November 10 - 16: Compiled by Dave Humphrey from the archived newspapers held at the Cranbrook History Centre and Archives
1917
Fort Steele news … Nelson Glen, after jumping through an office window and throwing a lighted lamp on floor of dining room at Wasa Hotel, Wasa, was taken in charge by Constable Walsh of Fort Steele, and was taken to Cranbrook and examined as regards his sanity and was sent to the Mental Hospital, New Westminster on the 10th. Glen is a young man about 28 years of age, and is reported to have a ranch on the Prairies.
Returned soldiers attention! … Now that there are a number of returned soldiers in Cranbrook and district, the question of forming a Branch of the Great War Veterans’ Association has been raised. To the present some ninety branches have been formed throughout the Dominion, with a membership of over 25,000.
Nelson has had a branch for some time, and one was recently formed at Fernie.
In order that a meeting may be called to further consider and, if possible, take some action in the matter, all returned soldiers in this district are requested to communicate with R. T. Williams, Cranbrook.
R.E. Beattie to represent Liberal party … It is reported that Mr. R. E. Beattie is the choice of the Liberal party as candidate for the coming election.
$ 44,650.00 … We are pleased to report that the above figures represent the purchases of Victory Bonds for the Cranbrook District to date. The Committee have set the mark at $100,000. The management of the Rex and Auditorium Theatres have kindly consented to flash the results of the sale every night.
Victory loan committee … The Cranbrook Committee in charge of the Victory Loan Issue has had several meetings and is at present completing its organization. It has been considered advisable to have the Organization in perfect shape before bringing the issue directly before the public by personal canvass.
Robert Erskine returns … Private Robert Erskine, a battle scarred veteran of the war, returned to Cranbrook on Sunday.
Pte. Erskine enlisted in August, 1914 in the 13th Royal Canadian Highlanders and has been fighting almost continuously since February, 1915; he took part in the 1st battle of Ypres, on 22nd April, 1915, after which a reorganization of the Canadian Divisions was found necessary; his next engagement was at Festubert, in this famous battle, commonly called the Battle of the Orchards, the 13th Royal Highlanders and the 16th Canadian Scottish carried off the honors; Pte. Erskine was seriously wounded in the face by shrapnel but recovered in time to take part in the fierce battle of Civenchy—known as the “Windy Corner”; in this fight the Canadians were attached to the flower of the British army, the Scots, Irish and Coldstream Guards; he was again wounded by shrapnel, this time in the leg.
On recovering, he went through the battle of Messines Ridges, Bloegstrasse Wood, Kemmel, Dicky Bush, the Bluff when Brigadier General Mercer was killed, and General Williams taken prisoner; and the battle of the Somme; this battle Private Erskine declares was the hardest fight the Canadians had been in.
He was sent back to the base for a rest but was again in the thick of it at Vimy Ridge, where the French in 1914 suffered such heavy casualties.
Donald Leslie visits Cranbrook … Sapper Donald Leslie returned to Cranbrook on Friday. He enlisted from Niagara with the 2nd Cyclist Corps in August 1915, but on arriving in England was made Staff Sergeant Instructor.
In May, 1916 he voluntarily reduced himself to the ranks in order to get to France, and he went through the Battle of the Somme with the Canadian Engineers.
He unfortunately fell a victim to arsenic poisoning in October, 1916, and has since been under medical treatment.
He returns to Hospital in Victoria on 22nd November.
Rescued comrades in midst of raking fire … Robert Morgan Reid, son of Mr. T. Reid, the well-known merchant of New Westminster, and formerly of Cranbrook, is officially reported as killed in action on October 23.
His record as a soldier was highly commended by his superior officers.
One of these writing recently said. “At the battle of Lens I noticed two youngmen, Robert Reid, and Arthur Osterhout, whose coolness and daring entitled them to receive special recognition. In the midst of a raking fire they returned again and again to rescue comrades who had been wounded.”
At the time of his enlistment with the 196th Western Universities Battalion, Robert Reid was a student at Columbian College and had secured matriculation standing in the University of British Columbia. To the staff and student body of Columbian as well as to many other friends, the news of his death brings a great sorrow, for he was well liked by all.
In his death a promising young man of excellent character has proved his supreme devotion to duty and to the cause of the Empire.
Unveiling of honor roll at public school … The Honor Roll, on which are fifty names of boys, who once attended Central Public School and have enlisted, will be unveiled Friday, November 23rd. A good program of the best local talent is being arranged by the Junior Red Cross Society. A collection will be taken by the Junior Red Cross Society to defray expenses of boxes sent to the boys at the front. All welcome. Program begins at 8 o’clock.
Ladies Aid … The Ladies Aid of the Methodist Church gave a “Tea” on the afternoon of November 5th at the home of Mrs. W. H. Wilson, that the members of the Society might have an opportunity of saying good-bye to, and also wishing Mrs. Christian and Miss Mills Godspeed on their leaving for Calgary and Winnipeg, respectively. They will be missed in many departments of the Church. Mrs. Wilson, as President expressed the sorrow of the Aid on their departure and wished them every happiness and prosperity in their new homes.
Captain Pearson visits Cranbrook … On Tuesday evening, a dinner was given in the Y.M.C.A. Grill Room in honor of Captain Pearson who was in the city on behalf of the Young Men’s Christian Association. About 65 prominent citizens were present who had the pleasure of listening to a stirring address by Captain Pearson. Mr. R.T. Williams was chairman and introduced the speaker who in the course of his address told of the miraculous strides in organization the Allied armies had made on the Western Front since the commencement of the war, of the shortage of guns of large calibre and ammunition in the early stages and the enormous gun power now available; in stirring words he spoke of the work of the aircraft — the eyes of the artillery; and how the Allied airmen had gradually become masters of the air; great applause greeted the speaker’s glowing tribute to the work of the British Navy, and the fact that it had transported millions of men and supplies across the channel without the loss of a single life. Captain Pearson declared that the decisive battles of the war must be fought on the Western Front; he gave a graphic description of the Y.M.C.A. huts, and what they meant to the soldiers and explained the urgent necessity of financial aid. Mr. McKellar, Secretary, made an earnest appeal to those present to assist in the campaign for funds. At the conclusion, a strong committee was appointed to canvas the city on Wednesday.
Captain Pearson later addressed a large audience in the Rex Theatre in which an account was given of the establishment of Y.M.C. A. huts right up to the firing line, within 1,000 yards of the German trenches.
The campaign for funds in aid of the overseas work of the Y.M.C. A. progressed very satisfactorily on Wednesday. A canvass of the city was undertaken by a number of the business men; and the ministers of the city churches. It was not possible to complete the canvass, but the day’s work resulted in securing subscriptions amounting to about $550.00 and when the returns are all in it is anticipated that the total will be considerably more than this amount.
Victory loan committee … The Cranbrook Committee in charge of the Victory Loan Issue has had several meetings and is at present completing its organization. It has been considered advisable to have the Organization in perfect shape before bringing the issue directly before the public by personal canvass.
The organization as at present arranged is as follows: A Central Executive Committee who have the general supervision over the affairs connected with the Loan. The Advertising Committee will be in the hands of Mr. W. A. Nisbet. Messrs. W. H. Wilson and F. M. McPherson will have charge of the canvassing, and the recording of the applications, and all work incidental thereto will be done by Mr. A. L. McDermot.
Local sub-committees have been appointed in Kimberley, Moyie, Kingsgate, Yahk, Fort Steele, Marysville, Wardner, and Bull River. Fort Steele and Bull River are in the Fernie District, but at the request of the Fernie Committee, these districts are being looked after from Cranbrook.
A meeting of the Canvassers will be held in the Town Hall on Thursday night, and it is hoped that there will be a large attendance.
All details in connection with the Loan will be then explained, and the canvassers allotted to their particular districts. It is the intention of the Committee to have a public meeting in Cranbrook probably on Sunday evening the 25th, but details connected with this will be announced later on.
Several of the outlying districts are also arranging meetings and representatives from the Cranbrook Committee will go to these meetings to explain the details of the Victory Loan and assist the Local Organization in any way possible.
