The Evangelist for parishioners and friends of The Church of Saint John the Evangelist Special Issue : W.W. I : Vol. XIII, No. 3 , Quebec

In Commemoration of the men of St John’s who served in World War I In Flanders Fields Message from Bishop John Farthing on the War John McCrae (1872-1918) from The Montreal Churchman, May 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow My Dear Brethren, suffering shall not be in vain, but that we shall reap Between the crosses, row on row, The Nation and the the fullest blessing from them. That mark our place; and in the sky church are passing The larks, still bravely singing, fly Our Church in stands to gain or Scarce heard amid the guns below. through a time of lose the most in this matter. In no spirit of boast- crisis. The issues are fulness, but rather of thankfulness, we recall that We are the Dead. Short days ago of stupendous import. We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, our Church is sending to the war about 60% of the Great sacrifices are Loved and were loved, and now we lie men (taking the statistics of the first contingent). In Flanders fields. being made and much We have over one million of the population (1911 suffering is being census gives us 1,043,017) out of a total popula- Take up our quarrel with the foe: endured. To you from failing hands we throw tion of 7,206,643. That is to say one seventh or 14 The torch; be yours to hold it high. We in the Dominion are making sacrifices. 1/3 percent of the population has sent 60% of the If ye break faith with us who die Our manhood has gone forth to face the perils of men. In men then the Anglican Church is making We shall not sleep, though poppies grow war, to endure its hardships and in many cases to the biggest sacrifice - 60% of the suffering for the In Flanders fields. meet death. That is the supreme sacrifice possible war will be endured by us. We shall lose from our (1915) for man. The great Bishop Westcott said that Church a larger percentage of men than any other "sacrifice alone is fruitful." Certainly when we in Canada, and our families will suffer corres- see the sacrifice of the Cross we learn how fruitful pondingly. If we take it alright, we shall come EDITORIAL it is. Every great advance in the world has been out of this war more enriched and purified than The First World War seems almost medieval in the attitude of the Men who won by sacrifice. Sacrifice invariably entails any other Communion. If sacrifice be fruitful, if rushed to fight as if off to a Rugby game! It will be over by Christmas they were suffering, and suffering purifies and enriches life suffering purifies, then we should reap the greatest told, and many feared it would be over before they arrived! Was it worth dying when it is the fruit of love's sacrifice. "The fiery spiritual blessing from the war. What a wonderful for some obscure Prince killed by some irrelevant Student? Is any war justified to trial which is to try us" St. Peter says, makes us power we could be in Canada if we were a purified save them at the Top, who start it, by killing them at the Bottom who have noth- ing to do with the quarrel? "partakers of Christ's sufferings", and from it Church! The world-spirit too much controlled us; This issue brings to you a sample of the views and beliefs of those who were we shall come purified as the gold is by the fire. if we are purified through suffering the world-spirit there. Read, digest and ponder and pray to Christ and God to prevent future Wars. The Captain of our salvation was made perfect will be exorcised and the Christ-spirit will rule. If, - Tony Whitehead through suffering. however, we make a big sacrifice and suffering,

I feel anxious that these sacrifices and this Bishop Farthing: cont’d p. 4 2 3 Bishop Farthing - cont’d from p. 3 September Montreal Churchman - cont’d from p. 4 of God: we are here not to indulge in boasting and that should fill our hearts with humble thankfulness and then slip back into our worldliness and cov- shall be greatly blessed, and our Church and her vain glory, we are here to join together in a truly to God. We now realize, as we have never realized members will have been made meet for the Master's etousness and frivolity, it will all have been in patriotic service. A true Christian patriot remem- before, that it was a miracle that Germany did not vain. I want to see the Church reap the blessings use. God grant that it may be so! bers two things - the recognition due to Almighty win the war in the first three months. We may from the sacrifice she has made and the suffering Yours in Christ, God in the national life at all times; secondly, the truly say: “O God, our help in ages past”, but we fact that his country has faults and sins as well as must also look ahead for God is also our hope for she must endure. Let everyone re-consecrate his JOHN MONTREAL. virtues. To overlook either of these is an act of years to come, and, therefore, we throw ourselves life to Jesus Christ, and with all his heart seek the treachery and a failure in patriotism. upon God in intercession for the future as we Kingdom of God and His Righteousness, then we As we look over the past two years, and commend to him our Soldiers and Sailors and our especially the past few months, there is a great deal national needs.

From The Montreal Churchman, September 1916

At the noon hour Intercession Service in Christ produced or increased our self-righteousness and Church Cathedral on August 4th 1916, the second obscured our own guilt and share of responsibility Church of St. John the Evangelist anniversary of the war, The Rev’d W. for the war. For the real cause of the H. Davison, of St. John the Evangel- war we must go even beyond German ist Church, dwelt on the importance ambitions. It is to be found in its Prof. Werner, of the Faculty of Applied Sciences, The Guild of St. Anne held a Patriotic Sale of the British people realizing their fullness in the history of civilization in McGill University, lectured before the Men’s Club of Work and Bazaar on Saturday, Dec. 9th, in own shortcomings, and not losing the last twenty years. We hate with a on Friday, Dec. 8th, taking as his subject “Big the Parish House, and in spite of most inclement sight of them in their expression of whole hearted hatred German barbar- Guns, their Origin and Manufacture.” The lecture weather, a large amount was realized, the proceeds horror at the horrors which the enemy ism and frightfulness; we execrate the was illustrated with lantern slides, and handled by being devoted to the work amongst the returning has committed. violation of Belgium; and we are quite one who is master of every detail, was intensely wounded soldiers. It was formerly the custom to It is astonishing (he said) how ready to thank God we are not as those interesting. The difference in construction and skill the devote the proceeds to the beautifying of the quickly we see and condemn the Germans. of the weapons of large and small calibre, of the Chancel, but on the outbreak of war a departure faults of others, while we remain But have we learnt in any ad- early days, and the present, was very noticeable, was made in favor of the above mentioned patriotic ignorant of our own shortcomings. equate sense to say “God be merciful and some scenes were shown of munition factories and worthy object. Shall I be very far wrong if I say that to sinners”? Do we realize our need in active operation, where the shells to feed the big this largely represents our position today? The of penitence? What do we mean by these services bore guns were in course of construction. Rev. W. (reported in The Montreal Churchman, undoubted righteousness of our cause, the fact today? We are here to try and be real, to see things H. Davison acted as chairman, and introduced the January 1917) that we did the supremely right thing in going to from the sanctuary, to look at them with the eyes speaker, and at the conclusion of the lecture moved war - the decision to fight - has been called the a hearty vote of thanks, which was unanimously most Christian act of our national history. This has Sept. Montreal Churchman - cont’d p. 5 seconded by the members present. 4 5 The Boys Who Didn’t Come Home

very year we read their names solemnly on Remembrance Sunday from Ethe Memorial at the back of the church and perform a short military funeral service for them. We think of their sacrifice and pity the brevity of their young lives. We wonder whether it was all worth it. English Montreal made a tremen- Kenneth Mathewson dous effort during the Great War and it never really recovered fully from the loss d.1916, Lens of so many talented and promising young men. We no longer know them and no one living now remembers them; it has been too long. Yet, we feel that we should not forget them. Like so many others, John Lennox Dugan, Henry G. Goodfellow d.1917, Vimy our parish sent the best of her boys and men. At one time there were 110 of d.1916, Ypres Christopher John Arnold them serving overseas. The then Rector had four children, three sons and one d.1918. daughter, and they all served in , the youngest boy wounded at Gallipoli and dying on the Somme, after having been mentioned in dispatches. After his retirement in 1917, Father French sold his house and crossed over to with his wife to “help with the war effort”. The parish developed a special relationship with the Irish Canadian Rangers and, had not the Bishop objected, Father Davison would have followed them overseas as their chaplain. But 35 of the men did not return home. They came from every walk of society Charles Alexander Pope and served in various ranks and positions in different regiments. They were d.1916,Sanctuary Wood Heinrich Stevenson present in all the great battles and are buried in several military cemeteries of Duggan. d.1917, Passchendaele Northern France. Below is the list of their names with the information I was able to gather about them. We know most about three of them, Guy Drummond, Herrick Duggan Guy Melfort Drummond and Bertram French, because they came from prominent families and more has d.1915, Ypres been recorded about them. I will write more about these three in the second part of our parish history (The French Years, 1909-1917) to appear this winter. For most of the others, all we have are dates, regiments and places, though behind every name, there is a tragic story, a grieving family, and a lost life. The list is on p. 8; photographs of the 11 are marked by an asterisk (*). JAllan Davenport Harvey d.1916, Mount Sorrel Bartram St. George French d.1916, Beaumont Hamel Robert Blair Esdaile d.1917, Catterick, David Benedict Rennoldson U.K. d.1916, Sanctuary Wood 6 7 [ HONOUR ROLL [ Honour Roll - cont’d from p. 8 McGREER, Stanton Emile. Private, Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry (Eastern Ontario Division). Killed in action at Ypres, June 7 1916. ALLEN, Charles V. McLELLAN, John * ARNOLD, Christopher John. Armourer Staff Sergeant, Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment). Died on November 19 1918 after the Armistice presumably from earlier wounds; buried in Wolverton Churchyard, UK. PARKER, Edward W. BARNES, Wilfred * POPE, Charles Alexander, Lieutenant, Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry. Killed in action at Sanctuary Wood, May 7 1916, Age 38. BETTS, Gordon. Private, Canadian Expeditionary Force, 5th Regiment. Died during training before going overseas, August 27 1914. Buried in Mount Royal Cemetery. * RENNOLDSON David Benedict. Private, Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry. Killed in action at Sanctuary Wood, June 2 1916, age 29. Born in England in 1887, studied at McGill (B.A. 1911; B.Sc. 1913). His parents com- BIFFIN, Edward. Private, Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment). Killed in action at Ypres, March 25, 1916, age 26. missioned a window and a plaque in his memory showing his patrons, Saints David and Benedict, the last one in the BURT, Arthur James. Private, Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment). Killed in action on September 1 1917, buried north aisle of the church. at Aix-Noulette (Pas-de-Calais). RIACH, Harry Alexander. Private, Princess Patricia Canadian Light Infantry (Eastern Ontario Division). Killed in COOPER, Corin Henry Benedict. Lieutenant, Royal Engineers. Wounded in France on October 1 1916, died later in action at Ypres. November 1916. ROGERS, Walter COOPER, Ernest VALADE, Arthur George. Gunner, Canadian Field Artillery. Killed in action at Denain (France), November 5 1918, DAVENPORT, Harvey Allan. Private, Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Division). Killed in action on June 13 age 22. 1916. VALADE, William Ernest. Gunner, Canadian Field Artillery. Killed in action in 1917-8, age 19. Brother of Arthur DONALDSON, William G. Valade. * DRUMMOND Guy Melfort. Captain, 13th Canadian Battalion (Royal Highlanders). Killed in action at Ypres, WADE(Y), Henry (Harry). Highland Light Infantry, 14th Battalion (he first tried unsuccessfully to enlist in Canada, March 22 1915. Son of Sir George and Lady Julia Drummond. and then went to the UK on his own expense and enlisted there). Died of his wounds on August 9 1916. * DUGAN, James Lennox. Corporal, Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment). Killed in action on March 1 1917. WADE(Y), John. Lance Sergeant, Pioneer Battalion. Killed in action, August 16 1916, age 23. Brother of Harry Buried at Vimy Memorial. Distinguished Conduct Medal (posthumous). His family erected a bronze memorial to him Wade above; died within a week of his brother. A third brother Edmund Wade also enlisted, Third Battalion. in the north aisle. * DUGGAN, Herrick Stevenson. Lieutenant, 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles. Killed in action at Passchendaele, October 30 1917, age 24. * ESDAILE, Robert Blair. Second Lieutenant, Royal Flying Corps. Died accidentally at Catterick UK, November 13 1917, age 20. A plaque east of the baptistery recalls his memory. *FRENCH, Bertram St. George. Captain, King’s Liverpool Regiment and Inniskillin Fusiliers. (St. George Div- ision). Killed in action at Beaumont Hamel, July 1, 1916. His father, The Rev’d Arthur French, was rector of St. John’s. His parents erected a bronze plaque in church and gave a silver ciborium (which we currently use) to his memory. * GOODFELLOW, Henry Graves. 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles (Quebec Regiment). Killed in action atYpres, June 5 1916. * HARVEY, Allan Davenport. 3rd Canadian Battalion. Killed in action at Mount Sorrel, June 13, 1916. HEASLEY, Harold Richard. Gunner, Canadian Field Artillery. Killed in action on March 30 1918. Buried at La Targette (Arras, France). HENDERS, Wilfred Edmund. Private, Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment). Killed in action on September 29 1918, age 20. Buried at Buckoy Road (Arras). JOHNSON, Francis St. John’s School Cadets, Montreal, QC, 1908 JONES, Arthur Stanley. Private. Killed in action at Vimy Ridge, March 26, 1915, Age 22. Photograph: Wm. Notman & Son * MATHEWSON, Kenneth. Second Lieutenant Royal Flying Corps. Killed in action at Lens, August 3 1916. property of McCord Museum, Montreal 8 9 The St. John’s Sacristy Book 1917-1919 “Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us”. Ecclesiasticus Wisdom of Sirach (44:1-15) ° Father Davison was Rector after Fr. French resigned on January 1, 1917. ° In 1917 and 1918, there were regular “War Masses” at 8:00 am on Friday mornings. Let us now praise famous men, and our fathers that begat us. Not always entered in the book. The Lord hath wrought great glory by them through his great power from the beginning. ° On March 26, 1917 - Requiem for James Lennox Dugan. Such as did bear rule in their kingdoms, men renowned for their power, giving counsel by their understanding, and declaring prophecies: ° May 13, 1917 - Maréchal Joffre’s visit to Montréal noted but there was Leaders of the people by their counsels, and by their knowledge of learning meet for the people, wise and no special service at St. John’s. eloquent are their instructions: ° March 26, 1918 - Holy Tuesday was a Day of Continuous Intercession for the Great Such as found out musical tunes, and recited verses in writing: Battle of France. Rich men furnished with ability, living peaceably in their habitations: ° May 19, 1918 - Blessing of the Dugan Memorial Plaque in the presence of Lt. Col. (?) All these were honoured in their generations, and were the glory of their times. Davidson. There be of them, that have left a name behind them, that their praises might be reported. ° On June 30, 1918 - Day of Intercession for the War. And some there be, which have no memorial; who are perished, as though they had never been; and are become as though they had never been born; and their children after them. ° September 1, 1918 - Blessing of the Rennoldson Window and Memorial in the presence But these were merciful men, whose righteousness hath not been forgotten. of Major George Barclay. With their seed shall continually remain a good inheritance, and their children are within the covenant. ° October 31 to November 10, 1918 - Church closed because of Influenza Epidemic; Their seed standeth fast, and their children for their sakes. there was consequently no special service on November 11 and The Armistice not even noted in the record. Their seed shall remain for ever, and their glory shall not be blotted out. Their bodies are buried in peace; but their name liveth for evermore. ° July 19, 1919 - Peace Treaty Thanksgiving Service but there are no details. The people will tell of their wisdom, and the congregation will shew forth their praise. ° November 9, 1919 - Annual Requiem for those who died in the War.

Church of St John the Evangelist : 137 President Kennedy, Montreal, Quebec. H2X 3P6 Church Office : 514 288-4428 e-mail : [email protected] website : www.redroof.ca “The Evangelist” Special Issue: The First World War 1914-1919 Research : Peter Harper Editor : Tony Whitehead Designer : Carolyn Roper 10 11 Interior of the Church of Saint John the Evangelist, ca 1914

Cover and back cover photos by S.J. Hayward Photo of St John’s School cadets (p. 9) courtesy McCord Museum, Montreal

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