200 volunteers from Nelson and Area in South Western BC Canada

****************************************

Miriam and Sgt David Gash

David Gash was born in Coningsby, Lincolnshire, England on 7 June 1895. The Gash family were agricultural labourers until they migrated to South Yorkshire to work in the coal mines. His parents were David Gash and Alice Ward.

 After working in the open air the menfolk hated working in the mines and all eventually went back to the land.  David and Alice and their family left Rawmarsh in South Yorkshire and emigrated to Canada with several of their brothers and sisters. They left from Liverpool on board the "Empress of Ireland" - David's sister Emma and her husband, Thomas Herbert Simms were on this same voyage.  The date of their departure was 11 March 1910.  The list shows D. Gash as a Farmer, age 40; A. Gash, Wife, age 37; D. Gash Son, age 15; A. Gash, Daughter, age 11; and Gladys, Daughter, age 4 - they had ticket number 43109.  T. Simms, Farmer, age 35; E. Simms, Wife, 31; Wm. Simms, Child, 8 - with ticket number 126932.  Their destination was St. John. 

 Their family settled in Fernie, British Columbia. David worked as a miner in Fernie.

 When war was declared most of the eligible Gash men enlisted, David ’s attestation papers reveal that he signed up on 11 May 1915 and 17 August 1915 at Vernon Camp - he became 21 years of age during this period.

 He served in the trenches close to Mouquet Farm - nearby is the huge Thiepval Memorial.

 David sent many letters home and information from these letters were printed in the Fernie Free Press -

 Free Press May 19, 1916 p.3:1

"Fernie's Honor Roll - From time to time we have been asked to publish a complete list of those enlisting for overseas service. Nearly every city in Canada has kept an honor roll of their boys who have gone to the front and we think that Fernie should do something along this line. Below we publish a list of all those of whom we have a record, but we know that there are quite a few we have missed and would like very much to be notified of any ommissions. If you could kindly send in any names omitted from the list below you would greatly oblige....

Extracted from the list:

column 2 - John Wallwork - 2nd Contingent

column 2 - David Gash - 54th............."

Free Press Sep 15, 1916 p.5:3

“David Gash has received official notice that his son, Pte. David Gash, was admitted to number 14 General Hospital, Wimereux on Sept. 3^rd., suffering from concussion.   The concussion is slight, according to reports.”

Free Press Dec 15, 1916 p.1:5

“David Gash will go back – Pte. David Gash, writing from Granville Hospital, at Ramsgate, says in part: ‘I receive the Free Press regularly and notice the large number of casualties among our Fernie boys.   I was mighty lucky to come through what I did alive.   After we had landed down the Somme we began to get some idea of what was in store for us.   We were put into the trenches just back of the Mougeut Farm to relieve the Australians, who had lost heavily.   I was a bomber and was detailed with No. 3 Co., bombers for action.   The first night we raided the German trenches without serious casualties.   You know I am rather tall and it kept me busy dodging the snipers.   The next night was quiet and the next day they moved us back to the reserve trenches.   In a few days we were back again in the front line trenches and the first night we were ordered to attack the enemy.   Our detachment was in charge of Corpl. Aimes.   We got right over into the German communication trenches and cleared their dugouts right.   After the fight eight of our party, including four of our Fernie boys, settled down in the German trenches, but we had not been there very long when Fritz opened on us with about everything he had.   We escaped  the first bombardment and had just settled down to try and get a little sleep, thinking they could not get us, leaving Frank Dick, a Fernie man, on guard, when a big one landed a few yards away.   About three minutes later one landed right in our midst.   I wondered what was coming and then I heard a hiss and knew no more.   Dick was standing up and three of my pals were on either side of me, but I was the only one to come out of the mix-up alive.   Dick was blown to pieces.   After I was dug out they kept on shelling the place with those terrible gas shells and I pretty nearly choked.   However, they got me back to the dressing station.   I was pretty badly crushed;  three fingers of my right hand were broken in several places;  my shoulder was dislocated;  my leg torn, and I was generally pretty badly used up.   They took me to Boulonge and from there to England, first to a London hospital and later to this one.   I am getting on fine;  my fingers have set again but two of them are pretty crooked.   I am leaving here shortly for Hastings, where I will spend the winter and in the spring will rejoin my regiment, when I hope to get revenge on Fritz for killing my pals.'”

 Free Press Feb 23, 1917 p.5:3

“David Gash, who has been recovering in England from wounds received on the Somme last fall, has returned to the trenches.”

Free Press April 27, 1917 p.5:4

“David Gash received word this week that his son David, whom he thought was back in France, is once more in hospital as a result of complications in his wounded hand, which will cost the boy a thumb.”

 Free Press April 12, 1918 p.3:3

“Pte. David Gash writing under date of March 9, says that he has just returned from a two weeks’ trip to England and that the men are looking forward daily to the big German drive.   He says there are very few Fernie boys in the old battalion and very few of the original 54th boys are still in the line.   ‘I saw Louis Beale, David Linn and George Linn the other day.   They are well.   George is still in the band of the 54th.   We have lots of shells and big guns and when the Hun attack comes Fritz will know that he has been at the war before he gets through.’”

 Free Press July 19, 1918 p.5:4

“Letters received from the front convey the information that David Gash, son of our esteemed townsman, David Gash, has been awarded the Military Medal for bravery on the field.   Everybody here extends congratulations.   David left Fernie with the 54^th, a tall skinny lad who had difficulty in passing the medical examination.   He now weighs over 200-lbs. and is some man.”

 Free Press Sep 13, 1918 p.5:3

“Word was received on Saturday that David Gash had been gassed on August 30th.   David, who has been recommended for the D.C.M. has been twice wounded and now has been knocked out with gas.”

 Free Press Dec 20, 1918 p.5:2

“We had a nice letter today from Corpl. David Gash.   David has been recently appointed corporal in charge of the military police at Veast, in France.   He expects to remain in France for several months yet.”

 Free Press April 25, 1919 p.5:3

“Sergt. David Gash, who was booked to sail for Canada this month, has been detained in England owing to a broken ankle which he received in a football game.”

Free Press Sep 19, 1919 p.3:4

“Sergt. David Gash is expected to arrive home tomorrow.”

 Free Press Sep 26, 1919 p.5:3

“Sergt. David Gash, Jr., accompanied by his wife, arrived home from overseas on Saturday last.   He enlisted with the 54th and was through 12 big engagements.   Buried alive, wounded twice and finally gassed, David has had a world of experience.   He left Fernie a mere lad;  he now stands six feet and a half high and weighs 250 pounds.”

 Free Press Nov 14, 1919 p.5:3

David Gash, Jr., who a few weeks ago returned from overseas, will shortly start up in the dray and transfer business.   David has been at the coast and looked over several towns with a view to starting business, but says that Fernie is the best bet in the bunch and that he will start here.”

 Sadly the death of his wife occurred not long after they arrived in Canada:

 Free Press April 2, 1920 p.5:3

“Mrs. David Gash, Jr., died at the Fernie hospital on Sunday after a short illness.   The funeral took place on Wednesday and was largely attended.   Deceased had only resided in Fernie for a few months, having come over from England with her husband after the war.”

 David had married Miriam Buckler from County Durham, England

 Free Press April 9, 1920 p.5:3

David Gash, Jr., & family wish to thank the G.W.V.A., the Ladies’ Auxilliary, the Ladies’ Chapter, L.O.O.M., Esther Rebekah Lodge and the members of the Church of England for kindness during their recent bereavement.”

 Free Press March 11, 1921 p.4:3

“In Memoriam – In Loving Memory of my dear wife, Miriam, who fell asleep March 28, 1920.   Interred at Fernie, B.C.     ‘We loved her, yes we loved her, But Jesus loved her best, And in his mercy called her Home to rest.   The pearly gates were open, And a voice sweetly bid her come To dwell amongst the angels In the eternal land’   Inserted by her loving Husband, David Gash, Jr.”

 Annette Fulford very kindly sent me details of the voyage to Canada in 1919 on the ship "Orduna" of David Gash jnr and his new bride, Miriam  - see photograph (David in his uniform displaying his military medal). Annette also sent me copies of Miriam's death registration which stated that the cause of death was Salpingitis, a Pelvic Inflammatory disease - Annette who found the information very hard to read said it also stated pregnancy and a few other words which were hard to read.

William Langlands (Thanks to BILL LANGLANDS!)

'Wm Langlands2' (left) is my grandfather and was taken in 1919 around the time of his discharge.

Pte. William Langlands, 442419, was born in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, England on Oct 10,1876. He and his four brothers all served in the Durham Light Infantry, Imperial Yeomanry during the Boer War. After his discharge, Will travelled to Canada where he worked on the railway from the East coast to the Kootenays where he became a bartender and a miner.

He mined in the Salmo, Moyie, New Denver and Nelson areas before he enlisted at Nelson BC on June 1, 1915. He married Alice Noseda on August 31, 1915. He left Halifax on Nov 22, 1915 for Plymouth England where he was attached to the Brigade Military Police in June 1916.

In August 1916 he was sent overseas to France where he received a gunshot wound to the chest in October 1916. He was hospitalized in Rouen France for 3 months and was then returned to England.

He served in England in the Military Police until he returned to Canada in 1919 for his discharge.

He worked as a miner again until WWII when he worked as a security guard at the Cominco smelter in Trail.

He retired in 1944 and moved to Kaslo until 1953 when he returned to Trail where he passed away on April 10, 1957.

'Wm Langlands1' Source unknown.  My grandfather is seated on the right. I don't know any of the others.

'54 Reunion Parade1 and 2' below were taken in Kaslo. 1952 is pretty close.

A re-union of the 54th in the 1950s. Do you know these great men?  Click small picture to the left.