Pte. William Morrison, CEF

 William Morrison, son of Donald Morrison and his wife Johan Fraser of Badcall, Eddrachillis, was a Private in the 58th Battallion Canadian Expeditionary Force.  He joined the Battalion in 1915 when he was 44 years of age declaring himself to be 7 years younger.  He had been a motorman with the Toronto Street Railway after emigrating in 1907 and joined up with some of his colleagues resulting in this special plaque to their collective memory - Street Railway workers War Memorial, Old City Hall, Toronto, Canada.  William was killed at the Somme on 19th September 1916 three days after his brother Donald died fighting with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force.  William left behind a wife, Catherine (Kate) Macleod and sons Alec, Angus and Donald and daughters Joan and Nina.

William is commemorated on the Scourie War Memorial.

Thank you to Marion Quillan for the information and photographs.

Pte. William Morrison, CEF

Many thanks to Marion Quillan for the above information and photographs.

Canadian National War Memorial

 

Canada's National War Memorial is situated in Ottowa

The above photograph shows Canada's Parliament Building in the background.

Photograph by David Thomas

A close up of the centre part of the memorial taken by Judi McLeod

 This photograph by Dorothy Blais was taken in November 2008

when this special vigil was created of all the veterans of WW1  It took place in 6 cities in Canada and one in England. The names were illuminated gradually for all to see and pay their respects.

Photograph above taken by David Thomas on 11th November 2009.

A group of mounted police are to the left of a platoon of soldiers. This cemetery is the only national war cemetery in Canada, and is only a few years old; the country's fallen in the first and second world wars are buried in Commonwealth war cemeteries throughout Europe.

The following Canadians are listed on the War Memorials of Sutherland
(CEF = Canadian Expeditionary Force)

AIRD John Cpll 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles – Lochinver WM WW1
BANNERMAN Angus Pte 11th Bn CEF - Kildonan WM WW1
CAMPBELL David L/Sgt 16th Bn CEF – Melness WM WW1
CAMPBELL George Pte 5th Bn CEF - Loth WM WW1
CAMPBELL John L Pte M.M. 8th Bn CEF – Lairg WM WW1
CAMPBELL Lorne Lt Canadian Mounted Rifles – Rosehall WM WW1
DAVIDSON Alexander Sgt 85th Bn CEF - Loth WM WW1
DENEAUX Raymond Pte Canadian Forestry Corps - Creich WM WW2
DUFF Walter Cpl 16th Bn CEF - Creich WM WW1
DUNCAN Robert G Pte 43rd Bn CEF – Clyne WM WW1
GORDON Thomas S Pte 2nd Canadian Pioneers - Kildonan WM WW1
GRAHAM Hugh Pte 25th Bn CEF – Lochinver WM WW1
GRANT John Pte 5th Bn CEF – Dornoch WM WW1
GRANT William Signaller 8th Bn CEF – Clyne WM WW1
GRAY Malcolm M Cpl 102nd Bn CEF – Lairg WM WW1
GREY G Pte CEF - Kinlochbervie WM WW1
GUNN Angus Lance Cpl 43rd Bn CEF – Strathnaver WM WW1
KERR Murdo Pte 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles – Lochinver WM WW1
KERR William Pte 5th Bn CEF – Lochinver WM WW1
LEVY George Pte 43rd Bn CEF - Creich WM WW1
MACDONALD Alexander Pte 173rd Bn CEF - Golspie WM WW1
MACDONALD Murdo Pte 1st Reserve Bn CEF – Lochinver WM WW1
MACKAY Alexander R Pte CEF – Lairg WM WW1
MACKAY Alexander S Pte 28th Bn CEF - Strathnaver WM WW1
MACKAY Andrew Pte CEF - Loth WM WW1
MACKAY Angus Pte 5th Bn CEF - Rogart WM WW1
MACKAY, Daniel G, Pte, CEF - Skerray WM WW1
MACKAY Donald Pte 20th Bn CEF - Strathnaver WM WW1
MACKAY, Eric, Pte, 15th Bn CEF - Skerray WM WW1
MACKAY George Pte 10th Bn CEF - Strath Halladale WW1
MACKAY George W Pte 16th Bn CEF – Melness WM WW1
MACKAY George Pte CEF - Creich WM WW1
MACKAY Neil Sgt MM 31st Bn CEF - Kildonan WM WW1
MACKENZIE Kenneth Sgt 25th Bn CEF - Rogart WM WW1
MACLEAN John Pte CEF – Lochinver WM WW1
MACLEOD Angus Pte 16th Bn CEF – Lochinver WM WW1
MACLEOD Benjamin 2nd Lt Canadian Field Artillery - Strath Halladale WW1
MACLEOD John Pte CEF – Lochinver WM WW1
MACLEOD William Stoker Royal Navy Canadian Volunteer Reserve – Lochinver WM WW1
MACPHERSON Donald Pte CEF – Clyne WM WW1
MACRAE Alexander Pte 8th Bn CEF – Clyne WM WW1
MATHESON George Sgt 49th Bn CEF – Lochinver WM WW1
MATHESON Henry Sgt 52nd Bn CEF – Lochinver WM WW1
MELVILLE Charles Regimental Sgt Major 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles - Rogart WM WW1
MELVILLE William Pte 1st Bn Grenadier Guards - Loth WM WW1
MILNE, William G Pte 43rd Bn CEF - Skerray WM WW1
MORRISON W Pte CEF – Durness WM WW1
MORRISON William Pte CEF – Scourie WW1
MUNRO Donald Sgt 16th Bn CEF - Tongue WM WW1
MUNRO William Pte Toronto Scottish (Machine Gun) Regt – Lochinver WM WW2
MURRAY George Pe Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry - Kildonan WM WW1
O'BRIEN George Sgt 27th Bn CEF – Strathnaver WM WW1
POLSON Alexander Pte CEF - Kildonan WM WW1
RANKINE Donald H Pte 43rd Bn CEF – Melness WM WW1
ROSS Alexander R Pte Canadian Transport Service – Bettyhill WM WW1
ROSS Andrew Sgt 5th Bn CEF – Clyne WM WW1
ROSS John D Pte 19th Bn CEF – Dornoch WM WW1
SHAW Okain C Pte 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles - Tongue WM WW1
SUTHERLAND Alexander Pte CEF – Clyne WM WW1
SUTHERLAND Alexander Pte CEF - Kildonan WM WW1
SUTHERLAND Donald Pte 52nd Bn CEF – Clyne WM WW1
SUTHERLAND Kenneth Pte 43rd Bn CEF – Clyne WM WW1
WALLACE Mark Pte 16th Bn CEF - Loth WM WW1

See also:
BAILLIE Nova Scotia
MACKENZIE Donald A. 

Beaumont Hamel, The Somme, France

Beaumont Hamel British Cemetery on the Somme has brick entrance pillars by the gateway, but otherwise a low hedge surrounds the cemetery (although behind this on the field side at the back and the right of the Cemetery is a very low concrete wall, presumably for structural reasons). The Cemetery, standing in the old No Mans Land, was started after the village was taken on the 13th of November 1916, and was used until February 1917. As with many other cemeteries, more graves were moved here after the Armistice.

It now contains 97 identified and 82 unidentified burials from the Great War, in two long rows of graves. Many of the burials are 1st of July casualties. There are two special memorials to men known to be buried here, which are located directly behind the Cross of Sacrifice at the back of the cemetery.

Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Memorial

A grass track from this cemetery takes you to Hawthorn Cemetery where the Memorial to the 8th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders stands.  The front panel has an inscription in Gaelic - a small panel lists the 1915 51st (Highland) Division battle honours - on the rear of the memorial a large panel is that of the Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders - a small panel on the front left, lists the 1917 51st (Highland) Division battle honours.

The Newfoundland Memorial

At Beaumont-Hamel there is also the Newfoundland Memorial, a memorial site dedicated to the commemoration of Dominion of Newfoundland forces members who were killed during World War I. The site is situated 9 kilometres north of Albert, France near the town of Beaumont-Hamel in an area containing numerous cemeteries and memorials related to the Battle of the Somme. The preserved battlefield park encompasses the grounds over which the Newfoundland Regiment made their unsuccessful attack on 1 July, 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. The Battle of the Somme was the regiment's first major engagement and during an assault that lasted approximately 30 minutes was all but wiped out. Purchased by the people of Newfoundland, the site is the largest battalion memorial on the Western Front and the largest area of the Somme battlefield that has been preserved. Along with preserved trench lines, there are a number of memorials and cemeteries contained within the site.

Please also note that at least one of 'our' soldiers who died at Beaumont Hamel is buried in Maily Wood Cemetery, France.

Three of above photographs taken by Morag Sutherland and Shirley Sutherland.

Pte. William M. Melville

Guardsman William M. Melville, Grenadier Guards, died of wounds in France 13th March 1915 aged 29 years.

William was born at Portgower, Loth, son of Hugh Melville and his wife Elizabeth Morrison.  He is the grandson of James Morrison and Janet Whyte of Foindlemore, Eddrachillis. He lived in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He is buried in Merville Communal Cemetery, France and also commemorated on Loth War Memorial.

Lt. Col. Donald A. Mackenzie

Lieutenant-Colonel Donald A. MacKenzie, DSO, DSC
In memory of the 48th Highlanders of Canada, nineteen of whom fell in and around the municipality of Voorst, including the Commanding Officer Lieutenant-Colonel Donald A. MacKenzie, DSO, DSC, born 9 July 1914 in Kincardine, Ontario, Canada, killed in action on 12th April 1945 at Wilp in the municipality of Voorst"

The permanent resting place for Lieutenant-Colonel Donald A. MacKenzie and his comrades is the Canadian Military Cemetery in Holten, Holland.

Grandson of Donald Mackenzie, born 1821 Clashnessie, Assynt, and his wife Catherine Macleod, who emigrated to Bruce County, Ontario, Canada, and brought up a family there. See also National War Memorial of Canada.

Information from Marian MacLeod.

1. Adam Brown12 November 2009 17:36

   I'm confused by the DSC reference. That is a naval award and MacKenzie was in the Army. There is no reference to it on the Commonwealth War Graves commission database entry either.
   Is this a mistake or should the CWGC be contacted to correct their records.
   
   Thanks
   
   Adam

   ReplyDelete
2. 
   Chris Stokes7 September 2014 09:35

   Adam, I have today been sent information regarding your note above which states that this is not a mistake and that we should see It is not a mistake, see the following page http://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/medals-decorations/orders-decorations/dsc 

   
   

   Thanks to Andrew for this information.

Vimy Ridge Canadian Cemetery, France

The Canadian National Vimy Memorial is a memorial site in France dedicated to the memory of Canadian Expeditionary Force members killed during the First World War. It also serves as the place of commemoration for First World War Canadian soldiers killed, or presumed dead, in France that have no known grave. The monument is the centrepiece of a 250-acre (100 ha) preserved battlefield park that encompasses a portion of the grounds over which the Canadian Corps made their assault during the Battle of Vimy Ridge, a military engagement fought as part of the Battle of Arras.


The Battle of Vimy Ridge was the first occasion whereupon all four divisions of the Canadian Expeditionary Force participated in a battle as a cohesive formation, and thus became a Canadian nationalistic symbol of achievement and sacrifice. In recognition of Canada's war efforts, France granted Canada perpetual use of a portion of land on Vimy Ridge under the understanding that the Canadian use the land to establish a battlefield park and memorial. Wartime tunnels, trenches, craters and unexploded munitions still honeycomb the grounds of the site, which remains largely closed off for public safety. Along with preserved trench lines, there are a number of other memorials and cemeteries contained within the site.

Photograph taken by Morag who wrote: "This is taken from an rather unusual, angle.........you can see the spirit of Canada looking down on  - I always think she is crying for the young of the nation.she is looking over the Douai plain - the Canadians of course took this ridge in April 1917 and because they claim nationhood was forged in the blood shed here they chose this site for the national memorial".

Baillie, Nova Scotia, WW2

Descendants of Alexander and Elizabeth Baillie of Scottary, Clyne, and Donald and Christy Mackay of Rogart, played their part in
World War Two.
John Daniel Baillie (left of photograph) and his brother William Angus Baillie (right), sons of Daniel William and Annie Isabella Baillie, both served at the Battle of Normandy with the North Nova Highlanders, Canada. John Daniel died in the invasion of Nomandy. He left a wife and four children.
Photograph and information from Carol Driscoll, Canada.

Royal Canadian Air Force, WW2

This plaque was erected on 7th June 1990 by Bomber Command

at the York, England, Royal Air Force Museum.

"No 6. (RCAF)

Group Bomber Comman.

This memorial is dedicated to the men and women who served in No. 6 (RCAF) Group of Bomber Command and to those Canadians who served in other squadrons in Bomber Command.

Of the 17,000 RCAF men and women who died in the 1939-45 conflict 9,980 were lost while serving with Bomber Command

We Shall Remember Them

Nous Ne les Oblirons Pas

Below the Canadian Chapel

Photographs by Christine Stokes

St Julien Canadian Memorial, Belgium

for our many Canadian members we have included this beautiful memorial.

The St. Julien Memorial is a Canadian war memorial and small commemorative park located in Saint Julien, Belgium. The memorial commemorates the Canadian First Division's participation in the Second Battle of Ypres of World War I and their defence against the first poison gas attacks along the Western Front. Frederick Chapman Clemesha sculpture Brooding Soldier was selected to serve as the monument following a design competition organized by the Canadian Battlefield Monument Commission in 1920.

The village of Saint Julien and a section of forested land called Saint Julien Wood was at a pronounced bend in the north east sector of the Ypres Salient prior to the Second Battle of Ypres. The area was also the junction between the British and French sectors of responsibility. The Canadians First Division holding the most northern section of the British line and the 45th (Algerian) Division holding the most southern section of the French line. The German Army had 168 tons of chlorine deployed in 5,730 cylinders opposite Langemark-Poelkapelle, north of Ypres. The Canadians were manning the lines for several hundred metres along a front to the southwest of St. Julien when the German Army unleashed the first poison gas attack on the Western Front on 22 April 1915.

The initial gas attack largely drifted to the north of the Canadian lines, into the trenches of the French 45th (Algerian) and 87th (Territorial) Divisions, of 26th Reserve Corps. The gas drifted across positions largely held French colonial troops who broke ranks and abandoned their trenches, creating an 8,000 yard (7 km) gap in the Allied line. The German infantry were also wary of the gas and, lacking reinforcements, failed to exploit the break before the First Canadian Division and assorted French troops reformed the line in scattered, hastily prepared positions 1,000 to 3,000 yards apart. In actions at Kitcheners Wood, Pilkem Ridge and Gravenstafel Ridge the Canadians held the line and prevented a German breakthrough until they were relieved by reinforcements on the 24 April.

In the 48 crucial hours that they held the line, 6,035 Canadians, or one man in every three who went into battle became casualties and of that number approximately 2000 or one man in every nine was killed.

Further information can be read on the Canadian's Veteran's Website.

 All photographs above taken by Shirley Sutherland, Golspie