Lance Cpl. Alexander Sutherland Chisholm - A 'Royal Canadian Regiment' Soldier's Story

Date of Birth: February 26, 1887

Place of Birth: Caledonia, Guysborough County

Mother's Name: Agnes Sutherland

Father's Name: James Angus Chisholm

Date of Enlistment: March 21, 1916 at Sydney, NS

Regimental Number: 877535

Rank: Lance Corporal

Force: Canadian Expeditionary Force (Infantry)

Regiments: 185th Battalion (Cape Breton Highlanders); 17th Reserve Battalion; Royal Canadian Regiment

Location of service: England, France & Belgium

Occupation at Enlistment: Electrician

Marital Status at Enlistment: Single

Next of Kin: Mrs. Angus Chisholm (mother), Caledonia, Guysborough County

*****

Lance Corporal Alexander Sutherland Chisholm

Born at Caledonia, Guysborough County on February 26, 1887, Alexander Sutherland Chisholm was the third of ten children raised in the home of James Angus and Agnes (Sutherland) Chisholm.  Alex's father passed away sometime prior to 1911, leaving his widowed mother with five dependent children.  By that time, the elder children had left home, Alex venturing as far as the Yukon in search of employment. 

Returning to Nova Scotia prior to the outbreak of war, Alex found work as an electrician in the Sydney area.  When the 185th Battalion ('Cape Breton Highlanders') launched a recruitment drive as part of a province-wide campaign to create a Nova Scotian 'Highland Brigade', Alex responded to the call, enlisting at Sydney on March 21, 1916.

After several months' training in Nova Scotia, Alex's battalion sailed from Halifax for England on October 12, 1916.  On board the SS Olympic with the 185th were the 85th ('Nova Scotia Highlanders'), 193rd and 219 Battalions, the other components of the Highland Brigade.  During the passage across the Atlantic, Pte. Alexander Chisholm was officially promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal with pay.  Upon arriving at Liverpool on October 18, Alex made his way to Camp Aldershot, where the battalion awaited the call to the battlefields of France and Belgium.

After its arrival in England, the 185th escaped the fate of two of its 'sister' battalions.  The 193rd and 219 were dissolved shortly after arriving in England, their members dispersed among several reserve units.  While the Cape Breton Highlanders remained hopeful of seeing combat as a unit, as the months of 1917 passed, orders to proceed overseas failed to materialize. During this time, Alex was hospitalized on several occasions.  On December 12, 1916, he was placed in isolation with a case of the mumps, remaining under care until January 10, 1917.  He was once again admitted to Connaught Military Hospital, Aldershot in late May 1917 with parotiditis - inflammation of the saliva glands - a condition most often caused by the mumps.  Alex was hospitalized a third time from August 29 to October 19, 1917 for treatment of an infection.

By early 1918, like many of his 185th comrades, Alex was growing impatient.  After spending almost eighteen months in England, his hopes of seeing action at the front were yet to be fulfilled.  Alex 'reverted to ranks' at his own request on February 23, 1918, to increase the opportunity for an overseas transfer.  The following day, he was 'taken on strength' by the 17th Reserve Battalion at Witley.  One month later - on March 29, 1918 - he proceeded across the English Channel to France for service with the Royal Canadian Regiment.

*****

The Royal Canadian Regiment (RCR) was founded at Halifax on December 21, 1883 and was one of only a handful of Canadian military units in existence at the time of the outbreak of war in Europe.  Its overseas deployment was delayed by a one-year garrison assignment in Bermuda (September 1914 - August 1915).  The RCR arrived in France in October 1915 as part of the 7th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division, joining the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI), the 42nd (Royal Highlanders of Canada - Black Watch) and 49th (Edmonton) Battalions in the field.

On April 3, 1918, Alex arrived at the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp in France, where he spent an additional three and a half months waiting to join his new battalion.  On July 21, he received orders to proceed to the front, reaching the RCR in the field six days later.  At that time, the battalion was training at Dainville, France after a recent tour of duty 'in the line'.

Royal Canadian Regiment badge.

Alex's arrival came at a pivotal time in the war.  Having withstood the onslaught of a massive German 'spring offensive', Allied commanders were preparing to launch a counter-attack that would eventually bring the conflict to an end.  Canadian troops played a pivotal role in their plan, being deployed as 'shock troops' in a series of battles that historians have labeled 'Canada's 100 Days'.  As a member of the RCR, Alex participated in these events as they unfolded on the battlefield.

On August 7, the RCR relocated to Gentelles Wood in preparation for an attack on Amiens, a strategic location on the main railroad line to Paris.  The following day, Alex received his first combat experience as the RCR advanced at 8:20 am and achieved its objectives by mid-day.  Considering the ferocity of the fighting in other areas of the battlefield, the RCR's casualties were light - 9 men killed in action, 1 died of wounds, 25 wounded and 1 missing at day's end.

The following week, the RCR participated in an attack at Parvillers, advancing toward German lines at 11:00 pm August 14 as the enemy "put down [a] heavy gas bombardment [,] making movement difficult".  Fighting continued into the early hours of the morning, with the battalion reaching its final objective at 3:20 am August 15.  Shortly afterward, Alex and the men of the RCR were relieved in the line and retired to a nearby rest camp.  The battalion suffered 39 casualties in the night's fighting - 2 men killed in action, 36 wounded and 1 missing.

During the following week of rest and training, Georges Clemenceau, the Premier of France, who was accompanied by Field Marshall Sir Douglas Haig, commander of British forces, inspected the 7th Brigade.  On August 25, Alex returned to the front lines east of Arras in preparation for an attack scheduled for the following day.  Fighting commenced at 9:45 am and continued for two more days before the RCR was relieved at 5:00 am August 29.  The battalion endured significant casualties on this occasion - 2 officers and 26 'other ranks' were killed in action, 2 officers and 2 'other ranks' (OR) died of wounds, 5 officers and 152 OR were wounded, and 7 OR missing as Alex and his comrades retired to billets.

The battalion spent the next three and a half weeks in training near Arras, enduring intermittent artillery shelling from nearby German guns.  On September 26, Alex returned to the front lines as the RCR prepared for an attack on Cambrai, another strategic location on the German front line.  The battle commenced on September 29, the RCR advancing at 5:30 am against little opposition.  Fighting intensified as the day progressed and dwindling numbers forced its officers to reorganize the battalion into three companies.

The men encountered "intense machine gun fire" when fighting resumed the following morning.  While successful in achieving its objectives, capturing 54 enemy machine guns and 130 prisoners of war, and inflicting an estimated 700 casualties, the battalion once again suffered significant losses.  Three officers and 31 OR were killed action, 2 officers and 2 OR died of wounds, 5 officers and 152 OR were wounded and 7 OR missing in action by day's end.

Once again, Alex's battalion retired to a rest camp, spending the next three weeks in training near Queant.  The RCR returned to the forward area near Cantaing-sur-Escaut on October 22, but was not engaged in military action.  For ten days, the men provided work parties for road construction and repair while training in anticipation of a return to the front lines.  On November 6, Alex and his mates marched in heavy rain through the recently liberated village of Valenciennes, where the "canal bridge had been blown up by the enemy in retreat, [as] had practically every cross-road and bridge along the way".

WW I 'Brodie' steel helmet with RCR logo.

The following day, as its 'sister' battalion the PPCLI rapidly advanced toward the Belgian city of Mons, Alex's battalion followed in support.  On November 9, the RCR reached the PPCLI's positions at Jemappes, Belgium and received orders to prepare for an attack on Mons the following day. The battalion's November 10 war diary entry describes the conditions as the fighting commenced:

"The morning was misty and no trouble was experienced until the mist cleared, when we found that the high ground north of Ohlin, the railway banks and canals north of Mons and the bridge crossing into Mons on the Mons-Ohlin road were heavily manned by machine guns."

Officers called in artillery fire on enemy positions, while gunfire by several of the RCR's companies prevented retreating German forces from destroying railroad tracks and bridges across a local canal.  Following the artillery barrage, the 42nd Battalion attacked the city from the south, while RCR personnel advanced from the north and northwest.

At 0900 hours November 11, RCR officers received news of the cessation of hostilities scheduled for 1100 hours that morning.  The day's diary entry commented on the significance of the battalion's location:

"Thus for us the war ended in almost exactly the same ground that the British Army had made their [sic] first stand in 1914.  Our men were in Mons.  One platoon of 'A' Company… had been the first to reach the square in the morning and the platoon commander had inscribed his name in the 'Golden Book of Mons'."

The following day, Alex and the men of the RCR settled into billets in the city, where they took part in thanksgiving parades and church services on November 16 and 17.  Ten days later, the battalion provided 72 OR "to line the streets" as King Albert I of Belgium paid a triumphant visit to the city.  The men took part in recreational football matches, route marches and classes on returning to civilian life over the next month and a half.

On December 11, the battalion relocated to Bourgeois, Belgium.  Small groups of OR were granted leave to nearby Brussels over the next several weeks, allowing Alex no doubt to take in the sights of the Belgian capital.  The RCR celebrated Christmas with an outdoor church service and dinner at Bourgeois before relocating to Estaimbourg, Belgium on January 2, 1919.  Alex and his comrades followed a schedule of training and educational sessions until the end of the month, when they packed their gear in preparation for the return voyage to England.

On February 1, the RCR entrained at 9:45 am, travelling in German box cars to Havre, France.  Arriving in the early hours of February 3, the men proceeded to the nearby Canadian Embarkation Camp.  On the night of February 6/7, Alex boarded a vessel for the voyage across the Channel to England.  The battalion war diary commented on the bittersweet occasion:  "As the Battalion reached the boat the Band played 'Tipperary' and when everybody was on board and the boat ready to leave the bugler blew the last post as a tribute to the men who were left behind on the battlefields."

Alex and the RCR arrived in Weymouth, England at 11:30 am February 7 and proceeded to a nearby camp.  The following day, the men entrained for Bramshott, where they received medical and dental examinations and completed the required documentation for discharge from military service.  All personnel received a welcome eight days' leave before reassembling in anticipation of the final stage of the journey home.

On March 1, 1919 the RCR departed England, arriving in Halifax eight days later.  Having participated in the most dramatic events of World War I, Pte. Alexander Sutherland Chisholm was formally discharged from military service on March 10, 1919.

*****

Shortly after returning home, Alex married Jessie Margaret Chisholm, a graduate nurse and native of Sunny Brae, Pictou County, in a ceremony held at the bride's home on October 14, 1919.  The newlyweds briefly resided in Alex's Caledonia family home before purchasing an adjacent property from a relative.  For the next ten years, Alex lived next door to his older brother, John Knox, where he farmed, worked in the woods, and drove logs to Sherbrooke each spring via the St. Mary's River.  During this time, Jessie gave birth to two children - James Ian (September 16, 1920) and Annie Florence (June 18, 1922).

In 1930, Alex sold his Caledonia property and moved his young family to his wife's home community of Sunny Brae.  Interest in owning and operating a business took him across the continent to Seattle, Washington, where he purchased a service station in partnership with another individual.  Alex proudly drove a black Pontiac with red trim all the way to Nova Scotia with the intention of relocating his family to the United States. 

Alexander Sutherland Chisholm in later life.

Illness, however, brought a change of plans when Alex contracted diphtheria.   He spent the following year recovering and eventually decided to remain in Nova Scotia, due in part to changes in American immigration rules in addition to health concerns.  Alex sold his stake in the Seattle business and worked as a supervisor for Anderson's, a Sherbrooke-based pulp wood company that operated several lumber camps between Caledonia and Sunny Brae.

In later life, health issues - specifically, diabetes - eventually forced Alex to retire from work in the lumber camps.  He spent his last years in Sunny Brae, Pictou County, passing away at New Glasgow on November 21, 1963 at the age of 76.

*****

Sources:

Macdonald, Clyde F.. Faithful Services in World War I and World War II: Veterans of Sunny Brae, Pictou County.  Published by Clyde F. Macdonald, New Glasgow, NS.  Printed by Advocate Printing & Publishing Ltd., Pictou, NS, 2001.

Regimental Record of Lance Corporal Alexander Sutherland Chisholm, No. 877535.  Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 1683 - 45.  Attestation papers available online.

War Diary of the Royal Canadian Regiment.  Library and Archives Canada: RG9 , Militia and Defence , Series III-D-3 , Volume 4911 , Reel T-10703, File : 345.  Available online.

Pictures of Alexander Sutherland Chisholm courtesy of Clyde D. MacDonald, New Glasgow, NS.

Honour Roll of Guysborough County, Nova Scotia

NB: This post has been substantially revised. Select the November 10, 2017 post to view the updated list.

My mid-month blog entry usually provides background information for the veteran profiled at month's end.  This post breaks that pattern, as I wish to provide an update on my research into the stories of Guysborough County's World War I veterans.

Earlier this month, I completed preliminary research on over 980 names, most of which were compiled by Diane Tibert (Lantz, NS) and Kelly Kaiser (Sherbrooke, NS).  Drawing mainly on information from web sources and supplemented by several publications, I attempted first of all to verify that the listed individuals had indeed served in some capacity during the war.  Two Library and Archives Canada online databases - 'Soldiers of the First World War' and 'Royal Canadian Navy Ledger Sheets (1910-1941)' - provided the main sources, supplemented by Veteran Affairs Canada's 'Canadian Virtual War Memorial (CVWM)'.

I have made two on-site visits to Library and Archives Canada in Ottawa, where I photographed the military records of soldiers who enlisted for overseas service.  On my last visit, I copied the records of the first 150 veterans on the list.  These documents, combined with the war diaries for the units with which they served (all available online), provide sufficient information to outline each soldier's military experience.  I intend to return to LAC before year's end - the plans for that visit are outlined further along in this post.

The 1891, 1901 and 1911 censuses - all available online - provided background information on the individuals' families, while the Government of Nova Scotia's 'Historical Vital Statistics' site contained birth, marriage and death information on a significant number of individuals and their parents.  Needless to say, the data collected on many individuals is far from complete.  It is my intention to continue the research at the community level, connecting where possible with individuals familiar with local genealogy in an effort to produce as complete a final product as possible on each veteran.

The final outcome to date is a database more than 2.4 Mb in size, from which I can 'pull' information on individuals or groups of veterans.  This month's post presents the first such product - an 'honour roll' of individuals who lost their lives while in service, either during or shortly after the war.  While they share a common and tragic fate, each life story is unique.  As I pondered where to start with this somewhat overwhelming task, I have decided to begin with their stories. 

On my next visit to LAC, I will copy the service records of more than 100 Guysborough veterans who lost their lives in service to their country during 'The Great War'.   I plan to complete research on this group of veterans over the next year and produce a volume outlining their stories by late 2014 or early 2015.  Subsequently, I will work on the remaining veterans' stories as we mark the centennials of the war's events.  I have yet to decide on the final product's format, but I am leaning toward a series of community-based profiles (i.e., Mulgrave and vicinity; Guysborough town and vicinity; Canso and vicinity; etc.) as preferable to an alphabetical compilation.

So this month's post presents a list of individuals who were killed in action, died of wounds, or died while serving in the armed forces, based on my research to date.  Each person on the list has a connection to Guysborough County.  The vast majority were natives, while others were living in the county at the time of enlistment.  The list is far from definitive - no doubt, there are errors and omissions. 

That is part of my purpose in posting this list at this time.  Should you find an error, know of an individual whose name should be included, or have information on any of these veterans, please contact me.  The list is organized alphabetically simply for convenience - it does not reflect my plans for the final product's organization.  That shall remain a secret for now!

Honour Roll of Guysborough County*

*: Last Revision May 2, 2017. Please contact me by e-mail, should you notice any errors in information.  Special thanks to W. James 'Jim' MacDonald, Baddeck, NS, who meticulously checked the names on my initial list against his records and identified twenty-four names not included in the initial post (September 17, 2013).

Archibald, Leonard Shirley: born at Sonora on October 3, 18995, son of William A. and Susan (Hartliss) Archibald.

Armsworthy, Buckley Andrew: born at Halfway Cove on May 10, 1896, son of Truman and Elizabeth Abigail (Cox) Armsworthy, Canso.

Ash, Rollie: born at Guysborough on September 6, 1894, son of James and Esther Ash, Antigonish, NS.

Avery, Joseph Edward: born at Larry's River in October 1887, son of Alexander John and Elizabeth (Deslauriers) Avery, Cambridge, Mass..

Barss, Charles Abner: born at New Harbour on April 11, 1897, son of David and Mary C. (Horton) Barss.

Barss, Harold Edwin: born at Canso on July 20, 1885, son of Isaac and Lucy (Embree) Barss.

Barss, Harrington John: born at Canso on February 10, 1889, son of John Alexander and Sadie A. (Morris) Barss.

Beals, Philip Sydney: born at Billtown, Kings Co., NS on July 4, 1889, son of Rev. Frank and Annie Beals (Rev. Beals was ministering to a Canso Baptist congregation in 1899).

Bezanson, Lewis Boyer: born at Goldboro on March 4, 1897, son of Obediah and Charity H. (Giffin) Bezanson.

Boyd, James Tennant: born at Glenelg on May 13, 1891, son of Rev. Andrew and Margaret Arabella (Stewart) Boyd, Port Arthur, Ontario.

Breen, James Irvine: born at Spanish Ship Bay on December 10, 1891, son of William Henry and Mary Jane (Spears) Breen.

Breen, Samuel Gordon: born at Spanish Ship Bay on September 10, 1895, son of William Henry and Mary Jane (Spears) Breen.

Burns, Louis John: born at Sonora on June 25, 1898, son of John Penney and Helen (Cass) Burns.

Burns, Robert: born at Salmon River Lake on May 13, 1891, son of Robert and Ellen (Long) Burns.

Callahan, Alexander: born at Manchester on February 20, 1894, son of Burton J. and Susan Maria (Whitman) Callahan.

Cameron, Alexander Hugh: born at Caledonia on February 18, 1891, son of Daniel Angus and Margaret A. Cameron.

Cameron, James Alexander: born at East River St. Mary's on January 1, 1897, son of Angus C. and Christina (Fraser) Cameron.

Cameron, John Angus: born at Caledonia on December 8, 1899, son of Daniel Angus and Margaret A. Cameron.

Cameron, William Robert Gideon: born on January 18, 1891 at Guysborough Intervale, son of Alex and Janet C. (Polson) Cameron.

Carrigan, William H.: born at Sand Point on September 8, 1887, son of William and Rachel Carrigan, Milford.

Clooney, James William: born at Sherbrooke on November 8, 1889, son of William H. And Elizabeth Ann 'Bessie' (Bennett) Clooney.

Connolly, Edward Lewis: born at Milford Haven Bridge on June 20, 1891, son of Patrick and Margaret (Cudahee) Connolly.

Crooks, James Roland: born at Ecum Secum on May 23, 1893, son of Thomas R. and Sarah (Smith) Crooks.

David, Neil: born at Port Felix on June 6, 1896, son of William Henry and Bridget (Bellefontaine) David.

Davidson, Truman Bishop: born at Godboro on August 3, 1885, son of Robert G. and Marcella M. 'Mercy' (Langley) Davidson, Stellarton, Pictou County.

DeCoste, William Eustace: born at Mulgrave on September 25, 1897, son of Edward and Carolina (Carrigan) DeCoste.

Dickson, John Rood: born at Sonora on December 7, 1891, son of John and Druscilla (Hewitt) Dickson.

Dort, David Luke: born at Cole Harbour on August 12, 1897, son of William P. and Margaret M. Dort.

Dort, George Louis: born at Peas Brook on November 25, 1898, son of George L. and Martha Jane (George) Dort.

Dort, Leo Harold: born at Cole Harbour on June 11, 1896, son of David H. and Lilla Dort.

Dort, Thomas Leo: born at Canso on August 6, 1893, son of James A. and Bridget Dort.

Earle, Vernon: born at Heart's Content, Newfoundland on June 20, 1885, son of Edmund Page and Louise (Clark) Earle, Canso.

Feltmate, Percy: born at Hazel Hill on September 20, 1893, adopted son of Adam and Mary Ann Alice (Rhynold) Feltmate.

Ferguson, James DeWitt: born at Halifax on November 9, 1891, son of Bessie Ferguson, Wine Harbour.

Ferguson, William Henry: born at Wine Harbour on August 15, 1871, son of James and Mooreg Ferguson, Halifax, NS.

Fogarty, Howard Lewis: born at Canso on September 20, 1895, son of Edward and Johanna (Richards) Fogarty.

Fogarty, Martin Joseph: born at Fox Island on November 1900, son of Joseph and Catherine (Daley) Fogarty.

Fougere, Peter (Pierre): born at Larry's River on April 31, 1897, son of Simon (Simion) and Sophie (Linden) Fougere.

Fraser, Charles Hugh: born at Guysborough on October 19, 1890, son of Daniel Joseph and Clara Ann 'Ann'e' (MacPherson) Fraser, Taber, Alberta.

Fraser, Donald Drummond: born at Sherbrooke on Novmber 14, 1895, son of Alfred W. and Christina A. 'Tina' (Murray) Fraser.


Fraser, James John Ignatius: born at Mulgrave on October 12, 1896, son of Joseph Daniel and Elizabeth (O'Neil) Fraser.

Fraser, James Gibson Laurier: born at New Glasgow on September 14, 1894, son of Guysborough MP Duncan Cameron and Elizabeth 'Bessie' (Graham) Fraser.

Fraser, Margaret Marjorie 'Pearl': born at New Glasgow on March 20, 1885, daughter of Guysborough MP Duncan Cameron and Elizabeth 'Bessie' (Graham) Fraser.

George, Joseph Henry: born at Port Felix on September, 4, 1892, son of William and Margaret (Pellerin) George.

Giffin, Perry Judson: born at Goldboro on June 21, 1983, son of Obed Chute and Theodoria Ernst (Bezanson) Giffin, Halifax, NS.

Giffin, Randolph Murray: born at Isaac's Harbour on June 27, 1897, son of John MacMillan and Emma M. (MacMillan) Giffin.

Grencon (Greencorn), Roy Quentin: born at Canso on May 7, 1897, son of David Frederick and Mary Jane (Armsworthy) Greencorn.

Gunn, John: born at Fisherman's Point on September 7, 1891, son of William Gunn.

Hadley, William Croft: born at Guysborough on March 14, 1897, son of James E. and Martha J. (McKenzie) Hadley.

Hall, William George: born at Leighton, England on January 24, 1897, son of Mrs. Eliza Hudson (Hall) Giffin, step-son of Arthur C. Giffin, Goldboro.

Hallett, Vincent Stephen: born at Country Harbour on December 20, 1898, son of Freeman and Sarah Elizabeth (Davidson) Hallett.

Hape, William Kenneth: born at Ecum Secum on October 28, 1886, son of John Henry and Sarah Adeline (Pye) Hape, Wallace Grant, Cumberland County.

Hart, Lee Martin: born at Canso on March 7, 1890, son of Major George W. and Ella Blanche (Smith) Hart.

Hayne, James Arthur: born at Country Harbour on August 31, 1891, son of William and Viola (McNeil) Hayne.

Hendsbee, Russell C.: born at Half Island Cove on October 26, 1895, son of Thomas F. and Mary Sophia Hendsbee.

Hodgson, Lester Dean: born at Goldboro on August 18, 1896, son of Hiram and Elizabeth A. (Reynolds) Hodgson, South Hamilton, Massachusetts.

Horton, Arthur Stanford: born at Canso on November 17, 1893, son of Charles and Henrietta Elizabeth 'Hattie' (Worth) Horton.

Horton, Vernon Cecil: born at Roachvale on November 16, 1893, son of Moses Cook and Caroline "Carrie" Oressa (Nickerson) Horton.

Hull, Courtney Alban: born at New Glasgow on October 6, 1897, son of Joseph Henry and Alice Rebecca (Moser) Hull, Country Harbour.

Jordain, William Andrew: born at New Town on June 6, 1891, son of Peter and Carolyn Gordon 'Carrie' (Archibald) Jordain.

Keating, James Baker: born at Gloucester, Mass. on November 22, 1888, son of James and Mary Ellen (Flood) Keating, Canso.

Kelly, Lewis Walker: born at Caledonia on May 20, 1896, son of George Walker and Laura (Fulton) Kelly.

Kennedy, Ferman: born at Dominion, Cape Breton on May 12, 1902, son of Patrick Kennedy, Dominion, CB (Ferman was living in Canso at time of enlistment).

Kennedy, Harold: born at Guysborough on February 26, 1892, nephew of William Kennedy.

Kirk, Oscar Howe: born at Riversdale, Colchester Co, on October 19, 1892, son of Rev. Joseph Howard and Laura (Christie) Kirk, East River St. Mary's.

Knocton (Nocton), Charles Patrick: born at South Intervale on December 25, 1896, son of Patrick and Abigail (Bond) Knocton.

Langille, Charles Burton: born at Liscomb on November 15, 1892, son of David James Langille.

Layton, Harold Brown: born at Canso on July 16, 1897, son of Herbert and Rebecca (Mosher) Layton, Middleton, NS.

Levangie, Arthur Freeman: born at Port Felix on June 26, 1893, son of George and Sophia (Cashen) Levangie.

Lipsett, Ralph Stanley: born at Middle Manchester on March 16, 1892, son of Edward Stanley and Caroline E. 'Carrie' (O'Brien) Lipsett.

Long, William Edward: born at Rogerton on October 15, 1889, son of Patrick and Mary Jane 'Minnie' (Burns) Long.

Lumsden, Percy: born at Canso on April 24, 1890, son of James Robert and Annie Rebecca (McLellan) Lumsden.

Lynch (Linch), John William: born at Liscomb on December 13, 1894, son of William and Sarah (?) Lynch.

McCallum, Arthur: born at Ogden on April 20, 1889, son of James and Bridget (Fitzgerald) McCallium.

McDonald, Alexander: born at Upper Big Tracadie on March 9, 1896, son of Bridget McDonald.

McDonald, Angus: born at Havre Boucher, Antigonish Co. on October 28, 1888, son of Duncan D. and Elizabeth (McDonald) McDonald, Mulgrave.

MacDonald, John Daniel: born at Arisaig, Antigonish Co. on April 3, 1884, son of John and Flora MacDonald (John Daniel was living in Mulgrave at time of enlistment).

MacDonald, John Kenneth: born at Caledonia on July 23, 1893, son of James C. and Margaret 'Maggie' (McQuarry) MacDonald.

MacDonald, Thomas Howard: born at Mulgrave on December 15, 1877, son of Dr. Patrick Alexander and Annie B. (Condon) MacDonald.

McIsaac, Archie: born at Hazel Hill on May 30, 1890, next of kin Angus McIsaac, Inverness, Cape Breton.

McIsaac, Joseph Manson: born at Fox Island on August 2, 1899, son of Daniel and Jane (Watkins) McIsaac.

MacKenzie, Arthur: born at Canso on November 12, 1897, son of David and Maria (Uloth) MacKenzie.

MacLeod, Harry: born at Halifax on August 29, 1887, nephew of James and Alina (Sangster) O'Hara, New Harbour.

MacMillan, Horace Goddard: born at Isaac's Harbour on December 22, 1892, son of Stephen and Jane (Buckley) McMillan.

McQuarrie, Walter: born at Mount Uniacke, Hants Co. on December 29, 1889 (or 1899), son of Alexander and Frances (Glencross) McQuarrie (Walter worked in the mines at Goldenville prior to enlistment).

Mailman, Lockie: Born at Gegoggin on September 26, 1896, son of Jacob and Harriet Laura (Baker) Mailman.

Manson, Francis Stewart 'Frank': born at Sherbrooke on December 2, 1892, son of George and Lucy (Walters) Manson.

Manuel, Arthur James: born at Canso on February 4, 1893, son of William and Mary (McNeary) Manuel.

Marr, Charles: born at Queensport on April 16, 1897, son of John Marr.

Mills, Clayton R.: born at Glenelg on January 15, 1888, son of Robert Bruce and Annie Scott (McKeen) Mills.

Morgan, Joseph Charles: born at Guysborough on January 5, 1879, son of Joseph C. and Elizabeth Morgan.

Morris, Thomas Richard: born at Manchester on February 4, 1891, son of Richard S. and Sarah Ann (Ross) Morris.

Munroe, Allan Ellsworth: born at Whitehead on July 31, 1894, son of Andrew David and Annie (Ehler) Munroe.

Myers, Willard Spurgeon: born at Cole Harbour on June 27, 1892, son of Frederick Levi and Margaret Catherine (Gillie) Myers.

Nickerson, Wilfred Asa: born at Canso on December 8, 1897, son of Reuben and Sarah (Swain) Nickerson.

O'Brien, James Edward: born at Canso on March 27, 1896, son of John J. and Elizabeth (Landry) O'Brien.

O'Donoghue, Charles Kingston: born at Canso on August 11, 1897, son of Charles and Frances M. C. (Baird) O'Donoghue,

O'Haley (Haley), Simon: born at Port Felix on October 28, 1897, son of John Adam and Natalie (Richard) O'Haley.

O'Hara, Lester Conwell: born at New Harbour on February 7, 1894, son of James Alexander and Alina (Sangster) O'Hara.

Potter, Gordon Vincent: born at Fisherman's Harbour on October 13, 1897, son of Thomas and Martha (Bingley) Potter.

Pye, Laurier Falconer: born at Sherbrooke on October 26, 1896, son of Charles W. and Eugenia (Jollota) Pye.

Rabbie, John: born at Hazel Hill on September 18, 1901, son of George and Elizabeth (King) Rabbie.

Reynolds (Rhynold), John: born at Canso on January 6, 1889, son of Anthony and Margaret Louise (Haines) Reynolds.

Rhynold, John Scott: born at Canso on August 5, son of William D. and Mary M. (Hurst) Rhynold.

Richmond, James: born at Mulgrave on September 29, 1891, son of Samuel and Georgina (McKenzie) Richmond.

Scranton, John Samuel: born at Manchester on June 23, 1887, son of William and Jane Scranton.

Sinclair, James Murray: born at Goshen on April 10, 1898, son of William and Mary (Polson) Sinclair.

Smith, Albyn: born at St. Francis Harbour on July 13, 1894, adopted son of Jeffrey and Sharlotte Pelrine, Larry's River.

Smith, Martin: born at St. Francis Harbour on June 20, 1893, son of Mary Smith, Mulgrave.

Smith, Raymond Edward: born at Mulgrave on January 25, 1888, son of Thomas and Mary (McNeil) Smith.

Somers, Owen Delbert: born at Middle Melford on January 20, 1896, son of David A. and Harriet A. (Grant) Somers.

Spears, William Robinson (Robertson): born at Spanish Ship Bay on May 15, 1898, son of Nelson and Mary Ann 'Annie' (Howlett) Spears.

Stewart, Samuel R.: born at Two Mile Lake on July 22, 1877, son of Donald and Jennie Stewart.

Stoutley, Ralph Leslie: born at Guysborough on March 10, 1894, son of James Edward Albert (Ned) and Rachel A. Borden (Bacchus) Stoutley.

Sullivan, Thomas: born at Canso on August 22, 1885, son of David and Mary Sullivan.

Sutherland, Harry Lee: born at Country Harbour on February 20, 1897, son of Robert Henry and Elizabeth Jane 'Libby' (McKeen) Sutherland.

Suttis (Waterhouse), Thomas William 'Tommy': born at Leeds, England on July 20, 1884, adopted son of David and Emma Eunice (Atwater) Suttis, Indian Harbour.  Son of Isaac and Caroline (Townson) Waterhouse, Leeds, England.

Swaine, Arthur: born at Canso on May 10, 1891, son of Samuel Isaiah and Emily Myra 'Emma' (McLellan) Swaine.

Swaine, Benjamin Wallace: born at Canso on December 11, 1897, son of Samuel Isaiah and Emily Myra 'Emma' (McLellan) Swaine.

Swaine, John William: born at Canso on September 19, 1891, son of Rupert and Eunice J. 'Jane' or 'Jennie' (Talbot) Swaine.

Swaine, Roland Judson: born at Canso on February 6, 1893, son of Samuel Isaiah and Emily Myra 'Emma' (McLellan) Swaine.

Swain, Sydney Garfield: born at Grosvenor on June 11, 1897, son of Charles and Hattie Amelia (Fitt) Swain.

Sweet, Ralph B.: born at Goldenville on February 11, 1896, son of Burton Samuel and Alice Cox (Eaton) Sweet).

Tate, John William 'Jack': born at Melrose on August 29, 1880, son of Daniel and Catherine Anne 'Cassie' (Sullivan) Tate.

Taylor, James Arthur: born at Forks St. Mary's on June 24, 1884, son of John William and Mary Ann (Mason) Taylor.

Tory, Charles Howard: born at Guysborough on March 2, 1887, son of James William and Elizabeth Anne (Gillie) Tory.

Tyner, Clifford: born at Port Hilford on April 27, 1893, son of James E. and Emma Tyner, Vermillion, Alberta.

Uloth, William Thomas: born at Whitehead on December 18, 1894, son of John Samuel and Margaret Jane 'Maggie' (George) Uloth.

Wells, John Cleveland: born at Whitehead on April 29, 1887, son of John Shelley and Mary Ann (Munroe) Wells.

Williams, Courtney: born at Cole Harbour on April 2, 1897, son of Elisha and Georgina (Harrigan) Williams.

Worth, Joseph Ernest: born at Ogden on October 19, 1897, son of Edward King and Katherine Ann 'Kellie' (McCallum) Worth.

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.