While metal detecting on a construction site earlier this year, Stephen Kellar of Moncton, NB, found what may have been the find of his life. Buried 6 inches beneath the ground, he found the Silver Memorial Cross belonging to the youngest New Brunswick soldier killed on active duty in the First World War. Pte Clifford Robinson Oulton enlisted in 1916 when he was only 14 years old and was killed at the Battle of Passchendaele on November 1, 1917, aged 15 years 334 days.

What Stephen found was the Silver Cross which was given to Mrs. Dora Hylsop of Bridgedale, NB (Clifford’s Mother) as a memento of her son’s sacrifice. The Memorial Cross (more often referred to as the Silver Cross) was first authorized by the Canadian Government on December 1, 1919, as a memento of personal loss and sacrifice on the part of widows and mothers of Canadian sailors, aviators and soldiers who died for their country during the First World War.

Clifford Robinson Oulton was born December 2, 1901, in Moncton, New Brunswick. He was the son of George Albert Oulton and Dora (nee Chapman) Oulton of Bridgedale, Albert County, New Brunswick. His father worked as a pipe-fitter with the Inter-Continental Railway (ICR) Shop in Moncton. He died sometime between 1911 and 1916, the exact date of his death is unknown. Very little is known of his Mother, Dora, but she probably remarried shortly after George’s death, as Clifford’s pay stubs show his money going to Mrs. Dora Hyslop of Bridgedale.  Clifford had four sisters, Stella Reid Oulton, Margaret Jane Oulton, Olive Frances Oulton, Effie Lola Oulton and one older brother, Franklin H Oulton, who died in 1909 at the age of 22.

On February 1, 1916, Clifford Robinson Oulton from Bridgedale, New Brunswick (now Riverview) enlisted with the 145th Battalion out of Moncton. He signed up for the duration of the war, which for him was all too short. The reasons for Clifford Oulton joining the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) so young could have been many. Was it a sense of adventure? For duty? Or practical financial reasons? We’ll never know. What we do know is that he lied on his attestation papers, saying he was born December 2, 1899, the bare minimum 18 years of age. At 14 years, Clifford stood 5’4½” and weighed 120 lbs with expanded chest measurements of 35½“ meeting the minimum requirements for the army. 

He trained with the 145th Battalion and sailed for France aboard the SS Tuscania, arriving in England on October 7, 1916. He was then transferred to St. Martins Plain, England, where he was transferred to the 9th Reserve Battalion. On October 27, 1916, he sailed for France and was taken-on-strength to the 5th Canadian Mounted Regiment on November 3, 1916. He was at The Front.

He arrived just in time to see the last of the Canadian offensive at the Battle of the Somme in November 1916. He was with them during the Battle of Vimy Ridge and Hill 70 and was finally killed at Passchendaele. During the Battle of Passchendaele, the 5th Canadian Mounted Regiment fighting strength was reduced by 60% in a single day. On the morning of October 31, while pressing the attack, Clifford Robinson Oulton, Serial no. 832241, was shot multiple times, probably by machine gun fire. He was sent to Clearing Station 44 where on November 1, 1917, he died from his wounds. He was 15 years and 334 days old.  

How the Silver Cross ended up buried beneath 6 inches of dirt is a mystery. Was it buried by a grief stricken mother? Was it lost in the garden? Or perhaps it was accidentally buried when the houses which sat there were demolished? We’ll never know. What we do know is how it was discovered. Stephen Kellar of Moncton, NB, found it while metal detecting a construction site on Atlantic Avenue in Moncton. The Silver Cross dedicated to Pte. Clifford Oulton was found buried about half a foot beneath the ground.  

Stephen said, “Well, I've been doing metal detecting for about 5 years here in Moncton. I find it very fascinating finding old artifacts and antiques as well as coins. I found (the) young man's Silver Cross in between 23 and 24 Atlantic Avenue off  Vaughan Harvey Blvd. It was about half a foot down. Both the houses had been torn down.” After researching his remarkable find, he came across the blog article “A Boy Soldier”, about Pte. Oulton on the Albert County Museum’s website. He then contacted the Museum about a possible donation. 

“Stephen contacted us on Facebook”, said Stuart Liptay, Past President of the Albert County Historical Society, “and I  immediately answered him back, with a - YES! We want this artefact!” He went on to say,”The story of Pte. Oulton is a fascinating one considering not only his age and the circumstances of his death, but also how artefacts related to him have come to the museum. This is the second medal we’ve received pertaining to Pte. Oulton. The first was his Great War medal, which was donated to the Museum in 2018 after being found in the walls of a house in Bathurst, NB. The medal was found by one of the workers while demolishing the house and he donated it to the Museum. Now we have Pte. Oulton’s Silver Cross, which was found buried in the ground by a metal detector. It really is remarkable how this young man’s story is continuing to unfold.”

The newly discovered Silver Cross will be on display for the special Remembrance Day Open House and viewing of the “County of Heroes” exhibit at the Albert County Museum on Remembrance Day, November 11 from 1- 4 pm. Admission is by donation, with funds supporting the Hillsborough Legion Branch 32 Poppy Fund.

Also, on Remembrance Day is our Special Remembrance Day Sunrise Flag Lowering Ceremony - at Sunrise (7:15 am). Join us at Hopewell Cape Square as we lower the flag to half-mast to honour those who served. Watch the sunrise over Shepody Bay in a moving ceremony. Coffee & tea to follow in the hall.