Loyola College - Review Yearbook (Montreal, Quebec Canada)

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R.I.P. LIEUT, R. B. HINGSTON Killed in Action near Amiens August 8, 1918

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26 LOYOLA COLLEGE REVIEW LIEUTENANT REGINALD BASIL HINGSTON Lieutenant Reginald Basil Hingston, who was killed in action at Marcelcave, near Amiens, on August 8th, 1918, at the age of thirty-three, was the third son of the late Sir William Hingston, M.D., and Lady Hingston. Basil Hingston was one of the original Loyola College boys. He began his course in September 1896, and left after his year of Humanities in 1901, when he was sent for a year to Mount St. Mary’s College, Derby- shire, England. On his return, instead of continuing his course, he went at once into business, a mistake he afterwards regretted. After a year’s training in а wholesale house he took up brokerage. In May, 1913, he was married in West- minster Cathedral, London, to Miss Berthe La Rocque, of Montreal. In the winter of 1915-1916, when the ardour for recruiting had slackened and our military situation looked anything but prom- ising, Basil Hingston made up his mind where his duty lay and enlisted. He had long desired to take this step, but hesitated because he had a wife and two small children to support, and the fact that of his three brothers, two had already enlisted and the third was soon after due to don khaki, made him pause. He went without any illusions and made his sacrifice long in advance. LETTER OF FATHER FORTIER Aug. 9th, 1918, On the Battlefield. Dear Lady Hingston, I come to you as a messenger of your dear departed son Basil. His last words were the following: “Те all at home that I die happy! And as I helped him to repeat the sacred prayer; Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on me! he lapsed into unconsciousness and passed away after a short agony of five minutes. He had then received Holy Vaiticum. I had heard his confession and given him the general Absolution, while Father Tompkins had annointed him. What а happy death! I am perfectly convinced the Almighty will be merciful unto such Christian heroes. Father Tompkins and I had been following the attack on the 8th, that is yesterday, and we came to Basil some five minutes after he had been struck by a bullet some few inches below the heart. I think that God had directed our steps, as we had proposed His military career was a short one. Joins ing the 244th Bn. as a Lieutenant, he wa- later transferred to the 24th Battalion, V.R.C. He was killed on the morning of August 8th, 1918, when the Canadians broke through the German lines beyond Amiens, and pene- trated to a depth of twelve and a half miles. Lieutenant Basil Hingston is buried not far from where he fell as he led his men to their objective at Marcelcave. R.I.P. Basil’s memory lingers in Loyola and amongst his former schoolmates as that of a very clever and popular boy, of lovable disposition and unusual charm of manner. He was fond of athletic sports and excelled in them. He excelled in studies also when- ever he chose to apply himself. What he was in college he remained in after-life. Few were more popular than he. Few deaths more regretted than his. A deep but unobtrusive piety, the fruit of his early training, remained with him always, but shone forth with unsuspected intensity in his last letters home and sustained him in his last moments, which were particularly edifying. To his much tried mother, to Mrs. Basil Hingston, and to all his family the Review begs leave to extend the sympathy of all boys. going in another direction. As he saw me, his beau- tiful smile convinced me that he feared not death, and never have I been more conscious of a priest’s power at such moments. Basil did not suffer and the sacrifice of his life he offered most heroically. i I shall say Mass for the repose of his soul at th e first opportunity. The great battle is still going on, still raging on rather, and the possibility of saying Mass will not come until our Division is withdrawn for a rest. I have in my possession a few articles found in Basil’s pockets, which I shall mail to you at the first oppor- tunity; his ring, a scapular medal, a small note-book. I pray you, idear Lady Hingston, to accept the sincere expression of my condolence and sympathy. Will you kindly extend the same to Rev. Father ' Hingston and the other members of the family. May God come to your help in this hour of bereave- ment. Yours sincerely, (Signed) J. A. Fortier, Major-Chaplain, H. Q. 2nd Can. Div. Artillery, France.

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28 LOYOLA COLLEGE REVIEW LIEUTENANT RODOLPHE LEMIEUX Lieut. “Роаау” Lemieux, only son of the Hon. Rodolphe Lemieux, M.P., ex-Post- master General, died of wounds on August 29th, 1918. Roddy was born in Montreal on the 27th of April, 1898, came to Loyola in 1906, where he remained for three years. He was a successful pupil, passing many of his examin- ations with honours. After matriculating from Bishop’s College, Lennoxville, he ob- tained a Lieutenancy in the Governor General's Footguards. Though only 18 years of age he was anxious to fight for his country voluntarily and went to Quebec, where he joined the Officers! Training Corps under Col. Fages. Later he joined the 258th regiment, but after repeated requests . from the 22nd he was finally transferred to this famous French Canadian Regiment. FROM W. A. CURRIE Headquarters, Canadian Corps, 22nd September, 1918. Canadian Section, G.H.Q. I am attaching herewith a report from the G.O.C., 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade, with reference to the death of the late Lieut. Rodolphe Lemieux. The loss of this young and gallant Officer is most keenly felt by his Battalion, his Brigade, and the corps generally. I did not know him well personally, but I know that he was always most highly regarded by his fellow Officers and dearly loved by his men. The last time I saw him was marching proudly at the head of his Platoon, and it is peculiarly sad that he should have been struck down on the very day which must have been the proudest day of his life, namely, the day on which he first commanded a Company in battle. I may say that the fighting in the Arras battle was : very severe, the enemy being determined to stay by every means possible, the advance of the Canadians. He fought up every inch of the way because the de- fence, which we were attacking formed the very hinges of his position. It was largely due to the gallant leadership of such splendid young Officers as Lemieux that the success of the Canadians was so pronounced. (Sgd.) A. W. CURRIE, Lieut.-General, Commanding Canadian Corps. He was offered the post of Inspector at Camp Whitley, in England, but, to quote his own words: “I wish to be on the firing line in France.” Roddy was not only a hero but a fervent Catholic and a daily communicant. His last words to the Chaplain of the 22nd, Capt. the Rev. J. J. Desjardins, are worthy of a Crusader of old. ‘“‘You will return this crucifix to my fond parents. Tell them I did my duty. Loyola, whose privilege it was to have him as a pupil, will ever cherish the memory of this young Catholic hero, who as his Hon. father tells us, always looked back with fond remembrance to the days he had spent there. Roddy was recommended for the M.C. but the Divine Master had a much greater reward in store for him, who had been so loyal to his king, his country and his God. FROM F. L. TREMBLAY 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade, A.Q., 11, 178. Headquarters, 2nd Canadian Division “А”, Reference your A (b) 44-1 of the 10th instant. The late Lieutenant Rodolphe Lemieux was a Platoon Commander in “А” Company, 22nd Battalion, prior to the attack of the 27th August. On that day, he went forward with his Company. The enemy offered a very stiff opposition, and our casualties were heavy. A few hours after the attack was launched, a re- organization had to be made. “В” Company having lost all its officers, Lieutenant Lemieux was placed in command of the remnants of that Company, which he led forward with skill and great dash. On the 28th of August, he again led the same Com- pany into a second attack. The opposition met with, from the start, was very heavy; especially the Machine Gun fire, which was intense. Lieutenant Lemieux was wounded in the abdomen by a machine gun bullet shortly after the kick-off. He was immediately conducted from the field, but died from his wounds in the hospital at 10 p.m., the 29th of August. He had been with the Battalion only for a short time, but his loss is greatly felt by all ranks. During that short period, he had become exceedingly popular with the officers and men. The gallantry, the cheer- fulness, and the splendid qualities of leadership he showed on the 27th and 28th of August, under most trying conditions, have classed him amongst the best officers who have served with the 22nd Battalion. (Sgd.) F. L. TREMBLAY, Brigadier-General, Cmdg. 5th Canadian Infantry Brigade.