During the First World War two members of the Third Battalion were awarded the British Empire’s highest military honour: the Victoria Cross. The first was Colin Fraser Barron, a Lewis Gunner. A brief reference to Barron is made in Part II, but no fictional account could compare to his genuine heroics. He was a 24 year old corporal at the Battle of Passchendaele when the following deed took place, on November 6th, 1917, during the attack against Vine Cottages:
“For conspicuous bravery when in attack his unit was held up by three machine-guns. Corpl. Barron opened on them from a flank at point-blank range, rushed the enemy guns single-handed, killed four of the crew, and captured the remainder. He then, with remarkable initiative and skill, turned one of the captured guns on the retiring enemy, causing them severe casualties. The remarkable dash and determination displayed by this N.C.O. in rushing the guns produced far-reaching results, and enabled the advance to be continued.”
George Fraser Kerr was an Original member of the Third Battalion, enlisting as a private. By September 27th, 1918, he had already been awarded the Military Medal, as well as the Military Cross with Bar, and held the rank of lieutenant when the following deed took place:
“For most conspicuous bravery and leadership during the Bourlon Wood operations on 27th September, 1918, when in command of the left support company in attack. He handled his company with great skill, and gave timely support by outflanking a machine-gun which was impeding the advance. Later, near the Arras-Cambrai road, the advance was again held up by a strong point. Lt. Kerr, far in advance of his company, rushed this strong point single-handed and captured four machine-guns and thirty-one prisoners. His valour throughout this engagement was an inspiring example to all.”
Kerr would achieve the rank of captain before the war ended. He died due to accidental carbon monoxide poisoning in 1929. Barron would go on to serve in the peacetime militia, and reach the rank of sergeant major, serving during the Second World War. He died in 1959. Both men are buried in Toronto.
My Third Battalion is a fictional version of the real one. Barron, as a member of D Company was able to be mentioned by name without upsetting the narrative or me clumsily “putting words in his mouth.” After the heavy casualties that B Company sustained on August 8th, 1918, just one officer out of five was left alive and unwounded. Kerr would soon be given command of B Company, and his inclusion in the novel would have required an uncomfortable amount of mingling fact with fiction.
I strongly encourage all readers to learn more about the real Third Battalion.
HISTORICAL NOTE: CROSS AND COLOURS
In the early 1920’s individual and regimental grave markers of various designs and mostly made of wood were replaced with the now-familiar universal headstones used in all Commonwealth cemeteries today. A few examples of original markers were repatriated to Canada and usually deposited in a place of honour in regimental churches.
A cross which marked the graves of thirty-one Third Battalion men who were killed in action at Orix Trench in August 1918 was brought from France and placed in The Church of the Messiah on Avenue Road in Toronto in 1926.
The Cross, which stood eight feet tall, remained in the church along with the original battalion colours, issued in 1919 above it, until the night of August 5th, 1976, when the church suffered major fire damage. Both the cross and the colours were destroyed.
In 1926 the cross was dedicated thusly:
“This Cross from France is placed here by the Toronto Regiment in token of the valour and self-sacrifice of those named thereon and of all other members of the Third Canadian Battalion who gave their lives for their Country in the Great War.”
Patriae quaesiverunt gloriam, vident Dei.
Those who seek glory for their country are seen by God.
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