Drum Roll Please... Victory Cannon Campaign nearing 1/3 of it's Target

The Victory Cannon Campaign ended the year on a very high note, adding over $1500 in December. The Victory Cannon Campaign now sits at $4649.70  just shy of the 1/3 mark of the $15000.00 needed to restore the cannons. 

The Victory Cannon Campaign is raising funds to restore the two captured World War One cannons situated in the square in Hopewell Cape. These cannons were captured by Canadians at the famous Battle of Vimy Ridge, and were awarded to the people of Albert County.

The larger of the two cannons, the mighty 110mm K14, is probably one of the most important War Trophies in existence in Canada. The K14 was captured by the 27th Battalion on April 9, 1917, during the attack at Farbus, near Vimy Ridge. Through the War Diaries of the 27th Battalion you can read about the exciting capture of the cannon, from Bandman Patty Smith playing the regimental march on his piccolo throughout the attack, to the last final 50 yard charge to over-whelm the cannon firing point-blank muzzle rounds. The detail of the capture is so accurate that we can pinpoint the location of the gun today on Google Earth with the exact coordinates given in 1917. It's an astounding story of courage and bravery. 

Now as amazing story as that is, it gets better, with how the K14 cannon got to Hopewell Cape. As the War came to a close in 1918, the government still had the enormous costs of repatriating and settling the men who fought, so they ran a final Victory Loan Campaign. The 1919 Victory Loans Committee created goals for each area of the country to meet to raise the monies necessary. They also created a number of incentives to encourage people to meet these goals, one such incentive was the awarding of a War Trophy to the area that raised the most money over their set target. One prize was to be awarded to each province. The Victory Loans Committee set a goal of $110000.00 for Albert County, which is a sizable sum for 1919. (This would be equivalent to $2.2 million today (According to Bank of Canada Inflation index)). Albert County not only raised the set goal but surpassed it by $207000.00 for a final total of $317000.00. (In today's dollars $6.5 million) This was with a population less than 10000 people! The people of Albert County surpassed their set goal by the largest percentage of any area in the province, and were award the War Trophy, the 110 mm K14 cannon! What a testament for the people of Albert County!

That's not all though! It turns out that the K14 cannon is extremely rare, in fact there are only 7 left in the entire world!

Now that's a story worth saving!

You can donate online to the Victory Cannon Campaign here, and best of all you'll be sent a tax receipt!  Click Here to Donate!

A Window on the Great War - Training, December 5, 1914 Saint John, New Brunswick

One Hundred years ago, Hugh C. Wright from Shepody, Albert County, NB was busy training with the 26th New Brunswick battalion in Saint John. He was only 19 years old. This was his second letter home and was written December 5 & 6, 1914.  

Hugh was one of the hundreds of Albert County men who volunteered for the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), the majority joining the New Brunswick 26th Battalion. It was because of their sacrifices that Albert County was awarded the 77mm field cannon which sits in the square in Hopewell Cape. The museum is in process of restoring this cannon to help preserve their stories.  If you have not done so, please donate to the Victory Cannon Campaign. You can donate online here. 

(Notes from the letter: Clarke was Hugh's brother who was working at a bank in St.John,  he joined the 26th Battalion on Oct 19, 1915 and went overseas. Colonel McAvity was commanding officer of the 62nd Fusiliers Regiment, McAvity organized the 26th Battalion from New Brunswick in spring 1915. The 26th deployed to France in 1915 as part of the 5th Infantry Brigade in the 2nd Division. On May 29 1916, Lieutenant Colonel A. E. G. McKenzie took over the 26th and McAvity returned home that summer.)

With many thanks to Hugh Wright's great niece, Dawne McLean who kindly submitted the letter.

“Saturday, December 5, 1914
St. John Armory, St. John, NB

Dear Father,

I received your letter a few nights ago and was very glad to hear from you. This is Saturday night but I didn’t feel like going out as we did some pretty stiff marching today. We left here a little after two o’clock and got back at five and did about 10 miles. So you see we went quite a distance and I was nearly played out when we got in. Colonel McAvity and Captain Brown were on horseback and we followed them all the way. Yesterday we marched out to Rockwood Park in the forenoon and away round to Carleton in the afternoon and across the ferry last night. Tonight the muscles in my legs are so sore I can hardly walk. I have just had a good shower bath and changed my clothes as one week is enough to wear these heavy woollen underwear. Most of the men have a terrible cold and me in the bargain. We get colds by laying down on the damp ground shooting.
I must stop writing now and clean my boots for church tomorrow. I will finish the letter Sunday pm.

Sunday, December 6
We marched to church this morning and heard the Chaplin of the Second Contingent preach. This afternoon Clarke said he was coming down but has not showed up yet. Today right after dinner a large box of cake came to our room for some boys from McAdam, sent by the women from there. So we had a good feed of cake.
Must close as I can’t think of anything more. Will write again as soon as I can.

Hugh”

A Window on the Great War: 100 Year Old First Letter Home

One Hundred years ago, Hugh C. Wright from Shepody, Albert County, NB arrived by train in St. John on Saturday, Nov. 22 and signed up to join the 26th Battalion on the same day. He was only 19 years old. His first letter was written to his father Monday, November 24, 1914. After training in St. John for 8 months the 26th Battalion left for England on June 13, 1915 on board the ship “Caledonia”.  

Hugh was one of the hundreds of Albert County men who volunteered for the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), the majority joining the New Brunswick 26th Battalion. It was because of their sacrifices that Albert County was awarded the 77mm field cannon which sits in the square in Hopewell Cape. The museum is in process of restoring this cannon to help preserve their stories.  If you have not done so, please donate to the Victory Cannon Campaign. You can donate online here. 

(Notes from the letter: Harvey was Hugh's oldest brother who was responsible for the farm at home. Clarke was another brother who was working at a bank in St.John,  he joined the 26th Battalion on Oct 19, 1915 and went overseas. Albert Steeves was killed overseas.)

With many thanks to Hugh Wright's great niece, Dawne McLean who kindly submitted the letter.

“St. John Armory, 5th Company

November 24th, 1914

Dear Father,

I got here Saturday night at 5:30pm. Clarke was at the station, but I had to come up to the Armory with some soldiers that they sent down to meet us. They took us into a restaurant to get our supper.

Danahy and I fell in with a couple of men from Chatham and one fellow is a Boer War veteran and is Sergeant of our Company. So I am all right.

We haven’t been over stocked with grub till today at noon. They got things straightened out and we had a good dinner of boiled meat and potatoes, parsnips and carrots. They have bread there three times a day and tea and jam and beans for breakfast and bread and jam for supper.

I fell in with Albert Steeves, Jud’s boy on Sunday and I tell you was he ever glad to find someone from his own hometown.

Howe Stevens is here some place but I haven’t spoken to him yet, but am going to hunt him up. There are a lot of very nice fellows here and our officers are all nice.

Albert and I got a pass out last night and went to the theatre. We met Clarke and he went with us. A soldier can walk right in and doesn’t have to pay a cent. I am going to get a safety razor and a fountain pen right away.

The buglers are getting ready to blow the fall in call and I must get ready for the afternoon’s work. I will try to write again in a few days. Send my mail to 5th Company, 26th Battalion, St. John Armory, St. John, NB

Hugh

P.S. I would write you more but I want to write a letter to Harvey. ”

The HOPEWELL HILL HERO - Albert County's Victoria Cross Winner

Victoria Cross Background:

The Victoria Cross (VC), instituted in 1856 by Queen Victoria, is the Commonwealth’s highest military decoration for valour. It is awarded in recognition of the most exceptional bravery displayed in the presence of the enemy, although in rare instances the decoration has been given to mark other courageous acts.

Since its inception during the Crimean War, the VC has been awarded 1,356 times, 300 of them posthumously. Depending on which of a variety of sources is cited and on the selection criteria applied, somewhere between 94 and 98 Victoria Crosses have been awarded to Canadians or to others serving with the Canadian Forces. A distinctly Canadian version of the medal was introduced in 1993. To date no one has been awarded the Canadian medal.

LCol Cyrus Wesley Peck:

Cyrus Wesley Peck was born in Hopewell Hill, New Brunswick, on April 26, 1871, and was educated at Hopewell Hill Superior School. In June 1887, at the age of 16, he and his family moved to New Westminster, British Columbia, then later to Skeena, BC.

As a young man, he pioneered in the Klondike, and set himself up as a broker in salmon canning, sawmills and towing operations. He was also an elected Unionist Member of Parliament for the Skeena riding. As a member of the militia, Peck was given a captain's commission and attached to the 30th Battalion, with which he sailed to England. In April 1915, he was promoted to major and later transferred to the 16th Battalion, Canadian Scottish. He was wounded in both legs during fighting around the town of Festubert, France, May 21, 1915. In January 1916, he was given command of the regiment.

In addition to the Victoria Cross, he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) twice and Mentioned in Dispatches five times. In 1917, while he was overseas, he was elected to the House of Commons as the Member of Parliament for Skeena in British Columbia.

VC Citation: Lieutenant-Colonel Peck was awarded the Victoria Cross for his courageous leadership on September 2, 1918, during the fighting for the Drocourt-Quéant Line, near Cagnicourt in France.

“For most conspicuous bravery and skilful leading when in attack under intense fire. His command quickly captured the first objective, but progress to the further objective was held up by enemy machine-gun fire on his right flank. The situation being critical in the extreme, Colonel Peck pushed forward and made a personal reconnaissance under heavy machine-gun and sniping fire, across a stretch of ground which was heavily swept by fire. Having reconnoitred the position he returned, reorganised his battalion, and, acting upon the knowledge personally gained, pushed them forward and arranged to protect his flanks. He then went out under the most intense artillery and machine gun fire, intercepted the Tanks, gave them the necessary directions, pointing out where they were to make for, and thus pave the way for a Canadian Infantry battalion to push forward. To this battalion he subsequently gave requisite support. His magnificent display of courage and fine qualities of leadership enabled the advance to be continued, although always under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire, and contributed largely to the success of the brigade attack.”

The London Gazette, November 15, 1918

Post War: At the end of the war, Peck returned home to Skeena, and reclaimed his seat in the House of Commons, being active in veterans' rights issues. In 1924, he became a Legislative Member for British Columbia. He later acted as aide-decamp for two of Canada's Governors General. Peck died in Sydney, British Columbia on September 27, 1956.

Gravesite: He is buried in the New Westminster Crematorium in Vancouver, BC.

Medal Location: His Victoria Cross is held at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, Ontario.

Post Script: As the Canadian Corps moved against the Drocourt-Quéant defensive line from 1 to 4 September 1918, six other VCs were awarded to Canadians in addition to that of Lieutenant-Colonel Peck. They were Captain Bellenden Seymour Hutcheson, Sergeant Arthur George Knight, Lance- Corporal William Henry Metcalf and Privates Claude Joseph Patrick Nunney, Walter Leigh Rayfield and John Francis Young.

Peck is reputedly the only Member of Parliament in the British Empire/Commonwealth to have been awarded the Victoria Cross while in office.  

This Article was taken Verbatim from Fact Sheet # 67 Published by: The Friends of the Canadian War Museum and was written by Captain (N) (Ret’d) M. Braham, CD. The original article can be found here. 

Please Support the Victory Cannon Campaign. You can donate on-line by clicking here.

Pardon Me, Have you seen my Machine Guns?

In addition to the Great War Cannons in front of the museum in Hopewell Cape, Albert County was awarded a number of other war trophies in 1919 in commemoration of the outstanding service of "the boys" from Albert County.

In fact, the records show that Albert County was awarded, in addition to the cannons, a Trench Mortar and 2 Machine Guns. The Village of Hillsborough was also awarded a Trench Mortar and 2 Machine Guns. In all, Albert County was awarded 2 cannons, 2 trench mortars and 4 machine guns. To put this in perspective Saint John, which was the largest city in New Brunswick, was awarded 2 cannons and 16 machine guns, and no trench mortars. 

All that remains of these awarded War trophies are the two cannons in Hopewell Cape. What happened to the 4 machine guns and the 2 Trench Mortars? We don't know. Our speculation is that they were melted down in the scrap metal drives of the Second World War, but we can't say for certain. If anyone has any information on what happened to the mortars and machine guns, please send it along. 

The fact that these trophies in commemoration of our men in service have disappeared without a trace, makes it extra poignant for us to preserve the ones that remain.  Please help us to restore the Victory Cannons by donating to the Victory Cannon Campaign. You can do so by Clicking here. 

PS A DONATION WOULD MAKE AN EXCELLENT CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR THOSE HARD TO BUY FOR, and we give TAX RECEIPTS! 

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An Ad in Tune with the Times - Home by the Fireside

This Saturday and Sunday the museum is hosting its' annual Christmas Concert. The Christmas concert is not only an annual fund raising event for the Museum, but, the traditional concert with talented performers of all ages, brings the community together to enter into the spirit of the festive season. 

This year's concert is titled "Home by the Fireside", and one of the features will be a song commemorating the famous Christmas Truce of 1914. The Christmas Truce is portrayed well in this new commercial for Sainsbury Chocolate (England). As commercials go, it is one of the best, with proceeds from the sales going to veterans. 

Tickets are still available for the Christmas Concert and  can be reserved by calling the concert organizer, Dawne McLean 734-3105 or by calling the Museum 734-2003 to leave a message.

Where have the Wheels Gone?

If you are driving through Hopewell Cape these days, and look at the cannons in front of the museum, you will see that they look rather naked without their wheels. The wheels have started their journey of rejuvenation, and have made the trip to Jordan Bay, Nova Scotia, to the workshop of Mike Hartigan, the Wheelwright by the Sea. 

How does someone become a master wheelwright in the 21st century? Mike's story is as interesting as any in our museum. 

Mike grew up in Point Edward, Cape Breton Island, and moved to Alberta in 1962, he graduated from the Alberta College of Art, majoring in illustration, in 1973 and worked at various jobs for several years, including carnival worker, truck driver, ceramic kiln operator, and custom RV builder.

Then Mike started a full-time career as a woodworker and subsequently owned and operated The Village Woodsmith as a custom cabinet & furniture manufacturer, and later reconfigured the Company to manufacture wholesale wood mouldings and parts for the furniture & cabinet industries. The company motto was, “If it’s made of wood, we can make it”

Over the years Mike maintained an avid interest in history, old architecture and horse drawn vehicles, and other things. As a result the Village Woodsmith often took on unusual one of a kind projects, some of which were, two 13’ presentation models of a new space age dirigible design, the reproduction of historically accurate props for movie productions, and historically accurate reproductions of mouldings needed to rebuild the Lodge in Yellowstone Park after it burned down, to name a few.

In the year 2000, Mike took a course on wheel making offered by the Western Development Museum in Saskatoon. Intrigued by what he had learned, he repeated the course in 2001. In 2002 the museum asked Mike to become a junior instructor for the course, taking over from another instructor who retired. Mike taught wheel making & repair for the next three years.

During this time Mike established the “Lost Arts Workshop,” as a side business to the Village Woodsmith. From then till now all unusual projects, including wheel making have been produced under this banner, and there have been many. They include the building of over five hundred new wheels for various interests, reproductions of historic wagons & carriages and the supply of new lumber & parts for wagons & wheels to Museums. Again as much for the movie industry, these credits include Spielberg Productions, Smallville, and much work for John Scott Productions, horse master of the recent, “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Mike and the Lost Arts Workshop became noted for consistent attention to historic detail and the supply of quality work & materials on time and at affordable prices.

In 2012, Mike and his life and business partner Brenda, decided to semi retire, so closed the Village Woodsmith, with the intention of continuing the activities of the Lost Arts Workshop. On September 16, 2012, Mike, Brenda, their household and equipment arrived in Jordan Bay on the South Shore of Nova Scotia, taking over an abandoned house rotting away on an acre of land with the intent of becoming the ”Wheelwrights by the Sea”. After two years, the house is repaired and cosy, the new workshop is up, and the Lost Arts Work Shop is back at work.

Today, whether it is a new set of working wheels, or an accurate reproduction of a steam engine, you can get it at the Lost Arts Workshop. All you need is the information to describe it, a budget of some sorts to pay for it, and the desire to have it!  He can help you with the rest.

The wheel restoration is just one part of the Victory Cannon Campaign Restoration project, we are almost 1/4 of the way to our goal of $15000.00. Please DONATE! (You can donate online - click here)

We Will Remember Them: Victory Cannon Campaign

On this day of Remembrance when we honour the men and women who have defended our country, we stand and pause for a moment at the eleventh hour. We give thought to the lives lost and to those forever changed. It is a time of sombre reflection and gratitude for the sacrifices that brave men and women made on behalf of our country. At the same time, we should also remember that it wasn't just the soldiers who had to suffer through untold hardships, but also the mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters, sons and daughters who lost loved ones.  

The Albert County Remembers Exhibit at the museum helps capture these sentiments. The items pictured below help represent the sacrifice our ancestors gave for our country. 

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In the white Remembrance binder in the centre of the photo, we have collected the photos, names, ranks, and time and place of death of the 52 citizens of Albert County who died in the Great War. Next to it, on the right, the poppy-covered cross:  the symbol of remembrance and of our continued thanks for their sacrifice.

The display case on the left contains medals from the Great War, including the Silver Cross medal. The Silver Cross was given to a mother of a soldier killed in the Great war. It represents the sacrifice of the family for their country. The cross on display was given to a mother in Albert County whose son is listed in the white Remembrance binder. 

Lastly, we see the large Prince of Wales Victory Loans Flag, which was given to the people of Albert County for reaching their assigned goal of $117,00.00 in the Victory Loans drive of 1919. It symbolizes the sacrifices of the people and their hopes for the future and is a poignant reminder of what we can do when we work together. The people of Albert County raised an additional $200,000.00, for a total of $317,000.00 in the Victory Loans campaign of 1919.  (In today's dollars that is equivalent to $3,920,000.00). 

The citizens of Albert County raised a greater percentage over their goal than any other county in the province, and were rewarded with the large 10cm cannon currently displayed at the entrance of the museum. Stationed next to it, the smaller 7.7cm field gun was awarded to the citizens for their unmatched enlistment in the war. Albert County had more volunteers per capita than anywhere else in Canada.

Both these war trophies symbolize the best of Albert County and the courage and self sacrifice of its people. Please help us to restore them so that future generations can learn of the heroism and sacrifices of the past. You can donate here.