Halifax Hundred 1938-1946

[Dave1212]

Halifax Hundred Deceased

Top Row L-to-R
Private William ‘Bill’ Douglas Adams from Halifax/Antigonish, Nova Scotia 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment (M.G.) KIA sometime between May 10th & May 19th, 1940 in France. Buried Dunkirk Town Cemetery (Plot 2 Row 4 Grave 44), France age 22.

Lance Corporal Sydney Leonard Barwick from Winnipeg, Manitoba 44th Royal Tank Regiment RAC died while POW at P.G. 202 (hospital camp) Lucca, Italy April 14, 1943. Buried Florence War Cemetery, Italy (I.E.2.) age 33.

Private Carl Robert Coulstring from Halifax, Nova Scotia 'C' Company, 8th (H.D.) Battalion, Cheshire Regiment  killed March 12, 1941 during a Luftwaffe bombing raid on Merseyside, England March 12, 1941. Buried Birkenhead (Landican) Cemetery (Sec. 6 Grave H.3.), England age 23.

Lance Corporal Clyde Cruickshanks from Halifax, Nova Scotia 29th Brigade, 1st Battalion Royal Ulster Rifles KIA November 27, 1950. Buried at the UN Memorial Cemetery Pusan, Korea age 32. POW 1940-1945 Stalag XX-A (2/Mancs).

Middle Row L-to-R
Gunner John 'Jack' Claydon Goodman from Ferguson's Cove, Nova Scotia 9th Coast Regiment Royal Artillery died while POW (cholera) July 3, 1943 at Tonchan South Camp (Thailand- Burma Railway) (captured Singapore Feb 15, 1942). Buried Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, (6.A.40), Thailand age 28.

Private Francis William 'Skip' McCarthy from Liverpool, Nova Scotia 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment (M.G.) died at the Nova Scotia Sanatorium in Kentville NS August 7th, 1947 from TB contracted while a POW at Stalag XXA (1940-1945 Thorun, Poland). Buried at the Trinity Anglican Cemetery, Liverpool NS age 38. Designed West Nova Scotia Regiment insignia.

Private Thomas McCarthy from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia  'A' Company Anti-Aircraft Gunner, 2nd Battalion Manchester Regiment (M.G.) KIA May 21, 1940 near Pas de Calais, France. Buried Dunkirk Town Cemetery (Plot 2 Row 7 Grave 2), France age 25.

Private Harold Morris from Armdale, Nova Scotia 3 Petrol Field Depot RASC died while POW Stalag XX-B Malbork, Poland December 26, 1944. No known grave. Remembered with Honour Dunkirk Memorial (Column 141) age 31.

Flying Officer David Albert Alton Romans DFC from Melville Cove, Nova Scotia 90 Squadron RAF KIA September 8, 1941 near Bygland, Norway. Buried Bygland Churchyard Cemetery, Norway age 21.

Bottom Row L-to-R
Pilot Officer Donald Sprague Ross from Edmundston, New Brunswick 54 Squadron RAF KIA May 15, 1940. Buried Woodstock Methodist Cemetery, Woodstock, NB age 22.

Lance Corporal Ross Samuel 'Sock' Rutherford from Schomberg, Ontario 8th Infantry Brigade Company RCASC 3rd Canadian Division died accidentally August 3, 1945. Buried Holten Canadian War Cemetery The Netherlands (V.F.5) age 31.

S/Sgt Daniel 'Dannie' Serrick from Jollimore, Nova Scotia 2nd Company First Regiment (2-1) 1st Special Service Force (Black Devils/Devil's Brigade) KIA May 29, 1944 near Artena, Italy. Buried Beach Head War Cemetery (XVII.A.3) Anzio, Italy age 23.

Flying Officer William Frederick 'Bill/Chalkie' White from Halifax, Nova Scotia RCAF died when the Harvard II aircraft he was piloting crashed RCAF Station Claresholm, Alberta January 4, 1956 age 37. Buried Claresholm Cemetery, Alberta.

Lest We Forget

[Dave1212]

A friend was visiting the Legion in Chester, Nova Scotia when he noticed these medals on display. They belong to Richard Osbourne Frail, one of the '100' that I had no information on. On the right, is a photograph of Richard taken at Ladysmith Barracks March 1939.

All we know so far is that he was born August 5, 1911 in Chester, Nova Scotia son of Harris & Grace Frail. He died April 9, 1955 in Chester of a cerebral hemorrhage age 43. He was married at the time however I have yet to discover his wife's name or if they had any children.

Based on the medals, it looks like he remained with the British Army for the duration of the war. Further investigation is needed to fill in the gaps of his story.

A wonderful find nevertheless!

[Wendi]

As you say Dave a great find!

Wendi

[Dave1212]

Walter O'Hara 1st Battalion Manchester Regiment (M.G.) 1938-1946

Brilliant photograph of the 1st recruit in the '100' story.

Walter's family recently found us & have shared a treasure trove of items. We already knew upon his return to Canada Walter almost immediately signed up with the RCA, which considering his nearly four years of brutal Japanese captivity is in itself remarkable but we have also learned that he later volunteered & served in the Korean War with the 2nd Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Horse Artillery.
Maureen writes of her father's career:
' Dad was a journalist writing articles for military papers mostly. He was President of the Korean Veterans Association for many years and received many commendations for his bridging the gap between the US state of Maine Korean Vets and New Brunswick vets, engaging in joint charitable activities. I am realizing I am not in chronological order so I will say this he spent 32 years in the military - The Royal Canadian Artillery as an Instructor - after Camp Shilo we went to Montreal then to Fredericton where he taught militia until he retired. He then took employment at the University of NB carpentry shops until his final retirement at 65. Dad died at age 76 at the DVA in Fredericton, NB.'

Pretty impressive for a lad who endured the tough upbringing at St. Patrick's Home for Boys in Halifax, Nova Scotia yet successfully fulfilled his dream of joining the British Army.

[sphinx]

Dave,

Great Photo.

Could you tell me the photographers location as impressed at the foot of the photo please.

regards

[Dave1212]

Can't make it out based on the scan I received but I'll check with Maureen to see if she can read it from the original.

[Dave1212]

1/Mancs Corps of Drums

Arthur Lane wrote of Walter:
' He came as a duty man (a private soldier) and fancied his hand at becoming a musician, unfortunately he could not read music so he was put in the drum section where I was serving as a drummer. In other words, a purveyor of music via bugle fife and drum. Walter was not very musically minded and was given a Timpani side drum to learn to play.'

Walter is standing far right in the photo. He is the only soldier we can ID though I suspect Arthur Lane is also here.

Is there a listing of the men in this photo?

[Dave1212]

Another nice photo. Walter O'Hara on the left with unidentified mate on the right. No date but I suspect 1940/41 Malaya.

[Dave1212]

Update for another '100' soldier - Ernest Frederick 'Fred Rampton