MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY OF NEWFOUNDLAND ALUMNI MAGAZINE LUMINUS FALL FA 2016LL 2016Vol. 38 V NoOL. .1 38 NO. 1 ACTS OF REMEMBRANCE Our university was founded as a living memorial to those who fought and died in the First World War. To mark the centenary, we honour their sacrifice, and remember those who were lost and those who returned. – 1 – and thoughtful ways, through art, music, genealogy, study, pilgrimage, and observances of all kinds. ACTS OF Memorial University was founded in the name of those REMEMBRANCE who fought and died. Together, we remember those who were lost and those who returned. We all honour their sacrifice through the living memorial that is our university. To commemorate the centenary of the First World War, Luminus presents Acts of Remembrance, a series of reflections from alumni and friends. Some of our contributors are direct descendants of those German barbed wire who served with the Newfoundland contingent. Others entanglements, known as ‘knife rests’, photographed are simply motivated by our shared responsibility to in the Beaumont-Hamel commemorate. They all mark the centenary in creative area, 1916. – 2 – LUMINUS FALL 2016 Vol. 38 No. 1 Contents 04 AFTER BEAUMONT-HAMEL I Frank Gogos 19 FOR THE BOYS I Heather Bambrick 06 PTE. GEORGE A. MADORE I Tracy Madore 20 PTE. PETER J. HUDSON I Greg O’Brien 08 WW100 COMMEMORATION PROGRAM I 22 FRANCES CLUETT, VAD I Linda White Bert Riggs 24 REMEMBERING CALYPSO I Catherine Lawton 14 THE FIGHTING NEWFOUNDLANDER I Cora Scott and Clyde Scott 25 TREAD SOFTLY HERE I Dr. Karen Ewing Museums (Q 1530) PHOTO: © Imperial War 15 LANCE-CPL. JAPHETH HOUNSELL I Sandra Eaton 26 PTE. WILLIAM PENNELL I Sophie Peckford, Michelle Park, and Dr. Sonya Corbin Dwyer 16 100 PORTRAITS OF THE GREAT WAR I Morgan MacDonald 28 TOUR OF HONOUR I Neha Bhutani 18 PTE. CHESLEY GREEN I Barbara Green-Noble 30 PTE. HOwaRD CUTLER I Walter Swyer 31 LaST WORD I Dr. Kevin Major – 3 – MANAGING EDITOR David Penney EDITORIAL ASSISTANCE MESSAGE FROM Douglas Ballam, B.Sc.’90; Dr. Penny Black- wood, B.Sc.(Hons.)’88; Lynn Cadigan, BA’96, B.Comm.(Co-op.)’96; Mandy Cook, BA’00; THE PRESIDENT Nora Daly, BA(Hons.)’91, MA’99; Leslie Earle; Jennifer French; Frank Gogos, BA’94; Katie Rowe, B.Comm.(Hons.)(Co-op.)’11, BA’11; Lisa Pendergast, B.Comm.(Co-op.)‘06, MBA’15; Brian Power, BBA’00; Bert Riggs, BA(Hons.)’77, B.Ed.’77, MA’12; Lisa Riggs; Linda White, BA’82, BA(Hons.)’83, MA’92 My first day on the job as Memorial’s president and vice-chancellor was July 1, 2010. On that same day, my first official act was to lay a wreath on behalf CONTRIBUTORS Heather Bambrick, Neha Bhutani, Dr. Sonya of our university at the National War Memorial in downtown St. John’s. Corbin Dwyer, Sandra Eaton, Dr. Karen Ewing, Frank Gogos, Barbara Green-Noble, Dr. Gary Kachanoski, Catherine Lawton, Morgan Mac- Today, as then, I am humbled by our history. In the dark days following Donald, Tracy Madore, Dr. Kevin Major, Greg the devastation of the First World War there was resilience, strength and O’Brien, Michelle Park, Sophie Peckford, Bert Riggs, Clyde Scott, Cora Scott, Walter Swyer, determination, and there was a desire to look forward and build a better Linda White future. The founders of our university reached across denominational lines PHOTOGRAPHY to raise an institution of higher learning, one to honour the sacrifice of All photos by Dave Howells unless otherwise noted. those who were lost and those who returned. The university would be a DESIGN living memorial, one that would have a special responsibility to the people Shane Mills of Newfoundland and Labrador. Luminus is published twice a year by the Office of Alumni Affairs and Development. Com- The centenary of the First World War is an occasion of great significance ments, story ideas and letters to the editor are welcome. Submissions are subject to editorial for this province. At Memorial we remember in many ways, but particularly review for relevance, length and CP style. Send through our WW100 Commemoration Program, an initiative that began all correspondence to: in 2014 and will continue to support a range of commemorative activities Managing Editor through 2019 (p. 8). Luminus, Alumni Affairs and Development, Memorial University, St. John’s, NL, A1C 5S7 In the pages that follow, our alumni tell the stories of their own acts of Tel: 709 864 3447 Toll free: 1 877 700 4081 Fax: 709 864 2008 remembrance, each one a personal reflection on their relationship to our Email: [email protected] shared history. That expression takes many creative forms . in words, www.mun.ca/alumni art, music, scholarship and more. In the Last Word, author and alumnus Dr. Kevin Major eloquently provides his thoughts on the faces of The Great War. These are indeed some of the very personal ties that bind us to people and place. Clearly these tributes are offered with great pride by each of our contributors. Pride is also what we should all share in the collective demonstration of our province’s growth and progress. Since our humble beginnings in 1925, Memorial University alumni have played a pivotal role in building Newfoundland and Labrador, first as teachers educating young people in towns and outports, and later as engineers, medical professionals, business leaders and artists — just to name a few professions. Our reach and influence On the cover has grown exponentially, now with national and international impact that Sergeant Thomas Ricketts, V.C., C. de G., resonates more loudly every day. That work is actively pursued by each one of was a member of the Royal Newfoundland you, as well as by the remarkable contributors to this issue of Luminus. Regiment and is the youngest army combatant to receive the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the Together we are realizing the vision of Memorial University through the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Following greatest act of remembrance, the advancement of our society through the war, he was a member of the first class of education, so that — to use the words taken from our memorial wall, Memorial University College in 1925. (see After Beaumont-Hamel, p. 4.). PHOTO: C4-18, The “ ... in freedom of learning their cause and sacrifice might not be forgotten.” Rooms Provincial Archives Division ISSN 0381-6575 Publication Mail Agreement No. 40022409 Return undeliverable Canadian address to: Gary Kachanoski ALUMNI AFFAIRS AND DEVELOPMENT President and Vice-Chancellor MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY OF NEWFOUNDLAND ST. JOHN’S, NL A1C 5S7 026-16004 Johnson MUN Sacrifice Ad FINAL REV2.pdf 12 2016-12-14 6:31 PM C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Frank Gogos is the chair of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment Museum, and public relations officer for the N.L. Command, Royal Canadian Legion. AFTER BEAUMO NT-HAMEL LUMINUS FALL 2016 Vol. 38 No. 1 he Royal Newfoundland Monchy-le-Preux, Langemarck, and education. His rise to popular hero Regiment has a storied Poelcapelle, sometimes not only gave him the opportunity to go past, but of all the stories, taking their objective, but that of the to school, for which he took full none are as captivating, or neighbouring battalions as well. advantage. When he stepped off the Ttragic, as the first day of the Battle S.S. Corsican in St. John’s harbour in of the Somme. As the centennial During the Battle of Cambrai in 1917, 1919, he could barely sign his name. year of the Regiment’s tragic the Regiment fought with such valour He stayed in St. John’s and attended advance near Beaumont-Hamel is that their actions were attributed Bishop Feild College before moving here, Newfoundland and Labrador’s by Field Marshal Douglas Haig and on to the first class of Memorial attention is on the First World War. King George V as being the crowning University College in 1925. A year We are at the apex of remembrance, achievement of the Newfoundland later, he would become a pharmacist’s largely focusing on the tragedy of Regiment. In December 1917, the apprentice before striking out with Beaumont-Hamel, yet seemingly prefix “Royal” was granted for use his own practice a few years later. unaware of the anniversaries that by the King to the Newfoundland follow. Regiment as a tribute to their gallant Thomas’ strong desire to change his and stalwart bravery and sacrifice life through education is evident The number of commemorative events on the field of battle. It was the only through his own actions, which that occurred around this past July 1 time during the war that the prefix he also instilled in his children. in the province is simply staggering. was granted to any regiment in the While the Victoria Cross is a proud However, the number of events after British Empire, and the third and last achievement for a man who shunned July 1 is notable mainly for the lack time it was bestowed during any war the negative trappings of pride, there of them. After 100 years, our memory in British history. No higher tribute can be no greater legacy to leave seems to have narrowed. For many, could be granted to a body of men for behind than the gift of education. this province’s narrative in the First their service to the British Empire. World War started with the Blue While Newfoundland focused Puttees and stopped on July 1, 1916, at The Royal Newfoundland Regiment almost exclusively on the tragedy Beaumont-Hamel, with the exception continued to fight, gaining accolades of Beaumont-Hamel on July 1, of course, of Tommy Ricketts.