Loyola College - Review Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

Page 29 text:

LOYOLA COLLEGE REVIEW 19 CAPTAIN JOHN P. WALSH, C. A. M. С: Captain John P. Walsh was the first of Loyola's pioneers to give his life for the Empire. Не came to the College in 1896 and entered the class of Rudi- ments in the old building on St. Catherine Street. He remained with us until 1904, when he graduated with the degree of B. A. He wasa shy, delicate-looking boy, but his gentle manner and apparently frail build veiled a considerable strength of character, a coolness of determination, and a toughness of constitution, which his career both at the College and afterwards, and especially at the front, amply demonstrated. It was some time before the boys became acquainted with the real Jack Walsh, and still longer before his many qualities were fully appreciated. He was not brilliant, he never thrust himself on the notice of others, and consequently he passed at first for a very ordinary, quiet, pleasant student. As time went on, however, his amiability and really merry disposition made him popular with everyone, and, as he became better known, he won respect and esteem, and began to hold among the boys the position to which his solid traits of character entitled him. He was a conscientious persevering student, a self-sacrificing and enthu- siastic, though not demonstrative college man, a good all-round, though, if we except hockey, not a remarkable athlete. As a hockey-player he was certainly above the ordinary: a cool, tricky, hard-working, unselfish forward, with a fast, dangerous shot. At various times he held several positions on the Athletic Committee, and in the different Societies of the College and was towards he end of his course an officer in the Sodality of Our Lady. On leaving Loyola, Captain Walsh entered Medicine at McGill and graduated in 1908. Не practised in Quebec, his native city, and his life as a Doctor seems to have been to a great extent a repetition of his life as a student. The quality of his work was such as gradually to earn for him a large practice. He was always thorough, painstaking, cool and conscientious in the discharge of his professional duties. In the subjoined account from the ‘Quebec Chronicle will be found a brief outline of his active life before going to the front. In February, 1915, he went overseas with No. 2 Canadian General Hospital. After serving for five months at Le Tréport he was, at his own request, transferred to a combatant unit. The letters which follow bear ample testimony to his courage and determination and devotion to duty, both asa soldier and asaCatholic. “We shall merely add a few words in connection with the deed which earned such high praise for himin May, 1916. In the Eye-witness’ despatches graphically describing the heroism of the Canadian troops in defending a crater on their front against violent German attacks, the папе of Captain Walsh was mentioned for valorous conduct. The Canadians were depleted to a mere handful by the intense bombardment of the Germans, and the remnant of the garrison forced to retreat on their battalion. The Canadian Artillery, however, soon drove the enemy out of the crater, and a bombing party from the battalion again occupied the position, rescued the wounded, and restored the entrenchments. Many instances of individual bravery and conspicuous service are given in the despatch, several notable instances of self-sacrifice being mentioned, and among them is the heroic deed of Captain Walsh who fearlessly exposed himself to the

Page 28 text:

18 LOYOLA COLLEGE REVIEW FROM AN OFFICER AT THE FRONT Somewhere in France, I9th, June 1916. . . . From information I have since gathered the 28th went into action about the 2nd of June. Тћеу lost several men going to the trenches and found things warm when they got there. Тће Huns blew up a couple of mines on them . . . which wiped out half the battalion. I believe there are only five or six survivors of the Port Arthur and Fort William Company left . . . Poor Art. McGovern was fatally wounded, just previous to the mine explosions, and was alive when carried to the rear. I have been unable to find out for certain, but there is every reason to believe he received the Last Sacraments. When my own battalion came out three days ago, after a few hours' rest, I started to hunt up poor Art’s grave, and at last found it at a place called Reninghelst. Have enclosed a P.C. of the church at Reninghelst. Arthur is not buried in the churchyard, but in a military graveyard not а stone's throw from the church, so I thought it might interest you. Further, he must have often visited the church, for it is at no great distance from his rest camp. As soon as 1 located the grave, I had а wreath made and placed it on the grave, with a short note stating that it was from Leo Council, Knights of Columbus. . . . P.S. I hate postcripts, but I feel I have not paid sufficient tribute to the memory of poor Art. He was a great favourite amongst the men and officers of his Battalion—always cheery, and looked upon as a good soldier. In fact, I learn he was to have taken command of a Company, but for his untimely end. However, he died like a soldier and a man, facing the enemy and fighting for the right. FROM AN ANGLICAN CHAPLAIN 1 n is with the greatest difficulty that I attempt to express to you my sincere sympathy in your sad loss. I have very naturally been interested in the 28th Battalion, and have from time to time visited them, when they have been anywhere near me, and on each occasion I have seen Capt. McGovern, together with the other Port Arthur and Fort William boys. Less than two weeks ago, I saw them all, near our Advance Dressing Station, and they were all in their usual good spirits, happy and cheerful under such adverse circumstances. I was very upset to hear that they had suffered so heavily. Visiting the Battalion a few days ago, as far as I could gather, Capt. McGovern suffered no pain at all, and they were able to bring the body out of the trench. I was talking to Father de Jaddine this afternoon, and he it was who buried him in our Military Cemetery in Ren- inghelst. Е А cross will be erected in a few days, bearing the date, пате and Battalion, so that everything that could be done was done. Please accept my sincere and heartfelt sympathy in your sad bereavement. FROM A PORT ARTHUR BOY I feel, though, that it is a duty I owe to endeavor to give you some of the details regarding Capt. Terry McGovern, and, if I don't geta chance to write any of theother boys of Leo Council, you can pass it along to them. То begin with, I can tell you our boys were called on to hold one of the warmest corners on this front. “А” and “B” company were in the front line and “C” and “D” in supports. Terry was in charge of “С,” for this trip, and Capt. Milne of “A.” It seems to be usual luck of our battalions when anything is doing, to be intoit. This particular day, Fritz shelled the supreme dickens out of our trenches. The boys who were in it and fortunate enough to return say the whole place was like a scrap—iron heap. Of all the propositions they have been up against, this certainly was the worst. Then, on top of all thisshelling, a mine was blown up on them. Fritz came over and took a few of them prisoners. You will have to learn that from the local papers. Terry being in “C” company, was not blown up in the mine, but the same afternoon was hit with shrapnel, below the heart, and killed instantly. At first he was buried just behind the communication trench, but the same night was taken out and was brought down to the battalion on the transport. At this time we were a couple of miles from the battalion camp. Twenty-four of us were sent up to duty and for a couple of days I was detonating bombs with brigade bombers. I arrived at the camp just as they were taking Terry away to be buried in the cemetery, but too late to have a last look at him, nor was I able to attend the funeral, being for immediate duty. The priest was there, Bill, so he was given a decent burial, and now rests in the military cemetery not far from our present camp. We certainly have lost one of our very best officers in Terry. He sure was the most popular with the boys and right in his glory when catching for the battalion baseball team. у d T

Page 30 text:

20 Е ОПУОТАЗСО БЕБЕ СЕ REV РЕМ heavy shell fixe from the German Artillery, and rescued at his own risk several wounded men. Тће many friends whom Captain Walsh made while at Loyola have followed his career with interest and pride. His heroic life and holy death were worthy of a Catholic soldier fighting in a great cause. On behalf of his old College, we offer his relativ es our deep sympathy in their grief at his loss. FROM MGR. BURKE, Head Catholic Canadian Chaplain. I.am sorry to have to inform you that your dear good brother, Capt. J. P. Walsh, is dead. Col. Delaney, who loved him dearly and closed his eyes in death, will give you the particulars. Enough for me to assure you that he died in the full faith of the Catholic Church and with all her blessings. Не was quite reconciled and committed his soul to God, and sent a tender message to you and his other sister and friends. Не died for his country; he was worthy of his faith; he had every good man’s admiration and God's favour. We shall bury him reverently, with all the rites of Holy Mother Church, Monday. I shall pontificate the requiem myself. Col. Delaney and many other friends will be at the service. I pray you then to be reconciled to this act of God's will—the Lord hath given, the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. With every tender word of sympathy and condolence. P.S.—Col. Ross, his O.C., spoke to me to-night of your brother’s great service and splendid qualities of mind and heart.... A N FROM FATHER WORKMAN, O.F.M., Senior Chaplain. Although I have seen so much happen during this dreadful war, the news of his death was a great shock to me. I happened to be up in the trenches when he was hit, and though he suffered very much from the moment he was hit, I never thought the wound would prove fatal. He had every attention, though it was a little too “hot” to bring him out for two hours or so. I went back two days later to see him at the Casualty Clearing. He was making a brave fight then. But I was very much surprised to see how frail a body he had. I spoke to the nurse, and she told me he ought to have reported sick three months before. He had stuck to his post in the trenches too long, and had been drawing on his wonderful nerve. We had become close friends ever since he was posted to the 2nd Battalion. He gave the men excellent example by his faithful attendance at Holy Mass and the Sacraments. An officer of that stamp is of wonderful help to the priest.. I shall not soon forget all that he was to me and my work, and know now that God is rewarding him for it. You will have heard from other sources how dear he was to. the officers and men of his battalion. I know he was recommended for the Military Cross, and.that he richly deserved it over and over again. We were expecting the award, but his sad death came first, and God is now doing the awarding... . FROM LT.-COL. DELANEY. Prior Park, Combe Down, Bath, 17th Aug., 1916. I am sure that you know that it is with a very heavy heart that I am sitting here writing you this evening, and how sorry I am to be the bearer of such bad news. But I feel that it is better for me to write you than a stranger, and I am sure that Johnny would have done as much for me, if 1 had been in his place. You know how much I cared for him, and how much care and attention he gave me when I was ill. I have never forgotten, and neither has my family, all his kindness to me and my sister. To tell the story from the beginning: I got a letter from Percy Wright, saying that Johnny had been hit on Saturday. This was received on the following Thursday. 1 immediately wrote him, asking to be notified when Johnny left France. I did not get any word till by accident I came on a casualty list, saying that he had been evacuated to England on Saturday. I only e on Tuesday evening, and 1 immediately got up to London that night, getting in at 5 .m. In the morning I had the office D.M.S. phone, and the report was good, so I went to settle some official work at Canadian Headquarters and finished there at 12.30 noon. I got out to the 2nd London General Hospital, Chelsea, at 1.30 p.m., and, to my great sorrow, I was told that he was operated for a secondary hemorrhage from his wound. It appears that he was wounded in the thigh, a dirty wound, with pieces of clothing in it and a piece of shrapnel in the big blood vessel of the thigh. In France they operated and removed all metal and dirt from the wound, but when he