The Story of the 102nd Canadian Infantry Battalion
From BC to Baisieux by Sgt Leonard McLeod Gould HQ 102nd Canadians WW1
102nd Battalion Honours and Awards - from Steve Cowan in Comox
Cpl Heaven's Grave Site Re-dedication 22 Sep 2012
Read the Story of George Ireland who`s Grandson Pat Quinn was a noted NHL Personality
After 2 years of war the Battalion Staff gathered in Boitsfort Belgium in 1919 for a group picture as they waited to return home. Thanks to Dr Paul Morly.
Click below for their names
HOLT,
JAMES
Private Fry Protects the Attack on REGINA TRENCH 21 Oct 1916
CLICK SLIDESHOW ON THE RIGHT WHEN IT OPENS
Edwin Grant 102nd WW1 Soldier Remembered
Sidney A Tyers, 38th Battalion CEF and Pte. Hughes 102nd Battalion CEF. Thanks to Ms. D.M.Beaman grandaughter of Sidney Tyers.
Countess of Wessex Dedicates plaque to Victoria Cross Winner Lt Graham Lyall Click picture for story |
Maj Frank Gary at Buckingham Palace after receiving the Bar to his MC.
Unknown 102 Soldier
Who was he??
Thanks to Rob Piggot for the great shot of the Princess Charlotte
Haunting melodies from the Menin Gate at The Great War Website
(These are MP3 files that will open in your media player)
The Last Post and Reveille (revelle)
Maj Frank Gary (a U.S. Citizen) and member of the 102nd Bn Remembered6 May 04 a new pic on the page - click link above!
Gordon Dobson and friends
The Song of the Spit
(Sung to the tune of "John Brown's-Body)
We're Warden's weary warriors, a'drilling on the sand,
And paying out a buck a day to help the bloomin' band.
But what they do with all the cash, we don't quite understand,
As we go marching on.
The Colonel forms us up in line ands hands us lots of bull:
"You are the finest bunch of men that trigger e'er did pull."
On beef and beans and bread and Jam we keep our bellies full,
As we go marching on.
The sand gets in our blankets, and the wind blows chill and drear.
If life was dull at Comox, it's a damned sight duller here,
You have to go a mile or so to get a glass of beer,
As we go marching on.
Chorus:
We are Warden's weary warriors,
We are Warden's weary warriors,
We are Warden's weary ,warriors,
The Gallant-One-0-Two
Photo of Lance Sergeant Abraham Abel, born 1892, Wales, UK. He emigrated to Canada at the age of 15 yrs in 1907. In 1911 was working on a farm in Creighton Valley, near Lumby, BC . He was with the 30th BC Horse Regiment from 1912-1916, then joined 102nd Comox-Atlin CEF at Vernon, commanding officer J W Warden. He sailed from Halifax on the Empress of Britain arriving in England June 1916. After training at Bramshott camp embarked for France August 1916. After some months in the front line was hospitalised in Rouen 1917 with trench fever, recovered and returned to frontline duty. In August 1918 he was wounded by gunshot at Amiens and returned to England. After discharge in 1919, he remained in Berkshire, England where he married and became a greengrocer. He died in 1973, aged 81
Abrahams
colleague Frank Page also joined the 102nd Battalion. His
Army number is consecutive to my grandads whose no is 703554,
Frank Page`s being 703555, his address was also in Lumby BC,
but he was born in Suffolk, England.
The curator of the Lumby BC Museum sends this from the Vernon News Archives February 10, 1916
February 17, 1916
|
Walter
Bapty (1884-1973), the young man on our left holding the gun with the
bandoleer over his shoulder, ran away from home and school in January 1900
to join the second Canadian contingent forming to fight in the Boer War. He
was just 15 when he sailed on the Laurentian, bound for Cape Town,
probably the youngest volunteer with the contingent. In other ways, however,
he was a typical volunteer. He was a patriotic English speaking Canadian
whose father was a small businessman in London, Ontario. He grew up reading
RM Ballantyne and Captain Marryat and tried to emulate the heroes of these
books.
Bapty served initially with the Royal Canadian Field Artillery under John McCrae but at the end of his tour signed up with the Canadian Scouts (as seen in the photograph). The Canadian Scouts, raised and led by the charismatic Major 'Gat' Howard, developed a large following in Canada and a reputation for daring, reckless action. After Howard's death in action in February 1901, they also developed a reputation for ruthlessness. It was said, for instance, that they showed no quarter and took no prisoners. After his return to Canada, Bapty had a distinguished career as a physician. He practiced for many years in Victoria, BC and, in 1912, was a founding member of the Medical Council of Canada. He also had a distinguished military career. He served with the Second CMR in World War I and, following a severe neck wound, was the MO with the 102nd North British Columbians at Vimy Ridge. Following the war Bapty returned to medical practice in Victoria where he was instrumental in establishing the Canadian Scottish Regiment in Victoria, later becoming CO of the 2nd Battalion. This regiment served with great distinction in Normandy and Northwest Europe during World War II. Following this war he again returned to medical practice before retiring. He died in Victoria in 1973. |
BATTLE HONOURS
"SOMME, 1916", "Ancre Heights", "Ancre, 1916", "ARRAS, 1917, 18", "VIMY, 1917", "Hill 70", ", 1917", "PASSCHENDAELE", "AMIENS", "Scarpe, 1918", "Drocourt-Queant", "HINDENBURG LINE", "CANAL du NORD", "VALENCIENNES", "France and Flanders, 1916-18".
Be sure and visit the 102nd Battalion`s Sister Unit - the 54th Kootenay Battalion
Visit the 21st Battalion from Eastern Ontario