Posted By pferguson on March 29, 2024

Courage – Honor – Sacrifice

After several days visit to Waikiki to relax and seek an even keel…I have walked…from Natatorium to Fort DeRussy…wandered Honolulu in search of familiar old buildings. Found new and old to photograph. Been amused amongst the waves, drifted with the current, seen new living species, found cognac in the waters whilst removing plastic fragments and glass shards from the water and ocean floor. I become environmentally conscious here [though much admittedly there is more I could do].

Still, after these past days of low pressure there is one episode I must take in which was almost lost due to having been before…but there is no limit to how many times…and I feel the better for it…taking in what I do…Pearl…1941…Pearl 2024.

Yes there have been visits before…but Pearl’s  7 December 1941 day is one to take in…here during one day in 2024. And its ok if this time I do not make it to the memorial…one more seat for someone who may not have been before. Having hopped on a bus near Ward Centre, the journey seems longer than I remember. Being on my own there is no one to remind me how far out 7 December 1941 is. As we near the Harbor there are reminders of what is on the horizon.

Together with visits to the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial and Hawaii’s Great War Roll of Honor I have, this 2024, engaged the three monuments I forever bow with caring eyes and heart, recognizing with them courage, honor, sacrifice. Equal words these words…they can never be old fashioned – there is strength in their saying – expressions of respect for that the greatest generation…so too followed by today’s others who so too unfurl their acts of valor, strength, thoughts. This day 2024…one day 1941..

Category: Remember Them Well | 1 Comment »
Tags: 7 December 1941, Arizona Memorial, Courage, Everett Hyland, Greatest Generation, Honor, Pearl Harbor, Sacrifice, USS Arizona, USS Missouri, USS Pennsylvania, War Memorials

Posted By pferguson on February 25, 2024

During Air Raids

Mary Meta Hodge was awarded the Military Medal for Bravery in the Field. A resident of Winnipeg, Manitoba the above portrait appeared in the Canada Illustrated Weekly, 21 December 1918, p. 397. Nursing Sister Hodge was one of nine Canadian women awarded the Military Medal during the Great War. Eight of the women served with the Canadian Army Medical Corps and the ninth in the British Army.

Canadian Army Medical Corps

Matron Edith Campbell RRC
No. 3 Canadian General Hospital, Etaples, France

For gallantry and devotion to duty during an enemy air raid. Regardless of personal danger she attended to the wounded sisters, and by her personal example inspired the sisters under her charge. (London Gazette: 24 September 1918. Previously awarded the Royal Red Cross).

Nursing Sister Helen Elizabeth Hansen
No 2 Canadian Stationary Hospital, Etaples, France

For gallantry during an air raid at ETAPLES May 19/20th 1918. She worked devotedly in the operating room throughout the period of the severe bombardment, which lasted for two hours. Sister HANSEN was ready for any duty, and exhibited qualities of coolness and courage. (London Gazette: 29 January 1919).

Nursing Sister Lenora Herrington
No. 3 Canadian General Hospital, Etaples, France

For gallantry and devotion to duty during an enemy air raid. She remained at duty the entire night, and by her excellent example and personal courage was largely responsible for the maintenance of discipline and efficiency. (London Gazette: 24 September 1918).

Nursing Sister Mary Meta Hodge
No. 3 Canadian Stationary Hospital, Doullens, France

For gallantry and devotion to duty during an enemy air raid. Although injured by a falling beam, this sister displayed great presence of mind in extinguishing overturned oilstoves and later rendered valuable assistance in the removal of patients. (London Gazette: 24 September 1918).

Nursing Sister Beatrice McNair
No. 8 Canadian General Hospital, Etaples, France

For gallantry during an air raid at ETAPLES May 19/20th 1918. She carried on her duties throughout the night without interruption, and throughout the the period of the severe bombardment, which lasted two hours, Sister McNair showed great solicitude for the patients in her wards, and was wholly unmindful of her personal safety. (London Gazette: 29 January 1919).

Nursing Sister Eleanor Jean Thompson
No. 3 Canadian Stationary Hospital, Doullens, France

For gallantry and devotion to duty during an enemy air raid. Although injured by a falling beam, this sister displayed presence of mind in extinguishing overturned oilstoves and later rendered valuable assistance in the removal of patients. (London Gazette: 24 September 1918. Awarded the French Medailie D’Honneur des Epidemies en Bronze London Gazette 9 July 1926. No. 6 Canadian General Hospital).

Nursing Sister Lottie Urquhart
No. 2 Canadian General Hospital, Etaples, France

For gallantry and devotion to duty during an enemy air raid, when four bombs fell on her wards. Regardless of danger she attended the wounded. Her courage and devotion were an inspiring example to all. (London Gazette: 24 September 1918).

Nursing Sister Janet Mary Williamson
No. 2 Canadian General Hospital, Etaples, France

For gallantry and devotion to duty during an enemy air raid. When in charge of a ward badly damaged, she displayed exceptional coolness, and, regardless of personal danger, sustained her patients and ensured their evacuation. (London Gazette: 24 September 1918).

British Army

Acting Sister Marie Dow Lutwick ARRC
No. 58 Casualty Clearing Station
Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Military Nursing Service (Reserve)

Born in Alma, New Brunswick. Awarded Associate of the Royal Red Cross in June 1918. Married James B. Taylor 1938. Died Canada 1953.

For bravery and devotion to duty during a hostile bombing raid when in company with the Matron who was severely wounded and a Sister who was killed. She crossed the open bomb-swept ground alone in order to procure help. Subsequently she returned to the Casualty Clearing Station and continued to work for many hours, under conditions of great danger. (London Gazette 4 June 1918. Previously awarded the Associate of the Royal Red Cross).

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Tags: Air Raid, Associate of the Royal Red Cross, Beatrice McNair, Canadian Army Medical Corps, Doullens (France), Edith Campbell, Eleanor Jean Thompson, Etaples (France), Helen Elizabeth Hansen, Honours and Awards, Janet Mary Williamson, Lenora Herrington, Lottie Urquhart, Marie Dow Lutwick, Mary Meta Hodge, Military Medal, No 2 Canadian Stationary Hospital, No. 2 Canadian General Hospital, No. 3 Canadian General Hospital, No. 3 Canadian Stationary Hospital, No. 58 Casualty Clearing Station, No. 8 Canadian General Hospital, Nursing Sisters, Queen Alexandra's Imperial Military Nursing Service (Reserve), Royal Red Cross

Posted By pferguson on January 27, 2024

Now me, I wasn’t scratched, praise God Almighty
(Though next time please I’ll thank ‘im for a Blighty)
From The Chances by Wilfrid Owen

Home

Blighty was Britain or England. The term was popular in both the First and Second World War but its origins were earlier. The word originated in India during the 1800s where blighty was used as slang to describe an English or British visitor. Additionally the term was used to describe specific items the British introduced to India such as tomatoes and soda water.

Blighty, as a term for home, was used by the British during the Second Boer War 1899-1902. Specific to being wounded a blighty was one when an injured soldier was bound for further care in Britain that required recuperation at home. Blighty magazine was a weekly edition produced during the Great War intended to be humorous featuring short stories, cartoons, poems and art such as illustrations and paintings.

Blighty

It seemed that it were well to kiss first the earth
On landing, having traversed the narrow seas,
And grasp so little, tenderly, of this field of birth
First three lines of Blighty by Ivor Gurney

For information on Great War military hospitals in the British Isles visit the Long, Long Trail.

Category: Snapshots of the Great War | No Comments »
Tags: Blighty, Home, India, Ivor Gurney, Poetry, Poets, Second Boer War, The Chances, Wilfrid Owen, Wounded

Posted By pferguson on December 20, 2023

Queen Reviews Men of Valour, 1956.
British Pathé

For Valour

For the Victoria Cross centenary Queen Elizabeth II reviewed an assembly of 300 men who held the nation’s and Commonwealth’s highest honour – the Victoria Cross. The review, conducted at Hyde Park, London 26 June 1956 respected the first presentations of the awards by Queen Victoria when she presented 62 awards at Hyde Park.

At the same time as the review an exhibition was held 15 June – 7 July 1956 at Marlborough House featuring several Victoria Crosses, citations and souvenirs retained by those who received the bronze cross pattee synonymous with valour. Included in the exhibition was the uniform worn by Queen Victoria at the time of the original V.C. presentations.

Several Canadian Victoria Cross recipients participated representing conflicts from the Second Boer War (1899-1902), the Great War (1914-1918) and the Second World War (1939-1945). Those with connections to British Columbia included: Edward Bellew (7th Canadian Infantry Battalion), Rowland Bourke (Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve), Robert Hanna (29th Canadian Infantry Battalion), John Kerr (49th Canadian Infantry Battalion), Filip Konowal (47th Canadian Infantry Battalion), John Mahoney (Westminster Regiment), Cecil Merritt (Saskatchewan Regiment), William Metcalf (16th Canadian Infantry Battalion), George Mullin (Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry), George Pearkes (5th Battalion Canadian Mounted Rifles), Cyrus Peck (16th Canadian Infantry Battalion), Ernest Smith (Seaforth Highlanders of Canada) and Charles Train (14th Battalion London Regiment).

One hundred recipients of the Victoria Cross were unable to attend the review.

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Tags: Cecil Merritt, Charles Train, Cyrus Peck, Edward Bellew, Ernest Smith, Filip Konowal, George Mullin, George Pearkes, John Kerr, John Mahoney, Marlborough House, Robert Hanna, Rowland Bourke, Victoria Cross, Victoria Cross Exhibition, Victoria Cross Review, William Metcalf

Posted By pferguson on November 10, 2023

Le Francport: 5:45 a.m.

The signature at this place…at this time…near to Compiènge went into effect at 11:00 a.m. marking an armistice between warring nations. The document signed by French Marshal Ferdinand Foch was only the beginning as this day, 11 November 1918, though a peace was not a formal surrender with Germany.

Prior to this day other armistices were signed by the Allies against former enemies Bulgaria (the Armistice of Salonika: 29 September 1918); the Ottoman Empire (the Armistice of Mudros: 31 October 1918); and Austria-Hungary (the Armistice of Villa Giusti or the Padua Armistice: 3 November 1918). There was now with the 11 November 1918 signing, peace, but the Great War with Germany did not come to a procedural and documented end until the Treaty of Versailles was signed 28 June 1919.

However, even before Versailles, in German East Africa…Zambia (Northern Rhodesia) German commander Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck along with about 1,500 troops continued to raid after 11 November 1918. At the Chambeshi River 14 November 1918 Lettow-Vorbeck was informed of the 11 November 1918 armistice. On 25 November 1918, his undefeated army surrendered at Abercorn.

Category: Remember Them Well | No Comments »
Tags: 11 November 1918, Armistice, Armistice of Mudros, Armistice of Salonika, Armistice of Villa Giusti (or the Padua Armistice), Austria-Hungary, Buglaria, Ferdinand Foch, German East Africa, Le Francport (France), Ottoman Empire, Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, Peace, Treaty of Versailles (28 June 1919)