Lest We Forget - Robert Archibald Colpitts - Killed in Action 100 Years Ago Today 08.15.1917

Robert Archibald Colpitts, 709672 was born in Liverpool, England and was born July 4,  1893. He was the son of George W. and Margaret (Gardiner) Colpitts. He enlisted with the 104 Battalion on November 3, 1915. His occupation at the time of attestation was listed as a farmer. He was listed as Missing in Action and presumed dead during the Battle of Hill 70 while fighting with the 26th New Brunswick Battalion on August 15, 1917. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Vimy Monument :Pas de Calais, France. 

 You can find his complete war records by clicking here.

He is Commemorated on Page 218 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.

A virtual memorial can be found here. \

A Memorial Plaque was crafted in his honour with an excellent write up and can be found here. 

The museum is also fortunate to have his mother's silver cross medal, which can be viewed at the museum. 

If anyone has any further information, photos or memories they would like to share please pass them along. 

Lest We Forget - Wylie Freeman Dives - Killed in Action 100 Years Ago Today 07.16.1917

Wylie Freeman Dives, 832636 was from Elgin, Albert County, New Brunswick and was born December 5, 1895. He was the son of Roland Dives, of Meadow Elgin, Albert Co., New Brunswick, Canada.. He enlisted with the 145th Battalion on May 10, 1916. He was listed as Killed in Action at while fighting with the 10th Battalion on July 16, 1917 at Loos, france. He is buried at the Maroc British Cemetery, Nord, France.

 You can find his complete war records by clicking here.

He is Commemorated on Page 228 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.

A virtual memorial can be found here. 

His gravesite information can be found here.  

The 10th Battalion's War Diary for July 16, 1917 can be found here and here. 

Please if you have any photos of Wylie send them to us. 

If anyone has any further information, photos or memories they would like to share please pass them along. 

Lest We Forget - Herbett Carter - Killed in Action 100 Years Ago Today 07.09.1917

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Herbett Carter - 709170, was from Elgin, Albert Co., New Brunswick and was born August 29, 1886. He was the son of Ralph and Jane Carter, of Elgin, New Brunswick. He enlisted with the 26th New Brunswick Battalion on September 24, 1915. He was killed in action July 9, 1917. He is buried at Bully-Grenay Communal Cemetery, British Extension, France.

 You can find his complete service records  by clicking here.

He is listed on page 214 of Canada's Book of Remembrance.

You can view his internment records here. 

If anyone has any further information, photos or memories they would like to share please pass them along. 

Lest We Forget - Floyd William Gayton - Killed in Action 100 Years Ago Today 07.04.1917

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Floyd William Gayton, 709178 was from Hillsborough, Albert County, New Brunswick and was born October 5, 1893. He was the son of Mrs. Hannibal B. Steeves (formerly Gayton), of Hillsboro, Albert Co., New Brunswick, and the late James Gayton. He enlisted with the 64 Battalion on September 27, 1915. He was listed as Killed in Action at while fighting with the 26th New Brunswick Battalion on July 04, 1917. He is buried at the BULLY-GRENAY COMMUNAL CEMETERY, BRITISH EXTENSION ; Pas de Calais, France. 

 You can find his complete war records by clicking here.

He is Commemorated on Page 242 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.

A virtual memorial can be found here. 

His gravesite information can be found here.  

The 26th Battalion's War Diary for July 4, 1917 can be found here. 

If anyone has any further information, photos or memories they would like to share please pass them along. 

Lest We Forget - Dallas Churchill Conner - Killed in Action 100 Years Ago Today 06.18.1917

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Dallas Churchill Conner - 283022, was from Alma, Albert Co., New Brunswick and was born March 11, 1883. He was the son of John T. Conner and Catherine Conner, of Hillsborough, Albert Co., New Brunswick. His occupation was listed as farmer. He enlisted with the 219th Over Seas Highland Battalion on March 8, 1916 in Wolfville, Nova Scotia. He was killed in action June 18, 1917 serving with the 85th Battalion. He is buried at CABARET-ROUGE BRITISH CEMETERY, Pas de Calais, France.

 You can find his complete service records  by clicking here.

He is listed on page 219 of Canada's Book of Remembrance.

You can view his internment records here. 

If anyone has any further information, photos or memories they would like to share please pass them along. 

Lest We Forget - Lester Carruthers Bishop - Killed in Action 100 Years Ago Today 06.03.1917

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Lester Carruthers Bishop, 832321 was from Irving Settlement, Albert Co., New Brunswick and was born February 18, 1897. He was the son of Mr. & Mrs. William H. Bishop, of Hillsborough, Albert County, New Brunswick, Canada. He enlisted with 145th (New Brunswick) Battalion in Moncton , on February 14, 1916. His occupation was listed as student. He served overseas with the 50th Battalion, CEF. He was killed in action June 3,  1917 at Vimy Ridge, France by artillery fire. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the VIMY MONUMENT, Pas de Calais, France 

 You can find his complete war records here.

He is listed on page 202 of Canada's Book of Remembrance.

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Lest We Forget -George Arthur Patterson - Killed in Action 100 Years Ago Today 05.25.1917

George Arthur Patterson 41575 was from Coverdale, Albert Co., New Brunswick and was born September 22, 1889. He was the son of Martha Paterson, of Coverdale, Albert County, New Brunswick, Canada. He enlisted with 8th Battery on September 26, 1914. His occupation was listed as trainman. He served overseas with 7th Canadian Siege Battery. He was killed in action May 25, 1917 at Vimy Ridge, France. He is buried at  HIGHLAND CEMETERY, ROCLINCOURT ; Pas de Calais, France 

 You can find his attestation records  by clicking here.

He is listed on page 306 of Canada's Book of Remembrance.

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You can view his internment records here. 

If anyone has any further information, photos or memories they would like to share please pass them along. 

Lest We Forget -Cyrus Whitefield Gaskin - Killed in Action 100 Years Ago Today 05.23.1917

Cyrus Whitefield Gaskin, 303389 was from Turtle Creek, Albert Co., New Brunswick and was born July 9, 1892. He was the son of John William and Eunice Jane Gaskin, of Middle Coverdale, Albert County, New Brunswick, Canada. He enlisted with Canadian Garrison Artillery on October 19, 1915. His occupation was listed as fireman. He served overseas with 4th Canadian Siege Battery. He was killed in action May 23, 1917 at Vimy Ridge, France. He is buried at CABARET-ROUGE BRITISH CEMETERY ; Pas de Calais, France. 

 You can find his complete service records  by clicking here.

He is listed on page 242 of Canada's Book of Remembrance.

You can view his internment records here. 

If anyone has any further information, photos or memories they would like to share please pass them along. 

A Living Memorial to Vimy Ridge Planted at the Museum

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Jim Landry of Landscape NB/PEI with Vimy Oak in front of Albert County Courthouse

If you missed the planting of the Vimy Oak Tree yesterday at the Museum, not to fear you can still visit the oak tree at its new home on the museum grounds. We planted the tree across from the English Oak tree planted in 1937 in commemoration of the Coronation of King George VI in front of the majestic county courthouse. The tree is planted with a direct view of our gun which was captured at Vimy Ridge on April 9, 1917 and won by Albert County in the 1919 Victory Loans Campaign. 

Our Vimy Oak was grown from scions cut from one of the original oak trees grown from acorns gathered at Vimy Ridge in 1917 by Lieutenant Leslie H. Miller. He planted his acorns at his farm in Ontario, which he eventually called Vimy Oaks Farm.

After the battle of Vimy Ridge all but one oak tree was destroyed, so the Vimy Oaks Legacy Corporation was formed and began the project to repatriate the Vimy Oaks to Vimy Ridge in 2015. Our tree was originally slated to be planted at Vimy Ridge, but due to soil regulations was unable to be planted there. The project then sent over acorns from the Vimy Oaks in Ontario to France and and are growing them there. Our Vimy Oak tree is one of 250 that are going to be planted across Canada, and was the first to be planted in New Brunswick. 

The day was made more profound as it was 100 years to the day that Lieutenant Louis Stanley Edgett from Hillsborough, NB died of wounds suffered from a counter-attack at Vimy Ridge on May 10, 1917. You can read more about him here. 

With special thanks to the people who made this project possible: The Liptay Family for purchasing the tree, Jim Landry at Landscape NB/PEI for having the foresight to obtain 40 trees for NB and PEI, Kim Wilmot of Ayles Natural Landscaping from Riverview for helping with the planting and subsequent care of the tree and the Vimy Oaks Legacy Corporation for making the whole thing possible. 

Thanks to the large number of people who attended the planting, along with the dignitaries present, our MLA Brian Kierstead, and representatives from the Hillsborough Legion Branch 132 President Keith Steeves, and Riverview Veterans Association President Peter Jubb. 

Planting of Vimy Oak at Albert County Museum

From Left to Right - Brian Kierstead - MLA Albert, Stuart Liptay - ACHS President, Kim Wilmot - Ayles Landscaping, Peter Jubb - Riverview Veterans Association President, Keith Steeves - Hillsborough Legion Branch 132 President, Jim Landry - Executive Director Landscape NB/PEI

CTV ATlantic did a Great story on the planting and it can be found here.  

Lest We Forget - Louis Stanley Edgett - Killed in Action 100 Years Ago Today 05.10.1917

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Lieutenant Louis Stanley Edgett was from Hillsborough, Albert Co., New Brunswick and was born June 23, 1894. He was listed as being born at sea on the Indian Ocean on board the Ship Stanley. He was the son of Annie Bella Steeves (formerly Edgett), of Moncton, New Brunswick, and Capt. Judson Hughes Edgett (mercantile marine). He enlisted with the 140th Battalion on June 20, 1916. His occupation was listed as student. He served overseas with 60th Battalion (Victoria Rifles). He died serving with the 87th Battalion of wounds suffered during an enemy counter-attack. He has is buried in LAPUGNOY MILITARY CEMETERY. 

 You can find his complete war records by clicking here.

He is listed on page 233 of Canada's Book of Remembrance.

There is a stirring memorial on the UNB website about midway down the page. 

He is commemorated by a family stone in the Grey's Island Cemetery, Hillsborough, NB. 

The War Diaries of the 87th Battalion on May 10, 1917 - Here and Here.

If anyone has any further information, photos or memories they would like to share please pass them along. 

His personal war diary was published and can be purchased here. 

Come Help Us Plant a VIMY RIDGE Oak Tree - Wednesday, May 10 @ 3pm

We're pleased to announce that on Wednesday, May 10, 2017 we will be planting a Vimy Oak tree in commemoration of the 100th Anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge. The tree was made available through the Vimy Oaks Legacy Project with the cooperation of Landscape NB/PEI.  The Vimy Oak Trees were grown from scions cut from oak trees grown from acorns gathered on the Vimy Battlefield by Lieutenant Leslie H. Miller in 1917. The planting will take place during the Anglophone East School District Heritage Fair.

After the Battle at Vimy Ridge was won, many soldiers realized that they had been part of something truly great. Lieutenant Leslie H. Miller, born in 1889 in Milliken, ON, looked around for a souvenir on the Ridge, which was completely devoid of structures or vegetation due to shell fire but he did find a half buried oak tree. He gathered up a handful of acorns.

Those acorns were subsequently planted by him on his farm which he called ‘Vimy Oaks Farm’ and are now large majestic oaks. The First World War wiped out all but one native oak in the Vimy region, and the Vimy Oaks Legacy Project was created to repatriate the native oaks to Vimy Ridge to create a living memorial to honour the memory of all those who fought, connecting modern Canada and modern France, and reaffirming our comradeship with France and her people.

Arborist collecting scions.

In January 2015, the process began with professional arborists taking cuttings (scions) from the crowns of the oaks which were grafted onto base root stock – Quercus robur. Today, the trees are almost 5 feet tall and are ready for their journey back to France and to various places across Canada.  

Landscape NB & PEI was able to obtain 40 trees out of a stock of 200 from the foundation and brought them to New Brunswick to be shared across the two provinces. In April, they sent out a request for appropriate locations to plant them and were overwhelmed with requests.

When asked about the Vimy Oaks Legacy project, Executive Director of Landscape NB&PEI, Jim Landry said, “Last June I had the opportunity to visit the grave of my great uncle and his best friend who were both killed at the battle. Also, I have worked my entire life in the horticulture industry. This project links those two things together so beautifully. “.

A Vimy Oak at the Nursery

Stuart Liptay, President of the Albert County Historical Society says, “We were fortunate that Brunswick Limestone out of Hillsborough, NB contacted us about the potential for getting one of the Vimy Oaks through Landscape NB&PEI, as we had no idea some were even available. I immediately called Jim Landry at Landscape NB&PEI and asked him for a tree. Once Jim heard the story about our Vimy Ridge gun he was really excited about the prospect.” Liptay went on to say,” The museum is in the process of restoring a gun that was captured at Vimy Ridge on April 9, 1917. The gun was captured by the 27th Battalion at Vimy Ridge and was awarded to Albert County in the 1919 Victory Loans Competition. The addition of a living oak tree descended from the great oak trees at Vimy Ridge is an amazing addition to the story of our Vimy Gun.”

The oak tree is going to be planted across from an English Oak which was planted in 1939 to commemorate the Royal Visit of King George VI and his wife, Queen Elizabeth when they toured across Canada by train. The two oak trees, one from England and one with roots at Canada’s great battle in France are a great symbol of unity for our country in its 150th year.

The planting ceremony will take place at the Albert County Museum on Wednesday, May 10 at 3pm just before the awards ceremony for the Anglophone East School District Regional Heritage Fair. Viewing of the Heritage Fair projects begins at 2pm and is open to the public. The Heritage Fair highlights projects developed by middle school students around historical and heritage related themes.

We hope to see a crowd out on Wednesday afternoon!