“The reports of the
Canadian casualties in the big battle of Langemarck, and in other engagements
in France, continue to come in. The reports received Saturday, Sunday and this
morning contained the names of two Hamilton and district men killed, two
missing and about 35 wounded.”
Hamilton Herald. May 3, 1915.
With the arrival of
the month of May, 1915, casualty reports from the fighting in Western Europe
became so lengthy that the front pages of Hamilton daily newspapers changed in
appearance. Each of the three daily Hamilton newspapers, the Times, the Herald
and the Spectator began to be filled lists, accompanied by photographs of the
soldiers killed, missing or wounded.
In some cases, the
casualty reports turned out to be wrong, but sadly nearly all were only too
accurate. The latest casualty lists from the War office would arrive several
times a day, and they would be posted at the offices of the various newspapers,
where they would be read intensely by friends and family members of the
Hamilton volunteers, particularly those from the local militia units:
“The casualty lists
show unmistakably that both the Thirteenth Royal men and the members of the
Ninety-First regiment had a big share in the fighting. Further lists are
expected hourly.”1
1 Many Hamilton Men Fell in Empire’s Cause”
Hamilton Herald. May 3, 1915.
Upon receipt of the
name of a Hamilton soldier wounded or killed in action, members of the press
would head to the homes of the families of those listed and attempt to obtain a
photo and some biographical particulars to publish.
As there was a major
spring offensive increase in fighting in May, 1915, many of those in the
casualty lists had only very recently received their wounds. In other cases,
due to the confusion of the front, names would appear on the lists of soldiers
whose wounds were received many days, or weeks, before.
An example of coverage of a newly-arrived,
official announcement of the death of a
Hamilton soldier at the front, but one which had occurred many weeks before,
follows:
“A sad story is told
of the sudden ending of the life of Pte. Isaiah Blunt, who resided at 78
Clinton street, and was formerly employed at the International Harvester works.
He was a reservist and on August 17, he received his papers with notice to join
his old regiment, the York and Lancaster regiment. The notice hardly came soon
enough to suit him, because he was anxious to leave for the front as soon as
war was declared, and tried to volunteer with one of the local regiments. He
was refused and advised to wait for his papers. He left Hamilton on August 18,
and joined his regiment at Cloyton Meadows.
“He wrote one letter
back to his sisters, Mrs. Albert E. Marshall and Mrs. Frank Clark, who reside
at 78 Clinton street, in which he stated that he was being sent to somewhere in
France, and would write later. Nothing more was heard of him, and his wife left
for England.
“Mrs. Marshall wrote
to the war office, after hearing nothing further from her brother, and was
informed that he had fallen on November 8, after five days’ of fighting, and
died from his wounds
“He was 30 years of
age and is survived by his widow but no family. He had served in India for
three years and was on the reserve list for nine years. Two of his brothers,
Harry and Adam Blunt, are now fighting in France with the Thirteenth Royals,
being in the fourth battalion that was engaged in the big battle of Langemarck.
A brother-in-law, Frank Marshall, is now in Toronto with the second contingent,
having enlisted with the Ninety-First Highlanders.”1
Private Isaiah Blunt
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