HISTORY
MILITARY ACTIVITY
MILITARY ACTIVITY
WORLD WAR I
1914-1918
1914-1918
The photo above is from the June 1959 issue of the Submarine Miner, p. 5. The uniforms are those of the Church Lads Brigade. This photo may have been taken on Bell Island before they left to sign up in St. John's, or when they arrived in St. John's.
This first list is of the names of the soldiers in the photo above placed in alphabetical order. The * indicates those in the photo who also were named by the Daily News as having enlisted Sept. 2, 1914:
Allen, Bill (Wilfred T.)* Andrews, John* Byrne, Joseph* Cahill, Martin* (died July 1, 1916 - image #1 top right) Carroll, Thomas* (died July 1, 1916 - image # top right) Greene, Augustus* Hickey, John* Kershaw, Robert* (died Mar. 9, 1918 - image #1 top right) Lahey, Edward* Lahey, Robert (died July 1, 1916 - image #1 top right) Larner, Cyril* Mercer, Albert* Metcalfe, Albert* Morrissey, Michael* Murphy, Leo* (actually enlisted Jan. 19, 1915) Power, Archibald* (actually enlisted June. 2, 1916) Roberts, Luke* (No record of his enlistment) Ross, Michael* (died July 1, 1916 - image #2 middle right) Sparkes, George* (died July 1, 1916 - image #1 top right) The following are not listed in the photo above but were listed by the Daily News as having enlisted Sept. 2, 1914: Coombs, Harry (died July 1, 1916 - image #2 mid right) Ivany, Walter D. (actually enlisted Jan. 29, 1915) Kennedy, Michael F. (died July 1, 1916 - image #2 mid rt) Neville, John J. (actually enlisted Aug. 1, 1916) Rowe, Andrew (No record of his enlistment) Somerton, W.J. (enlisted Sept. 2, 1914) Also enlisted Sept. 2, 1914, but are not in the photo above or listed in the Daily News article: Greene, Walter Martin (died Nov. 20, 1917 - image # 1 top) Lodge, Samuel Thomas (died Oct. 1, 1915 - image #1 top) 3 older men in the photo did not enlist: William Lindsay was a mechanical engineer with Scotia Company and was the C.L.B. Major; Magistrate P. F. Power presided over recruitment meetings and was involved in the Great War Veterans Association; Businessman C. F. Taylor was involved in recruitment meetings and was a member of the Great War Veterans Association. |
26 WWI casualties are engraved on the Bell Island War Memorial. Besides those listed on the left above, the death dates of the remainder are:
Bennett, James (enlisted June 9, 1916, died Mar. 2, 1917 - image # 3 bottom)
Dobbin, Joseph (enlisted Apr. 18, 1916, died Oct. 18, 1918 - image # 3 bottom)
Dwyer, John Thomas (enlisted May 10, 1916, died Oct. 10, 1917 - image # 3 bottom)
Dwyer, Martin Thomas (enlisted April 11, 1916, died Dec. 30, 1917, POW, died of TB - image # 3 bottom)
Flemming, Richard (enlisted May 27, 1915, died July 1, 1916 - image # 1 top)
Hughes, Thomas (enlisted in 13th Battalion, Cdn. Expeditionary Force, Quebec; died Apr. 24, 1915, France - image # 1 top)
Jackman, Michael Joseph (enlisted Dec. 16, 1914, died July 1, 1916 - image # 3 bottom)
Lannon, William Joseph (enlisted May 6, 1915, died June 18, 1916 - image # 3 bottom)
Luffman, Henry George (enlisted March 7, 1916, died Sept. 26, 1917 - image # 1 top)
Newton, James William (enlisted Apr. 11, 1917, died Oct. 25, 1918 - image # 3 bottom)
Rees, Edgar (enlisted Nov. 28, 1917, died Oct. 21, 1918 - image # 3 bottom)
Rees, William Eldred (enlisted Nov. 8, 1917, died Oct. 27, 1918 - image # 3 bottom)
Somerton, Peter (enlisted May 19, 1916, died Dec. 4, 1917 - image # 3 bottom)
Stone, Edward (died Feb. 3, 1915 - lost at sea - image # 2 middle)
Stone, Harry Joseph (enlisted May 15, 1916, died Apr. 23, 1917 - image # 3 bottom)
Thomas, Walter (enlisted Dec. 16, 1914, died July 15, 1916 - image # 1 top)
Not engraved on the Bell Island War Memorial, but died overseas:
Burke, Francis M. (Frank) (enlisted May 19, 1915, died Oct. 14, 1918)
Chuck, George (enlisted Apr. 5, 1916, died Apr. 14, 1917)
Gorman, Julian Joseph (enlisted Dec. 22, 1914, died March 30, 1915 of measles)
Rees, Sergeant Eldred (enlisted in 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles Regiment; died of wounds Sept. 19, 1918 - listed on Lance
Cove Cenotaph)
Snow, Ronald Joseph (died Feb. 3, 1915 - lost at sea)
Source: Paul James Dwyer, From Miners & Fishers to Soldiers & Sailors, St. John's: DRC Publishing, 2016.
Bennett, James (enlisted June 9, 1916, died Mar. 2, 1917 - image # 3 bottom)
Dobbin, Joseph (enlisted Apr. 18, 1916, died Oct. 18, 1918 - image # 3 bottom)
Dwyer, John Thomas (enlisted May 10, 1916, died Oct. 10, 1917 - image # 3 bottom)
Dwyer, Martin Thomas (enlisted April 11, 1916, died Dec. 30, 1917, POW, died of TB - image # 3 bottom)
Flemming, Richard (enlisted May 27, 1915, died July 1, 1916 - image # 1 top)
Hughes, Thomas (enlisted in 13th Battalion, Cdn. Expeditionary Force, Quebec; died Apr. 24, 1915, France - image # 1 top)
Jackman, Michael Joseph (enlisted Dec. 16, 1914, died July 1, 1916 - image # 3 bottom)
Lannon, William Joseph (enlisted May 6, 1915, died June 18, 1916 - image # 3 bottom)
Luffman, Henry George (enlisted March 7, 1916, died Sept. 26, 1917 - image # 1 top)
Newton, James William (enlisted Apr. 11, 1917, died Oct. 25, 1918 - image # 3 bottom)
Rees, Edgar (enlisted Nov. 28, 1917, died Oct. 21, 1918 - image # 3 bottom)
Rees, William Eldred (enlisted Nov. 8, 1917, died Oct. 27, 1918 - image # 3 bottom)
Somerton, Peter (enlisted May 19, 1916, died Dec. 4, 1917 - image # 3 bottom)
Stone, Edward (died Feb. 3, 1915 - lost at sea - image # 2 middle)
Stone, Harry Joseph (enlisted May 15, 1916, died Apr. 23, 1917 - image # 3 bottom)
Thomas, Walter (enlisted Dec. 16, 1914, died July 15, 1916 - image # 1 top)
Not engraved on the Bell Island War Memorial, but died overseas:
Burke, Francis M. (Frank) (enlisted May 19, 1915, died Oct. 14, 1918)
Chuck, George (enlisted Apr. 5, 1916, died Apr. 14, 1917)
Gorman, Julian Joseph (enlisted Dec. 22, 1914, died March 30, 1915 of measles)
Rees, Sergeant Eldred (enlisted in 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles Regiment; died of wounds Sept. 19, 1918 - listed on Lance
Cove Cenotaph)
Snow, Ronald Joseph (died Feb. 3, 1915 - lost at sea)
Source: Paul James Dwyer, From Miners & Fishers to Soldiers & Sailors, St. John's: DRC Publishing, 2016.
19 men from Bell Island were among the 1st contingent of Newfoundlanders who sailed for Europe on October 3, 1914 on board the Florizel. Most, but not all, of the men in the photo were among the first to enlist from Bell Island, doing so on September 2, 1914. Five others who enlisted on that date were Harry Coombs, Samuel Thomas Lodge, Walter Martin Greene, Michael F. Kennedy, and William Somerton. One of these may be the first man in Row 3, listed as unknown.
The photo was probably taken shortly before they set sail as five of those shown were killed July 1, 1916 at Beaumont Hamel: Row 2, #2, Thomas Carroll; Row 3, #4, Michael Ross, # 8, Robert Lahey; #10, Martin Cahill; & #11, George Sparkes. Robert Kershaw, Row 1, #1, died March 9, 1918 from wounds received in action at Passchendaele. He was an engineer with DISCO, originally from Middleton (Manchester), England.
The photo and attached text above are from the Submarine Miner, June 1959, p. 5.
The photo was probably taken shortly before they set sail as five of those shown were killed July 1, 1916 at Beaumont Hamel: Row 2, #2, Thomas Carroll; Row 3, #4, Michael Ross, # 8, Robert Lahey; #10, Martin Cahill; & #11, George Sparkes. Robert Kershaw, Row 1, #1, died March 9, 1918 from wounds received in action at Passchendaele. He was an engineer with DISCO, originally from Middleton (Manchester), England.
The photo and attached text above are from the Submarine Miner, June 1959, p. 5.
Bell Islanders in World War I and Beyond
The following is only a small part of the story of the involvement of Bell Islanders in World War I. I gathered the pieces of this story while researching the life of William J. Somerton (1894-1967). His and his family’s experiences in the war, and his involvement in community organizations throughout his life, encompassed much of what many Bell Islanders and their families experienced. While this account mentions some of the other men who served, you can read about many more of them in Paul Dwyer’s 2016 book, From Miners & Fishers to Soldiers & Sailors, published by DRC Publishing.
William Somerton was born in September 1894 in Portugal Cove, a small fishing community in Conception Bay about 14.5 km north of St. John’s, Newfoundland. His parents were Richard J. and Elizabeth F. Somerton. In 1895, iron ore mining began on Bell Island, a 5-km. boat ride across the Tickle from Portugal Cove. By 1913, the Somerton family were living on Bell Island, where Richard was employed with the mining company as a foreman, and William as a fireman, one of many who stoked the fires that ran the steam engines used by the mining companies. William had probably started with the mining company about August 1910. On September 2, 1914, his life took a dramatic turn when he volunteered with the Newfoundland Regiment and became a member of what would be called "the First 500." But William was not the only son of Richard and Elizabeth Somerton to volunteer for war service. Their second son Charles (born in 1896) enlisted on February 10, 1915 and served in both the Navy and the Newfoundland Regiment. (Sadly, he died in a car accident on Portugal Cove Road near Windsor Lake just four years after the war ended.) Their third son, Peter (born about 1898), enlisted May 19, 1916. Peter would die of wounds at Guedecourt, France on December 4, 1917.
William Somerton was born in September 1894 in Portugal Cove, a small fishing community in Conception Bay about 14.5 km north of St. John’s, Newfoundland. His parents were Richard J. and Elizabeth F. Somerton. In 1895, iron ore mining began on Bell Island, a 5-km. boat ride across the Tickle from Portugal Cove. By 1913, the Somerton family were living on Bell Island, where Richard was employed with the mining company as a foreman, and William as a fireman, one of many who stoked the fires that ran the steam engines used by the mining companies. William had probably started with the mining company about August 1910. On September 2, 1914, his life took a dramatic turn when he volunteered with the Newfoundland Regiment and became a member of what would be called "the First 500." But William was not the only son of Richard and Elizabeth Somerton to volunteer for war service. Their second son Charles (born in 1896) enlisted on February 10, 1915 and served in both the Navy and the Newfoundland Regiment. (Sadly, he died in a car accident on Portugal Cove Road near Windsor Lake just four years after the war ended.) Their third son, Peter (born about 1898), enlisted May 19, 1916. Peter would die of wounds at Guedecourt, France on December 4, 1917.
A description of WWI events as they affected Bell Island
and Richard & Elizabeth Somerton’s family
as recorded in Addison Bown’s “Newspaper History of Bell Island, 1894-1939”
and Richard & Elizabeth Somerton’s family
as recorded in Addison Bown’s “Newspaper History of Bell Island, 1894-1939”
World War I erupted in Europe in July 1914. Britain declared war on Germany on August 4th. Soon after the outbreak of hostilities, the Government of Newfoundland offered to equip and maintain a Regiment overseas. Enrollment of volunteers for the First Newfoundland Regiment began at the C.L.B. Armoury in St. John’s on August 22, 1914 and by August 28, 395 had been enrolled from the City. 20 of these volunteers proceeded to Pleasantville to make preparations for setting up a camp for training purposes.
On August 24, 1914, a patriotic meeting was convened at the C.L.B. Armoury on Bell Island by Magistrate Power. A recruitment committee was formed and upward to 30 men came forward and offered their services.
On September 1, 1914, 25 men left Bell Island for St. John’s under the command of Capt. L.C. Murphy of the Catholic Cadet Corps (C.C.C.) and Lieut. Robert Kershaw of the Church Lads Brigade (C.L.B.). They were given a royal send-off by the people of the Island. The dusty roads of Bell Island echoed that day to the tramp of marching feet as the C.C.C. and C.L.B. marched in full strength to the Beach accompanied by the Salvation Army Band. The recruits boarded the Mary for Kelligrews to the strains of “God Save the King” and “Auld Lang Syne.” Off Kelligrews, they were transferred to the Othar as the tide was too low for the Mary to dock. Before taking the train for the City, they were addressed by Rev. Canon Colley, Magistrate Power and C.F. Taylor. From the St. John's Railway Station, they marched down Water Street to the King George V Institute for luncheon, attracting much favourable attention by their fine bearing as they swung through the City. After spending the night at the Institute, they proceeded next day to Pleasantville to go under canvas.
Below is a photo of the first Newfoundland Regiment camp at Quidi Vidi Lake (Pleasantville), 1914.
On August 24, 1914, a patriotic meeting was convened at the C.L.B. Armoury on Bell Island by Magistrate Power. A recruitment committee was formed and upward to 30 men came forward and offered their services.
On September 1, 1914, 25 men left Bell Island for St. John’s under the command of Capt. L.C. Murphy of the Catholic Cadet Corps (C.C.C.) and Lieut. Robert Kershaw of the Church Lads Brigade (C.L.B.). They were given a royal send-off by the people of the Island. The dusty roads of Bell Island echoed that day to the tramp of marching feet as the C.C.C. and C.L.B. marched in full strength to the Beach accompanied by the Salvation Army Band. The recruits boarded the Mary for Kelligrews to the strains of “God Save the King” and “Auld Lang Syne.” Off Kelligrews, they were transferred to the Othar as the tide was too low for the Mary to dock. Before taking the train for the City, they were addressed by Rev. Canon Colley, Magistrate Power and C.F. Taylor. From the St. John's Railway Station, they marched down Water Street to the King George V Institute for luncheon, attracting much favourable attention by their fine bearing as they swung through the City. After spending the night at the Institute, they proceeded next day to Pleasantville to go under canvas.
Below is a photo of the first Newfoundland Regiment camp at Quidi Vidi Lake (Pleasantville), 1914.
While the Bell Island boys were in camp at Pleasantville, they were presented with photographs of the joint parade of the Brigades as they marched to the Beach for the send-off on September 1. The volunteers were home on leave at the end of the month prior to sailing for England, and were entertained at a dance by the officers of the C.L.B. Rev. John Stead, chaplain of the C.L.B., wished the boys God-speed. "Auld Lang Syne," the "Marseillaise" and the "National Anthem" were sung. The Bell Island Steamship Company and the Euphrates Steamship Company provided free transportation for the volunteers.
On October 3, 1914, 525 men, comprising the Blue Puttees, embarked on the Florizel and the ship sailed next day for a rendezvous off Cape Race with the First Canadian Army Division which accompanied them in convoy to England. Capt. Carty was in charge of the Newfoundland contingent. 19 men from Bell Island were in that first draft: Wilfred T. Allan, Joseph Byrne, Martin J. Cahill, Thomas Carroll, Henry Coombs, Augustus P. Greene, John Hickey, Michael F. Kennedy, Robert Kershaw, Edward Lahey, Robert Lahey, Cyril Larner, Samuel T. Lodge, Albert Mercer, Albert E. Metcalfe, Michael W. Morrissey, Michael J. Ross, Wm. J. Somerton [#265], and George J. Sparkes.
The Regiment arrived at Devonport on October 12, 1914 and proceeded to Salisbury Plains for training.
An official statement issued by L.C. Murphy, Secretary of the Bell Island Recruiting Committee, stated that “46 volunteers offered themselves from Bell Island. 12 were rejected because of age and medical or other official reasons. The balance, constituting the greatest contribution outside of St. John’s, have gone with the First Newfoundland Regiment or the Royal Naval Reserve.”
Amongst a later draft of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment were listed 11 Bell Island boys including Charles Somerton [#3867], the second of Richard Somerton’s sons to enlist.
The Regiment provided a guard of honour that Fall for the Lord Mayor’s Show in London and also at the funeral of Lord Roberts. On December 9, Pte. John Hickey, in a letter to Capt. Murphy, said that the Regiment was then in barracks at Fort George, Inverness.
The Newfoundland Regiment was stationed on guard duty at Edinburgh Castle on February 19, 1915 and, as of April 1915, they were still in training in Scotland and had not seen active service.
Gallipoli
A message was received by the Newfoundland Government on August 14, 1915 to the effect that the Regiment was under orders to proceed to Egypt en route to the Dardanelles. A further message stated that the troops had left England on August 20. They were with the British Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. The news came a month later that the Regiment had landed at Suvla Bay. The Newfoundlanders received their baptism by fire on September 13 when they landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula from the troopship Prince Abbas and took up their positions on the beach at Suvla. The Turks started shelling after they landed and 16 casualties resulted. Private Samuel Thomas Lodge, former manager of the Bell Island Co-Operative Store, died of bullet wounds received at Gallipoli on October 1, 1915. Harold S. Butler was reported wounded on October 7, and word was received on the 27th that William J. Somerton had been severely wounded on the 17. He was treated at the Fifth Canadian Hospital at Cairo. A complete evacuation of the peninsula was carried out on January 9, 1916 and that chapter of the Great War was closed. Somerton was discharged to duty on January 30, 1916. In March 1916, he was still with the British Expeditionary Force.
Beaumont Hamel - the Battle of the Somme
While the people of Newfoundland went about their daily work on the first day of July 1916, they were not to realize until later that a glorious if heart-rending page was being written on that summer morning at the Battle of the Somme. But the price of glory was a staggering one when the full cost came to be reckoned. Out of 752 Newfoundlanders who had gone into action that day, only 68 answered the Roll Call. 310 had died and 374 were wounded in a charge that had lasted only 9 ½ minutes. The casualty reports were slow in coming in after the July Drive. The first from Bell Island to be reported was Pte. Walter Thomas, who died of wounds received at the Battle of the Somme, after surviving the Gallipoli campaign. A list received by the Colonial Secretary, Hon. J.R. Bennett, on July 25 contained the name of Robert J. Lahey of Lance Cove Road who, with his brother Edward, had left the ranks of the C.C.C. to join the First Five Hundred. On August 1 appeared the List of Missing, numbering 156. It carried the names of four Bell Island boys: Sergt. Thomas Carroll, Pte. George Sparkes, Pte. Martin Cahill and Pte. Michael Jackman. It was November 24th before the missing were officially believed killed.
Tributes to the courage of the Newfoundlanders came from many quarters, not the least of which was Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig who said, “The heroism and devotion to duty they displayed on 1st July have never been surpassed.” The Daily Telegraph of London spoke of, “The Immortal Regiment.” Novelist Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in his telling of the story of the Battle of the Somme wrote, “A special word should be said of the Newfoundlanders who, in their first action, kept pace with the veterans beside them. This battalion of fishermen, lumbermen and farmers proved more the grand stuff which is bred over the sea...They attacked regardless of loss, moving forward in extended order, wave behind wave. It was a magnificent exhibition of disciplined courage.”
Reported wounded in the battle were 2nd Lieut. Walter Green, Ptes. William J. Somerton, Albert Mercer, Joseph Sheehan, Ernest May, Kenneth Butler, George Stone, Pierre Coxworthy, and C.O. Butler. William Somerton was invalided to England on July 3, 1916. By December 11, 1916, he was attached to Depot at Ayr in southwest Scotland.
120 Bell Island men were reported as having enlisted in the war by the end of August 1916.
William J. Somerton arrived home to Bell Island on leave on January 8, 1917 and a parade in his honour was staged by Empire Lodge 66 of the Society of United Fishermen (S.U.F.) and Happy Home Lodge 157 Loyal Orange Association (L.O.A.) to which he belonged. Pte. David Dobbin was also honoured as well as George Barrett, who was about to go overseas. Richard Bugden gave an address of welcome on behalf of the L.O.A., and E.S. Spencer spoke for the S.U.F. Richard Bugden, local poet, paid tribute in verse to the three Somerton brothers, William with the Newfoundland Regiment, Charles in the Royal Navy, and Peter who was then in training:
On October 3, 1914, 525 men, comprising the Blue Puttees, embarked on the Florizel and the ship sailed next day for a rendezvous off Cape Race with the First Canadian Army Division which accompanied them in convoy to England. Capt. Carty was in charge of the Newfoundland contingent. 19 men from Bell Island were in that first draft: Wilfred T. Allan, Joseph Byrne, Martin J. Cahill, Thomas Carroll, Henry Coombs, Augustus P. Greene, John Hickey, Michael F. Kennedy, Robert Kershaw, Edward Lahey, Robert Lahey, Cyril Larner, Samuel T. Lodge, Albert Mercer, Albert E. Metcalfe, Michael W. Morrissey, Michael J. Ross, Wm. J. Somerton [#265], and George J. Sparkes.
The Regiment arrived at Devonport on October 12, 1914 and proceeded to Salisbury Plains for training.
An official statement issued by L.C. Murphy, Secretary of the Bell Island Recruiting Committee, stated that “46 volunteers offered themselves from Bell Island. 12 were rejected because of age and medical or other official reasons. The balance, constituting the greatest contribution outside of St. John’s, have gone with the First Newfoundland Regiment or the Royal Naval Reserve.”
Amongst a later draft of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment were listed 11 Bell Island boys including Charles Somerton [#3867], the second of Richard Somerton’s sons to enlist.
The Regiment provided a guard of honour that Fall for the Lord Mayor’s Show in London and also at the funeral of Lord Roberts. On December 9, Pte. John Hickey, in a letter to Capt. Murphy, said that the Regiment was then in barracks at Fort George, Inverness.
The Newfoundland Regiment was stationed on guard duty at Edinburgh Castle on February 19, 1915 and, as of April 1915, they were still in training in Scotland and had not seen active service.
Gallipoli
A message was received by the Newfoundland Government on August 14, 1915 to the effect that the Regiment was under orders to proceed to Egypt en route to the Dardanelles. A further message stated that the troops had left England on August 20. They were with the British Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. The news came a month later that the Regiment had landed at Suvla Bay. The Newfoundlanders received their baptism by fire on September 13 when they landed on the Gallipoli Peninsula from the troopship Prince Abbas and took up their positions on the beach at Suvla. The Turks started shelling after they landed and 16 casualties resulted. Private Samuel Thomas Lodge, former manager of the Bell Island Co-Operative Store, died of bullet wounds received at Gallipoli on October 1, 1915. Harold S. Butler was reported wounded on October 7, and word was received on the 27th that William J. Somerton had been severely wounded on the 17. He was treated at the Fifth Canadian Hospital at Cairo. A complete evacuation of the peninsula was carried out on January 9, 1916 and that chapter of the Great War was closed. Somerton was discharged to duty on January 30, 1916. In March 1916, he was still with the British Expeditionary Force.
Beaumont Hamel - the Battle of the Somme
While the people of Newfoundland went about their daily work on the first day of July 1916, they were not to realize until later that a glorious if heart-rending page was being written on that summer morning at the Battle of the Somme. But the price of glory was a staggering one when the full cost came to be reckoned. Out of 752 Newfoundlanders who had gone into action that day, only 68 answered the Roll Call. 310 had died and 374 were wounded in a charge that had lasted only 9 ½ minutes. The casualty reports were slow in coming in after the July Drive. The first from Bell Island to be reported was Pte. Walter Thomas, who died of wounds received at the Battle of the Somme, after surviving the Gallipoli campaign. A list received by the Colonial Secretary, Hon. J.R. Bennett, on July 25 contained the name of Robert J. Lahey of Lance Cove Road who, with his brother Edward, had left the ranks of the C.C.C. to join the First Five Hundred. On August 1 appeared the List of Missing, numbering 156. It carried the names of four Bell Island boys: Sergt. Thomas Carroll, Pte. George Sparkes, Pte. Martin Cahill and Pte. Michael Jackman. It was November 24th before the missing were officially believed killed.
Tributes to the courage of the Newfoundlanders came from many quarters, not the least of which was Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig who said, “The heroism and devotion to duty they displayed on 1st July have never been surpassed.” The Daily Telegraph of London spoke of, “The Immortal Regiment.” Novelist Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in his telling of the story of the Battle of the Somme wrote, “A special word should be said of the Newfoundlanders who, in their first action, kept pace with the veterans beside them. This battalion of fishermen, lumbermen and farmers proved more the grand stuff which is bred over the sea...They attacked regardless of loss, moving forward in extended order, wave behind wave. It was a magnificent exhibition of disciplined courage.”
Reported wounded in the battle were 2nd Lieut. Walter Green, Ptes. William J. Somerton, Albert Mercer, Joseph Sheehan, Ernest May, Kenneth Butler, George Stone, Pierre Coxworthy, and C.O. Butler. William Somerton was invalided to England on July 3, 1916. By December 11, 1916, he was attached to Depot at Ayr in southwest Scotland.
120 Bell Island men were reported as having enlisted in the war by the end of August 1916.
William J. Somerton arrived home to Bell Island on leave on January 8, 1917 and a parade in his honour was staged by Empire Lodge 66 of the Society of United Fishermen (S.U.F.) and Happy Home Lodge 157 Loyal Orange Association (L.O.A.) to which he belonged. Pte. David Dobbin was also honoured as well as George Barrett, who was about to go overseas. Richard Bugden gave an address of welcome on behalf of the L.O.A., and E.S. Spencer spoke for the S.U.F. Richard Bugden, local poet, paid tribute in verse to the three Somerton brothers, William with the Newfoundland Regiment, Charles in the Royal Navy, and Peter who was then in training:
THE SOMERTON BOYS
There are many families who can boast of sending sons, Forth to help the Empire, and to fight against the Huns. Some have one and others have two, strong youth so bold and free,
But of those brave young Somerton boys have gone forth number three. Young William was the first to go, when war was first declared, He heard his country’s call for help, and bravely took the sword. He fought the Turks at Suvla, and received his honoured scars, While fighting for old Britain in the World’s greatest war. After months of treatment by nurses kind and true, Young Will is fit for duty, and this he sure will do. For there flows within his veins the blood of noble sires, And Billie is not frightened of German shells on fire. |
The next who went was Charlie, a stalwart lad was he, He chose to be a sailor, and serve upon the sea.
So he has joined the Navy, and donned his suit of blue, Young Charlie is a Britisher, brave, noble, good and true. The next was brave, young Peter, who joined the volunteers, And proudly donned the khaki, though very young in years. Today he is in training, learning to do his “bit,” To teach the Huns a lesson that they won’t soon forget. God bless the noble parents, patriots so true, Theirs was a noble sacrifice, the best that they could do. Their all they’ve freely given to help their motherland, And God will own and bless their boys, who took such a noble stand. by Richard Bugden, in 100 Local Poems, 1918 |
A recruiting meeting was held at the C.L.B. Armoury three days later on January 11, 1917 by Major Carty, Hon. C. H. Emerson, George J. Adams and Magistrate Power. Pte. William Somerton was given an ovation by the gathering. Seven young men offered themselves at the meeting. On January 13, a reception in honour of Pte. William Somerton was held in the Orange Hall. Present were Ptes. Somerton, J.J. St. John, Gus Greene and David Dobbin. Magistrate Power presided. DISCO Manager MacDougall and his wife as well as officials of both iron ore companies were present together with the Salvation Army Band. An address and presentation from Empire Lodge S.U.F. to Pte. William Somerton was signed by J.W. Searle, Worshipful Master, and E.S. Spencer, secretary, and from Happy Home by R. Bugden, Worshipful Master, and George Badcock, secretary. Speakers were Magistrate Power, Pte. J.J. St. John, Rev. Mr. Swann, Ensign March, S.A., Rev. J. Stead, Richard J. Somerton and C.F. Taylor. A poem by Rosa Gilbert seems to have been written for the occasion:
BELLE ISLE’S WELCOME TO HER FIRST RETURNED HEROES
We’re here tonight to welcome back our noble volunteers, Who left our shores some time ago, with hearts devoid of fear.
When England called for volunteers, among the first to go, Were some of those who’re here tonight, brave Somerton and Stow. There’s John St. John and brave Gus Green, both brave and noble men, Dave Dobbin and Ted Noonan, and likewise Ralph Burnham. We don’t forget the other boys, who have been tried and true, The other boys in khaki, and the sailor boys in blue. While some have paid the price supreme, and sleep on No Man’s Land, Some neath the flowery fields of France, and some on Egypt’s strand. We commend them to God’s keeping, those Terra Nova sons, While in some foreign land they lie, the victims of the Huns. |
They fought and died for England, those soldiers brave,
And with a cross to mark the spot, sleep in a soldier's grave. Sleep on, ye gallant heroes, sleep on and take your rest, Fallen on the fields of honour, you did better than the best. We extend to you this welcome, from hearts that are sincere, Long may you live, and heaven bless, our noble volunteer. And now, my friends, give them a clap, a hearty handshake too, For our soldier boys in khaki, and our sailor boys in blue. by Rosa Gilbert in 100 Local Poems 1918 |
Having suffered multiple bullet wounds in two major battles, William Somerton was discharged as medically unfit on January 24, 1917 at St. John’s.
Later that year, on December 4, 1917, word was received that Pte. Peter Somerton, the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. R.J. Somerton, had been killed in action in France. The following poem was written in his honour:
Later that year, on December 4, 1917, word was received that Pte. Peter Somerton, the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. R.J. Somerton, had been killed in action in France. The following poem was written in his honour:
IN MEMORY
of
Private Peter Somerton
Killed in Action in France December 1917
of
Private Peter Somerton
Killed in Action in France December 1917
Away from his home and the friends he loved best,
Brave Peter tonight he is lying at rest. His battles are over, his victory is won, His soul is departed from its mortal home. The last of the three of the Somerton boys Who went forth to fight at a great sacrifice, Has fallen alas, and it can be said That he died for his country, brave Peter is dead. “All cannot come back,” said his mother with tears, God bless her, she’s brave, though her heart breaks with cares, Some poor mother’s boys must our liberty buy, And one of those heroes was her own dear boy. |
When war is all over and the boys all come home,
Please don’t you forget me, that’s distant from home, Just think on me some times, but mother, don’t cry, For your boy was a soldier and feared not to die. Farewell, dearest mother, farewell for a while, Do not fret for me as you would for a child, For I died like a hero, I died like a man, Like a conqueror I’m lying on France’s fair strand. by Richard Bugden in 100 Local Poems 1918 |
World War I ended November 11, 1918.
C.L.B. Armoury Memorial Tablet / Roll of Honour
A Memorial Tablet was unveiled at the C.L.B. Armoury on November 13, 1918 to the memory of the Brigade members who had paid the Supreme Sacrifice. “J” Company first commemorated the 30th anniversary of the founding of the C.L.B. by attending a Memorial Service at St. Boniface Church by Rev. J. Stead. The entire company with the brass band attended the unveiling of the memorial plaque under the command of Major Lindsay. Others present included the G.W.V.A. Patriotic Association, parishioners and friends. The Dedication Prayer was given by Rev. Stead and the tablet was unveiled by Mrs. Richard J. (Elizabeth) Somerton. The plaque contained the following names:
ROLL OF HONOUR: Lieut. Robert Kershaw, killed March 8, 1918; #2779 Peter Somerton, killed December 4, 1917; #2866 James Bennett, died of wounds, March 1917; R.N.R. Edward Stone, drowned February 1915; R.N.R. Harold Miller, drowned December 1916.
ROLL OF HONOUR: Lieut. Robert Kershaw, killed March 8, 1918; #2779 Peter Somerton, killed December 4, 1917; #2866 James Bennett, died of wounds, March 1917; R.N.R. Edward Stone, drowned February 1915; R.N.R. Harold Miller, drowned December 1916.
Following the war, William Somerton remained involved in veterans’ organizations and activities, including the Church Lads Brigade and the Great War Veterans Association (which amalgamated with the Royal Canadian Legion in 1949). He was also a member of the committee that oversaw the erection of the monument to the war dead.
The War Memorial
On April 13, 1921, the local branch of the Great War Veterans Association (G.W.V.A.) held their annual meeting in the Fire Hall. Nathaniel G. Lodge was elected President; J.C. Mews and R. Hookey, vice- presidents; C.O. Butler, secretary-treasurer, with L.C. Murphy, J.B. Butler, H.J. Gover, William J. Somerton and W.S. Sellars comprising the executive committee. A special meeting was called for the following week to decide on the site for the War Memorial. The site was finally decided on at a public meeting in the Orange Hall on May 20. Speakers were C.F. Taylor, Capt. L.C. Murphy, Rev. I.R. Curtis, R. Bugden, J. Cahill, W.J. Power, W.J. Somerton and H.J. Gover. Pres. N.G. Lodge of the G.W.V.A. was in the chair.
His Excellency the Governor, Sir C.A. Harris, unveiled the War Memorial on June 15, 1921 in a simple but deeply impressive ceremony that was attended by thousands of people. Bell Island held its first Memorial Sunday observance on July 2, 1921. All denominations held church services, the returned soldiers and sailors attending their respective churches as well as the members of the Brigades. At noon the parades met at the War Memorial where a wreath was laid at the base of the monument on behalf of the people of the island.
Read more about the War Memorial on this website at https://www.historic-wabana.com/monuments--murals.html.
His Excellency the Governor, Sir C.A. Harris, unveiled the War Memorial on June 15, 1921 in a simple but deeply impressive ceremony that was attended by thousands of people. Bell Island held its first Memorial Sunday observance on July 2, 1921. All denominations held church services, the returned soldiers and sailors attending their respective churches as well as the members of the Brigades. At noon the parades met at the War Memorial where a wreath was laid at the base of the monument on behalf of the people of the island.
Read more about the War Memorial on this website at https://www.historic-wabana.com/monuments--murals.html.
The Great War Veterans Association
(G.W.V.A.)
(G.W.V.A.)
On May 31, 1924, Col. Nangle and Capt. Whitty of the Dominion Command visited Bell Island to reorganize the local branch of the Great War Veterans Association. Comrade William J. Somerton was elected president, and comrade H.J. Gover, secretary-treasurer.
On July 5, 1925, at the annual Memorial Service, the speakers were Capt. L.C. Murphy, Flight Lieut. (Rev.) W.E. Cochram, Rev. J.J. McGrath, Rev. I. Parsons and Magistrate Power. The committee in charge of the arrangements were Comrades A.S. Murray, J.C. Mews, S. Normore, William J. Somerton, C. Blackmore, J. Hickey, G. Rideout and W.D. Tilley.
In the Summer of 1938, Sir Bruce Porter, who was chief medical officer in charge of the Third London Hospital at Wandsworth during the war and had charge of many wounded Newfoundland soldiers, came to Newfoundland and visited Bell Island during his stay in the country. He was accompanied by his niece, Mrs. C.A. Johnston, among others. At the Beach, two members of the First Five Hundred, Comrades A.S. Murray and William J. Somerton, were on hand to greet them, as well as other members of the local branch of the Great War Veterans Association. Sir Bruce laid a wreath of Poppies and Forget-Me-Nots at the War Memorial. After a tour of the Island, a luncheon was served at the Staff House by Miss Nellie Forward and her assistants. The guests were Magistrate M. Hollett, DOSCO Manager C.B. Archibald, and Drs. Lynch and Templeman. A large number of veterans paraded at the C.L.B. Armoury and met the distinguished visitor. A.S. Murray, on behalf of the local branch, presented him with an inkwell made of Wabana ore, and Ella Somerton presented a bouquet to his niece, Mrs. Johnston.
In 1949, the G.W.V.A. amalgamated with the Canadian Legion.
In February 1955, William J. Somerton was a member of the executive of the Bell Island branch of the Canadian Legion. He is the third man from the right in the back row of the photo below, which is from the Submarine Miner, February 1955, p.7.
On July 5, 1925, at the annual Memorial Service, the speakers were Capt. L.C. Murphy, Flight Lieut. (Rev.) W.E. Cochram, Rev. J.J. McGrath, Rev. I. Parsons and Magistrate Power. The committee in charge of the arrangements were Comrades A.S. Murray, J.C. Mews, S. Normore, William J. Somerton, C. Blackmore, J. Hickey, G. Rideout and W.D. Tilley.
In the Summer of 1938, Sir Bruce Porter, who was chief medical officer in charge of the Third London Hospital at Wandsworth during the war and had charge of many wounded Newfoundland soldiers, came to Newfoundland and visited Bell Island during his stay in the country. He was accompanied by his niece, Mrs. C.A. Johnston, among others. At the Beach, two members of the First Five Hundred, Comrades A.S. Murray and William J. Somerton, were on hand to greet them, as well as other members of the local branch of the Great War Veterans Association. Sir Bruce laid a wreath of Poppies and Forget-Me-Nots at the War Memorial. After a tour of the Island, a luncheon was served at the Staff House by Miss Nellie Forward and her assistants. The guests were Magistrate M. Hollett, DOSCO Manager C.B. Archibald, and Drs. Lynch and Templeman. A large number of veterans paraded at the C.L.B. Armoury and met the distinguished visitor. A.S. Murray, on behalf of the local branch, presented him with an inkwell made of Wabana ore, and Ella Somerton presented a bouquet to his niece, Mrs. Johnston.
In 1949, the G.W.V.A. amalgamated with the Canadian Legion.
In February 1955, William J. Somerton was a member of the executive of the Bell Island branch of the Canadian Legion. He is the third man from the right in the back row of the photo below, which is from the Submarine Miner, February 1955, p.7.
In January 1959, William Somerton and fellow veterans, John Vokey and Pierre Coxworthy, received the Legion Medal of Merit in recognition of outstanding service rendered to the Canadian Legion and veterans in general. The photo below of the ceremony is from the Submarine Miner, January 1959, p.6.
The preceding account of World War I activity and Bell Island's war memorials and GWVA are all from Addison Bown's "Newspaper History of Bell Island, 1894-1939," as published in the Daily News between 1957 to 1960.
William Somerton spent much of his work career as Chief Clerk of the DOSCO Stores Record Office. He had sustained many bullet wounds to his legs at both Gallipoli and Beaumont Hamel, and walked with the aid of a cane the rest of his life. He died September 25, 1967 at age 73 at the General Hospital DVA. He is buried at St. Peters Anglican Cemetery, Portugal Cove.