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World War One Roll of Honour

Private Albert Amram Henry Reid
June 19, 1917
72nd Battalion C.E.F. (Seaforth Highlanders of Canada)
Service Number 687867. Originally enlisted with the 72nd Battalion C.E.F.
Villers Station Cemetery, Villers-Au-Bois, France. Age 29
Son of Mrs. W. E. Davis, Chilliwack, B.C.
Husband of Olive Reid

Albert "Pinchy" Reid's father was Mr. Harry T. Reid, a long term resident of New Westminster who operated a hardware store in the Masonic Block in 1891. He then relocated to Chilliwack and his son Albert spent most of his life in this area. His wife was the youngest daughter of William Chadsey. Private Reid originally enlisted in the 172nd (Rocky Mountain Rangers) Battalion, C.E.F. and as a fine marksman was selected for sniper training.

 

A. Reynolds

No details currently discovered. The Chilliwack Progress of April 29, 1915 records an Albert Reynolds of the 104th as being wounded. Mr. Reynolds was a Chilliwack resident who worked as a bricklayer. His next of kin was a brother Percy Reynolds, Sterns, England. An Albert Edward Reynolds died in Victoria, B.C., January 2, 1919, aged 45. No other service details are known.

 

Private (Piper) James Cleland Richardson V.C.
October 9, 1916
16th Battalion C.E.F. (Later the Canadian Scottish)
Service Number 28930. Original member of the 16th Battalion C.E.F.
Adanac Military Cemetery, France. Age 20
Son of David and Mary Prosser Richardson, Princess Avenue, Chilliwack, B.C.

Piper James Richardson was the eldest son of David and Mary Prosser Richardson and was born November 25, 1895 at Bellshill, Lanarkshire. The Richardson family arrived in Chilliwack in 1913 and their father became Chilliwack's Chief of Police. James lived in Chilliwack for a few months before he joined the pipe band of Vancouver's 72nd Battalion Cadet Corps, the Seaforth Highlanders of Canada. With the outbreak of war James joined the "Seaforths" as part of their first detachment and left with them for Valcartier, Quebec. Absorbed by the 16th Battalion C.E.F., James became one of the 110 "originals" of the newly formed battalion. James served with the 16th in France from February 9, 1915 throughout the battles of Ypres, Givenchy and the heavy fighting on the Ypres Salient in early 1916.

On October 8, 1916 Richardson was detailed for duty in the Quartermaster's stores and upon learning that his company was to attack Regina Trench earnestly pleaded with his commanding officer to take part in the attack. During the attack, Richardson waited for an order to play the pipes from Major George David Lynch but Lynch was killed in the advance. Richardson asked Company Sergeant Major William D. Mackie if he should play his pipes. "Wull I gie them wund [Will I give then wind]?" Mackie agreed and Richardson began to patrol and pipe along the front line, for ten minutes inspiring his company to the attack. Mackie gathered some men together, fought through the wire, and entered Regina Trench. Richardson joined in the trench fighting running along the parapet bombing the trenches and attending the wounded. He then escorted two prisoners to the rear and brought with him Sergeant Major MacKay who was severely wounded. Upon reaching safety, he realized that he had left his pipes in Regina Trench but failed to return from regaining them. For his actions, Piper James Richardson was posthumously awarded the British Empire’s and Commonwealth's highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy, the Victoria Cross.

In April 1918, both of James' parents were summoned from Chilliwack to Victoria to receive the Victoria Cross and an autographed letter from King George V from the Lieutenant Governor.On April 3, 1919, Lieutenant Governor Barnard pinned the Victoria Cross on the breast of Chief Richardson in the Ritz Hotel building that was being used as a Knight's of Columbus "hut". General John Edwards Leckie, who was Richardson's commanding officer, the Mayor of Victoria and other military and civilian officials were in attendance. Upon the Richardson's return to Chilliwack, their son's Victoria Cross was displayed in a local store window. The Victoria Cross is now housed in the permanent collection of the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa.

 

Private Alexander Robertson
September 9, 1916
7th Battalion C.E.F. (1st B.C. Regiment)
Service Number 428759. Originally enlisted in the 47th Battalion C.E.F.
Vimy Memorial, France. Age 28
Brother of Miss E. Robertson, 49 Ramparts, Quebec, Province of Quebec

Alexander Robertson was born in Scotland and served in the United Kingdom with the Highland Light Infantry for nine months. In Canada he joined the 47th Battalion C.E.F. and later transferred to the 7th Battalion C.E.F.

 

Lance Corporal Matthew Robertson
April 19, 1918
47th Battalion C.E.F. (New Westminster)
Service Number 790214. Originally enlisted with the 131st Battalion C.E.F.
St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France. Age 26
Son of John Mair Robertson, M.D. and Mary Minto Wield Robertson, 1248 Barclay St., Vancouver, B.C.

Lance Corporal Robertson, a native of Scotland, served prior to the war with the 104th Regiment and was a farmer.

 

Private Nowell Bond Royds
April 24, 1915
7th Battalion C.E.F. (1st B.C. Regiment)
Service Number 17084. Original member of the 7th Battalion C.E.F.
Tyne Cot Cemetery, Passchendaele, Belgium. Age 22
Son of Captain Clement and Charlotte Jane Royds, Capilano, British Columbia.

Nowell Royds was born in 1893 and to Captain Clement and Charlotte Jane Royds formerly of Rosedale and who moved to Capilano. Their son served with the local 104th Regiment of the Canadian Militia and after his death a chair with a memorial inscription was placed in the chance of St. Peter's Anglican Church in Rosedale.

 

Chilliwack Museum and Archives 45820 Spadina Avenue, Chilliwack, BC, Canada V20 1T3 [604.795.5210]