Lest We Forget - Lieutenant Daniel Lionel Teed and his brother Lieutenant Hugh Mariner Teed

Hugh and Daniel Teed were born in 1892 and 1893 respectively to Mariner George Teed QC and Margaret A. Hanington in Dorchester, New Brunswick.  They were descendants of our United Empire Loyalist ancestor, Daniel Teed and were my fifth cousins, once removed.  The brothers were close, having attended the prestigious Rothesay Collegiate Boarding School and then going on to Royal Military College in Kingston, Ontario.

Lieutenant Hugh Mariner
Teed

Lieutenant Hugh Mariner Teed served in the 28th New Brunswick Dragoons prior to his enlistment in the regular army on September 22, 1914 at Valcartier, Quebec at the age of 22.  He became part of the Second Battalion of the Canadian Infantry, Eastern Ontario Regiment in the capacity of Engineering Officer.  On the very day of his enlistment, the Battalion was shipped overseas aboard the S.S. Cassandra and after several stops along the Gaspe Peninsula, finally arrived in Plymouth, England on October 14th.  His unit was immediately sent to an area near the Salisbury Plain for further training.

It was there, in Salisbury that Hugh met and married his wife, Violet May Stacy.

Over the next 3 years, the Battalion fought at Ypres, St. Julien, The Somme, Arras, Festubert and Pozieres.  It was near Bruay, France that Hugh was killed in action and was buried in the Bruay Communal Cemetery Extension at Bruay, France.

Hugh was memorialized in the Chapel of Remembrance in Ottawa and also on his parent's graves in the Dorchester Cemetery, Dorchester New Brunswick.

Lieutenant Daniel Lionel Teed had served with the 5th Battery, Canadian Militia as a Captain, prior to enlisting in January 1916 in Fredericton, New Brunswick.  His unit was the 36th Howitzer Battery, Canadian Corps, 9th Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery.  He was with this regiment from its formation.

He appears to have been a respected officer and was considered to be a brave and clever man.  During the Battle of Hill 70 in August 1917, Daniel's gallantry earned him the Military Cross.  During this battle he was injured by a German chemical artillery shell that carried caustic substances that left the skin burnt and blistering.

On September 1, 1918 Daniel's unit was charged with clearing some German barbed wire in preparation for an impending attack.  The battery was very exposed and came under artillery fire.  A second volley of enemy shells fell short and as Lieutenant Teed ran to the next Howitzer to relay orders a shell struck the gun, killing Teed and two others instantly..

Daniel was laid to rest in the Monchy-le-Preux Military Cemetery nearby.  Like his brother, his name can be found in the Chapel of Remembrance in the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa and on the tombstone of his parents in the Dorchester Cemetery, Dorchester, New Brunswick.

Lest We Forget - Pilot Officer Douglas Waldo Peers

Joining the Royal Canadian Air Force must have seemed like a dream for Pilot Officer Douglas Waldo Peers.  Hailing from the beautiful seaside village of Wallace Bay, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, he was a descendant of my two fifth great grandfathers - United Empire Loyalists, Alexander Peers and Daniel Teed.  His parents were James Lalacheure Peers and Nina May Ellis and he had three brothers and two step brothers from his father's first marriage.  He was my 4th cousin, once removed.

He was about 21 years old when he enlisted and shortly thereafter, he married Ada Elsie Brander of Middle Musquodoboit in Colchester County.  Doug was posted overseas almost immediately but not before Ada discovered she was expecting.

During his first year overseas he became father to a lovely little baby girl, Elaine.  A little girl he never knew.

Pilot Officer Douglas
Waldo Peers

In the early summer of 1944, Doug was seconded to 101 Squadron, RAF which was part of Bomber Command.  He trained as an Air Bomber and soon joined the crew of Flight Lieutenant Marwood Tucker and his Lancaster Bomber. Their first mission was over Gelsenkirchen and it was a success.  The next two missions were over Evreaux in Normandy and Reims in the Champagne-Ardennes in France were also well executed and successful.

On the night of August 13, 1944 the crew's target was Braunschweig/Brunswick but before they could reach the place, their plane was shot down by a night fighter and crashed near the village of Brockum, Germany.  Douglas Waldo Peers did not survive the crash.  He was buried in the Hanover War Cemetery in Germany.

Lest We Forget - Private Henry Parkinson

Private Henry Parkinson was born on October 25, 1878 in Teeswater, Ontario to John Parkinson and Jane Tindall Hodgson.  He was my 3rd cousin, once removed.  His father, John was from England and his mother was part of the large Hodgson clan from River Philip in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia.  They, with their 6 children, moved first to Teeswater, Ontario and finally to Portage la Prairie, Manitoba.

Henry, with his father and four brothers worked their prairie farm together and eventually moved to his own farm which he shared with his brother, Eleazer in Yorkson, Saskatchewan.

When World War One broke out, Henry was already 36 years old - much older than most enlistees.  However, on January 16th, 1916 he joined the Canadian Infantry, Saskatchewan Regiment, 46th Battalion.  This Battalion was subject of many books, including Pierre Burton's "Vimy" as it participated in many of the major battles of the war, including Arras,Ypres, Passchendale, Vimy Ridge, and Hill 70.  On his attestation papers, Henry is described as 5'7", fair with blue eyes and a Methodist.

It was at Droucourt-Queant, France on September 4, 1918 that Henry lost his life.  His remains were interred with full military honours in the Ligny-St. Flochel British Cemetery, Averdoingt, Pas de Clais France.  He is memorialised on Page 482 of the 1918 Volume of the First World War Book of Remembrance in the Chapel of Remembrance at the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa.  He was 42 years old when he was killed in action.. Flochel British Cemetery, Averdoingt, Pas de Clais France

Lest We Forget - Private Perley C. Palmer

Perley C. Palmer was the baby in a family of nine.  He was born on February 8, 1896 in Wentworth, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia.  His parents were Calvin Palmer and Sarah McLeod.  Perley was my 4th cousin, being a descendant of Daniel Teed, the United Empire Loyalist. He was also related to me by marriage through my great great grandfather, Thomas Swallow of Yorkshire, England.

It is unclear whether Perley moved to Maine prior to the war, or whether he decided to choose the American Army and went to Maine to join up.  At any rate, he enlisted in Aroostook, Caribou County Maine in 1917.  He joined the 103 Infantry Regiment, 26th Division which had the motto "To the Last Man"  Upon arriving in France, the Regiment was plunged immediately into action.

On the evening of September 25, 1918 Perley was part of a group of two platoons sent off to march in a different direction, hoping to create a diversion and to take the enemy attention away from the point of the main attack which was set to take place at midnight.  The rain was pelting down and the men had trouble keeping to their feet due to the slick muddy surface of the road.

This march was inevitably a death sentence for these men.  Within minutes, the enemy opened up with machine guns and mortar rounds.  Some time around 10:45 that evening, Perley was struck by a bullet and grievously wounded.  Eventually, with his life fading, he was transported to a hospital ship several miles away and succumbed to his injuries there.

The burial record states that he was buried at sea.  He is memorialised in the Memorial Chapel at St. Mehiel American Cemetery and Memorial at Thaircourt, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France.

Lest We Forget - Private Howard Richardson Murray

Private Howard Richardson Murray certainly did not start out to become a war hero.  His ambition was to become a plumber and to settle down to a quiet life in Harmony, Nova Scotia.  The eldest child of James Duncan Murray and Mary Harriett (Hattie) Johnson, Howard was born on the 17th of November, 1897.  Through a series on inter-family marriages, he was related to me as a descendant of John Johnson, the Cobequid Planter, James Campbell of the McNutt migration from Northern Ireland and James Blair of Aghadowey, Northern Ireland.  He was my 6th cousin, my 6th cousin once removed and my 6th cousin twice removed.

Private Howard Richardson
Murray

However, with the war well under way in Europe, he heeded the call of his country and enlisted at the age of 18 on November 25, 1915 in Truro.  Tall and lanky, his attestation papers describe him as having blue eyes and dark brown hair and a member of the Presbyterian Church.

After three difficult years of muddy trenches, rampant disease and terrible food, Howard finally met his end at the Battle of the Somme.  On March 12, 1918, as the war was in its last months, he was killed in action.  His remains were laid to rest in the Thelus Military Cemetery, near Arras in the Pas de Calais, France.  He was just 21 years old.

Lest We Forget - Private Frank William Langille

Frank William Langille was born one of 8 children of William Henry Langille and Priscilla Jane Lynds on December 28, 1897 in Malagash, Cumberland County, Nova Scotia..  He was my 7th cousin, once removed.

On finishing school, he went to work as a Labourer and also joined the 76th Battalion, Canadian Militia where he got his initial military training.

With the outbreak of the war in 1914, Frank was eager to enlist and, in fact, did so on his 18th birthday.  His attestation papers describe him as a tall young man - 5'11 1/4" tall with blue eyes and fair hair.  His religious affiliation was listed as Baptist.

Frank William Langille

Posted overseas almost immediately, he spent nearly 3 years in the battlefields of Belgium and France.  At some time during this period, he must have been promoted, as he was awarded the Military Medal which was designated for Warrant Officers or Non-commissioned Officers for individual or associated acts of bravery on the recommendation of a Commander-in-Chief in the field.

On the 18th day of October 1918, while armistice talks were well under way, Frank William Langille was killed in action in the Pas de Calais, France.  He was just 20 years old and was buried with full military honours in the Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais France.

His widowed mother received the Silver Cross medal for her sacrifice to her country.

Lest We Forget - Private Charles Ernest Johnson

Charles Ernest Johnson was born on the 12th of September, 1890 in East Mountain, Colchester County, Nova Scotia.  He was one of nine children of  William George Johnson and Eunice Emmeline Blair.  Related to me through two branches of the Bragg Family Tree, he was my fifth cousin, once removed as a descendant of the Johnson family who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1761 from New Hampshire.  He also descended from our Campbell family who also arrived in 1761 from Northern Ireland, making him  my fifth cousin, twice removed, as well.

Private Charles Ernest
Johnson

In 1916, Charles joined many of his fellow Nova Scotians and headed west to Manitoba to work on the harvest.  Jam packed harvest trains regularly crossed the country, providing much needed labour to western farmers.  Charles ended up in Lauder, Manitoba and it was there that he enlisted as a Private in the 16th Battalion, Canadian Infantry, Manitoba Regiment.  His attestation papers describe him as 5'9" tall with grey eyes, fair hair and fair complexion.  His church affiliation was Church of England.

On October 1, 1918, just 5 days before armistice talks began, Charles was killed in action.  He was 30 years of age and his remains were laid to rest with full military honours in the Sancourt British Cemetery near Cambrai, France.

Lest We Forget - Second Lieutenant Samuel Leonard Tilley Harrison

Second Lieutenant Samuel Leonard Tilley Harrison came into this world in 1874 in Baie Verte, New Brunswick.  Named for his Uncle, Sir Samuel Leonard Tilley, Father of Confederation, he grew up in various Methodist Manses, where his father, George ministered to his congregations.  His mother, Margaret Tilley was a dedicated minister's wife as the family moved from place to place in New Brunswick and Northern Nova Scotia.

In 1904, Samuel married my Great Aunt, Josephine Ambrose and the two had a daughter, Margaret.

On December 20, 1915 at the age of 41, he joined the 38th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionery Force as a Lieutenant, and set out for Europe.  While there, he became attached to the elite Cameron Highlanders.  His war record indicates that he survived many major battles over the three years he served.

Grave of Second Lieutenant
Samuel Leonard Tilley Harrison

On September 29, 1918, Samuel was killed in action.  He account of his death tells the story:  "Killed in Action - While leading his platoon to the attack on an enemy strong point just in front of the Sunken Road and about 200 yards forward of the Douai-Cambrai Road, on the morning of September 29th, 1918, he was hit in the head and instantly killed by a bullet from an enemy machine gun."

Samuel Leonard Tilley Harrison was buried in the Bourlon Wood Cemetery near where he was killed.  He was 44 years old.

Lest We Forget Private Gordon MacDonald Crowe

Private Gordon MacDonald Crowe was a strapping young man, topping 6' in height and one of six children of Edgar Prior Crowe and Helen Wright Holesworth.  He was born on January 24, 1893 in Halifax, Nova Scotia.  He was my fifth cousin, twice removed.

Gordon was quiet and bookish and on completing school, became a bookkeeper.  On December 6, 1915, he joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force and was a member of the 25th Battalion, Canadian Infantry, Nova Scotia Regiment.  He had a fair complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair.  He was a member of the Church of England.

The Nova Scotias', as they were called, aquitted themselves with honour at the Battle of Vimy Ridge but it was at the subsequent Battle of Hill 70 that Gordon lost his life.  Although his remains were never recovered, he is memorialised on the Canadian Vimy Memorial at Vimy Ridge and in the Chapel of Remembrance in Ottawa.

Posthumously, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.  His mother received the Silver Cross Decoration from a grateful nation.

Lest We Forget Private Alden Samuel Blaikie

Born in Upper Stewiacke, Colchester County, Nova Scotia, on August 7, 1891, Private Alden Samuel Blaikie was the son of David Morrison Blaikie and Elmira Ogilvie Webster.  He was my fourth cousin, once removed.

As a young man, he took great interest in math and science and saw the Canadian Army as an opportunity to further his engineering skills.  He enlisted in Valcartier, Quebec on the 28th of September, 1914 at the age of 23.

The 17th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force embarked for Europe in the early days of the war and saw action almost immediately.  Life in the trenches was an endless succession of mud, cold, rats and dreadful food and it must have seemed a far cry from Alden's engineering dreams.

On June 3, 1916 a bullet ended Private Blaikie's life.  The Battle of Ypres had claimed yet another victim.  While his widowed mother, mourned at home, Alden was laid to rest in the Railway Dugouts Burial Ground, Ypres, West Belgium.  He is memorialized in the Chapel of Rembrance at the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa and on the cenotaph at Upper Stewiacke.

Lest We Forget - Private Isaac Baird Archibald

Private Isaac Baird Archibald, son of David Waddell Archibald and Sarah Baird was born on October 8, 1881 in Pembroke, Upper Stewiacke, Colchester County, Nova Scotia.  In 1905 he married Minnie Mae McLellan (my 4th cousin, once removed) in Truro and the pair subsequently moved to Vancouver.  Isaac went to work for the Railway and they had three lovely daughters, Jean, Della and Margaret.

On March 11, 1916, Isaac joined the Canadian Army and prepared to go to France with the 12th Company, Canadian Machine Gun Corps.  His attestation papers describe him as being 5'9" tall with light brown hair and blue eyes.  He was a Presbyterian.

On the 27th of October, 1916, during the Battle of the Somme, Isaac lost his life.  His remains were never recovered but he is memorialized on the Canadian monument at Vimy Ridge and in the 1916 Book of Remembrance in the parliament buildings in Ottawa.