Letters From the Front

Major S. D. Crerar

Death of Gnr. Frederick J. Hore at Vimy Ridge

Toronto Star Published: May 31, 1917

Introduction to the letter as it appeared in the newspaper:

HOW GUNNER HORE DIED

Mr. Reginald E. Hore, Editor of the Canadian Mining Journal, has received a letter from Major S. D. Crerar, commanding the battery to which his brother, Gunner F. G. Hore, was attached, giving particulars of the action in which the gunner was fatally wounded. The letter says:

Dated: May 31, 1917

On April 9th, I had the responsibility with a picked detail of some fifty men, of constructing bridges across our own front line, and the German trenches, immediately following the attacking wave of our infantry, so that our brigade, headed by this gallant battery, would be enabled to advance and cover, by our fire, the consolidation of the objective gained.

Your brother was one of the party. This party had the two opposing front line trenches to prepare, quite the nastiest sector.

The German barrage on our front line was severe, including much gas-shelling, but officers and men carried on splendidly. In the first hour, half the battery party were casualties, including your brother. I assisted Lieut. Scachard ¹ to dress Gunner Hore's wounds, which were serious, but I did not think dangerous, both legs and one hand. He was, as I would expect of him, very brave and uncomplaining, and was quickly carried to the dressing station.

News of his death came as a shock. There are so few of the "Old Guard"² who left Canada in September, 1914, left that, as each one goes, it hurts the few of us that are left, doubly.

1Although the spelling Scachard was used in this letter, but there are no attestations under that name. He is probably Lt. John Labatt Scatcherd, 3rd Brigade, C.F.A. Lt. Scatcherd died on September 3, 1918 and is buried at Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery, Haucourt, Pas de Calais, France. His attestation notes service with the 47th Battery. Scatcherd was awarded the Military Cross.

²Men of the First Canadian Contingent, most enlisting and training at Valcartier Camp at Quebec in September 1914, followed by further training on Salisbury Plain in England.

Transcribed by: M. I. Pirie