Remembering Charles Abner Barss—Died of Sickness August 25, 1918

Charles Abner Barss was born at New Harbour, Guysborough County, on April 11, 1897, the third of David Abner and Mary Caroline (Horton) Barss’ seven children. While Charles worked as a fisherman alongside his father, he reached his twenty-first birthday shortly after the military conscription plan introduced under the terms of the Military Service Act (1917) came into full effect.

Private Charles Abner Barss

Despite suffering from chronic asthma, Charles completed the required medical examination at Camp Aldershot, NS, on May 30 and was placed in “Class A2”—requiring only military training before deemed fit for front line duty. Two days later, he formally attested for overseas service with the 1st Depot Battalion, Nova Scotia Regiment.

Other than a case of measles in late June, Charles completed his basic training without any health issues. On August 2, he departed Halifax for England aboard SS Ixion in the company of a large contingent of conscripts. During the voyage, the cramped conditions below deck contributed to an outbreak of influenza and pneumonia among the passengers. When the vessel docked at Liverpool on August 15, a total of 22 soldiers were immediately rushed to local hospitals for treatment.

Charles was among the sick and was admitted to Texteth Park Auxiliary Hospital with pneumonia. Medical records describe his circumstances at the time as “dangerously ill” and “in a terribly neglected condition.” While staff administered a variety of treatments, his asthma significantly affected his circumstances and Charles failed to recover. Private Charles Abner Barss passed away at 12:55 p.m. Sunday, August 25, 1918.

Before day’s end, a second Nova Scotian soldier, Private Warren Lester Godfried (3188193), also succumbed to pneumonia. Three days later, officials conducted military funerals for the young men and laid their remains to rest in Kirkdale Cemetery, Longmoor Lane, Liverpool, England, five miles from the hospital where they passed away. Private Charles Barss was the first Guysborough County “conscript” to die overseas.

Charles' story is one of 64 profiles contained in Bantry Publishing’s First World War Honour Roll of Guysborough County, Nova Scotia, Volume II: 1918 - 1937, available for purchase online at bantrypublishing.ca .

Remembering Private Wilfred Joseph Whitman—KIA August 17, 1918

Wilfred Joseph Whitman was born at Manchester, Guysborough County, on March 29, 1897, the only child of Rufus William and Nellie (Gavin McDonald) Whitman. Rufus also had an older daughter, Ida, by a previous marriage. Following Rufus’s death in 1907, Wilfred was adopted by his paternal uncle, James Winthrop Whitman, and his wife, Margaret Elizabeth Leet, who operated a boarding house near Mulgrave.

Pte. Wilfred Joseph Whitman's headstone, Villers-Brettoneux Military Cemetery

By 1915, Wilfred had moved to Revere, MA, where his half-sister, Ida, operated a home for the sick. For two years, Wilfred worked as a salesman in the local area. The United States’ entrance in to the First World War in April 1917 and its introduction of a military draft prompted Wilfred to volunteer for service with the 236th Battalion, a New Brunswick unit, at Boston, MA, on June 16, 1917. Before month’s end, he travelled to Fredericton, NB, by train and formally attested for overseas service with the Canadian Expeditionary Force.

On July 4—one week after his attestation—Wilfred married Philomena “Phyllis” Ghilo, in a ceremony held at Fredericton. While Wilfred departed for Camp Valcartier, QC, for basic training, Phyllis returned to Boston, where she gave birth to a son, Wilfred George, on December 8, 1917. By that time, Wilfred Sr. was stationed at Camp Bramshott, England, awaiting orders to proceed to France.

Following the 236th’s dissolution in March 1918, Wilfred was transferred to the 13th Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada) and joined the unit in the forward area on April 22. A Montreal-based Highland battalion, the 13th was among the Canadian Corps’ most experienced units, having landed on the continent with the 1st Canadian Division in early 1915.

Wilfred served in sectors near Arras, France, throughout the remainder of the month and retired to Divisional Reserve with the 13th in early May. For two and a half months, personnel trained and participated in a variety of recreational activities before returning to trenches near Beaurains in late July. Within days, the unit was on the move, relocating to Épaumesnil, west of Amiens, in early August.

Having withstood a major German spring offensive in late March and April 1918, Allied commanders set about planning a response. The counter-offensive commenced in the French sector in mid-July, moving northward to British sectors early the following month. The Canadian Corps was part of the plan, its well-rested and fully reinforced units relocating to the Amiens area in early August, in preparation for the attack.

In the early morning hours of August 8, Canadian, Australian and British units launched a carefully planned assault on German positions east of Amiens. The 13th Battalion’s soldiers participated in the action as Wilfred received his first exposure to major combat on the Western Front. Before day’s end, the unit succeeded in capturing its objective, a location known as Hangard Wood. Its soldiers remained in the line until the afternoon of August 9, at which time they withdrew to support positions.

The 13th spent the next six days in support and reserve positions as units in the front line consolidated the significant progress made east of Amiens. On the evening of August 15, its personnel returned to the line near Parvillers-le-Quesnoy in relief of the 42nd Battalion, a fellow “Royal Highlanders of Canada” unit.

Early the following morning, two battle patrols of 30 soldiers advanced toward the village of La Chavatte, When German soldiers holding the position rebuffed the attack, supporting artillery shelled the village, in an attempt to “soften up” resistance. In the early hours of August 17, two Companies advanced toward the objective. While German machine guns once again offered strong resistance, the second attack proved successful as the 13th’s soldiers cleared enemy troops from the village.

The 13th held its position until relieved on the night of August 21/22. While its war diary provided no casualty statistics following the capture of La Chavatte, a report appended to the month’s entries listed one “other rank” (OR) killed, one Officer and 28 OR wounded during the La Chavatte tour.

Private Wilfred Joseph Whitman was among the week’s casualties. Most likely wounded during the advance on La Chavatte, he was evacuated to No. 48 Casualty Clearing Station, where he died of wounds on August 17, 1918. Wilfred was laid to rest in Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Somme, France. His widow, Phyllis, subsequently re-married and raised a second family. The couple’s son, Wilfred George Whitman Jr., later served with the United States Navy during the Second World War.

Remembering Private James Edward O’Brien—KIA August 10, 1918

James Edward O’Brien was born at Canso, Guysborough County, on March 26, 1896, the fourth of John J. and Elizabeth (Landry) O’Brien’s six children and the youngest of their four sons. James was working as a clerk in the local community when he enlisted with the 193rd Battalion at Canso on April 11, 1916.

Private James Edward O'Brien

Transferred to the 85th Battalion (Nova Scotia Highlanders) on October 12—the same day on which he departed for England with the Nova Scotia Highland Brigade—James was admitted to Bramshott Military Hospital in early November, suffering from “shortness of breath and weakness on exertion.” Medical staff could not identify a specific cause for his symptoms and James was discharged after spending two weeks in hospital.

Shortly after his discharge, James was re-assigned to the 219th Battalion, but the unit’s dissolution in December 1916 resulted in another transfer to the 161st Battalion, an Ontario unit. Throughout the following year, James remained in England with the 161st. When the 6th Reserve Battalion absorbed its personnel in early 1918, James was assigned to the 47th Battalion (British Columbia) on February 15, 1918, and joined his new unit in France on March 4.

Throughout the spring and early summer of 1918, James served a regular rotation with the 47th in sectors near Lens, France. While German forces launched a major “spring offensive” in late March, Canadian sectors were not targeted. The 47th’s personnel spent much of May and all of June in Divisional Reserve and saw little in the way of combat with German forces following their return to trenches near Oppy on July 10.

Allied Commanders, however, were busy planning a major counter-offensive in which the well-rested  Canadian Corps would play a significant role. In early August, the 47th made its way southward to Fourdrinoy, 15 kilometres west of Amiens. After several days’ rest, its personnel entered the line on the evening of August 7 and completed final preparations for an attack on German positions east of Amiens.

At 4:40 a.m. August 8, a massive artillery barrage signalled the beginning of the Battle of Amiens. The 47th’s soldiers advanced in support behind the 44th Battalion, one of its Brigade mates. Forward progress continued throughout the day, the 47th’s personnel reaching the outskirts of Beaucourt-en-Santerre before dark and settling in for the night.

James and his comrades rested throughout the following day before relieving the 11th Brigade’s 87th Battalion in the front trenches during the late evening hours. As morning approached, the 47th prepared for its first major combat since James’ arrival in France. At 10:15 a.m. August 10, its soldiers resumed the attack on the German line.

Despite heavy artillery bombardment, the soldiers steadily moved forward throughout the day, until machine gun fire halted the advance west of Fouquescourt. While personnel managed to drive enemy forces from the village by early evening, stiff resistance and dwindling light forced the unit to consolidate its position and settle in for the night.

Private James O’Brien’s first combat experience proved to be his last. Around 6:00 p.m. August 10, while taking part in the 47th’s attack on Fouquescourt, James was struck by a machine gun bullet and instantly killed. He was laid to rest in the Australian Imperial Forces Burial Ground, Flers, France.

James' story is one of 64 profiles contained in Bantry Publishing’s First World War Honour Roll of Guysborough County, Nova Scotia, Volume II: 1918 - 1937, available for purchase online at bantrypublishing.ca .