News Archive, May 07 - Dec 09. (note: some older Links may no longer be current.) Click Back to return to Latest News.
19 December 2009
Merry Christmas and may 2010 be all you need it to be. Let us not forget.
8 December 2009
The website has undergone further minor visual improvements today in preparation for a more in-depth facelift, which will be coming around New Year.
November 09 saw 9,500 hits; the highest hit rate on the site to-date - barring of course the 8,500 hits on one day in May 2008, on the weekend the medals ceremony was aired on Canadian TV and reported on in coast to coast papers and on-line (please do see Frank Forsdike for details). Thank you all so much for your interest in the site.
24 November 2009
Catherine Switzer has provided a stunning and thoroughly researched double biography for Ptes. Collins and David Cooke. Thank you, Catherine, you have done a wonderful job.
20 November 2009
It is with great pleasure that I welcome Ted Burns, representing his grandfather, L/Cpl. Edward Edwin Burns. Ted was able to supply some cracking images and a thorough biography of his grandfather to share with us. Also, I welcome Ted's sister, Edward Burns' granddaughter, Marie Janowiak. It is an honour to remember your grandfather this way and whilst we mourn all of their losses, they are not forgotten here.
19 November 2009
I have been contacted by a British Columbia man who has offered an original copy of "Out of the Jaws of Hunland" for sale. In the region of CAN$25, the Evans & McMullen book, written before WW1 was concluded, concerns the exploits of these two men, and their various colleagues, in being taken POW on June 2nd, 1916, during the Battle for Mount Sorrel, and their amazing stories of endurance and escape. If you are interested in buying this book I will forward your email to Steve in B.C. and you can come to an agreement on cost and shipping arrangements. I have a copy of this book and highly recommend it.
16 November 2009
Accompanying a slight format update on the website (better handled by IE7 than it is Firefox - big shock), I welcome John Workman, who is standing alongside his wife's grandfather, Pte. Francis Blackbourn, formerly of the 8th CMR, which was transferred to the 4CMR in January 1916. A pleasure to have you with us, as your grandfather becomes the In Memoriam's 214th man represented (that's an amazing 5% of the Regiment's closing numbers).
15 November 2009
Ahead of a planned although minor update to the website's format, I am pleased to welcome Bill Howitt to the fold, representing his father. Pte. Richard Howitt was taken POW on 2nd June, 1916 (during the 'Battle for Mount Sorrel'), only to escape in October 1917 and make it back home. He features in the Evans and McMullen book, "Out of the Jaws of Hunland". Thanks to Richard Johnston for intially bringing his grand uncle to my attention and then seeing to it that Richard Howitt's son, Bill, was put in touch. Welcome both.
14 November 2009
There have been some exciting contacts in recent weeks, pushing the represented men on the In Memoriam page to 212. Of note has been yet another story of families being reunited by this website, this time through 4CMR man, RSM Donald Smith. The backstory to this website was always to be there in the hope that relatives of Cpl. Frank Forsdike (my great-grandfather's brother) would one day go looking for Frank's history, find this site, contact me and I would be able to see Frank's medals return to the family they never reached. That happened and I gained a whole new line of family in Canada I had spent 13 frustrating years trying to find. To Anne & Ted, then, a warm family welcome.
There have been another couple of contacts where people had relatives in the 4CMR, who have not subsequently come back to me to consent to being placed on the In Memoriam page alongside their relative. I trust that in due course they will.
Pte. Robert H. Morley was brought to my attention by Linda, who had spotted his headstone in the military section of Little Lake Cemetery, Peterborough, Ontario. Able to view the man's obituary in the local archives, Linda dropped the details over to me, where a mystery began to unravel. Although it is very clear from his headstone that Robert was associated with the 4CMR, and that his records show that he attested into the 136th BN, there is no record of him having been in the 4CMR. Various battalions fed into given regiments during the Great War, but the 136th BN had no connection with the 4CMR, save one other man, Lt Butson. Other BN's, such as the 147th and the 248th, for instance, fed men numbered in the hundreds into the 4CMR. The 136th only had one known man, and now Robert Morley. That his headstone states bodly that he was associated with the 4CMR is good enough until we can prove whether Robert fully served with the 4CMR or not. Many thanks to Linda for bringing him to my attention.
11 November 2009
Lest we forget.
02 November 2009
Art Hubbs continues sterling work with his research, adding 4CMR men Robert Holmes, brothers Harland & James Martin and Harold Lawrence to the In Memoriam page. An earlier man, Harold Lattimer, again one of Art's research subjects was missed off the In Memoriam wall, so in bringing him into the fold, the In Memoriam total now stands at 208 4CMR represented today.
Pte Thomas Lyons was added to the In Memoriam page a while back, and Meredith Johnson has provided a further picture of the 19 year old, taken just 16 days before he was lost. A question is being asked as to who the fellow 4CMR man is in the picture. Referred to as his "chum", it is possible that he may be a fellow former 83rd BN man. Take a look-see at the image on the Gallery page and if you can help provide any clues as to who he is, let me know.
30th October 2009
With the final images from the UK 4CMR memorials being claimed and represented, thank you Chris Henzler, the number of 4CMR men now represented today rises to 203. As we approach that significant time of remembrence, let us not forget.
27th October 2009
A pick up in contacts in recent days brings Roderick Groundes-Peace to the 4CMR fold, representing his grandfather, Pte. Albert Grounds Peace. Albert's time in the 4CMR gave way to a commission in the RFC. Please do see his biography on the In Memoriam page. Welcome, Roderick.
25th October 2009
I have been debating for some time as to whether or not to add 26 men of the 4CMR to the In Memoriam page, for whom I had taken headstone images at Maple Copse, Sanctuary Wood and Tyne Cot cemeteries - which can be seen on the 4CMR Memorials > Belgium page. These included a few whose headstone images had been supplied over a four year period and for whom those persons did not want to be mentioned or for whom I had subsequently lost the credit links.
After some deliberation I have decided to include them, as certainly those headstones I had imaged in the Ypres area were for my own research project and as such I (or rather the website) should represent them on the In Memoriam page, as that is what this website is all about - specifically remembering and representing those men today. As such, 26 men were added to the In Memoriam page today, with links to their headstone images, as biographies have not yet been written up. A further 5, UK based, additions, also purely headstone images, await confirmation for adding from the source of the images. Not including these 5 additonal UK based links, the total 4CMR men represented on the In Memoriam page stands at 197. Of some 4,546 men who it is known served with the 4CMR, 197 men represents some 4% of the regiment directly represented today.
18th October 2009
Joseph Villeneuve served with the 4CMR from the outset, being part of the original intake, and whilst he was one of the lucky few to have survived June 2nd, 1916's onslaught at the outset of the Battle for Mount Sorrel, he was one of 280 or so 4CMR men taken POW that day.
An article being run by reporter Tamara Cherry in the Toronto Sun today, focusses on a quest by Royal Canadian Legion man, Ken Creighton, to find the family of Joseph Villeneuve. In receipt of an photograph of Joseph, from a Nottinghamshire, England, lady, Edna Callaghan, asking Ken for help in finding the family, it seems the picture was given to her father, a fellow, English, POW in Gustersloh, Germany, during captivity.
If you feel you can help in the quest for family of one Joseph F. Villeneuve, originally from Moose Creek, Ontario, please do contact me, or Ken Creighton direct through details in the Toronto Sun article.
17th October 2009
A warm welcome is extended to Anne Green, who represents her great uncle, RSM Donald Oscar Smith, one of the lucky few to have survived the 2nd June, 1916, obliteration of the 4CMR at the Battle for Mount Sorrel.
11th October 2009
The number of men represented on the In Memoriam page has now risen to 167, with the addition of 4CMR men Thomas Gill and Hubert Petty. Their biographies can be reached through links from their names on the In Memoriam page, which will take you to the Matrix Project blogs for these men.
Richard Laughton manages the The Matrix Project blogspot, formed by members of the Canadian Expeditonary Force Study Group. The project creates blogs about men who served with the CEF in the Great War. A stunning body of work and collective research, which will be of great value and interest to anybody wishing to learn more about the men who served with the CEF.
23rd September 2009
There has been a flurry of activity on the website this week, seeing the addition of four men: Pte's Arthur Cuppage, Collins and David Cooke and Herbert Fair. Thanks are extended to Don Jenkins, Catherine Switzer and Joe Fairway for bringing these men to my attention and for remembering them.
29th August 2009
It is fair to say that this is one of the quietest periods in the website's history. However, I am pleased to welcome Clif Phillips to the fold, as he represents his relation, Pte. Luther Wood; our 160th man remembered. Luther was taken POW in July 1916, where he remained until the end of the War. Clif, welcome. Luther, we will remember.
25th July 2009
4cmr.com respectfully marks the passing of Harry Patch, who, since last week the oldest British survivor of WW1, has died at the age of 111. Click obituary to read about Harry's life - credit: BBC News. One last British survivor remains, Claud Shoules, who at 108 now lives in Perth, Australia.
Rest in peace, Harry Patch.
18th July 2009
4cmr.com respectfully marks the passing of Henry Allingham, the oldest WW1 veteran, who has died at the age of 113. Click obituary to read about Henry's life - credit: BBC News.
Rest in peace, Henry.
17th July 2009
It has again been a quiet time on the website, with no fresh contacts now for a while. Contact was received from a researcher looking into the life and times of Lt. Edwin Austin Abbey - the author of letters home that were subsequently turned into a book called "An American Soldier" in 1918. I await further contact from her in the hope that she will represent Lt Abbey on the In Memoriam page.
In the meantime, I thank Michael Levesque for providing a biography and photo of his grandfather, Pte. Donat "Dan" Levesque, which has been added by a link from his In Memoriam page entry.
23rd June 2009
I welcome Sean Wilson to the 4CMR family, standing alongside his grandfather, Pte. Albert Dore MM. Sean also represents another outstanding Memorial website, RememberNovember11.com, honouring and remembering all those who served and are now serving in Canada's Armed Forces. Please do visit their website.
8th June 2009
A quick flurry of activity on the site saw the number of men represented rise to 158, with the addition of 4CMR men: Frank Huff, John Harvey "J Harvey" Douglas (author of "Captured" - a 4CMR account of life as a POW after June 2nd, 1916's "Battle for Mount Sorrel"), John Symons (the name behind the pen signing the 4CMR War Diaries until his loss at the Battle for Mount Sorrel), and Charles Elmore Sheppard MM. They are being remembered.
An update to Albert Lineker's biography has been made and a biography was added to John Dixon's entry. Thanks to all for the additions and updates.
2nd June 2009
Today marks the 93rd anniversary of the Battle for Mount Sorrel, SE of Ypres town. A dark day for the 4CMR for sure, but not forgetting the 1st CMR, 2nd & 5th CMRs, the P.P.C.L.I, RCR, & 5th Bn, who were to share the brunt of that offensive. So many lost for so little ground lost and regained. A sad but all too familiar story for the day. They are gone, but not forgotten.
Art Hubbs has been busy again with his researches, and adds our 154th man on the In Memoriam page, with relative Pte. Charles Haight, who came from the 33rd BN in June, as the first of many reserves and BNs to build the 4CMR's losses back up after the huge losses 93 years ago, today. Charles, from Sparta, Ontario, subsequently died of wounds in late October, 1918. So near, yet so far.
1st June 2009
Many thanks to Art HUbbs for standing alongside Pte. Clarence Way of Prince Edward County, Ontario, today.
16th May 2009
Today I am pleased to add the biography and images of Sgt. Norman Nicholas to the In Memoriam page. The material was submitted by his grandson, Simon Merrall.
Link News I also welcome contact from Aaron Greyling, who webmasters the Duty & Valour website - the Canadian Forces Wiki. As a building work in progress, Duty & Valour already packs a good deal of current and historic information about the Canadian Forces. I recommend you drop in and visit the site at Duty & Valour
8th May 2009
It certainly has been one of the quietest periods in the website's history, and that makes the welcome to Kevin Schram doubly pleasurable, as he joins us and stands alongside his grandfather's brother, Pte. Garrat Schram, who was lost with the 4CMR at the Battle for Mount Sorrel on June 2nd, 1916. Garrat becomes our 152nd name on the In Memoriam page's "Wall of Honour".
17th April 2009
The usual rush of activity on the website, as we approached and then passed Vimy Ridge Day, didn't materialise this year. Hits on the website were up by 300 to the end of the 2nd week of April, by comparison to last year, but I saw no generation of requests for help or information at all this year. I can usually count on there being big rushes through October into November for Remembrance Day (Veteran's Day), and another going up towards Vimy Ridge Day. I saw a rise in contacts in early November last year, but a noticeable drop since early new year. It is odd how these things go in cycles, and no doubt I'll get another peak in due course. In the meantime, the In Memoriam page sits at a none too shabby 151 men directly represented and honoured today.
28th March 2009
The links to the Battle for Mount Sorrel (2nd June, 1916) article have been reinstated after Chris Baker advised that the revamping of his great site (www.1914-1918.net) had put the study of the battle back in to the scheme of things. Links appear on the Regiment History page and the Links & Bibliography page.
26th March 2009
It is with great pleasure that I recognise the 150th man to be honoured on the In Memoriam page: Lt. Harry Bennett, who was Ron Stallard's father's cousin. Ron wrote just recently and it is a pleasure to welcome both him and his relative to the site, and that Harry's memory be upheld in this way.
Activity has certainly picked up on the website in the last year, as 50 men have been added to the In Memoriam page since September last year! When I looked at it, I realised that we now have 3% of the regiment (of 4,500 men) directly represented now. Thankyou to all, as we are indeed remembering them.
6th March 2009
Further names have been added to the In Memoriam page in recent days, bringing the total men represented to 146. It was a distinct pleasure for 4cmr.com to step down as the representative for Herbert Nown. His great niece, Ruth, found this website whilst researching her great uncle, and she now proudly stands alongside him on the In Memoriam page. That is what this site is all about!! Welcome, Ruth.
Further changes to the In Memoriam page will come soon, with the addition of the Rank column to the soldier's details. Space precluded its inclusion when the site was first launched, but that situation has now largely been resolved as screens have become bigger. If you have any suggestions for material to be added or refined on the site, do drop me a line and let me know.
In light of that and the "big push" on the site to bring it up to date, I sincerely hope that the Regiment History page can be completed in the near future. From September, 1916, onwards, the regiment become increasingly involved in the action, especially in the build ups to some of the big battles, such as Passchendaele and Vimy, and the task to complete the History became bogged down by scale and time. However, as I say, I hope that the History can be completed soon. In the meantime, thanks again to all who have contacted me and to all who have contributed in any small or large part.
26th February 2009
Further site updates have been uploaded today, largely cosmetic, and any feedback would of great value.
22nd February 2009
I have been checking the various links on my website and found a few no longer valid. Please, do let me know if you come across any link in 4cmr.com that is not working. Thank you.
21st February 2009
A fresh, new look comes to 4cmr.com this weekend. The principle change is clearly with the background colour, and in the orientation of the menu, now across the top, rather than down the side. This gives back some of the page width lost to the side menu and helps things settle on the eye.
Other changes are to be found on the In Memoriam page, where the listing, now at 143 men represented, was getting a little crowded. I hope that the introduction of the A-Z finder at the top of the page, and the clearer splitting of the names alphabetically, will smooth things out a little and make the page less "noisey".
I'd appreciate any feedback on the new look. Once again, big thanks to Mark Hewitt for his patience and insight. Do drop in and see his blog & website, Silverknife, for great articles, recipes and discussion on all manner of interesting matters.
31st December 08
It has been an amazing year. It kicked off with being able to travel to Nova Scotia to meet Florence, the daughter of my 4CMR relative Cpl. Frank Forsdike, and stay with his grandson, Bert, and to spend time with his two granddaughters: Margie and Helen. I was subject to the famous Canadian hospitality, introduced to the cracking humour of Ron James, and in wishing to see some real Canadian snow, I was not disappointed.
That amazing trip was followed by a return to Nova Scotia in May, to attend the "home coming" of Frank's previously unclaimed medals, in a moving ceremony in Berwick which saw the medals presented to Florence by COs of the Governor General's Horse Guards - the regiment that perpetuates the 4CMR today. We achieved coast to coast TV and newspaper coverage, in what was for me the culmination of 13 years work in trying to find the family and to see Frank's medals out of safe-keeping in the vaults in Ottawa and into the hands they so rightly belong. It was a proud moment for us all.
It has also been a year of other amazing contacts in-keeping with the by-line of this site: to remember them, and to bring families and researchers together. None more illustrative than that of the Woodroof family (standing alongside CSM Edward Woodroof DCM), bringing Geoffrey Woodroof (England) and Keith Woodroof (New Zealand) into contact via this site through researcher Rick Bahen (Canada). Other families too have been connected, and I am so proud to have been part of that too.
To all who have contributed, to all who have benefitted from the 4 years this site has been up and running, 2009 is upon us. Here's to sanity prevailing in the world, and to the memory of all lost or affected by conflict. Let us not forget.
25th December 08
Merry Christmas to you and yours and here's to what 2009 may bring us. We will remember them.
15th November 08
In just doing a little tidying up on the website, I have split the Latest News page into the current 12 months on the main page and all else before that time on a News Archive page, accessed via a link at the bottom of the current news page. Just a little bid to keep page sizes and load times down.
I would once again thank all who have been in contact recently. As of today's date I have some 119 men honoured on the In Memoriam page, with a couple of others in hand, and around a dozen to be prepared from the Maple Copse cemetery, where I have been doing studies over the years. As I feel closely associated with these men, I will bring them forward onto the In Memoriam page, with 4cmr.com representing them directly.
I've had some interesting contacts from people who had relatives in the 2nd CMR and the 9th CMR regiments in recent weeks. It is a shame that the other CMRs are not represented in the same way. If only I had the time..........
11th November 08
We will remember them.
28th September 08
Time has been spent this weekend getting the In Memoriam page up to date, to the point now where I have 120 men represented, including 12 at rest at Regina Trench Cemetary, represented directly by 4cmr.com, as the gentleman who provided images of their headstones wished to do no more than bring these men to my attention for remembrance. A wish duly noted. Additional biogs have been added to some 10 men, and details are pending clarification on 3 new names to be added. Further to that, men at rest at Maple Copse and Tyne Cot, some 24 soldiers, will be added to the In Memoriam page, as they were research subjects of my own during the early stages of the website and I didn't wish to be seen as self-promoting. As such, they too will be represented by 4cmr.com, rather than me directly. This will take the represented figure to around 150, which is outstanding. We can all join in representing them as we let not their memories fade.
25th September 08
There has been another flurry of activity with contacts to the website in recent weeks. I now have a backlog of new names - some 24 to be precise - to add to the In Memoriam page, along with biographes and images of the men and some headstones. For those of you who have been waiting patiently for a relative or research subject to appear on the In Memoriam page, their time is coming very soon.
13th September 08
In another proud moment for me, it is with the greatest honour that 4cmr.com's 100th man on the In Memoriam page is posted today. The people of the Parish of St. Peter's Anglican Church, of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and specifically The Rev. Stephen Hallford, stand beside Hon. Capt. Chaplain, Rev William Henry Davis. Coming from the 138th BN, Capt. Davis served as Chaplain with the 4CMR from 15th Feb. 1917 to his loss on 18th Aug. 1918.
A fuller life and service history will be linked to his name shortly. As we wait for that, please join me in a moment of thanks once again to all who served and died with the 4CMR, and spare a special thought to the men of God who served selflessly right in the thick of the action, quite often to the loss of their own lives in the duty of serving others.
Further men have been notified to me and will push the In Memoriam total well past the 100 mark over the course of this weekend.
Many thanks to you all for remembering them.
26th August 08
Despite one of the most horrendous downpours to hit Belgium, my wife and I were able to make a brief visit to Tyne Cot Cemetery, at Passchendaele, last week. This flying, passing visit was spurred on by the recent discovery that my wife's great-uncle, who served and died with The Yorkshire Regiment, was commemorated there. Finding his name on Panel 52 was a moving experience, but it was also significant. Whilst up to that moment his details had been forgotten by the family, for 90-odd years, he was now no longer an annoymous name lost amongst nearly 35,000 at Tyne Cot. It was an honour and a privilege to be a part of that.
Further 4CMR names have been added to the In Memoriam page today, courtesy of Art Hubbs, who has been doing some sterling research work on members of the regiment. The number of men specifically represented today reaches 99 as a result.
27th July 08
Art Hubbs has provided further research subject names, in: L.Cpl Fred McMullen (co-author of "Out of the Jaws of Hunland" with Jack Evans), Pte. Alexander Bardy and Pte. Everitt Wasson, bringing our total on the In Memoriam page to 93.
A further name, that of Lt. James Searles raises a good question. 2 Vickers guns of the 9th Machine Gun Company, under the command of the 9th MGC's Lt. Searles, were attached to 'A' Company, 4CMR, for the action at Passchendaele on Oct 26th, 1917. Whilst not official members of the 4th CMR, the question raises, should he (Searles) and any other member of attached units, be included on the 4CMR's In Memoriam page? They were attached to the 4CMR, they were under command of the 4CMR, they fought shoulder to shoulder, and in some cases died, with the 4CMR. Should they, and the likes of Lt. Ince (with the 4CMR on paper for one day - see below), be included, especially if there is little to no chance of them being remembered elsewhere (other than on memorials if they did die)? I am, for the time being, erring on the side of "We will remember them", if some link can be confirmed with the 4CMR. Your thoughts on this matter are welcome.
26th July 08
A quick flurry of activity on my part, and that of recent contacts brings the In Memoriam page up to date. Your help and contributions are very greatfully received.
Many thanks to:
Simon Grayson for the biography on Pte. Arthur Jackson.
Gordon McKeeken for images of 4CMR headstones from Regina Trench Cemetery (these will be added to the Memorials pages in due course).
Art Hubbs for further representing 4CMR soldiers, 3 brothers: Ptes Canniff and Norman & L/Cpl. Sherman Foster, and also Pte George Raynor.
Betty Forbes for representing Pte. James Bowman.
Bill Ince for representing Lt. William Ince.
It is noted here that Lt. Ince didn't actually see service directly with the 4CMR. It appears that his was purely an administrative shuffle of some kind, where a soldier has to be shown going into an active service battalion before ending up where he is actually required. None-the-less, Lt. William Campbell Ince was KIA as a member of the 8th Brigade Machine Gun Company. He was in charge of a section of MGs on June 2, 1916 (Battle for Mount Sorrel) and was located in Trench 59 (just up the line from the 4CMR - trenches 47 to 52), with one of his 2 guns. He survived the initial bombardment in a dugout but was subsequently killed defending against the German attack. In fact he was initially MIA and his body was not recovered until 1925. He now rest is peace at Artillery Wood Cemetery. He is duly remembered here.
The official total for men remembered and represented on the In Memoriam page as of today is now 90. Thank you all. Their memory lives on.
14th June 08
4CMR welcomes Arthur and Kate Hubbs, who stand alongside their father and grandfather respectively, Capt. Fred Hubbs, who, a veteran of serving with the 2nd CMR in the Boer War, survived the Battle of Mount Sorrel on June 2nd, 1916, only to be taken POW. Eventually repatriated via Switzerland, after the War Capt. Hubbs subsequently served in Siberia as a Transport Officer in Vladivostok with the British Railway Mission.
An account of Capt. Hubbs time as POW was recently obtained from the British National Archives by his granddaughter, Kate, and in acknowledging both Arthur and Kate for letting me have sight of it, it makes stunning reading and adds enormously to the picture of what these men went through as POW's, having survived June 2nd.
Capt. Fred Hubbs becomes the 84th man on the In Memoriam "Wall of Honour".
In respect of the website, further updates to some pages are about to be posted. This Latest News page will get a trimming, to reduce its size. The long dormant Regimental History page will be reviewed, in light of the details being available on-line from both the War Diaries via ArchiviaNet and the Regimental History by S G Bennett (see my Links page for web links to both sources).
Quality PR images from the medals ceremony on May 10th are still pending and this is delaying that new webpage from being posted. However, we have received permission to use the Global news footage that most of the Canadian TV news viewers would have seen over that weekend. I will endeavour to get a working page up on that as soon as I can.
12th June 08
With the 92nd anniversary of Cpl. Frank Forsdike's loss at the Battle for Mount Sorrel just gone by (2nd June, 1916), it is with further great pride that I was informed by Frank's
grandson, Bert Layton, that under Resolution 2609, in the Nova Scotia House of Assembly on May 12th, Premier Hon. Rodney MacDonald moved that "... all members of this House salute
the bravery of Cpl. Forsdike over nine decades ago, and commend his daughter and family for ensuring his memory and well-earned medals have at last found their way home."
Is that amazing or what? I am so proud.
We will indeed remember them.
22nd May 08
A warm welcome is extended to Gemma Minniti, who stands next to 1027141 Pte. Ariel Mason; our 82nd man on the In Memoriam page. Signing on with the 235th BN in June 1916,
Pte. Mason joined the 4CMR in February 1918, and served without reported incident to the end of the War.
21st May 08
I welcome Ted Smith to the 4CMR family, representing his grandfather, 109606, Pte. Albert Smith. A Boer War veteran, Albert was born in Montreal in 1878 and worked as
a cowboy in western Canada and the US. It is reported he suffered lung injuries caused by gas whilst serving with the 4CMR, and was subsequently struck off strength in May 1918.
However, he lived on to the grand age of 80. Albert Smith's photo will appear on the Gallery page in due course.
For those asking about seeing images from the medals ceremony on May 10th, they will be posted on a specific Ceremony page when the PR quality images taken by 14 Wing, CFB Greenwood,
are made available. We trust this will be soon.
17th May 08
With pride, our 79th and 80th men of the 4CMR are remembered. Through Larry Mortley, we see Ptes George and John Ledingham, brothers from Dornoch, Ontario,
represented on the In Memoriam page. Although wounded in August 1918, George saw the end of the war, whilst, sadly, brother John died
in late October 1917. A picture of the pair will be added to the Gallery page in due course.
We will remember them.
Frank Forsdike's biography page has been extended to include a brief suumary of the memorial ceremony and the medals presentation of May 10th. A specific page will be
dedicated to the event as soon as many of the images taken on the day have been collated. Video has also been made available by kind permission of Kirk Starratt,
NovaNewsNow.com, © 2008 Transcontinental Mediacredit. A direct link to the new page will be signalled here and on Frank's page when it goes live.
Links
Cpl. Frank Forsdike's biography page
13th May 08
After weeks of frenzied activity by Bert and family in Nova Scotia, it is with all thanks to them, 14 Wing Greenwood, and The Canadian Legion, Ortona Branch 69 in Berwick,
that the medals ceremony went ahead on Saturday, May 10th.
I'll be providing details, pictures and video of the event either on 4CMR Cpl. Frank Forsdike's biography page (via the In Memoriam page),
or on a specific ceremony page, in the immediate future. Needless to say, whilst it was an emotional day, it was a pleasure and honour to be there and to be part of it.
23rd April 08
I am pleased to bring news that planning for the formal presentation of Cpl. Frank Forsdike's medals, to his daughter, is in its advanced stages.
Frank died in the Battle for Mount Sorrel, on June 2nd, 1916. His family moved before the war ended and subsequently his medals were not issued.
As a result they have remained in the vault in Ottawa for the last 90 years. However, I am delighted to say that they have been issued to his daughter,
Florence, and a formal memorial ceremony is taking place in the not too distant future. It is anticipated that the Governor General's Horse Guards (the
regiment that perpetuates the 4CMR today) will be represented to make the presentation at an event, hosted by the Royal Canadian Legion, which is expected
to attract up to 300 guests, public visitors and media.
Further details will appear here in the not too distant future and with Canadian press coverage expected shortly, I'll post details here as they appear.
This is a great time of pride and honour for us all.
8th March 08
I am pleased now to be able to add Seema to Pte. Harold Crocker's name. Having completed her project, Seema achieved 92%. Well done! It is a pleasure to see
you stand alongside Harold Crocker and remember him today. Best wishes from us all.
27th February 08
By strange coincidence, two high school students contacted me this week to ask for help in researching ex-6CMR men who were transferred into the 4CMR in Jan 1916.
As such, 4CMR men CSM Merton Crawford and Pte. Harold Crocker are remembered on the In Memoriam page. It is important that young people today get a sense of
what these men went through for today's freedoms, and these students are welcome in my very limited capacity to help their studies.
18th February 08
Pte. Tom Depper becomes our 76th man on the In Memoriam page, with Richard (grandson) and Karen Buller standing with him. Tom Depper's biography will appear
shortly, along with a picture of him. A warm welcome is extended to Richard and Karen.
16th February 08
I welcome the Evans family to the 4CMR community. A cracking book was written in 1918 by 4CMR men Fred McMullen and Jack Evans, titled "Out of the Jaws of
Hunland" (see the Links & Bibliography page for details). It tells the story of surviving that awful day in 4CMR history, 2nd June, 1916, when so many men
were lost in the vicinity of Maple Copse, at the outset of the 14 day Battle for Mount Sorrel. It goes on to tell Fred and Jack's stories of their
subsequent capture and life as POWs, and more specifically their amazing tales of plotting and carrying out their eventually successful escape plans. The book is
still obtainable "out there" and I highly recommend you track it down if you get a chance. Anyhoo, it is an honour, as it is in all contacts, to place Jack Evans
on the In Memoriam page, and seeing Derek's name (Jack Evans was Derek's father's cousin) standing alongside him.
Help is requested. According to the information passed down in the Evans family, Jack featured on the cover of the US Life magazine, along with
another soldier, in an issue, circa 1917, drumming up support for war bonds, and also in newspaper articles in the UK after the escapes. However, efforts to
confirm that and to locate a copy have been without result. Also, it is said that an obituary appeared in a Canadian newspaper after Jack died (he went on to
have a career with the Canadian Pacific railroad company). If anybody feels they can help with this quest, please do let me know and I will again act as
intermediary for the Evans family.
It has been an extraordinary time in recent weeks with contacts coming from people asking to be put in contact with people representing their relatives on the
In Memoriam page. Whilst contact details are NOT shared with anybody, I am happy to act as an intermediate to put people in contact with each other. Remember,
I can give no details without consent of the parties involved, and the recipient is not obliged to enter into dialogue with the contact. However, it has been
a pleasure to see cousins find each other through this website, as indeed I was to experience for myself. Long may it continue.
Links
4cmr.com Links & Bibliography Page
Battle for Mount Sorrel
4th February 08
Further to my news of Nov 17th, I have since visited Nova Scotia and had the honour to meet Frank Forsdike's daughter, Florence, and his grandchildren Bert,
Margie & Helen. Subject to amazing Canadian hospitality, I spent 6 wonderful days with Bert & his wife Pat, and we all had a blessed time bringing each other up to
speed on family developments both sides of the pond. I wanted to see some good Canadian snow whilst there and I was not disappointed :-) I also was introduced
to the humour of Ron James (thank you Keith & Jan). If you've never had the pleasure, I recommend YouTube and the keywords "ron james" and "computer rant".
I was thrilled to learn in the last week or so that Frank Forsdike's medals were issued to his daughter, after sitting unclaimed in the vault in Ottawa since 1920.
A formal presentation is being arranged in the next few months. I'll report developments on this in due course, as the event seems to be generating a good
deal of interest from the media on both sides of the Atlantic. As I say, more details in due course.
Things have been very quiet on the website since last November, but I was delighted this week to receive a contact from a man who found his relative being
represented on the In Memoriam page by a researcher. The two are now in contact. It is just the sort of thing I had intended for this site from the outset,
and having been party to it personally (per the details above and as reported on Nov 17th), I feel justified in feeling pride in being a part of people finding
their relatives via this site.
19th December 07
Four more men are added to the In Memoriam page today. Pte's. Frederick Pratt MM and John Smith, and Lt. Edwin Shepherd have representative David Bluestein
standing alongside them this day, and David Donkin stands alongside Lt. Harry Moore.
We will indeed remember them.
15th December 07
It is with great pride that I announce that 71 men of the 4th CMR are honoured on the In Memoriam page this weekend: Ron Cross stands next to his grandfather,
Pte. George Cross; Pte. Thomas Lyons has Meredith Johnson standing with him, and George Auer stands with Sgt. Johnstone Urquhart. On the latter,
a diary of Sgt. Uquhart's is being transcribed and I trust that I will be able to include extracts on 4cmr.com in due course. With another three men to be
confirmed, hopefully in the next few days, we head well on towards the 80 mark.
It has been an amazing two years or so, as I never dreamed that the site would actually be pivotal to the "long lost" descendants of my 4CMR relative,
Cpl. Frank Forsdike, being found. A pity that the Internet was still very much in its infancy, in terms of research, when I started off on this trail
12 years ago. Still, the message from this is, don't give up on your research, as the next breakthrough really could be around the next corner.
25th November 07
A warm welcome to Richard Page, standing alongside grandfather Pte. Rufus Lambert, and his brother Pte. Samuel Lambert. Both came into the 4CMR from
the 146th BN, and Rufus was wounded during the 4CMR consolidation of le Quesnel and the successful taking of Folies, on 10th August 1918. Both survived
the war.
24th November 07
A bit of fine tuning has been going in various areas of the site, with principle work concentrated on opening headstone and other images in their
own windows, rather than hyperlinking to a page or image page. This works well for the headstone images, but I'm not sure it works so well on
larger pages, such as cemetary or memorial site information pages. Let me know what you think.
21st November 07
Welcomed to 4cmr.com, to stand alongside Pte Samuel Heyes and Pte George Smart, is Darrell Zinck. It was Darrell's research that brought Pte Heyes
"back" into the 4CMR regiment as it were, as the Nominal Roll in the Regimental History does not record Pte Heyes' time with the 4CMR. More on these
two men will appear in due course.
19th November 07
It is a pleasure to welcome Steve Lukinuk to 4cmr.com, standing on the In Memoriam page alongside his great-uncle, Cpl. Felton Barter,
who fell during the Battle for Mount Sorrel, on June 2nd, 1916.
18th November 07
4cmr.com welcomes Martin Beales to the community, representing Pte. Jabez Beales. Originally signed up with the 99th BN, Jabez was signed on
strength with the 4CMR on Oct 28th, 1916, and enduring injuries through mustard gas, survived WW1.
17th November 07
I have finally caught up with all outstanding correspondence, and if all goes well, a total of 9 new names will shortly be added
to the In Memoriam page; bringing the total to 70 men remembered and specifically represented today.
The process begins with welcoming Alan Parcell into the 4CMR community. Alan represents his Great Uncle, Pte. Charles Ellis. In posting
Charles onto the In Memoriam page, a very moving image of Charles will appear on the Gallery page very shortly, and a short biography will accompany
the In Memoriam entry soon therefater.
Further images from another 4CMR new representative, David Donkin, will be appearing soon, one of which will be an amazing scan of the order
to cease hostilities on Nov 11th, 1918. Watch out for that! I'll let you know when it has been posted on the site.
Also being planned is an audio clip of one of the first appearances of tanks in 1916, as witnessed by 4CMR Lt. Vernon Dowling.
I am endeavouring to get that sorted out in due course, and will bring your attention to it as and when it is added to the site.
Per my news entry of Nov 14th, this website saw light of day for the first time in March 2006 - I swear it was longer
than that, but records don't lie :-) Anyhoo, the site was put in place to act as a point of reference for relatives and
researches of 4CMR men after my own research was sparked by discovering my great-grandfather's brother, Frank Forsdike,
had died whilst serving with the 4CMR in 1916. That was 12 years ago, and essentially a pivotal element of my research
was centered on searching for Frank Forsdike's family, if the line survived to this day. Following dead ends and what
turned out to be erroneous family lore, which took my research as far a field as South Africa, I had drawn frustrating
blanks every which way I turned.
Imagine how emotional I was when, during the evening of Monday, Nov 12th, 2007, on checking my emails I found one headed
"Canadian Relative?". I had to read it several times to be sure what I was seeing, as the author of that email, Bert, was
reporting himself as the grandson of Frank Forsdike!!!! On top of that he was telling me that Frank's daughter Florence,
who was no more than 18 months of age in the family photograph featured in this website's biography of
Frank Forsdike and the family were alive and well and living in Nova Scotia!! I was in tears. I was speechless. I
couldn't take it all in. Stunned and amazed about sums it up :-)
Bert and I have been emailing like crazy, we have spoken on the phone, our families are hooking up in all ways digital,
and now we are making plans to get together as soon as possible. It was also special to learn that the family's military tradition
is being continued. The world is becoming a smaller place, isn't it? So, as encouragement to all who are searching and coming up
on dead-ends and misleading paths, don't give up, keep putting out the feelers, as one day you never know what might be sitting
in your Inbox. Ian
14th November 07
There have been several fresh contacts in recent weeks, so in extending thanks for your patience to those of you
who have been waiting for a response from me, I assure you I'll be with you soon.
I have some amazing news to share with the 4CMR community very shortly. It demonstrates the continuing reach of this
website, and brings full circle a search that began for me some 14 years ago. Intrigued? So you should be. More details
to follow in the very near future. In the meantime let us recall this website's ethos: together we will remember them.
Best wishes, Ian
10th November 07
As November 11th approaches, we will indeed remember them.
18th September 07
I have received notice of a 4CMR item for sale on eBay. It is a hand-stitched, embroidered, fringed linen pillow sham
that was crafted on the homefront for a soldier in the 4CMR. If you type in "4th canadian mounted rifles" you will
find it. Best of luck.
18th August 07
A new book review has been added in the Bibliography section of the Links page.
"Prisoner 5-1-11" is Pte. Harry Laird's recollections of life in the 4CMR (having attested into the 7th CMR - yes, there was one)
and surviving June 2nd, 1916 as a badly wounded POW. Another from the Norm Christie factory, under CEF Books 2006, this
is a cracking read for those wanting to know what trench and POW life was like. It is a modern re-print, and well
worth tracking down.
Links
4cmr.com Links Page
13th August 07
Several more names have been added to the In Memoriam page in the last few weeks, bringing the total now represented to 60.
Thank you all for making this happen. Special thanks are extended to George Auer for his work and liaison with so many people
whose relatives served with the 4CMR after attesting into the 147th and 248th Battalions.
Per the request for any leads for citation research, I am pleased to advise that Arnie Kay can research citations.
Please see Researchers on my Links page for details on Arnie's full range of research services.
Links
4cmr.com Links Page
15th July 07
I wish to thank everybody who made contributions in the last few weeks. I have now brought the site fully up to date in
that respect and am so proud to advise we have 54 men on the In Memoriam "Wall of Honour" now. Thank you all so much for
that. Additional biographies have now been added, too, and further names and biographies are due very shortly.
There has again been a request for information concerning the details of an MM (see Ernest Isherwood via the In Memoriam page).
If anybody has any clues on how to research an MM, or any award, please do let me know.
Of further news is the addition of informaton on the Regimental History page. Due to some exciting finds on researcher
Arnie Kay's front (see Links page for contact details for Arnie Kay), I now have a copy of the Regimental Battle Bar Summary,
which condenses the regiment's activity into more overview form. I may be integrating this into the existing history with
overviews of each month, before setting down specific details within that month. This may prove to be an interesting addition,
and one that will keep me occupied for a few more weeks :-)
29th June 07
At long last the History Channel, UK, is airing the long awaited "Vimy Ridge, Heaven to Hell" documentary on July 5th at 10pm
and again on July 6th, at 11am. The programme graced Canadian & US screens a few months back. If you wish specific details on
the programme then click on the link below and see what the History Channel has in store for us on the UK side of the water.
The 4th CMR is featured, so be sure to see the programme if you are on cable or satellite. As nobody wished to venture a review
of the programme from the "other side of the pond", I invite UK website visitors to have a crack at it, saving me doing all
the work here :-)
Links
Vimy Ridge: Heaven to Hell
The History Channel TV Guide listing for this programme
24th June 07
Amazingly, in recognising Henry Allingham's 111th birthday (see 1st June, below), this last week saw the 109th birthday of Harry Patch,
the UK's last surviving veteran to have fought in the trenches. Harry, who served with the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
and who fought at Passchendaele, was called up in 1917, aged 18. Our best wishes to Harry, Henry, and all survivors of conflict,
old and new.
6th June 07
As the 91st anniversary of The Battle for Mount Sorrel reaches mid-point, today marks the remarkable celebration of the
111th birthday of the UK's oldest man, Henry Allingham. The former Royal Navy veteran is just one of three known British veterans
of the First World War still living.
Henry, the last founder member of the RAF, and the last survivor of the Battle of Jutland, was treated to RAF fly-bys during celebrations
on board HMS Victory in Portsmouth.
If I may, a further reminder of the link to Mark Hewitt's Scadindustries website or his blog for details on Mark's journey,
which begins in Toronto in July. Again, wish him well, follow his journey, be there for him if you can.
Links
Scadindustries - Mark's website
Mark's blog
1st June 07
The month begins on the eve of the 4CMR's darkest day, The Battle for Mount Sorrel. At around 8am, on June 2nd, 1916,
the opening bombardment began on the Canadian front south east of Ypres town. Very quickly it obliterated the front line
trenches after cutting off the approaches for reinforcements or the means for retreating to the communication and reserve lines.
It was recently estimated that some half a million shells were poured into the narrow band of land between Sanctuary and
Armagh Woods, putting shells in, from some 2,500 guns, at more than one per minute per gun.
Whilst difficult to both imagine that kind of rain of steel & explosive, or to know just how true or accurate that estimate was,
it was undoubtedly one of the more horrendous times for the men of the 4CMR, mainly because it was not a set piece on the
part of the allies. It was a quiet, sunny, summery morning until all hell was let loose on the men by the Wüttembergers facing them.
That some 76 men of roughly 700 were able to answer to their names on June 3rd, was miracle enough. Actual accounts from
the men remain today in two books, "Captured" and "Out of the Jaws of Hunland", the details of which you can find under
Bibliography on the Links page. I also explore the matter of the number of 4CMR
losses in my own article:
"The Missing Lost. A 4CMR Myth?"
Many, like my relative, Cpl. Frank Forsdike, were not so lucky, and many of those killed were lost without
trace due to the extended bombardments and battles that continued for 13 more days. Subsequently their names appear on Panels 30
& 32 of the Menin Gate Memorial, in Ieper town. The 14 day battle was the only time the Canadians lost a gun, but rest assured they
DID get it back! For a full account of the battle, see Chris Baker's excellent article "The Battle for Mount Sorrel"
from his equally excellent website
www.1914-1918.net. If you get opportunity over this weekend, or the
two weeks to come, do step aside and spare a thought for the men who endured so much, and for the those who gave so much.
It is amazing that this website has been in place for 12 months now, and in that time has received some 24,232 hits. Whilst most of
the traffic has come from, oddly, the USA, the remainder has come from Europe as a whole, then Britain specifically, and then, also
oddly as I would expect it to have been higher in the "rankings", Canada. There have also been hits from Scandinavia and amazingly, China.
As mentioned on May 28th, I'd like to raise the profile in Ontario specifically, so any suggestions of which newspapers or magazines
I can target with articles would be of great value. Many thanks, once again, for your support and contribution to date.
Long may it continue.
Links
The Missing Lost. A 4CMR Myth?
Cpl. Frank Forsdike
The Battle for Mount Sorrel - Chris Baker's excellent article on this extraordinary
battle
www.1914-1918.net - Chris Baker's equally excellent WW1 information website
28th May 07
The In Memoriam page continues to grow. Two former 146th Bn men now join the ranks: Pte. Earl Hammett came into the 4CMR
1st Dec, 1916, was wounded 28th Oct, 1917, and survived to be Struck Off Strength on 3rd July, 1919. Acting Corporal Harry Leath Holland,
also came into the 4CMR on 1st Dec, 1916, and was Struck Off Strength on 24th Aug, 1919. Both are represented by Barry Henderson,
who receives a warm welcome into the 4CMR family. Look out for features and images on these two in the not too distant future.
I'd like to raise the profile in Canada of the work being done here; especially Ontario, as of course the 4CMR was a Central Ontario
regiment. If anybody has any suggestions on the best newspapers or magazines I can send article ideas to, this in order to reach a wider
Ontario audience and thereby pull in more 4CMR relatives, please let me know.
Links
In Memoriam
26th May 07
Our 40th "man on the wall" was added today. Pte. Allan Dunoon, attesting into the 147th Bn, fell with the 4CMR at Vimy in April 1917.
In being proud to see him remembered here, I welcome George and Brock Auer into the 4CMR family. George's son, Brock, took the headstone
image under trying light conditions. Well done, Brock. Cracking job. Ian
25th May 07
In adding Tyne Cot to the Cemetery / Memorial details on the Belgium page, a page specific to Canada will appear shortly.
An amazing collection of images of a 4CMR man will be on the Gallery page soon. Please keep an eye out for those.
Links
Belgium - 4CMR Memorials located in this quiet corner of The Netherlands
22nd May 07
In welcoming John Graham into the 4CMR family, we see Pte. James Smith honoured on the In Memoriam page. Pte. Smith came into the
4CMR from the 147th Bn (one of some 354 147th Bn men). The 147th and the 248th Bns are perpetuated by the Grey and Simcoe Foresters
today, and there is a research project underway that, it is hoped, will culminate in a book. If anyone you know came from the 147th
or 248th Bns, do let me know and I can put you in contact with the one of the people involved in the research for this work.
Pte. Smith becomes our 39th man "on the wall", with a small clutch of others in the wings waiting, pending details from the relatives.
It is amazing how this website has grown from the tentative steps I took some time back. Indeed, for May 2007 alone, the site has
received over 2,500 hits. As I say, amazing, and many thanks to all for making this website work the way it does.
21st May 07
After some deliberation it was decided to rearrange the In Memoriam page into an alphabetical listing for the men, to aid finding
an individual easier and for ensuring that a soldier was not accidentally presented twice.
As contacts continue to come in at a steady pace now, could I call on all who have promised articles on an individual, or who have
contemplated submitting a short piece on their relative or research subject, to contact me as soon as possible in order to get
details sorted for posting on the site. Many thanks, Ian.
19th May 07
The Gallery page has received some excellent additional images in the last few days. Write-ups continue on the subjects, and will be
expanded in due course.
Details concerning the refurbished grave site for the 4CMR's only recipient of the VC, awarded to Pte. Thomas "Tommy" Holmes, are
being collated. As his story is extensively covered elsewhere on the web and in publications, a thorough account will not be added
on 4cmr.com. However, be assured, this hero's actions will be duly presented in the not too distant future.
Links
Gallery - 4CMR specific images
16th May 07
There has again been a flurry of activity in contacts with the website, and new names will be appearing on the
In Memoriam page in due course. Some have asked where the 4CMR Articles page has gone, and the
short answer is that it has been removed, as apart from two mens' stories (which are now located via links from their
names on the In Memoriam page), one actual article "The Missing Lost. A 4CMR Myth?" which now appears on the Regimental History page,
and a link reference to a very useful website providing details on the The Battle for Mount Sorrel, which now
appears in several places as it was pivotal to the 4CMR's history, there were no other articles being submitted to retain the page
in its own right. That of course can and will probably change with your help :-), but for the time being space is being saved by
redistributing the material onto existing pages.
Links
In Memoriam - 4CMR men remembered
The Battle for Mount Sorrel - Chris Baker's excellent article concerning
the battle
The Missing Lost. A 4CMR Myth? - explores the discrepancy in reported losses of June 2nd, 1916
12th May 07
Well, my friends, here it is. The new look website. Lighter, more compact
and certainly more logical.
Special thanks go to Mark Hewitt for his assistance and certainly his long suffering patience as I came to grips with direct html
programming as opposed to clunky Dreamweaver4. Endless rounds of "Mark! Mark! How'd you do this?" and "Mark! WHY is it doing THAT?!"
paid off. Cheers, Mark.
The sections have been condensed and made more managable, whilst other elements have been dropped altogether, as largely all they
did was duplicate information that could be found elsewhere. In these cases direct links have been set up to guide you to that information.
The site is back to the original concept of pivoting about the In Memoriam page. If you are an "old hand" on the website, and would like to
make comment on this rebuilt version, please do feel free to drop me a line.
However, if you are a new visitor to the site, please enjoy what is on offer and please do contact me if you have a relative or
a research subject who served in the 4CMR.
In a one-off aside, if you wish to follow Mark's progress in seeking an extraordinary life (SAEL), as it progresses towards new
dimensions starting in Toronto in July, then I am pleased to provide this link to his website under Scadindustries, and would point you
to his blog for updates and stunning recipes (I know, because I've been fotunate enough to consume the results). Wish him well,
follow his journey, be there for him if you can.
Recent Latest News entries will be back shortly, and there will be a News Archive section before too long.
In welcoming Ken Saunders to the 4CMR family, we add his father, Pte. Hubert Earl Saunders to the In Memoriam page.
Links
Scadindustries - Mark's website
Mark's blog