The street that connects Coleman Street to the new subdivision near Walmart has a name now: Christie Street, in honour of a young man who played an unusual role in the history of Carleton Place before he died in battle in 1917.
He was John H. H. (for Hatchell Halliday) Christie, who came to the town, and to Canada, to be a student minister at the Methodist Church on Franklin Street (what’s now Zion-Memorial United Church). He was born in Ireland, in a village called Glenavy in County Antrim, and interrupted his studies to cross the ocean to help meet an urgent need.
It was a difficult time for churches in Canada, with the population growing faster than the church leadership could find ministers to look after them. The problem was worst in the western provinces, and would continue until three denominations merged to create
the United Church in 1925, but the shortage hit home in Carleton Place when Dr. J. H. Sparling, the well-liked Methodist minister, died suddenly. (To be precise, he dropped dead while out on a bicycle ride.)
The best that could be arranged for a replacement was John Christie, the 23-year-old student who came over to serve as the congregation’s minister. He was quickly very popular, perhaps especially with the mothers of daughters, and he was well known
for his charming tenor voice. Someone noted that one of his favourite hymns was “When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder”. But World War I was starting, and within a year the roll call he was answering was that of the Canadian Army Medical Corps. He headed back across the Atlantic with the Canadian Expeditionary.
Force; starting out as a private, he was soon a corporal, then commissioned as a lieutenant, and in early 1917 he was assigned to the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles. Within three weeks he was dead, killed near the village of Givenchy-en-Gohelle during the Battle of Vimy Ridge in April 1917.
John Christie was one of five young men from Carleton Place who never returned from Vimy. He and other fallen soldiers were remembered at a service in the Methodist Church, where the four men’s photos were displayed at the front of the sanctuary, wrapped in a Union Jack. His body was buried in La Chaudière military cemetery near Vimy.
John Hatchell Halliday Christie
2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles Battalion
10th April 1917, aged 25.
Plot VII. C. 2.
Son of the Rev. William John Christie and Emma Jane Halliday Christie, of Barnbidge, Ireland.
It took until 1918 before the Methodist church found a new minister. After the war, in the 1920s, the area near the corner of Franklin and Beckwith Streets, which had been standing empty since Carleton Place’s great fire in 1910, was developed as Memorial Park. And when the Cenotaph was put up there, one of the names engraved on it was that of the Rev. John Christie.
Newspaper Clipping – From the Perth Courier for 4 May 1917
Lt. Rev. John Hatchell Halliday Christie was 25 years of age when he lost his life on the second day of the Battle at Vimy Ridge. He too is buried in a Canadian war cemetery in France.
The photo shows some of the local men mentioned in this story. Top left, Private Jack Scott, top middle; Sapper, Lieutenant Campbell C. Scott, top right; Sergeant Roy R. Wilson, middle left; Gunner Norman G.G. Scott, middle right; Private Craig Greer, bottom left; Walter Roffey, Sapper, Lieutenant Bruce Scott, bottom middle; Private Jimmie Traill , bottom right; Private Alvin Wilson. Photo by Perth Remembered
Imagine getting the news as a parent that your son Craig while a prisoner of war in Germany had died and was never coming home. Craig was a military policeman in Perth while the battalion was recruiting and he went to England with the 130th Battalion and to France with a draft of the 76th. After the Vimy Ridge engagement on the 9th April, he was reported missing and later a prisoner of war.
His parents were notified of his removal from Limberg to Dummen at which place he stated they were allowed to write two letters a month and a card every Sunday. His parents received a letter early in June stating that he was in a run down condition in health and was in need of money. About the same time a letter to Mrs. (Rev) Coles of Maberly (then deceased) was written saying he was not getting enough to eat.
In his last letter home dated 13th July, he made no mention of his physical condition but wished to be remembered to all and further stated that he knew but one sergeant in the place. Possessed of a humorous and genial disposition Craig was a favorite with all in his community. His brother George died in France of pneumonia on the 6th October and another brother James was in training at Witley Camp in Surrey, England.
Canadians, in repelling a strong counter attack, lost heavily in men a number being taken prisoner. Among this number were Jack Scott, Walter Roffey of Lanark along with Craig Greer of Maberly. They all fell into severe treatment according to his letter, the German soldiers saying that they were making things even for treatment accorded when their men were taken prisoners by the Allies.
In 1961 Craig Greer was one of the councillors of Maberley but national defence had reported him dead in the first world war. Many of Maberley’s citizens turned up that day for his memorial service but a short time later they were rejoicing. Greer was alive and well after spending over 20 months there.
Rose Parsons messaged me and told me this story and acknowledged he was reported missing only to show up at his home unexpectedly in Maberly and there was quite the story behind this man. They a memorial display on the wall in the Maberly Town Hall and in and around the Village He became known as The Man of the Walking Dead as some folks called him in the area. We all though it sure was a miracle and the story goes that his wife absolutely passed out cold when he just walked into the kitchen that day! I grew up with his son Harold and his wife was known to us as Auntie Florence, just a beautiful person!
Craig Greer of Maberly, one of the local men who was privileged to read his own obituary at the end of the 1914-18 war, was back in uniform again, having joined the Ottawa Home Guard detachment. Mr. Greer was reported officially to have died while a prisoner of war in Germany in 1918(?) and the Courier believes a memorial service was held following receipt of that news. However, as in the case of Mark Twain, there was exaggeration and Craig survived the ordeal of the prison camp and returned to Canada. Last week, an advertisement appeared in the Courier whereby men were sought for home guard duty at Ottawa and among those from that town and district who were accepted were: Arthur St. Pierre, Mississippi Station; Fred J. Armstrong, Elmsley; Craig Greer, John Campbell, and Sid Howe, Maberly; Thomas Moore, William Lee, Walter Chalmers, and Jack Richardson, Perth.
“We were walking on dead soldiers … I saw poor fellows trying to bandage their wounds… bombs, heavy shells were falling all over them … it is the worst sight that a man ever wants to see.” — Canadian soldier Frank Maheux
Casualties:
1.) Pte. Ronald Gamble, killed in action. Much sympathy is felt in town for Mr. and Mrs. James Gamble in the death of their son Ronald Gamble who was on Monday officially reported killed in action between the 3rd and 4th November. Evidently it was his first time to go in to the trenches as in one of his last letters he said his unit was on the march and that he would write again when he reached the front lines. In one of his last letters he said “we have been traveling around the country and have seen some lovely scenery. There is so much dust here as it has done nothing but rain this week and we are over the boot tops in mud where ever we go. We will likely be meeting our friends across the way in a few days.” Ronald enlisted with the 240th Battalion on the 10th September, 1916 and left Canada for overseas with this unit on the 25th April, 1917. He went to France this past September and thus was there but a brief period before he was added to that long list of Canadians who have their last resting place in France. He was but 18 years of age and a very fine young man. Before enlisting at Perth he was employed in the printing and box making department of the Henry K. Wampole Co. (transcriber’s note, a letter from this company was not transcribed.)
2.) Pte. George Leggatt Killed in Action
Mr. and Mrs. James Leggatt of town are mourning the loss of their eldest son George Leggatt, aged 20, who has given his life on the fields of Flanders. The telegram conveying this sad news was to the effect that he was killed in action between the 3rd and 4th November. He went overseas with the 240th Battalion in May last and to France with a draft for the 21st Battalion only last September. He was but a short time in France and it was perhaps his first time in the trenches. Before enlisting he was employed in the Caldwell Company at Appleton. The last word received from him was in a letter written to Rev. D’Arcy Clayton which was written on the 1stNovember in France in which he stated he was well. He leaves to mourn his loss his parents, three brothers, albert and James at home and Gordon at Belleville and four sisters, Bessie, Millie, Francis and Helen at home.
3.) Pte Bruce Hope Dies of Wounds
Word was received here on Saturday of the death in a hospital in France on the 3rd November of Pte. W. Bruce Hope, only son of Mr. and Mrs. William Hope of Edson, Alberta and formerly of Perth, from wounds received a short time previous. The deceased was about 20 years of age and went overseas with an Edmonton battalion. Peter Hope is an uncle of the deceased.
4.) Pte. Craig Greer Dies While a Prisoner Of War
On Monday, 12th November, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Greer of Maberly were notified by the Record Office at Ottawa of the death of their son Craig while a prisoner of war in Germany. He was a military policeman in Perth while the battalion was recruiting. He went to England with the 130th Battalion and to France with a draft of the 76th. After the Vimy Ridge engagement on the 9th April, he was reported missing and later a prisoner of war. Shortly afterwards his parents were notified of his removal from Limberg to Dummen at which place he stated they were allowed to write two letters a month and a card every Sunday. His parents received a letter early in June stating that he was in a run down condition in health and was in need of money. About the same time a letter to Mrs. (Rev) Coles of Maberly (then deceased) was written saying he was not getting enough to eat. In his last letter home dated 13th July, he made no mention of his physical condition but wished to be remembered to all and further stated that he knew but one sergeant in the place. Possessed of a humorous and genial disposition Crag was a favorite with all in his community. His brother George died in France of pneumonia on the 6th October and another brother James is training at Witley Camp in Surrey, England.
5.) Lance Corporal George Cordick Dies of Wounds—Mrs. Robert Cordick of town received a telegram Monday conveying the sad information that her son had died of wounds on 8th November in #3 Casualty Clearing Station in France. They consisted of a gunshot wound in the head and chest. He was twice wounded. The first time was in August of 1916 and he was in England following this until May of this year when he returned to France where he has been up to the time of his death. Before enlisting he had been living in Halleybury(?) for six years and was 26 years of age. He enlisted with the Canadian Grenadier Guards in April of 1915 going overseas shortly afterwards. In the last letter received from him dated 31st Oct., he states that he was well. Those left to mourn his loss are his mother, the five brothers Samuel, Richard, William and Robert at home and James of Saskatchewan and five sisters Myrtle to home, Mrs. Bionee(?) Bionce(?) of Perth, Mrs. R.P. Donnelly of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, Mrs. James McParlan and Mrs. S.P. White of Stanleyville.
6.) Pte. Elmer Boles—In the list of those who have fallen in France this week is the name of Pte. Elmer Boles, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Boles of Fallbrook and formerly of Maberly. He enlisted with the 130thBattalion and had been a year in France. He is survived by his parents and two brothers one in France and one in Winnipeg and three sisters, Mrs. Thomas Ferguson of Manion, Mrs. Benjamin Avery of Fallbrook and Mrs. Ferguson of Vancouver.
7.) Pte. James Wilson—photo accompanies article—The telegram wires are constantly carrying messages of sorrow these days and no more regretful message was received in Perth this week than that arriving on Wednesday stating that Pte. James Clyde Wilson, youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. John Wilson, had fallen in action in France. He enlisted in November of 1915 with the 130th Battalion going overseas this year. He fell on the 7th November and had been one yaer in France, attaining his 20th birthday in July last. In the last letter from Clyde received by Mrs. Wilson, he was expecting to take part in a big advance; this was received on Wednesday. Clyde attended the public schools here and was attending the Perth Collegiate Institute when he enlisted. He was in the headquarters office of the battalion while recruiting was going on. He was a manly young fellow whose death is deeply regretted by all. Three brothers, Herb, Tom and Creighton, are overseas.
Wounded:
1.) By telegram relatives in Canada were informed of the wounding of Pte. Fred Lappin of the Princess Patricias. He was admitted to the 1st Western General Hospital in Liverpool on the 4th November with a gunshot wound in the collarbone. He was slightly wounded before in the hand.
2.) Mr. John McKay of town received a telegram on Tuesday with the information that his son Corp. John Allen McKay of the medical service had been admitted to the #149 Field Ambulance on the 10th November with a gunshot wound in the shoulder.
3.) Peter Kantlakon(?) of Perth received notice on Friday from the Record Office in Ottawa that his brother Pte. James Kantlakon(?) of Smith’s Falls is officially reported admitted to the 6th Field Ambulance Depot on the 6th November with a gunshot wound in the hand.
4.) Peter Stafford of Lanark received word that his son Pte. Harry Stafford, infantry, had been admitted to the #6 Field Ambulance Depot on the 6th November with a gunshot wound in the thigh and legs.
5.) Mrs. Arthur Turner of Appleton received word a week ago of the wounding of her brother Lance Corporal William Service who was shot through the hand. This is the third time the young man has been wounded. He enlisted with the 8th Montreal Rifles in Ottawa in January of 1915 and spent two years in France.
6.) James Palmer of Perth received word that Pte. Arnold Warner, infantry, was admitted to the #1 Field Ambulance Depot on the 6th November with gunshot wounds in the left shoulder, leg and back. He went overseas with the 130th Battalion Band making his home before he enlisted with Mrs. James Palmer.
7.) News was received by Mr. A.F. Craig of Brightside on Monday that his nephew Corp. C.C. Craig had been wounded though not seriously. His is a son of Alfred Craig, formerly of Watson’s Corners but now of Wetaskiwin(?), Alberta.
8.) George C. Fredenburg of Westport was officially notified that his son Sgt. Wilfred Fredenburg had been wounded by gunshot in the side and left arm on the 7th November.
9.) A telegram was received by George Shire of the Delta station that Pte. Harold Shire had been admitted to the 1st Eastern General Hospital at Cambridge on the 14th November as dangerously ill.
10.) Lt. William Hope was wounded and gassed—photo accompanies notation
Lt. William Hope, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Hope of town was this week reported wounded and gassed but exact particulars have not been received although cabled for.
District Casualties:
1.) Mrs. Ella Halford of Balfour, Manitoba who is at present visiting with Mrs. A. Lashley of Watson’s Corners was informed on Tuesday that her eldest son Pte. John Thomas Halford, infantry, had been killed in action between the 26th and 28th October.
2.) On October 30th, Pte. Arthur Templeton of the Princess Patricias, youngest son of Robert and Mary Templeton of Belleville had been killed in action in Flanders, aged 23.
District Wounded:
1.) Pte. Robert E. Gilbert of Appleton
2.) Pte. G.E. Malone of Almonte
3.) Pte. H. Keill, Sharbot Lake
4.) Pte. Herbert Patterson, Christie’s Lake
5.) Pte. S.A. Minnsfield, Smith’s Falls
6.) Pte. A. L. McNab, Merrickville
7.) Pte. E. L. Boulton, Smith’s Falls
8.) Pte. F. Moorhouse, Renfrew
9.) Pte. R.S. Shields, Smith’s Falls
10.) Pte. W. Wilson, Cobden
11.) Pte. Herbert Davidson, Beachburg
12.) Pte. S.(?) L. Perry, Franktown
13.) Pte. W. P. Meagher, Smith’s Falls
14.) Capt. Demming T. McCann of Westport
15.) Pte. A.T. Burgess of Pakenham
16.) Pte. C.L. Watt of Merrickville
17.) Pte. Charles Hogan of Merrickville
Died of Wounds:
1.) Pte. H. McVeigh, Sharbot Lake
2.) Pte. E. B. Galbraith, Yorker (Yarker?), Ontario
3.) Pte. E. W. Gemmell, Galbraith, Ontario
Gassed:
1.) Pte. Edgar W. Burgess, Pakenham
2.) Pte. John Hill, Carleton Place
3.) Pte. Alexander McNaughton, Cobden
4.) Pte. W. P. Banks, Smith’s Falls
5.) Pte. Allan Thrasher, Forrester’s Falls
6.) Pte. Russell Riddell, Clarendon
7.) Lance Corp. R.E. McPherson, Oso Station
8.) Pte. William Eroy(?), Almonte
Further Casualties:
The following additional casualties are of young men from this district:
1.) #410771, Pte. C.N. Henophy, Cardinal, killed in action
2.) #639280, Pte. Charles A. Hurlburt, Kemptville, killed in action
3.) #204240 Pte. Morvin(?) Miskelly(?), Merrickville, killed in action
4.) #639417 Acting Lance Corporal C. Watts, Cardinal, killed in action
5.) #639946(?) Pte. F. Barton, Spencerville, wounded
6.) #650175 Pte. C. Hogan(?), Merrickville, wounded
7.) #745093 Corporal W. Jones, Prescott, wounded
8.) #639821 Pte. L. W. Todd, Cardinal, wounded
Mr. and Mrs. Neil McCallum were informed by telegram on Monday of the wounding of their son Fred by gunshot in the face and left arm. He was admitted to the #3 Australian Casualty Clearing Station on 17thNovember. No further particulars have been received but it is thought he was assisting with the wounded when injured. He has been in France upwards of a year and a half going overseas with the 52nd Battalion of Calgary.
Casualties:
Killed in Action:
Pte. Joseph M. Seeley who for several years made his home with John Kerr, town clerk, has been reported killed in action. His parents are residing at Beamsville. While at Perth he attended the separate school, Perth Collegiate Institute and later the Federal Business College. From Perth he went to Hamilton and enlisted early in the war with an infantry unit. After training for some time in England, he was taken ill and spent several months in the hospital. After coming out of the hospital his unit had been drafted elsewhere; he was drafted to a Highland unit before going to France. He was 20 years of age and is well known in Perth, a brother Arthur is with the Royal Flying Corps and his eldest brother Charles is also overseas.
Pte. G. A. Tennant, only son of Mrs. F.J. Tennant, Toronto, and nephew of Mrs. J. Lestor, 10th Line Lanark, where he was well known, is reported killed in action.
Stanton Hudson, son of Daniel Hudson of Burritt’s Rapids and formerly of Perth is this week reported killed in action.
Wounded:
Pte. C.C. Forrest, Lombardy, next of kin Miss Jeannie Forrest, Lombardy.
James A. Smith—A telegram came to Perth this week directed to Thomas Lannin of Christie’s Lake, stating that Pte. James A. Smith, infantry, #225404 was admitted to the #9 Field Ambulance on the 17thNovember, with gunshot wounds and a skull fractured.
Presumed To Have Died:
Pte. T. J. Irvine of Perth is reported on Monday’s casualty list.
Killed in Action:
Pte. John English Douglas
Pte. D. Morrow, Renfrew
Pte. T. R. Hendry, Renfrew
Pte. T.W. Lett, Eganville
Pte. C.L. Portes, Renfrew
Cpl. N.R. Mc:Phail, Carleton Place
Died:
Pte. Percival Moore, Carleton Place
Gassed:
Pte. D.L. Fitzgerald, Renfrew
Pte. W. J. Harrasin(?), Pembroke
Died of Wounds:
Pte. Herbert Dowdall, Carleton Place
2.) Pte. J. T. Wilson, Pembroke
Wounded:
Pte. A. Conits, Rideau Ferry
Pte. H. Rouselle, Renfrew
Pte. C. McCreary, Smith’s Falls
Pte. F. L. Cahill, Smith’s Falls
Pte. D. Watkins, Ardoch
Pte. Elijah Thompson, Harlowe
Pte. Christie Halladay, Smith’s Falls
Pte. T. J. Charboneau, Westport
Pte. Cochrane Clayton
Pte. H. M. Main, Renfrew
Pte. Edgar McKarracher in a letter received by his parents Mr. and Mrs. Daniel McKerracher, Fallbrook, states that he was along with Clyde Wilson of Perth and Elmer Bales of Falls when they fell in action. Edgar also says that after this battle he and Dr. Scott’s son of Lanark were practically for four days without any food but at last reached a farm house where they obtained food.
Posted: 11 February, 2005-Christine M. Spencer of Northwestern University, Evanston, Il., USA.
I cried and felt my heart turn over when I read this list..Exempted until they cease to be employed as farmers or textile workers producing war items. But to have to go to a tribunal to plead your case:( May we never have another war again.
War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other’s children.
JIMMY CARTER, Nobel Lecture, December 10, 2002
From the Exemption Tribunal
Lanark Village—Exemptions Refused:
Thomas Majaury, Lanark
Carl Thompson, Lanark Township
John Molyneaux, Lanark, RR#4
John R. Ashby, Fallbrook
George M. Sommerville, Middleville
David G. Sommerville, Middleville
John J. Walters, Lanark, RR#1
Melville L. Woods, Lanark
John Rankin, Hopetown
Lanark Village—Temporary Exemptions—Exempted until they cease to be employed as farmers:
James S. Somerville, Middleville exempted until he ceased to be employed as a cheesemaker
Arthur Ferguson, Lanark, exempted until he ceases to be employed as a textile spinner, producing war material
Exemptions and the following reasons:
George B. Jamieson, Lanark, E
James Yuill, Hopetown, E
Michael James O’Donnell, Lanark, blind
Fred J. Darou, Lanark, C3
William R. Foster, E
Arthur M. Blackburn, Middleville, B2
Russell E. Borrowman, Lanark, C1
Lloyd R. Bolton, Innisville, E
William J. Foster, Lanark, E
William Cross, Lanark, E
William H. McFarlane, Lanrk, E
James C. Dodds, Middleville, C1
Rutherford McIlquham, Drummond, C3
Matthew McCardy, Lanark, B2
Ralph Affleck, Lanark township, E
Hugh Stead(?), Lanark, B2
Charles Stewart, Lanark township, C1
Robert Stewart, Lanark township, C1
Lawrence H. Flemming, Fallbrook, C3
John Legard, Lanark, B2
Robert W. Graham, Lanark, E
John W. McQuatt, Lanark, #4, C1
William G. Sommerville, Middleville, illness and infirmity
Robert J. Burns, Lanark, not within set(?)
Alfred Luteman, B2
Ralph Affleck, Lanark township, B2
Charlie Affleck, Lanark township, B2
Daniel C. James, Lanark township, C1
Thomas J. Stewart, Lanark township, E
Terence J. Gray, Ferguson’s Falls, B2
Exemption Tribunal McDonald’s Corners:
Exemptions Refused:
David L. Gemmell, McDonald’s Corners
John W. DeQuitteville, Manion
James T. Love, Elphin
John A. McLellan, McDonald’s Corners
Daniel Ferguson, Elphin
Jas. Machan, Watson’s Corners
Exemptions Granted:
Dr. Haggard
James McCulloch(?)
Nelson Fair
Earle E. Gemmell
Vincent Hall
Albert E. McDonald
James Harper
Robert J. Ferguson
(below group all of McDonald’s Corners)
Paul Griffin
Russell Fair
Howard McInnis
James Legary
James D. McBain(?)(or M. Bain?)
Albert E. Closs
James G. Dungau(?) or Dungan(?)
James D. Sergeant
Febian Garreau
Fred Jackson
Allan J. Watt
Arthur J. Wilson
James Warrington
Wilfred J. Closs
Benjamin F. Avery
(below group all of Watson’s Corners):
Charlie Park
Melville R. Jackson
Allie M. Craig
Morton Storie
Thomas J. Easton
Donald R. McInnes
Robert Raymond Paul
Pollack McDougall
Arthur J. Crosbie
William L. Conroy
Alfred J. Horn
Clayton Storie
Stanley Jackson—My father Stanley Jackson (Watson’s Corners) is on the list for “granted an exemption” but did enlist in Nov 1917. He spoke of returning from training in Ottawa so he could help on the farm on weekends and return to training on Monday-Alice Gilchrist
Calvin L. Caldwell
Albert L. Horn
Andrew G. Fair
Thomas D. Scott
Russell McDougall
Walter R. Forbes
(below listed all of Elphin):
Russell Ferguson
Gladson Linton
Roy Ferguson (or Ray)
Robert J. Balfour
James McVean
Haddon Wilson
Alexander Love
Adam Geddes
David Nosbot
William E. Geddes
John W. McVean
(below all of Manion):
Guy Leonard
Thomas J. Mahon
Ralph M. Miller
(below both of Fallbrook):
James E. Cameron
Mervyn Cameron
Roy Fournier, Snow Road
John Scott, Dalhousie Lake
Henry B. Chaplin and Howard Roberts, under age, not within the act
Deferred:
William B. Donald, McDonald’s Corners, case transferred to Lanark
Fred L. McInnes, McDonald’s Corners
Melville G. Rodgers, Watson’s Corners
Lawrence V. Close, McDonald’s Corners, ordered to be medically examined
Howard McDougall, Elphin
John E. Millar, Elphin
Walter N. Griffin, Manion
James Park, Watson’s Corners, ordered to be medically examined
Tribunal Lavant Station:
Exemptions Refused:
Willie Burns, Marble Bluff
Gilbert White, Poland
Samuel Sproule, Lavant Station
Robert H. Percy, Lavant
Exemptions Granted:
(below all of Caldwell’s Mills):
Thomas Ferguson
William Moffat
Alive Ferguson
Archibald Gray
Albert Duncan
R.M. Desjardine
Donald Cameron
Robert Deachman
Earl Closs, Flower Station
William E. Allan
John F. Richardson
Alexander Virgin, Lavant Station
Edward Kelly(?), Lavant Station
John Majaury, Lavant Station
Charles Virgin, White
(below all of Poland):
Hugh W. McKenzie
D.A. McIntosh
Clement J. Paul
William J. White
Milton Paul
Herbert R. Hart
William J. Lorimer
William O. Percy
Mellville Reid, Lavant
John H. Reid, Lavant
Harold Robertson, Lavant
John Burns, Marble Bluff
William G. Craig, Brightside
W.W. McDougall, Brightside
Melville Larocque, Brightside
Louis Ranger, Green Mountain
Victor R. Currie, Lammermore
Decisions Deferred:
William Prosky, Folger Station
Milner Reid, Lavant
Robert Stewart
James W. Hart, Poland
A.W. Jacob
John Thomas, Lavant
A. Roach, Wilbur
Perth Exemption Tribunal
The Perth Exemption Tribunal has concluded its duties on all scheduled names to come before it. The final list in addition to those published heretofore is as follows:
The following letter was received by Miss Annie Wilson of the Scotch Line from her brother Stuart Wilson, on active service in France.
28th October, 1917
(not transcribed in full)
Dear Annie:
We have been on the move this last week. I suppose you can guess where we are. At least the papers will tell you where the Canadians are attacking again. We have been sleeping in hay mows and straw piles with the pigs, chickens, etc. Our present billet is a big barn. I have slept very comfortably everywhere we have yet been. Lots of straw and a couple of blankets; may it never be worse. We have stopped here for several days resting up before going up any further. It has rained a lot lately and the mud is bad but what must it be further up? They say they are swimming in it. What with lice, mud, rain, shells, gas, bombs from planes, when he is out the soldier has a lot to contend with. When one thinks what the men were up against the first winter we are in comparative comfort. If the Russians had only kept to their part but this fall would have seen the finish of it. The Italians seem to be getting theirs now. This is good farming country fully level and pretty wet at all times. They grow a lot of sugar beets for stock and also for sugar making. You were asking me about Red Cross work. I cannot say much about it except from here say and that is praise. I see lots of ambulances carrying wounded men running around with labels on them “donated by such and such Red Cross Society in Canada”. A lot of views some of these soldiers have taken from “Jack Canuck” and I thank that paper which keeps hollering about what it is doing for the private soldiers would be better suppressed. I believe your work is also shown in comforts to men in hospitals. A box every fortnight from now on would be acceptable. Cakes, jams, chocolate, etc., is the stuff. Two boxes came tonight to two of the crew and we had quite a feast. We had salmon and sardines, preserved cherries, peanut butter, and chocolate. That with our regular stuff is a real help.
Yours, Stewart
descriptive letter from France by Alexander Walker
Miss Lillian Walker received the following interesting letter from her brother Alexander Walker this week
Somewhere in France, 29th October, 1917
Dear Lillian:
(not transcribed in full)
At present we are having one terrible time of it. The banging of the big guns are never silent. Every night Fritz bombs us behind the lines from his aeroplanes and life is just one continued nightmare all the time. This is just about the toughest corner of the front that we have been on yet and each day has its toll of casualties but if we are suffering then God help Fritz because he must be living in a veritable hell. The drive on Lens was certainly a hot affair. We had a cable trench to dig but Fritz caught us in his barrage. It was awful, big shells and overhead shrapnel. I got a slight scratch on my hand, that is all, while in front and behind me men were knocked over like bowling pins. God knows how I ever got through that drive but I did and as soon as I was again in billets I immediately gave thanks to God for bringing me safely through. On that front we had a deep dugout in which to get away from the big shells but on this front all we have is bivouacs but we are still in the game and Fritz knows who he is up against when the Canadians start. It seems to me that they shove the Canadians on every hard part there is to take. We have the reputation of always gaining our objective and once taken we hold them. Some of the battalions have incurred heavy losses since we came here but Fritz has suffered 100% more. Well, sister, I think often of you and mother and I pray god will see me back safely but if my time to go has come I am ready to go. I never plan ahead any more because of what use? I never can tell for even a moment whether I will be alive the next minute or not. I think the Germans have suffered more in the last few weeks on this front than they did in all the rest of the war. We are driving ahead every day slowly to be sure, because of the mud and the hard proposition of moving up the guns but we are still driving them back. I do not know when the war will cease. He is fighting desperately and stubbornly and every battle is contested in the strongest possible way but I hope the big ones on both sides will soon see the awful havoc that is being wrought and come to some kind of understanding. Well, dear, I must close even though I do not write you right away, you write again soon. God be good to dear mother and keep you both safe until I return and now little sister good night and I will write again as soon as this offensive is over.
Your Affectionate Brother, Alex
Pte. Edgar McKarracher in a letter received by his parents Mr. and Mrs. Daniel McKerracher, Fallbrook, states that he was along with Clyde Wilson of Perth and Elmer Bales of Falls when they fell in action. Edgar also says that after this battle he and Dr. Scott’s son of Lanark were practically for four days without any food but at last reached a farm house where they obtained food.
Posted: 11 February, 2005-by Christine M. Spencer of Northwestern University, Evanston, Il., USA
Place of Birth: Perth, Lanark County, Ontario Country: Canada Next of Kin: David McLean (father,) Perth, Ontario Address at Enlistment: Smiths Falls, Ontario Date of Birth: February 25, 1890 Trade or Calling: Dental Surgeon
Lieut. Wm. McLean Writes of His Experiences in France.
The following letter was received recently from Lieut. Wm. McLean by his father, Mr David McLean. Lieut. McLean went overseas with the 130th Battalion and has been in France in the think of the conflict for some time:
France, Jan. 18th, 1917
Dear Father: –
I must write this evening for I may not have a chance again for some time. We came out of the line today after a month’s stay. We had it very hard in the line for the weather was very bad most of the time. We had a couple of trips out of the trenches, but just long enough to have a night’s sleep and a bath. The trenches were in very bad shape and it was nearly impossible to sleep, except when were were almost ready to drop. Bad and all as our trenches were they had nothing on the German trenches. Some of the recent prisoners seemed to think our trenches were fine. Just before we came out we some some real fighting and things were warm for 2 day[s] or so. Quite a bunch of prisoners were taken. Most of them were quite young chaps and were apparently quite glad to be taken. Our boys were in a hurry and blew up many dugouts that were full of Germans and in all probability cause many casualties.ie
Jan. 21st, 1917
Since I started this letter things have happened. They were shelling while I was writing and a big one almost put us out of business. A fragment came through the door and knocked things about a bit. No one was hurt but we were busy for awhile and most of the time on the move.
We are now away from the line, almost out of hearing of the guns, and run a good chance here of living to a ripe old age if we are here long enough. We marched out in full heavy marching order. It was quite a hike with a seventy-five pound pack, but the weather is cold now and did not mind it much. I expect we will be here for almost a month and probably into some ‘show.’ We are billeted in a little town. The billets are not very good, but i was luck and got a good bed. So once more I can get my clothes off. For over a month I never took off my boots except to change my socks or wash.
The weather here now is very much like early winter weather in Canada. There is a little snow but scarcely any frost in the ground and it i is just cold enough to keep the snow from melting. I had a letter from Aunt Minnie the other day and a parcel with some maple sugar which was fine. We had it on our porridge while it lasted. Well, dad, news is scarce and I must write some more letters to-night.
I was searching for something about a Munroe child being an acrobat in the New York World’s Fair and somehow I came across this video and text from the Carleton Place Library. This fits right in with our upcoming Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum Gala Dinner featuring Julian Smith who will discuss his work on the restoration of the Vimy Ridge Memorial– I thought this was great.
We are so honoured and proud to share with you this local documentary prepared in 2007 to commemorate the 90thanniversary of the Battle at Vimy Ridge produced by our summer student, Emma Kinsman. The video was presented and placed at the Perth Regional Historica Fair in 2007.
The video centers on the McDiarmid brothers of Carleton Place. Four of the six McDiarmid brothers enlisted in the First World War with only 1 returning home. Harold and Victor McDiarmid were killed at Vimy Ridge, and Arthur, who returned home to die after being exposed to poisonous gas.
Following the war, Mary McDiarmid and her only surviving veteran son, Leo, unveiled the Cenotaph in Carleton Place which was created to honour the town’s fallen sons.
his documentary was made in 2007 to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Battle at Vimy Ridge. It was produced by Emma Kinsman about the McDiarmid brothers of Carleton Place. Four of the sixMcDiarmid brothers enlisted in the First World War with only one returning home. Harold and Victor McDiarmid were killed at Vimy Ridge, and Arthur returned home to die after being exposed to poisonous gas. Following the war, Mary McDiarmid and her only surviving veteran son, Leo, unveiled the new Cenotaph in Carleton Place which was created to honour the town’s fallen sons.
This is the second panel of the Giant Tiger Mural. It’s a full one! From left to right: Mary McDiarmid, local teacher and David Findlay, founder of the Findlay Foundry, with the Gillies McLaren sawmill and workers in the background, at center, an ariel view of Carleton Place showing the Findlay Foundry on the north bank of the river, a wagon load of stoves heading to the train station to be shipped and the CPR train bridge with a train heading north. Various lumber mills, churches and our town hall fill the background. Carleton Place has a full and varied history!–Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum
It’s Canada’s 150th birthday…
It’s the 120th anniversary of the Carleton Place Town Hall…
We are also honouring the 100th anniversary of Vimy Ridge.
Join us this year at our annual fundraising Heritage Dinner as we honour these milstones. Architect Julian Smith will discuss his work on the restoration of the Memorial. Recently named to the Order of Canada, Mr. Smith has worked in both the heritage and contemporary fields on culturally significant sites in Canada (including Carelton Place), the U.S., Europe and Asia.
Tickets are $50 per person (with a $25 tax receipt). Dinner by Leatherworks Catering, with live musical entertainment and a silent auction. More details to follow.
All proceeds raised enable the Society’s continuing support of the Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum, their exhibitions, programming and public education events. This is our major fundraising event of the year. Other annual fundraisers include the Junk and Disorderly Sale on March 25/26 and our Vintage Clothing Sale held this year from April 21 – 23.
Tickets available beginning January 23 at the Carleton Place Chamber of Commerce and at the Museum.–Carleton Place and Beckwith Heritage Museum
Victor McDiarmid, age 18, poses with his sisters Jane and Evangeline at the Carleton Place Train Station in 1916. Victor was on his way overseas to fight in WWI with the 75th Battalion, 1st Central Ontario Regiment.
A high school student and skilled hockey player, Victor was one of four brothers who served in WWI. Only one came home.
Victor was reported “missing, presumed dead” at Vimy Ridge, April 8, 1917. Victor’s body was never found. His name is on the Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. We will remember.
McDiarmid—Died, at Carleton Place on the 13th May, Ormand M. McDiarmid, youngest son of Mr. Duncan McDiarmid, aged 9 months and four days.
Perth Courier, Sept. 8, 1899
We regret to announce the death of Mrs. W.R. McGinnis of Carleton Place, from Bright’s Disease, on Friday morning last in her 48th (?) year. The maiden name of the deceased was Matilda McDiarmid and she was a sister of Messrs. William, Duncan, and Robert McDiarmid of Carleton Place. She was a member of the Baptist Church. Her husband died 13 years ago of typhoid fever at Toronto
Perth Courier, July 30, 1897
James H. Reilly, once a resident of Carleton Place, died at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan on Thursday of last week. The body was brought to Carleton Place by William McDiarmid, Jr., to be buried from the home of his uncle D. McNeely in Cram’s Cemetery.
Photo—
lindaseccaspina 