Remembering Sergeant Harold Edwin Barss - KIA September 30, 1916

Harold Edwin Barss was born at Canso, Guysborough County, NS on July 20, 1885. The second of Isaac Elnathan and Lucy Ann (Embree) Barss’ six children, Harold was the couple’s only son. By 1911, Harold had headed west, finding employment in Alberta. On June 8, 1915, Harold enlisted with the 2nd Regiment Canadian Mounted Rifles (CMR) at Calgary, AB.

Shortly after the unit arrived in England on October 9, 1915, military authorities reorganized the Canadian Expeditionary Force’s CMR units. Initially intended for deployment as mounted infantry soldiers, the static nature of trench warfare on the Western Front rendered such units ineffective and resulted in their reorganization into standard infantry battalions.

Four news battalions—1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th CMR—constituted the newly formed 3rd Canadian Division’s 8th Brigade. Harold was transferred to 2nd CMR on January 28, 1916 and crossed the English Channel to Havre, France the following day. Harold joined his new unit in Belgium’s Ypres Salient earl the following month.

Throughout the spring and summer of 1916, Harold served a regular infantry rotation with 2nd CMR. He proved a competent soldier, earning promotion to the rank of Lance Corporal on May 12, Corporal on June 9, and Sergeant on July 8. In early September, 2nd CMR followed the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Canadian Divisions to the Somme region of France, where its soldiers first entered the line near Pozières on the night of September 11/12.

While 3rd Division units did not participate in the Canadian Corps’ successful attack on Courcelette (September 15), its soldiers played a crucial role in the next phase of Canadian involvement in the Battle of the Somme—a series of attacks on Regina Trench, the longest German trench located on Thiepval Ridge. Several well-fortified positions lay between the target and the Allied line, requiring Canadian units to advance toward their final goal in several stages.

On September 29, 1916, 2nd CMR was one of several 3rd Division units ordered to attack the first line of German defenses in front of Regina Trench. Fierce fighting raged for two days, during which time the unit suffering heavy casualties. As 2nd CMR retired from the line on the evening of October 2, its war diary reported two of its Officers killed, five wounded and one missing, while 50 “other ranks” (OR) were killed and 140 OR wounded.

Memorial Plaque, Central Alberta United Church, Calgary, AB

Sergeant Harold Barss was “killed by enemy shell fire, when in the from trenches in the vicinity of Pozières” on September 30, 1916. He was laid to rest in Regina Trench Cemetery, Grandcourt. In the aftermath of the battle, an appendix to 2nd CMR’s monthly war diary listed soldiers “mentioned for their splendid and courageous work during the tour [of September 22 to October 2].” Among those acknowledged was Sergeant Harold Barss, praised “for conspicuous bravery during the fighting of September 29.”

Harold’s story is one of 72 detailed profiles contained in “First World War Honour Roll of Guysborough County, Nova Scotia, Volume I: 1915 - 1917,” available from bantrypublishing.ca .

Photograph of Memorial Plaque, Central Alberta United Church, Calgary, AB, courtesy of Marika Pirie, Calgary, AB.

Guysborough Enlistments - September 22, 1916

Five Guysborough County natives enlisted for service with No. 2 Construction Battalion one hundred years ago today:

1. Thomas Ash was born at Upper Big Tracadie on May 4, 1897 (1901 census) to Thomas (Sr.) and Jane (Day) Ash. The 1911 census gives his birthdate as December 1898, while his death certificate records the date as January 1, 1901. Thomas enlisted with No. 2 Construction Battalion at Truro, NS on September 22, 1916 (attestation number 931271) and departed for England with the unit on March 28, 1917.

Thomas crossed the English Channel to France on May 17 and proceeded to the Canadian Forestry Corps’ Jura District with his comrades. In late October, Thomas “began feeling weak,” according to his service record. Hospitalized at Jura and initially treated for influenza, Thomas was discharged to duty but continued to feel unwell. Readmitted to hospital on November 21, he was diagnosed with nephritis (kidney disease). Following several months’ treatment at Jura, Thomas was transferred to Hoole Bank Auxiliary Military Hospital, Chester, England on March 3, 1918, where his condition slowly improved.

Discharged to King’s Canadian Red Cross Hospital, Bushy Park  on July 29, Thomas recuperated sufficiently to return to Canada, arriving at Quebec in late September 1918. He spent several months at Pine Hill Hospital, Halifax before being released on March 21, 1918. Seven days later, Thomas was discharged from military service as “medically unfit.”

Thomas returned home to Upper Big Tracadie, but later relocated to the Sydney area, where he worked in the local coal mines. He married Eleanor Gero at Sydney on December 14, 1926. Thomas never fully regained his health, passing away at Upper Big Tracadie on January 29, 1935.

While his death lists the cause of death as “dropsy”—commonly known today as edema (excessive fluid retention)—his previous medical history suggests nephritis as the likely cause.  Although military authorities were notified of his death, no Memorial Cross, Plaque or Scroll were issued as his mother, Jane, was deceased at the time of Thomas’s passing and he married after his military discharge.


2. Joseph Clyke was born February 14, 1899 at Guysborough, NS, son of Archibald and Elizabeth Clyke. He enlisted with No. 2 Construction Battalion at Truro on September 22, 1916 (number 931272). Joseph departed Nova Scotia with No. 2 Construction on March 28, 1917 and crossed the English Channel to France on May 17. He worked in Canadian Forestry Corps’ Jura District from May to December 1917, at which time he was transferred to the Forestry Corps’ Alcenon District’s operations in the Normandy forest.

Joseph returned to England with No. 2 Construction on December 14, 1918 and departed for Canada in January 1919. He was officially discharged from military service on February 15, 1919. According to the 1921 Canadian census, Joseph was living in Truro with his father, Isaac B. Paris. He later married and in the mid-1940s was living in the Amherst area, working in the local coal mines. By 1949, Joseph had returned to Truro, where he found employment with Canadian National Railways. No further information is available on his later life.


3. Lavin Day was born at Upper Big Tracadie, Guysborough County on June 30, 1898, the son of Harriet Eliza “Hattie” Day. Lavin enlisted with No. 2 Construction Battalion at Truro on September 22 (attestation number 931273). Unlike Joseph Clyke, Lavin spent his entire overseas service in the Canadian Forestry Corps’ Jura District, close to the French - Swiss border. He received a Good Conduct Badge on September 22, 1918.

Following his February 15, 1919 discharge, Lavin returned to the Tracadie area, where he worked as a labourer. While his service record contains no reference to health issues, Lavin developed “Bright’s disease—a term used at the time to describe kidney ailments—sometime after returning to civilian life. Lavin passed away at Upper Big Tracadie on November 20, 1923 and was laid to rest in Hillcrest Cemetery, Upper Big Tracadie.


4. John William Elms was born at Upper Big Tracadie, Guysborough County on July 22, 1888, the son of John (Sr.) and Alice Elms. John enlisted with No. 2 Construction Battalion at Truro, NS on September 22, 1916 (attestation number 931274). Married at the time of his enlistment, John was also father to two small children, a two-year-old daughter and an eight-month-old son. He spent his entire overseas service woking at the Canadian Forestry Corps’ Jura District operations.

John’s dedication to duty earned him a Good Conduct Badge on September 22, 1918. He also maintained a “clean sheet” throughout his time in uniform. Following his discharge from military service on February 15, 1919, he returned to Tracadie, where he passed away on June 25, 1959.


5. William Henry Gero was born at Upper Big Tracadie, Guysborough County on September 30, 1876, son of Thomas and Eliza Gero. He enlisted with No. 2 Construction Battalion at Truro on September 22, 1916 (attestation number 931269). At the time of his enlistment, William was married to Alice Day and had two small children, James (age 12) and Annie (age 7).

As with John, William maintained a perfect record throughout his service in the Canadian Forestry Corps’ Jura District and was awarded a Good Conduct Badge on September 22, 1918. Following his discharge on February 14, 1919, William eventually settled in Truro, where he passed away on October 8, 1945.

Guysborough Enlistment - September 21, 1916

Carmen Milward Croft was born at Guysborough, NS on November 19, 1896, the son of Rev. William Isaiah and Mary Elizabeth (Thompson) Croft. The youngest of four children, Carmen enlisted with the 246th Battalion at Camp Aldershot, NS on September 21, 1916. He rose to the rank of Company Sergeant Major prior to the unit’s departure for England on May 31, 1917.

Upon arriving overseas, Carmen “reverted” to the rank of Private upon receiving a transfer to the 17th Reserve Battalion. Twice promoted to Acting Lance Corporal, he reverted to ranks each time, to increase his opportunity to serve at the front. Finally, on March 16, 1918, Carmen was transferred to the 85th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders) and joined the unit in the field on April 3, 1918.

After almost five months’ service in the line—including the battle of Amiens (August 8 - 11, 1918)— Carmen returned to England for officer’s training, prior to receiving a commissioned rank. Initially appointed Acting Sergeant on August 31, Carmen was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on November 22, 1918. He enrolled with the Khaki University of Canada, London, on February 3, 1919 and proceeded to the Royal Technical College, Glasgow, for completion of a course of study.

Carmen departed England on July 18, 1919 and was formally discharged from military service on July 31, 1919. He subsequently settled at Ottawa, where he commenced employment as a chemist. Arriving in Vancouver, BC in July 1927, Carmen departed for New Zealand shortly afterward. He married Sybil Marion Martin at Auckland, NZ in 1928. The couple’s first son, John Martin, was born the following year. Two more children - a boy and a girl - later joined the family.

The family returned to Vancouver, BC in 1932, but relocated to San Francisco, California in 1941 and moved on to Hawaii in 1949. Carmen Milward Croft passed away at Sydney, Australia in 1955, and was laid to rest in Forestlawn Cemetery, Vancouver, BC.