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Published: August 17th 2011
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Bonjour!
Today was the third day of training. We had a presentation in the morning from Claudette, the Director, European Operations for Veteran Affairs Canada. She asked if there was a Theresa here, and there wasn't. So she said that there were a bunch of Canadian teachers who were there in July that (she was giving a conference for them) and one of them knew a guide that was coming and left a note for them. I remembered Eric saying that he told Mr. Saikaley (my grade 10 history teacher at Canterbury High School) I was going over to Vimy Ridge, and Mr. Saikaley said he was visiting over the summer and in the spring, so I asked her if it could be Mr. Saikaley. She couldn't remember, so she ran and got the note, and sure enough, Mr. Saikaley left me a note that he specifically asked that she hand deliver to me when Claudette met me. It was so nice to get the note! He just said congratulations and that he was sorry that he wasn't there at the same time as me. It would have been so cool to give Canterbury students the tour! He was sitting in the same seats that our group were for training, so it was so great to have that connection and support from home, and what a coincidence!!! You can see me with Claudette and the note below. Thanks Mr. Saikaley!!!
For the rest of the day we had presentations from the Department of National Defense, people who came over specifically to train us on WWI events. We did the general overview of the WWI and covered all the major battles. Then in the afternoon we talked about the organization of the army, ranks, and what types of machinery were used and general military tactics. It was a long day of sitting and the training was all in French, which was very helpful since it's a WHOLE new vocabulary, I don't think I've ever talked about "mitrailleuses" before when I was speaking french. Still have a lot of reading to do though from my "Bricks".
Tomorrow we're covering in detail the battles of Arras (which Vimy Ridge was a part of) and the Somme (Which Beaumont - Hamel was a part of) so it will be really useful for our tours. Then it's a two day tour across France to see many of the major battlefields to help put what we've learned into context.
I went grocery shopping tonight and with the help of Karine I think I'm getting the hang of it! I had a very french dinner consisting of baguette, cheese and salami and it was delicieuse!
Also, I'm trying to look and see if I can find any distant relatives who might have served in the first World War, specifically on my mom's side since I've been stationed at Beaumont-Hamel. If any of Nan's (Yvonne Melanson White) Facebook friends happen to have any info on this give me a shout. I poured over the archives this evening and came up with some people with the same last names... including a Patrick O'Brien and a Richard White! Weirdd... here they are, and if you have any information that might help me let me know, there's information on their hometown and parents that might help too:
AUGUSTUS O'BRIEN
who died on October 18, 1916
Age: 36
Force: Army
Unit: Royal Newfoundland Regiment
Division: 1st Bn.
Adopted son of Mrs. Bridget O'Brien, of 28.5, Lime St., St. John'S, Newfoundland.
EDWARD O'BRIEN
who died on October 21, 1918
Service Number: 3603
Age: 19
Force: Army
Unit: Royal Newfoundland Regiment
Division: 1st Bn
Citation: Military Medal
Honours and Awards: Military Medal
Son of Frederick and Mary Fahey O'Brien, of St. John's, Newfoundland.
JAMES O'BRIEN
who died on March 24, 1918
Force: Navy
Unit: Newfoundland Mercantile Marine
Division: . Schooner
Brother of Miss Margaret Mabel O'Brien, of Carbonear.
JAMES O'BRIEN
who died on October 2, 1915
Service Number: 1160
Age: 22
Force: Army
Unit: Royal Newfoundland Regiment
Division: 2nd Bn.
Son of James and Mary O'Brien, of 27 Adelaide St., St. John's, Newfoundland.
JUSTIN O'BRIEN
who died on October 20, 1918
Service Number: 3476
Age: 19
Force: Army
Unit: Royal Newfoundland Regiment
Division: 1st Bn.
Son of Michael and Mary O'Brien, of 4, Mullock St., St. John'S, Newfoundland.
JAMES JOHN O'BRIEN
who died on April 14, 1917
Service Number: 1378
Age: 20
Force: Army
Unit: Royal Newfoundland Regiment
Son of Richard and Mary O'Brien, of Topsail, Harbour Main.
MICHAEL O'BRIEN
who died on October 25, 1918
Service Number: 2968
Age: 18
Force: Army
Unit: Royal Newfoundland Regiment
Division: 1st Bn.
Son of Richard J. and Matilda O'Brien, of Witless Bay, Newfoundland.
PATRICK O'BRIEN
who died on February 3, 1915
Service Number: 2172X
Age: 19
Force: Navy
Unit: Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve
Division: H.M.S. "Clan McNaughton".
Son of Richard J. and Matilda O'Brien.
WILLIAM VINCENT O'BRIEN
who died on July 1, 1916
Service Number: 1068
Age: 21
Force: Army
Unit: Royal Newfoundland Regiment
Division: 1st Bn.
Son of John and Mary O'Brien, of Avondale, District Harbour Main, Newfoundland.
ALBERT CLARENCE WHITE
who died on April 11, 1917
Service Number: 1374
Age: 19
Force: Army
Unit: Royal Newfoundland Regiment
Son of William John and Virtue White, of Catalina, Trinity.
ARTHUR WHITE
who died on January 25, 1917
Service Number: 1447X
Age: 27
Force: Navy
Unit: Newfoundland Royal Naval Reserve
Division: H.M.S. "Laurentic"
Son of George and Nellie White, of Shalop Cove, St. George's, Newfoundland.
FREDERICK WHITE
who died on July 1, 1916
Service Number: 1481
Age: 24
Force: Army
Unit: Royal Newfoundland Regiment
Son of Edward and Sarah White, of Durrell's Arm, Twillingate.
FREDERICK WHITE
who died on December 3, 1917
Service Number: 3542
Age: 24
Force: Army
Unit: Royal Newfoundland Regiment
Son of Robert and Elizabeth White, of Princeton, Bonavista Bay, Newfoundland. He was recuited on 14 March 1917. He was single and he was employed as a fisherman. He arrived at the front on 14 November 1917.
GORDON WHITE
who died on December 15, 1918
Service Number: 4109
Age: 28
Force: Army
Unit: Royal Newfoundland Regiment
Division: 1st Bn.
Son of James and Elizabeth Ann White, of Little Bay Islands, Notre Dam Bay, Newfoundland.
Lance Corporal
HOLLIE WHITE
who died on April 12, 1918
Service Number: 3847
Force: Army
Unit: Royal Newfoundland Regiment
Son of William White, of Cottell's Cove, New Bay, Twillingate.
MICHAEL WHITE
who died on October 3, 1918
Service Number: 4121
Age: 18
Force: Army
Unit: Royal Newfoundland Regiment
Division: 1st Bn.
Son of Joseph and Evangeline White, of Southeast Bight, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland.
REGINALD BAYLY WHITE
who died on January 9, 1918
Service Number: 3048
Age: 19
Force: Army
Unit: Royal Newfoundland Regiment
Son of William Charles and Frederica Thorne White, of Fogo, Newfoundland.
RICHARD WHITE
who died on April 21, 1917
Service Number: 2354
Age: 21
Force: Army
Unit: Royal Newfoundland Regiment
Son of Nicholas and Bridget White, of Bacon Cove Conception Bay.
WALTER WHITE
who died on October 23, 1918
Service Number: 4056090
Age: 27
Force: Army
Unit: Canadian Expeditionary Force
Division: 1st Depot Bn.
Son of John and Christiana White, of Princeton, Bonavista Bay.
WILLIAM WHITE
who died on July 1, 1916
Service Number: 345
Age: 26
Force: Army
Unit: Royal Newfoundland Regiment
Division: 1st Bn.
Son of Levi and Alice White, of Loon Bay, Notre Dame Bay, Newfoundland.
WILLIS WHITE
who died on July 1, 1916
Service Number: 739
Age: 20
Force: Army
Unit: Royal Newfoundland Regiment
Son of C. S. and Sarah White.
WILLIAM ARTHUR WHITE
who died on July 1, 1916
Service Number: 1632
Age: 21
Force: Army
Unit: Royal Newfoundland Regiment
Son of Mr and Mrs. John White, of Rattling Brook, Notre Dame Bay.
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Karine
non-member comment
Finding a link
Trish, if I can make a suggestion (seeing as I am also looking for a similar link to Nfld soldiers): You might consider WILLIAM VINCENT O'BRIEN, FREDERICK WHITE, WILLIAM WHITE, WILLIS WHITE or WILLIAM ARTHUR WHITE as your best options, because they are said to have died on July 1st...Some of them also died at your age, so further connection. Not sure if they are truly in your family ancestery, or simply have your last name. Just an idea :)Best of luck!