunteer Militia Rifles were placed on active service along Quebec's southern-eastern border with the United States.

The regiment's Scottish character took shape during its first decades of operation, when it adopted Scotland's "Black Watch" as its model.  The famous Scottish regiment was formed in 1739 to "guarantee peace in the highlands of Scotland" and later served with the British Army in conflicts around the world.  The Voluntary Militia Rifles adopted its dress, clothing its soldiers in Black Watch tartan while its pipers wore Royal Stewart kilts. 

The Montreal militia unit changed its name to the 5th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers on February 27, 1880, at which time it was officially designated a Scottish regiment.  In 1905, a formal agreement with Scotland's Black Watch led to exchanges of officers and 'other ranks' as well as military liaison between the two units.  This connection was formally acknowledged on October 1, 1906, when the Canadian regiment was renamed the 5th Regiment, Royal Highlanders of Canada.  While First World War documents used its Scottish counterpart's famous moniker in references to its Canadian affiliate, the battalion did not formally adopt the title "The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada" until January 1, 1930.

Black Watch Recruitment Poster.

With the outbreak of war in Europe, the 5th Regiment was placed on "local protective duty" on August 6, 1914 and immediately set about recruiting volunteers for overseas service.  The 13th Battalion CEF (Royal Highlanders of Canada), authorized on September 1, 1914, was the first of three fighting units organized by the 5th Regiment.  The 13th departed for England on September 26 - one month prior to the sailing of Canada's 'First Contingent' - and landed in France on February 15, 1915 as part of the 3rd Infantry Brigade, 1st Canadian Division.  The battalion served in Flanders and France for the duration of the war.

A second battalion - the 42nd CEF (Royal Highlanders of Canada) - was authorized on November 7, 1914 and sailed for England on June 10, 1915 with a complement of 40 officers and 978 'other ranks'.  Its personnel landed in France on October 9, 1915 as part of the 7th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division and also served in Flanders and France for the duration of the conflict.  As combat depleted its numbers, the unit drew reinforcements from the 20th Reserve Battalion.  The 42nd returned to England on February 8, 1919 and departed for Canada on March 9, 1919.  Its personnel were demobilized two days after returning home.

A third Royal Highlanders battalion - the 73rd CEF - was officially authorized on July 10, 1915 and embarked for England on March 31, 1916.  The unit arrived in France on August 13, 1916 as part of the 12th Infantry Brigade, 4th Canadian Division.  The 73rd was deployed in the front trenches throughout the autumn and winter of 1916-17.  While it participated in the Canadian Division's April 9, 1917 assault on Vimy Ridge, the battalion was officially disbanded ten days later and its personnel were dispersed as reinforcements to other units.

Regimental cap badge and Red Hackle.

Scotland's Black Watch formal dress traditionally includes the 'Red Hackle', a feather worn by its soldiers during their service in the American War of Independence (1775 - 1783).  The decoration became exclusive to the battalion after 1822.  Members of the Canadian unit reportedly wore it in their dress headgear as early as 1863, but were not officially granted the right to do so until 1895.  The CEF battalions that arrived in France refused to wear the Red Hackle until they had proven themselves in battle.  Members of the 13th Battalion displayed the feather after November 16, 1916, while the 42nd included it in their head-dress after November 30, 1917.  Today's Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada continues to wear the distinctive symbol on formal occasions.

The 13th and 42nd Battalions - along with all other CEF fighting units - were officially disbanded by General Order on September 15, 1920.  Altogether, 11,954 men served in the Black Watch's three CEF battalions during the war.  A total of 2,163 men were killed, 6,014 wounded and 821 decorated for bravery during service.  Six Victoria Crosses were awarded to Canadian Black Watch soldiers in recognition of acts of outstanding bravery.

The Montreal militia unit continued to operate after the war ended and once again provided volunteers for combat during the Second World War.  Members of The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada participated in the disastrous August 1942 raid on Dieppe, France and landed at Normandy shortly after the successful June 1944 D-Day invasion.  The unit once again reverted to its role as a one-battalion militia unit after the war.  The Black Watch continues to operate as a militia regiment in Canada's Armed Forces, training soldiers who support regular units in military assignments as well as civilian authorities in times of emergency.

World War I Black Watch Veterans.

*****

Sources:

42nd Battalion.  Canadian Expeditionary Force Study Group - "The Matrix Project".  Available online.

42nd Battalion in the Great War.  The Black Watch of Canada Living History Association.  Available online.

The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada.  National Defence and the Canadian Forces.  Department of National Defence, Canada.  Available online.

The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada.   Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.  Available online.

The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada - A Brief History.  Available online.

The Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) of Canada Lineage.  Canadian Expeditionary Force Study Group discussion thread.  Available online.

Pte. Clarence Basil 'Bill' Lumsden - A Stretcher Bearer's Story

Date of Birth: January 21, 1895

Place of Birth: Canso, NS

Mother's Name: Annie Rebecca McLellan

Father's Name: James R. Lumsden

Date of Enlistment: February 11, 1915 at Halifax, NS

Regimental Number: 68225

Rank: Private

Unit: 25th Battalion

Location of service: England, Belgium & France

Occupation at Enlistment: Cable Operator

Marital Status at Enlistment: Single

Next of Kin: Mr. Jas. R. Lumsden (father)

*****

 

In numerous Guysborough County families, multiple siblings enlisted for overseas service during World War I.  Amongst the eight sons and one daughter raised in the Canso home of James R. and Annie Rebecca (McLellan) Lumsden, three boys joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force.  Asa Harrington 'Harry' joined the Canadian Forestry Corps, while Percy John was tragically killed in action while serving with the 3rd Canadian Pioneers.  A third son, Clarence Basil 'Bill', joined the 25th Battalion during the early months of the war.

Pte. Clarence Basil Lumsden

Bill was born at Canso Tickle on January 21, 1895, the youngest of James and Annie's sons.  After completing his local schooling, he worked as a cable operator with Western Union Cable Company, Hazel Hill before enrolling at Acadia College, Wolfville, NS in September 1914.  After one term, Bill put his studies on hold and was the first Lumsden brother to enlist when he joined the 25th Battalion at Halifax on February 11, 1915.

Officially authorized on November 7, 1914 and formed during the winter of 1914-15, the 25th Battalion was Nova Scotia's first 'volunteer' regiment.  Bill was one of "100 men recruited… to take [the] place of men discharged [as] medically unfit and undesirable".  After spending the spring of 1915 training in Halifax, the battalion departed for England via HMT Saxonia on May 20, 1915.  The unit's war diary described the occasion in these words:

"Thousands of people were there to see the Battalion aboard ship.  The 22nd French Canadian Battalion arrived from Amherst at 3:00 pm o'clock and were embarked about 6:00 pm.  The Saxonia sailed immediately after….  Total 2274 officers and men."

Subsequent entries provide a glimpse into the battalion's experiences aboard ship.  Two days after leaving Halifax, the vessel "passed two large icebergs [off the] port bow", an observation eerily reminiscent of Titanic's fateful 1912 maiden voyage.  The North Atlantic held other perils - as the ship "arrived in range of [German] submarines at 6:30 pm [May 24, 1915]", its officers "made allotments of rafts and boats to [the] Battalion".  Three days later, the men participated in a lifeboat drill, complete with "boats away over side and provisions put on board.  All ranks [were] ordered to sleep with clothing on" as a further precaution.

On May 28, several destroyers reached the vessel and provided an escort throughout the journey's final hours.  At 4:10 am May 29, the Saxonia entered Plymouth Harbour, docking at Davenport at 8:30 am.  The battalion immediately disembarked and travelled by train to Westenhanger, arriving just prior to midnight.  The following day, Bill's regiment encamped at East Sandling.  On June 1, he and his comrades commenced a rigorous training schedule that included musketry, bomb throwing, machine gun and trench warfare instruction.

Members of 25th Battalion preparing to depart Halifax, May 1915.

Bill's summer of military training was interrupted by two memorable occasions.  On July 17, the 25th Battalion's brigade was reviewed at Beachborough by Canadian Prime Minister, Sir Robert Borden, and Major General the Honorable Sir Sam Hughes, Minister of Militia.   On September 2, His Majesty King George V and Lord Kitchener, British Secretary of War, inspected the 2nd Canadian Division - to which the 25th belonged - at the same location.

While Bill completed standard infantry training, his service documents record an event that significantly shaped his war experience.  On June 1, he was transferred to the Stretcher Bearer section of B Company, 25th Battalion.  While it is not possible to determine whether this was an individual choice, undertaking such an assignment is very much in keeping with Bill's post-war career as a clergyman and provides an insight into his character.  Stretcher bearers ventured onto the battlefield without weapons and at great personal peril, retrieving wounded comrades amidst the chaos of battle.  Such an assignment was undertaken only after considerable reflection. 

After three and a half months' training, the 25th Battalion broke camp at East Sandling on September 15, 1915 and boarded a transport ship at Folkestone for the journey across the English Channel.  The men arrived at Boulogne, France at 1:00 am September 16 and later that same day travelled by train to St. Omer, France.  On September 19, the unit made its way toward the front lines near Ypres, Belgium.  The 25th Battalion "took over the trenches from the 2nd Kings Own [near Hazebrouk, Belgium] on the evening of the 22nd [September,] completing relief at 8:45 pm". 

The perils of Belgium's trenches quickly became apparent.  The war diary recorded the unit's first combat fatality on September 25, when # 67563 Lt. Corporal J. A. MacLean, a Cape Breton native, was shot and killed while sniping at enemy trenches.  The battalion retired to reserve positions three days later, returning to the front lines on October 4.  Bill and his comrades experienced heavy artillery bombardment of their position during this second tour, but the war diary proudly noted that the "battalion behaved nobly under fire".

Map of trenches occupied by 25th Battalion, September 1915.

The 25th spent the next six months in the Kemmel trench sector near Ypres, Belgium.  Several days in the front trenches were followed by a period in reserve and several days in rest camp before the men returned 'to the line'.  On October 25, the battalion provided a 'Guard of Honor' and its remaining personnel lined the streets of Loker as King George V and Edward, Prince of Wales passed through the small Belgian town.  After this pleasant diversion, Bill and his mates returned to the rotation of trench duty.

The impending winter made conditions in the trenches increasingly uncomfortable.  On November 12, the war diary described the circumstances: "Rained all day.  Trenches in dreadful state".  The situation worsened with a "light fall of snow in forenoon" of November 26.  Two days later, the diary described the weather as "[a] fine day, very cold.  Roads frozen hard."  As winter set in, the level of fighting declined significantly, consisting mainly of occasional artillery and machine gun exchanges.
A local newspaper, The Canso Breeze, published a letter from Pte. Lumsden in early 1916.  Dated December 15, 1915 and titled "Somewhere At the Front", its contents offer a glimpse into Bill's war experience.  He began by describing his role:

"As for myself, I am in the stretcher bearer section, and it is my duty to dress the wounded and see they reach the dressing station quickly and safely.  I am not a non-combatant, though I handed in my rifle, because it was too cumbersome for my work, but I sometimes get the loan of someone else's rifle and have a crack at Fritz."

Bill noted the challenging conditions in the trenches:

"We have been having regular winter weather over here.  Rain one day, cold the next, then both rainy and cold for a week.  It is far worse than our April or even March weather.  Mud seems to be the principal product of this benighted country.  I'd give almost anything if I could have a few of Canso's superfluous rocks in our front line trenches to stand on and to throw at Fritz."

In early April 1916, Bill and the 25th were encamped near Dickesbusch, enjoying their first period of rest and training since reaching the front.  It was back into combat on April 12 as the men occupied "new trenches" whose conditions were described as "very poor".  Their position was heavily shelled on April 13 and subjected to an infantry attack by 200 German soldiers the following day.  The advance was "repulsed… with M[achine] guns and bombs leaving a great many dead and wounded".  The unit suffered 8 fatalities and 6 wounded in the day's battle, its largest single-day casualties since arriving at the front.  As the battalion retired to reserve positions on the night of April 14/15, the war diary tallied the cost of its most recent tour: 2 officers suffering from shell shock, 18 'other ranks' (OR) killed and 42 wounded.

25th Battalion cap badge.

The events of early April were omens of what lay ahead.  As the weather improved, fighting intensified in the Ypres Salient.   When Bill returned to the line on April 25, heavy artillery shelling inflicted daily casualties, pushing the stretcher bearers' energy and resources to the limit - April 26: six wounded; April 27: 30 wounded and one killed; April 28: 11 wounded and 2 killed;  April 30: 3 killed and 2 deaths from wounds; May 1: 6 wounded.  The unit was relieved the following day, bringing to an end its most costly front-line tour to date.  Unfortunately, the year's fighting had barely begun.

On June 1, the battalion was "holding front line trenches at St. Eloi".  After a brief period in brigade reserve at Dickebusch, the 25th returned to the trenches near Zillebeke on June 9.  Fourteen men were wounded in heavy artillery bombardment on the day of their arrival.  The war diary describes the events of the following day: "Enemy bombarding all day long and night with HE's [high explosive shells], minenwerfers, trench mortars, etc.. Machine gun, rifle fire very active."  Two officers and 44 OR were wounded in the day's action, while 1 officer and 12 OR were killed.  The following day, 2 officers and 15 OR were wounded and 10 OR were reported missing.  The battalion was relieved on the night of June 11/12, moving into facilities at a rest camp.  The men "arrived very fatigued after having undergone a particularly heavy bombardment."  Considering the high number of casualties, the stretcher bearers also needed time to recover.  Their rest, however, was short-lived as two days later the battalion received orders to move into the front trenches at Hill 60.

The war diary's June 16 entry reported "great activity on our front [and] also on our left.  Numerous HE's, whizzbangs, trench mortars, etc. being thrown over, we however came through without any casualties."  The unit was not so fortunate the following day as the heavy bombardment continued.  Eight OR were killed and 47 wounded in the fighting, with an additional 10 OR killed and 7 wounded on June 18.  Throughout the action, Bill and the unit's stretcher bearers worked tirelessly, removing wounded comrades from the battlefield.  The heavy bombardment continued throughout the next day, becoming intermittent at night.  Mercifully, the 25th was relieved in the line on June 20.

The stretcher bearers' work under fire did not go unnoticed.  On July 23, 1916, Pte. Clarence Basil Lumsden was awarded the Military Medal "for conspicuous bravery and gallantry at Hill 60 on the afternoon of June 18, 1916.  When a number were wounded he performed acts under heavy fire, that were most heroic, with absolute forgiveness of himself, he gave attention to all who were suffering, rushed to the most exposed places that were being shelled, and by his example encouraged the men who were with him."

Back home in Canso, Bill's efforts were also acknowledged.  A short news item in The Canso Breeze informed its readers his award, commenting that on at least two other occasions, Bill had performed notable "acts of bravery":  "Once when a comrade was shot and fell over on him… he did not forsake him under the heavy fire.  On another occasion, he dressed the wounds of an officer under heavy fire."  The author concluded with the observation that "Mr. Lumsden… is exposed to very great danger, bringing in the wounded."

The battalion continued to serve in rotation on the Belgian front lines throughout the summer of 1916.  The war diary records one welcome diversion that took place on August 14, while the battalion was in rest camp:

"HM the King, Prince of Wales and Staff walked through our Camp at about 4:15 pm.  The Commanding Officer met the party and walked through with the King, who showed keen interest in the training which the men were undergoing, asking many questions of the C. O..  The battalion was carrying on with [its] schedule and as the King walked through the camp, all ranks lined the road and cheered the King lustily."

Early the following month, the 25th left Belgium for a new assignment in the trenches of the Somme region of northern France.  On September 15, the unit participated in the 5th Brigade's attack at Courcelette.  The war diary entry described the day's events:  "The 25th Battalion moved forward as though on General Inspection.  The young soldiers behaving like veterans going through very heavy artillery barrages without a quiver."

British soldiers with tank at Courcelette, September 1916.

Despite sustaining significant casualties in the day's fighting, the unit assisted in establishing  new positions the following day.  On September 17, "the battalion was subjected to the heaviest artillery fire that it has been anyone's lot to see, but all ranks worked like beavers consolidating and making the new line tenable."  Bill and the men of the 25th were relieved in the line on the night of September 17/18, having suffered a total of 5 officers and 31 OR killed; 8 officers and 183 OR wounded; and 4 officers and 73 OR missing after the battle.  A September 21 muster recorded battalion strength as 21 officers and 549 OR.  As the unit moved into reserve, the war diary observed that "all ranks [were] enjoying a very much needed and well earned rest."

On September 27, Bill and his comrades moved back into the front trenches near Pozieres.  The following day, the men were "consolidating their position, under extremely severe shell fire."  The officer at battalion headquarters recording September 29th's events wrote somewhat alarmingly that he "cannot get any information as to how things are!"  The following day's entry was similarly brief: "No news coming through, will not know until the battalion comes out."  The October 1 entry tersely noted: "In trenches at Courcelette".  These brief comments failed to reveal the ferocity of the conflict in which the battalion was embroiled.

A later report attached to the monthly war diary records that on October 1, 1916, the 25th Battalion was ordered to attack and capture "at all costs" enemy trenches known as Kenora and Regina.  Two hundred men and 12 machine guns were assigned to the task, with the attack commencing at 3:15 pm.  The men succeeded in capturing Kenora Trench but suffered heavy casualties in the assault on the second German position.  Only 1 officer and 30 men reached the enemy wire at Regina Trench, where they were forced by fierce fire to shelter in shell craters.  As night fell, the men retreated to the relative safety of Kenora Trench.

The battalion sustained heavy casualties in the day's action, particularly in the area between Kenora and Regina Trenches.  Four officers were killed and 6 wounded, while 18 OR were killed, 60 wounded and 24 missing in action.  The stretcher bearers were thus busy throughout the day, evacuating the wounded as quickly as possible.  Amidst the chaos of battle, Pte. Clarence Basil Lumsden was struck in the left elbow by a machine gun bullet while clearing a wounded comrade from the battlefield.  Bill was evacuated to the Casualty Clearing Station, where the seriousness of his wound quickly became apparent:

"[Elbow] joint… badly shattered and artery severed.  Wound became infected…  Arm shattered by bullet. Circulation destroyed."

The stretcher bearer who had faithfully served his comrades on the battlefield now found himself a casualty of war.

*****

Pte. Clarence Basil Lumsden was admitted to the 4th General Hospital, Camiers on October 2, 1916.  Medical records describe his condition as "dangerously ill".  Two days later, surgeons performed an "amputation… through [the] arm just above [the] elbow joint".  Bill spent two weeks in recovery at 4th General Hospital.  By October 10, medical reports described his condition as "improved" though still "dangerously ill".

American Women's War Hospital, Paignton, England

On October 16, Bill was transferred to the hospital ship HMHS Caris Casle for passage to England.  The following day, he arrived at the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre at Shoreham-on-Sea.  He was admitted to the American Women's Hospital, Paignton, England on October 18, where he spent the next three months and a half months recuperating.  By month's end, the hospital noted that Bill was "doing well", although he was far from fully recovered.  In fact, on January 2, 1917, surgeons at the Paignton hospital performed a "re-amputation… above [the] juncture [of the] lower and middle thirds of arm".

By late January, medical reports summarized the second surgery's outcome: "Stump well healed.  Scar only slightly adherent to end of bone.  No pain or tenderness of stump.  Movement at shoulder perfectly free."  On January 31, Bill was transferred to the Granville Special Hospital, Ramsgate.  A medical board report dated February 8, 1917 recommended that he be "invalided to Canada" as his injuries made further military service impossible.  Nine days later, Bill was admitted to Princess Patricia's Convalescent Hospital, Ramsgate, where he awaited discharge to Canada.

On February 19, 1917, Bill boarded the hospital ship HMHS Esquibo at Liverpool, arriving at Quebec City ten days later.  On March 3, 1917, a second Medical Board ordered three months' convalescence while Bill was "fitted with [an] artificial arm".  Six days later, he made his way to Toronto and was admitted to the Whitby Military Hospital.  In late May, Bill was supplied with a 'Carnes' artificial arm.  On June 17, a third medical report at Toronto concluded that he be "discharged with suitable compensation and permitted to pass under his own control" as Category E - unfit for military service.  Six weeks later - July 31, 1917 - Pte. Clarence Basil Lumsden was officially discharged from the Canadian Expeditionary Force and returned to civilian life.

*****

 

Prior to his official discharge, Bill Lumsden returned to Canso, where he received a hero's welcome.  The local newspaper recorded his arrival aboard the coastal steamer "Cann" on Saturday evening, July 7.  A large crowd gathered at the dock and the national anthem was proudly sung as Bill disembarked and walked through local streets decorated with bunting to his family home.

Student portrait of Clarence Basil Lumsden.

Two days later, a special church service was held at the local Baptist Church to mark his return.  In his address to the gathering, Deacon D. C. Whitman commented:

"We know that you did not go to the war to kill, but to make alive - 'to rescue the perishing, care for the dying' - but we are sure that your work called for all the courage and endurance that the work of the fighting men called for, and that you went out into the open for wounded men when the fighting men were comparatively safe in the trenches."

The following Monday, July 16, Canso Town Council sponsored another 'welcome home' gathering at the Ideal Theatre, where Pte. Lumsden spoke briefly about his war experience.

After settling into civilian life, Bill decided to return to Acadia College, completing the requirements for a Bachelor of Arts.  It is perhaps no surprise that the soldier who dedicated his military career to caring for wounded comrades chose to become a Baptist minister.  Bill enrolled in Andover Newton Theological Institute, Newton Centre, Massachusetts, where he obtained his Bachelor in Divinity and was ordained upon graduation.  Returning to Nova Scotia, he married Ruth Somerville Wilson at St. Andrews Church, Truro on September 17, 1924.  Bill ministered to parishes in Hampton, NB and Dartmouth, NS before deciding to undertake post-graduate studies at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.

In 1932, Bill obtained a Doctorate in Divinity from the prestigious American university.  He briefly served as minister to Olivet Baptist Church, New Haven but soon decided to return to Canada.  He first accepted a teaching position at Brandon College, Manitoba before returning to Acadia University, where he became a professor in Biblical Languages and Literature.  Bill served as Executive Secretary to the University's Board of Governors and was a member of its Department of Classics, Art Faculty.  When he retired in 1963, the University presented him with an honorary Doctorate in Divinity.

Dr. Clarence Basil 'Bill' Lumsden.

Ministry and academics were not Bill's only civilian pursuits.  He maintained contact with his military past through active involvement in the Royal Canadian Legion, joining the Wolfville branch in 1936.  Bill went on to serve as Provincial President of Nova Scotia Command and represented the province on the Legion's Dominion Executive Council.  He was a member of Dominion Command's Rehabilitation Committee and served on the Board of Directors of Legionnaire, the organization's official publication, from 1948 to 1954.

After making a notable contribution to the Legion at the provincial level, Bill was selected to serve as Dominion First Vice-President and Chairman of Dominion Command's Pension Committee.  He was an outspoken advocate of veterans' pensions at a time when rates lagged far behind the rapidly rising post-war cost of living.  The pinnacle of his work with the Legion came when he served as national President from 1952 to 1954, the first ex-Private to hold the office.

Bill also found time in his later years to work with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.  In 1958, he was appointed to the organization's Board of Directors and later served as its vice-chairman.  He travelled extensively throughout northern Canada, establishing radio stations across the region.

Clarence Basil Lumsden died at Kentville, NS on September 2, 1970 and was laid to rest in Willow Bank Cemetery, Wolfville.  He was pre-deceased by his eight siblings and one son, and survived by his wife Ruth, son Howard Rice Lumsden, Toronto, and daughter Halle MacMullen, Wolfville.  On January 14, 1985, the Wolfville Legion was officially re-named Dr. C. B. Lumsden (NS No. 74) Branch in honour of his dedicated service to Canada and the organization that represented its war veterans.

Dr. C. B. Lumsden (NS No. 74) Branch, Wolfville, NS.

*****

Sources:

Regimental Record of Pte. Clarence Basil Lumsden, number 68255.  Library and Archives Canada, RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 5789 - 21.  Attestation papers available online.

War Diaries of the 25th Battalion, CEF.  Library and Archives Canada, RG9 , Militia and Defence , Series III-D-3 , Volume 4933 , Reel T-10735, File : 417.  Available online.

Personal photographs, letters and Canso Breeze news items courtesy of Patsy Lumsden, Canso.  Available online at Patsy's Canso Heroes - World War I website.