CANADA
WWI
Terrain through which the Canadian Corps advanced at Passchendaele, in late 1917.
CHARLES W. CUCKSEY
Bugler Charles W. Cucksey was born on September 11, 1897 and was from Chatham, Ontario.
Cucksey enlisted on September 18, 1914 and joined No. 1 Company, 7th Battalion (1st British Columbia), CEF.
Cucksey was with his unit when they saw their first combat action at Ypres (the Battle of Saint Julien). During the battle, he suffered a gun shot wound to the ankle and shrapnel in the neck on April 25, 1915.
After recovering at a hospital, he rejoined his unit on June 4, 1915.
Cucksey was still with his unit when they participated in the Second Battle of Passchendaele, where he was killed in action on November 10, 1917 (the last day of the battle).
About the action that day....
"A final action to gain a nearby crossroad and the remaining high ground north of the village near Hill 52 was set for 10 November. The road junction was 1,000 yd (910 m) north of Passchendaele along the Westrozebeke road. Hill 52, the highest point on the northern end of the Passchendaele Ridge, was 500 yd (460 m) beyond the crossroads. Possession of the features would permit observation over German positions to the north-east. The 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade was to attack with support from one battalion of the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade. The Germans had used the lull to move up regiments from the 4th Division and 44th Reserve Division to replace the 11th Division on 9 November. The assault was launched from the Green Line, north and north-east of Mosselmarkt, on the morning of 10 November and made good initial progress, capturing the crossroads, over-running Venture Farm and capturing four 77 mm field guns. North of the Canadian Corps boundary, the supporting advance by the British 1st Division ran into trouble, when a German counterattack got into a gap between the 1st Battalion, South Wales Borderers and the 2nd Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers. The Germans engaged the British inner flanks with small-arms fire, causing many casualties and forcing back the survivors. Troops of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade filled the gap and threw back a defensive flank along the corps boundary, stopping the German advance. Though Haig had hoped to have the entire Passchendaele–Westrozebeke ridge as a winter position, the line was still short of the village; attempts to reach Westrozebeke in late November and early December also failed."
Cucksey enlisted on September 18, 1914 and joined No. 1 Company, 7th Battalion (1st British Columbia), CEF.
Cucksey was with his unit when they saw their first combat action at Ypres (the Battle of Saint Julien). During the battle, he suffered a gun shot wound to the ankle and shrapnel in the neck on April 25, 1915.
After recovering at a hospital, he rejoined his unit on June 4, 1915.
Cucksey was still with his unit when they participated in the Second Battle of Passchendaele, where he was killed in action on November 10, 1917 (the last day of the battle).
About the action that day....
"A final action to gain a nearby crossroad and the remaining high ground north of the village near Hill 52 was set for 10 November. The road junction was 1,000 yd (910 m) north of Passchendaele along the Westrozebeke road. Hill 52, the highest point on the northern end of the Passchendaele Ridge, was 500 yd (460 m) beyond the crossroads. Possession of the features would permit observation over German positions to the north-east. The 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade was to attack with support from one battalion of the 4th Canadian Infantry Brigade. The Germans had used the lull to move up regiments from the 4th Division and 44th Reserve Division to replace the 11th Division on 9 November. The assault was launched from the Green Line, north and north-east of Mosselmarkt, on the morning of 10 November and made good initial progress, capturing the crossroads, over-running Venture Farm and capturing four 77 mm field guns. North of the Canadian Corps boundary, the supporting advance by the British 1st Division ran into trouble, when a German counterattack got into a gap between the 1st Battalion, South Wales Borderers and the 2nd Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers. The Germans engaged the British inner flanks with small-arms fire, causing many casualties and forcing back the survivors. Troops of the 2nd Canadian Infantry Brigade filled the gap and threw back a defensive flank along the corps boundary, stopping the German advance. Though Haig had hoped to have the entire Passchendaele–Westrozebeke ridge as a winter position, the line was still short of the village; attempts to reach Westrozebeke in late November and early December also failed."
McCullough's dog tag was sent home on September 14, 1918 and arrived in Canada on February 6, 1919.
HENRY H. McCULLOUGH
Pte Henry H. McCullough was born in Nogales, Arizona, USA on August 24, 1895. Before the war he lived in Heavelton, New York, USA and worked as a farmer.
Entered service on May 1, 1917. He was taken on strength by the 21st Battalion, CEF on November 24, 1917 from the 6th Reserve Battalion.
He was attached to a few different units early in 1918, including the 2nd Canadian MG Battalion. Later came back to the 21st Battalion in May 1918.
His battalion was set to go over the top at 0420 on August 8, 1918, which would start the Battle of Amiens. Before the attack the Germans opened up artillery onto the lines, though the battalion sustained no casualties.
The attack commenced on time and McCullough went with his battalion through no mans land in a heavy mist caused by the artillery. Tanks were supposed to be in support of the battalion for the attack, but were not present. The battalion took on machine gun fire throughout the morning. The battalion succeeded in the operation, but came at a cost.
Pte. McCullough was killed in action that morning during the attack, along with his battalion commander and 18 others. They also suffered 68 wounded.
McCullough was one of approximately 3,500 Americans killed in action under commonwealth forces in WWI.
Entered service on May 1, 1917. He was taken on strength by the 21st Battalion, CEF on November 24, 1917 from the 6th Reserve Battalion.
He was attached to a few different units early in 1918, including the 2nd Canadian MG Battalion. Later came back to the 21st Battalion in May 1918.
His battalion was set to go over the top at 0420 on August 8, 1918, which would start the Battle of Amiens. Before the attack the Germans opened up artillery onto the lines, though the battalion sustained no casualties.
The attack commenced on time and McCullough went with his battalion through no mans land in a heavy mist caused by the artillery. Tanks were supposed to be in support of the battalion for the attack, but were not present. The battalion took on machine gun fire throughout the morning. The battalion succeeded in the operation, but came at a cost.
Pte. McCullough was killed in action that morning during the attack, along with his battalion commander and 18 others. They also suffered 68 wounded.
McCullough was one of approximately 3,500 Americans killed in action under commonwealth forces in WWI.
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The 29th Battalion, Canadian Corps, 9 April 1917. Troops advance into no man's land at the Battle of Vimy Ridge.
PETER SMITH
Private Peter Smith was born on January 8, 1879 and was from West Point, Prince Edward Island, Canada.
He enlisted on August 23, 1915.
Smith joined the 29th Battalion, CEF on June 2, 1916. He was wounded in action 3 times throughout his service in France.
March 29, 1917 - Shrapnel Wound
Vimy Ridge - April 11, 1917 - Gunshot Wound, back
April 4, 1918 - Gunshot Wound, left finger/hand.
He survived the war and was discharged on July 11, 1919.
He enlisted on August 23, 1915.
Smith joined the 29th Battalion, CEF on June 2, 1916. He was wounded in action 3 times throughout his service in France.
March 29, 1917 - Shrapnel Wound
Vimy Ridge - April 11, 1917 - Gunshot Wound, back
April 4, 1918 - Gunshot Wound, left finger/hand.
He survived the war and was discharged on July 11, 1919.
JAMES F. FORD
Private James F. Ford was born on February 5, 1895 and was from Saskatchewan.
Ford enlisted in the Army on July 28, 1915. He was placed into D Company, 46th Battalion CEF. During the Battle of Ancre Heights (Part of the Somme battle) on October 25, 1916, he was killed in action while making an attack on the Regina Trench.
Ford enlisted in the Army on July 28, 1915. He was placed into D Company, 46th Battalion CEF. During the Battle of Ancre Heights (Part of the Somme battle) on October 25, 1916, he was killed in action while making an attack on the Regina Trench.
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JOSEPH C. VERITY
Private Joseph Cyrill Verity was born on July 12, 1887 and was from Keremeos, British Columbia. He had been born in Yorkshire, England. Before the war he was a rancher. He also had prior service in the military with the 102nd Battalion, Rocky Mountain Rangers.
He enlisted in the Army on December 1, 1915. Pte. Verity was placed in the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles.
On November 1, 1917, he was killed in action during the Battle of Passchendaele.
He enlisted in the Army on December 1, 1915. Pte. Verity was placed in the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles.
On November 1, 1917, he was killed in action during the Battle of Passchendaele.
ERIC L. A. GRISDALE
Eric L'Anton Grisdale was born on May 25, 1897 and was from Kamloops, British Columbia.
He he enlisted in the Army on September 8, 1915. He had prior service with the 102nd Battalion at the time of enlistment.
Grisdale was placed into the 54th Battalion (Kootenay), CEF. He embarked on the SS Saxonia on November 22, 1915 with the battalion. He would see action at the Somme, Ancre, Arras, Vimy Ridge, Ypres, Passchandaele, just to name a few.
For his actions at Vimy Ridge he was awarded the Military Medal.
Part of an interview conducted of Grisdale's experience at Vimy Ridge.
The 11th Brigade’s 54th and 102nd Battalions began to move forward, but soon came under heavy machine gun fire, and the three tanks operating with the Brigade were quickly put out of action. Eric Grisdale, a private in the 54th Battalion, related the fate of the tanks: “There was three tanks came up, supposed to be with us, and they came up single file, one behind the other, and there was an anti-tank gun there which knocked over the whole three of them. Why, if they’d come up in a row one of them would have got the tank- the gun- before, but he just cleaned out three of them there and one of our scouts was in one of the leading tanks...- one of the three- the reason being that he would know the patches on [our] shoulders and so that he could stay with our battalion. He was the only one that got out of the tank, out of those three tanks [that] burnt up... and he happened to crawl over a little bit and it was rather peculiar that I should see him there and there was blood shooting out of his neck and he was in pretty bad shape....”
Grisdale survived the war and went back to Canada.
He he enlisted in the Army on September 8, 1915. He had prior service with the 102nd Battalion at the time of enlistment.
Grisdale was placed into the 54th Battalion (Kootenay), CEF. He embarked on the SS Saxonia on November 22, 1915 with the battalion. He would see action at the Somme, Ancre, Arras, Vimy Ridge, Ypres, Passchandaele, just to name a few.
For his actions at Vimy Ridge he was awarded the Military Medal.
Part of an interview conducted of Grisdale's experience at Vimy Ridge.
The 11th Brigade’s 54th and 102nd Battalions began to move forward, but soon came under heavy machine gun fire, and the three tanks operating with the Brigade were quickly put out of action. Eric Grisdale, a private in the 54th Battalion, related the fate of the tanks: “There was three tanks came up, supposed to be with us, and they came up single file, one behind the other, and there was an anti-tank gun there which knocked over the whole three of them. Why, if they’d come up in a row one of them would have got the tank- the gun- before, but he just cleaned out three of them there and one of our scouts was in one of the leading tanks...- one of the three- the reason being that he would know the patches on [our] shoulders and so that he could stay with our battalion. He was the only one that got out of the tank, out of those three tanks [that] burnt up... and he happened to crawl over a little bit and it was rather peculiar that I should see him there and there was blood shooting out of his neck and he was in pretty bad shape....”
Grisdale survived the war and went back to Canada.
SAMUEL WATSON
Private Samuel Watson was born on October 28, 1892 and was from Courtenay, British Columbia. Before the was he had been a chauffeur.
He enlisted in the Army on February 23, 1916. Watson was placed in Company D, 102nd Battalion (North British Columbia), CEF.
On June 18, 1916, he boarded the SS "Empress of Britain" and made his voyage to France. His first action was during the Battle of the Somme. On November 10, 1916, during actions at the Somme, Pte Watson was captured by the Germans at Courcelette. His company had made an attack on the Regina Trench during the night of November 10-11 when he was captured.
He was held at Friedrichsfeld POW camp until December 2, 1918 and survived the war.
He enlisted in the Army on February 23, 1916. Watson was placed in Company D, 102nd Battalion (North British Columbia), CEF.
On June 18, 1916, he boarded the SS "Empress of Britain" and made his voyage to France. His first action was during the Battle of the Somme. On November 10, 1916, during actions at the Somme, Pte Watson was captured by the Germans at Courcelette. His company had made an attack on the Regina Trench during the night of November 10-11 when he was captured.
He was held at Friedrichsfeld POW camp until December 2, 1918 and survived the war.
GORDON W. GRAY
Private Gordon W. Gray was born on February 13, 1897 and was from Fredericton, New Brunswick. Before the war he had been with the 71st Regiment for 2 years 4 months.
He enlisted in the Army on May 27, 1915. At the time of enlistment he was a shoe maker. Upon enlistment he was placed in the 55th Battalion, CEF, but transferred to the 58th Battalion, CEF.
During actions on the Somme, on October 8, 1916, he was hit by a gunshot in the left back and chest.
He he survived the war, but later died from his injuries sustained during the war on February 6, 1942.
He enlisted in the Army on May 27, 1915. At the time of enlistment he was a shoe maker. Upon enlistment he was placed in the 55th Battalion, CEF, but transferred to the 58th Battalion, CEF.
During actions on the Somme, on October 8, 1916, he was hit by a gunshot in the left back and chest.
He he survived the war, but later died from his injuries sustained during the war on February 6, 1942.
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Distinguished Conduct Medal
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JOHN O'BRIEN
Lance Corporal John O'Brien was born on June 20, 1891 and was from Newcastle, New Brunswick.
O'Brien enlisted on October 23, 1914. He was put into the 28th Battalion, CEF. O'Brien and his unit arrived overseas on September 18, 1915. His unit participated in the Battle of Mont Sorrel before participating in the Battle of the Somme.
His actions on August 19, 1916 earned him the DCM for gallantry and devotion to duty on the Somme. He was awarded the medal posthumously.
At 2pm on September 14, 1916, the 28th Battalion took over the front line on the Somme from the 29th Division. At dawn on the 15th, the Battalion attacked the German line and successfully captured their objective. Records say that O'Brien was wounded in action on the Somme by shrapnel on the night of September 15/16. He was evacuated to the front and sent to the hospital where he died of wounds on September 20. O'Brien is buried at the Somme.
O'Brien enlisted on October 23, 1914. He was put into the 28th Battalion, CEF. O'Brien and his unit arrived overseas on September 18, 1915. His unit participated in the Battle of Mont Sorrel before participating in the Battle of the Somme.
His actions on August 19, 1916 earned him the DCM for gallantry and devotion to duty on the Somme. He was awarded the medal posthumously.
At 2pm on September 14, 1916, the 28th Battalion took over the front line on the Somme from the 29th Division. At dawn on the 15th, the Battalion attacked the German line and successfully captured their objective. Records say that O'Brien was wounded in action on the Somme by shrapnel on the night of September 15/16. He was evacuated to the front and sent to the hospital where he died of wounds on September 20. O'Brien is buried at the Somme.
WWII
Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) dog tag set issued to Rann when he enlisted in November 1941 and worn throughout his service with the RCAF...
Portrait photo of Rann with the RCAF
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Rann's RCAF ID Card
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RICHARD A. RANN
8th AAC patch
Brigadier General Richard A. Rann was born October 22, 1923 near Perry, Michigan.
Upon graduating from high school he attempted to join the U.S. Army pilot program but was denied because the Army required pilots to have at least two years of college to fly. Undeterred, he and two friends traveled to Windsor, Ontario in an attempt to join the Royal Canadian Air Force, which they had heard had less stringent entry criteria. Canada would accept pilots into their flight training program without college, but still required them to be 18. Rann and his friends were encouraged to come back in a year.
In October 1941, Rann turned 18, and joined the RCAF on November 14, 1941, but his friends backed out. He initially trained at No.6 ITS. He earned his wings flying the T-6. With this honor came the inquiry if he would swear allegiance to the king of England, which he refused to do because he thought he would lose his American citizenship. Instead, he swore to obey the orders of his superior officers, which the Canadians accepted.
In November 1942, the young officer left Canada from Halifax, Nova Scotia, headed for England to join the Allied front against Germany. Rann remembers that they left port with ―a convoy of ships that stretched as far as the eye could see. At the time, German U-Boats were patrolling heavily in the North Atlantic. They sailed into a vicious storm that lasted two days. When the storm passed there were no ships in sight of theirs. Rann realized later that the storm that separated the convoy probably helped them stay under the radar of the U-boats.
In England, he trained with the RAF flying the Hawker Hurricane and Miles Master with the No.17 Advanced Flying Unit. Around this time he heard that they were going to stop allowing Airmen to transfer back to the U.S. Army Air Force. In July 1943, 1st Lt. Rann received permission to go to London to submit his request for transfer. Afterwards, he completed his training with the English and was transferred.
He arrived with the USAAF at Martlesham Heath on September 12, 1943 by train and truck.
SEE "US AIR FORCE" PAGE FOR INFO ON SERVICE WITH THE UNITED STATES....
