12th CANADIAN MACHINE GUN COMPANY (CMGC)

My maternal grandfather William John Alexander Stewart was born in Halifax in Oct. 1895.   He joined the 63rd Halifax Rifles (Canadian pre-war Militia) and became friends with Alexander Herbert Rutledge and Joseph Patrick Connolly-also in the 63rd Halifax Rifles.  W.J.A. Stewart joined the CEF in Sept of 1915, Connolly in Oct. 1915,  Rutledge in December 1915 and  on January 31st, 1916 they had disembarked at Plymouth, England.

Over a year was spent in England in training at the various Canadian camps, East Sandling, Crowborough, Shornecliffe.  On Feb. 14th, 1917, they were promoted to Lieutenant.  Just after Vimy Ridge, on April 23, 1917 they arrived in France.   Connolly was sent to the 11th CMGC, my grandfather and Rutledge with the 12th CMGC.

I have no personal diaries, letters, or stories to understand what his experiences where.   Thanks to the War Diaries from the Canadian Archives, I have been able to put together some pieces of his war.  My experience with the War Diaries show a varying degree of description, depending on who was doing the writing. You will notice the different style of writing between the 11th and 12th War Diaries for October 1917.  I would recommend looking at the War Diary first, which is the day-by-day account, and then the operational report, written,  just after the battle.

The diairies revealed his participation in the worst conditions of the war, the 3rd battle of Ypres, or Passchendaele.  When the CEF  was ordered into Ypres in October 1917, a 17 mile route march followed  for the 12th CMGC in  cold rain.  Each soldier probably   carrying 60lb packs of equipment and supplies.  The only things I knew from "family history" had been "someone had been killed beside him" and a dud shell landed in front of him.  His assigned pay for all of this: $20 per month.

"Someone who had been killed beside him" was Lt. Rutledge. He was killed on the night of Oct 25/26 while moving the machine guns into position for the attack on the morning of Oct 26th.

From the Halifax  Chronicle, Nov. 3 1917

'HALIFAX BOY KILLED IN ACTION'

The name of another Halifax county boy has been added to the list of Canada's illustrious dead.  It is that of Lieutenant A.H. ("Bert") Rutledge, son of Mrs. A.Rutledge, 7 Preston Street, who was killed in action of October 26th, 1917.

"Bert" who was born at Sheet Harbour twenty four years ago was well and favourably known.  When but a mere boy he enlisted in the 63rd rifles serving with the rank of sergeant and instructor.  He served with this rank until the outbreak of war when with the first draft of the 63rd he went overseas, after doing recruiting work here.  He was later promoted to Lieutenant on the field and sent to England where he was an instructor in machine gunnery at East Sandling Camp.  In civil life he was employed as a traveller with the Imperial Oil Co.  He was a member of St. George's Young Men's Society.  A brother also a Lieutenant, is serving with the CEF McNab's Island.
 

Connolly and my grandfather both survived the war.    Like many others who survived, they must have always wondered why they were to live. I don't know if my grandfather ever spoke to or visited Connolly  after the war.

Connolly was at his machine gun when "blown up with direct hit by shell"  (heavily shelled at Lens) on August 21st, 1917.  From his medical report he suffered insomnia, was nervous, depressed, had knee jerks, and tremors of fingers and body.  His nose was broken on August 11, 1917 and he "carried on" until gas poisoning on Nov. 11th 1917 put him in the Hospital.   He was sent to Canada on three months leave on Dec.27th 1917 and he never went back to the Western Front- he was medically discharged March 11, 1918. 

He was  awarded a Military Cross on April 4, 1918 "for conspicous gallantry and devotion to duty in charge of three batteries of machine guns.  His postions were heavily bombarded, three guns were put out of action and the crews became casualties. He at once reorganized his batteries in a most skillful manner, and continued his barrage fire.  His detachments were subjected to continuous machine-gun fire from an enemy aeroplane, and it was only the splendid leadership and courage that saved them from all becoming casualties."

There is no mention of when this occured, but most likely around Passchendaele.

After the war he attended Dalhousie University where he obtained a degree in law. In 1923 he joined the newly formed RCNVR as a lieutenant and was appoined the first commanding officer of the Halifax half company. Their headquarters were in the Dockyard and the unit was designated HMCS Scotian.  He seems to have done well for himself in the navy for by 1938 he had attained the rank of Commander. In 1937 he was a member of the naval componant of the Canadian Coronation contingent. In 1939 he was awarded the RCNVR Decoration one of only 36 Canadian awards of this medal.When the war broke out he was of course called up and eventually made Director of Special Services. These were the people responsible for the famous Meet The Navy Show that toured Europe and gave a command performance. This appointment was right up Connolly's alley as he was very keen on music and opera. For his service in WW2 he was awarded an OBE in 1946.

After the war he was demoblised and went into practice law with a Halifax firm. He was named a K.C. and he passed away in 1955.  (many thanks to Ed Paquette for this information)

My grandfather's tour of France ended in May of 1918 when he became an instructor attached to a bombing and trench mortar school at Grantham, England.  In August 1918 he was sick with influenza, recovered and returned briefly on Oct.30, 1918 to France.

He returned to Canada in July of 1919 as a Captain with the 4th Battn., Canadian Machine Gun Corps.   "Family history" reports him to be the youngest Captain (23) to return with the CEF.  How this is verified, I have no idea! 

He returned in 1925 to Glasgow to marry my grandmother Peggy Christie, a First World War bride.  A career in teaching was before him, and he was principal of Fergus High School in Ontario, Canada, until his death in a car accident in 1956.

If you recognize any names or places, please email me.  I am currently searching for any relative of Connolly or Rutledge.