1915-06-14rr

It was just another day’s listing of the casualities involving local men killed, wounded or missing during battles in France. On June 14, 1915, the Hamilton Spectator listed one killed, seven wounded and one missing, all soldiers from the immediate Hamilton area.

However, the stories accompanying the list were demonstrative of the anxiety, uncertainty and heartache which families at home had to endure as they awaited definitive news about the fates of their loved ones.

Private John Sinclair, who lived with relatives at 4 Milton Avenue, Hamilton, had been a member of the 13^th regiment:

“Word was received here today, in an indirect way, that Pte. John Sinclair, who left here with the 13^th regiment quota of the first contingent, has been killed in action. This report lacks confirmation, although it is taken as authentic.

“Pte. Sinclair’s aunt, Mrs. Wilson, 4 Milton avenue, with whom he resided before leaving for the front, has corresponded regularly with her nephew, but her last letter to him has been returned with the words ‘Killed in action’ written across the face of the envelope. Pte. Sinclair’s mother resides in Scotland, and Mrs. Wilson is anxiously waiting to hear from her, as Mrs. Sinclair would be the first to receive any notice from the militia department.

“Pte. Sinclair was an employee of the Westinghouse before he enlisted for active service.”¹

¹ “John Sinclair Named Among Those Killed”

Hamilton Spectator.   June 14, 1915.

A second story behind a name published that day follows:

“The daily casualty list carries the name of Lieut. S. D. Parker, Canadian Engineers, as having been wounded.

“Lieut. Parker is well-known here, being a son of E. Parker, at one time manager of the Bank of Montreal in Hamilton. He was a student at Highfield, and graduated from there in 1980, when he entered Royal Military College, later taking a science course at McGill university.”¹

News of wounded soldiers was often conflicting, adding to the worry of loved ones at home:

“Pte. Fred Campbell, who was reported wounded some weeks ago, again appears among the list of wounded handed out today by the militia department.

“The report today is either confirmation of the former report or else is an indication that the local man recovered from the woundeds received at Langemarck and got back into action only to be wounded again.

“Pte. Campbell lived with his father and mother at 11 Sydney street, and is 25 years of age. He came here from Toronto, where he was born, some eleven years ago. He was employed by the Greening Wire company, and went to France with the 13^th regiment quota of the first contingent.”¹

The final story of the June 14, 1915 concerned a widow and the double notification she had received:

“Mrs. E. Penny, 39 Ferguson avenue north, who received word that her husband, Pte. E. Penny had been killed in action, was officially notified of the death of her husband by the war office. The message began as follows : ‘Deeply regret....’ ”¹