Aylmer Express Newspaper
Lieutenant Clarke had no difficulty in recruiting the quota of twenty assigned Aylmer for the battery of Field Artillery for the battery of Field Artillery now being mobilized at London. As a matter of fact, several over the number required made application. One of these, Thomas Randel, of West Lorne, passed the examiner all right, and was a most disappointed young man when he failed to secure his mother’s consent. Two others from Tillsonburg made application, when but one was required for a full compliment, but as they refused to be separated, neither of them were taken.
One of the recruits deserves special mention. He is Luther Arven Cooper, a sturdy hunter and trapper, 6 feet, 2 inches in height, who started out from McKenzie River, 4000 miles away, determined to serve his country. He made his way from point to point offering himself, only to find there was no place for him, until he reached Aylmer, where he was just in time. He ran out of funds and notwithstanding the intense cold, rode on the outside of railway coaches as opportunity offered.
The full list as follows;-
One of the recruits deserves special mention. He is Luther Arven Cooper, a sturdy hunter and trapper, 6 feet, 2 inches in height, who started out from McKenzie River, 4000 miles away, determined to serve his country. He made his way from point to point offering himself, only to find there was no place for him, until he reached Aylmer, where he was just in time. He ran out of funds and notwithstanding the intense cold, rode on the outside of railway coaches as opportunity offered.
The full list as follows;-
Alfred Benson, Aylmer, butcher, single, 30th Battery Canadian Field Artillery.
Samuel Horace Hawkins, Aylmer, marble cutter, married, 30th Battery, C.F.A.
Harold Hale, Tillsonburg, farmer.
Arthur St. John Wallace, Aylmer, cook and baker, single, Territorial Army Service, 18 months, 30th Battery, C.F.A.
Albert Victor Weir, St Thomas, car inspector, single, Royal Navy, 5 years, 4 months.
John Leslie Parker, Aylmer, painter, single, 30th Battery, C.F.A.
Edward Christopher Payton Breay, Aylmer, farmer, single, Officers Training Corps, 2 years.
Charles Dingle, Aylmer, shoe cutter, single, 30th Battery, C.F.A.
Reginald John Denton, Aylmer, farmer, single.
Harold Duxbury, Springfield, farmer, single.
George Albert Morden, Delhi, engineer, single, Sergeant No. 8 Company, 30th Regiment, 3 years.
Harry John Richardson, Aylmer, brick layer, married, 30th Battery, C.F.A.
Luther Arven Cooper, McKenzie River, hunter and trapper, single, 104th Westminster Fusiliers.
Thomas Cornish, St Thomas, storekeeper, single, 25th Regiment, 1 year.
William James Sweeting, Fenwick, carpenter, widower.
Sydney Frederick Hudson, Glencoe, undertaker, single, 26th Regiment, Middlesex Light Infantry.
Gerald Tighe, Aylmer, farmer, single.
Roland Gatward*, Aylmer, tailor, single, 30th Battery, C.F.A.
Harry Lucey, St Thomas, barber, single.
Between 600 and 700 citizens were present when the boys lined up on Talbot Street yesterday morning, and rousing cheers were given them, as, headed by the Citizens Band, and followed by the members of the 30th Battery and citizens they marched to the Wabash deport to entrain for London.
While waiting for their train the recruits were addressed by Mayor Wagner, Rev. C. Miles and W. Harold Barnum. The occasion proved a very impressive one, the more so when one loving mother was overcome, in the fear that she might never see her boy again. There were few dry eyes, even one of the speakers finding it impossible to express himself for some moments.
The boys, however, with brave hearts, broke into song, which relieved the tension, were photographed, the hat was passed for their benefit, and they boarded the train amid the cheers and best wishes of some 500 citizens. Ray Lemon, of Richard’s & Co., gave each of the boys a Rexall Shaving stick before they left. Lieut. Clarke accompanied them to London.
Fred D. King, W. Harold Barnum, and Harold Hambidge accompanied the volunteers as far as St Thomas, and after leaving Aylmer, the brakeman came to Mr Barnum and told him they had on board a prisoner of the Germans, but had escaped, also, a British soldier, Rupert Gilhooley, discharged because no longer physically fit. Mr Barnum discovered the Belgian’s name was Albert Kappen, his home was at Alost, and that he had lost everything in the war. He had a Belgian passport and Belgian identification card, with photo attached. The two were on their way to Detroit.
They came up to the Aylmer volunteers and the Belgian cried “Vive les Canadiens” and in return three good Canadian cheers were given the Belgian. Mr Barnum says he could not speak enough French to find out any further particulars. Cheers for the volunteers and the Belgian mentioned, were given by the passengers on board, and the journey to St Thomas was a very interesting one.
* listed on Aylmer Cenotaph, attestation papers -
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