PostOfficeHonorRole6Nov1916n0qp0668
Edmonton Bulletin
6 Nov 1916
n0qp0668
HONOR ROLL OF POST OFFICE EMPLOYES UNVEILED YESTERDAY
Tribute Paid to Those of Staff Who Have Entered Upon
Active Military Service-- Unveiling is Performed by Lieut.-Colonel Edwards.
Address is Also Given by Postmaster George S. Armstrong.
"I shall always think of it when I come into the post office, and when I
reach the wicket beyond which I cannot pass shall remember with pride that
behind is an honor roll in which I can truly claim to have part, and before
which I can come to the salute in honor to the men who at one time used to
salute me."
Thus Lieut. Col. Edwards eulogized the spirit and devotion of members of the
Postal Clerks' Association, yesterday afternoon, when unveiling the honor roll
of members of the association who have enlisted during the present war. The
ceremony formed the occasion of an interesting little gathering at the post
office yesterday afternoon, those in attendance consisting of a large number of
the post office staff with some of their relatives. Postmaster George S.
Armstrong, who presided, and Lieut. Col. Edwards who carried out the unveiling
Fine Piece of Artistic Work.
The honor roll, which was mounted on a stand and draped and covered with flags,
is an admirable piece of work carried out in colors, with black and gold
lettering, and was designed and executed by F. Southgate, a member of the staff
of postal clerks. The roll, which is that of the postal clerks alone, and does
not include the letter carriers, contains 32 names of men who have enlisted in
various regiments from the earliest days of recruiting in the city. One has
been killed, and several have been wounded and others are missing, their fate
unknown. The top carries the words "Edmonton Postal Clerks Honor
Roll" done in gold letters and the figure of a soldier bearing a rifle and
flag.
Postmaster's Address.
In opening the proceedings Postmaster Armstrong spoke of the pleasure it was to
have Lieut. Col. Edwards with them to perform the auspicious rite for which
they had gathered. Events like this did not take place very often, and it must
be a source of gratification to all that those who had left to fight for king
and country were being honored in this way by those left behind. He was able to
tell them that 60 had enlisted from the post office, which gave some idea of
the spirit of those who were engaged in the service of the country. Some had
made the greatest gift of all-- their lives-- but although they had gone there
was the gratification of knowing that they had given them in the greatest cause
the world had known, and that they had not died in vain.
Lt. Col. Edwards Speech.
Lieut. Col. Edwards said that he felt those who were facing him had the same
spirit of those who had gone even though they had not done so. What was greater
than to follow the path of duty, whether it was at the front or at home? What
way could a man end his life better than in sacrifice for others? Those who had
gone would be held in special honor and grateful memory, and as Canadians they
could not feel but that they had been privileged to take part in the greatest
conflict for principle that had ever been fought. Those who had gone would be
honored, not only today, but in years to come, and future generations of those
who came into the building would learn to know those who had performed their
duty and made this sacrifice. Colonel Edwards went on to say that this
sacrifice made by others should make them feel that their own lives had been
uplifted and consecrated to something higher than before. They ought to be a
truer nation, a nobler people, a people more worthy of this magnificent new
land, building up in Canada ideals that they had before recognized but never
carried out.
It was a matter of pride to him that there were 10 names in the roll of men who
had served under him in the 101st Regiment. He had given 40 years of his life
to the idea of preparing himself and others for service of this kind, without
realizing what was exactly before them, but with the feeling that some time or
other the preparation would not have been in vain, and now that he was not able
to go himself he felt a great pride in the fact that the men who he had helped
to train were today their part in the great conflict, and that he had his part
through them, even if he had not fired a shot in the great war. He trusted that
so long as the post office remained that the memorial would be always treated
with honor and respect and that every man who came there would learn to
recognize the fact that that the memory of these men was to be kept green for
all time to come. He thanked them for the honor accorded him in inviting him to
take part.
Vote of Thanks Passed.
On the motion of H. J. Talbot, second by E. Crossland, secretary of the Postal
Clerk's Association, a vote of thanks was accorded to Lieut.-Col. Edwards for
carrying out the ceremony.
The proceedings closed with the singing of "God Save the King."
Names on Honor Roll.
Following are the names of the honor roll:
Pte. A. R. McKenzie, Canadian Postal Corps.
Sergt. L. A. Exham, 3rd C.M.R., wounded in action.
Pte. H. A. Barnett, 19th Dragoons.
Corp. W. M. Stanley, 3rd C.M.R.
Pte. A. Grieve, 101st Regiment.
Pte. C. L. Perry, 3rd C.M.R., wounded in action.
Pte. E. H. Pallister, 3rd C.M.R., prisoner of war.
Pte. P. R. Poole, 19th Dragoons.
Pte. J. Jacques, 66th Battalion, missing.
Lieut. J. N. Tessier, 233rd Battalion.
Pte. V. P. Hawgood, Canadian Pioneers.
Sergt. W. Adamson, 101st Regiment.
Pte. O. P. Harkless, 101st Regiment.
Pte. S. H. Surtees, 202nd Battalion.
Pte. C. V. Schroeter, 194th Battalion.
Pte. R. F. Brinkman, 202nd Battalion.
Sergt. G. M. Beaton, 101st Regiment.
Sergt. Jas. Cairns, 101st Regiment.
Pte. J. H. Hetherington, Canadian Postal Corps.
Pte. R. S. Hardisty, C.F.A.
Pte. T. A. Kinnaird, C.F.A., killed in action.
Pte. A. Lyttle, 66th Battalion.
Sergt. A. Attenborough, C.A.M.C.
Corp. A. W. Britton, Canadian Postal Corps.
Pte. Louis Miller, 138th Battalion.
Pte. Reg. Tinsley, 138th Battalion.
Pte. R. Cook, 63rd Battalion, missing.
Pte. Alec. Adamson, 101st Regiment.
Corp. W. S. Warne, 138th Battalion.
Pte. A. D. Simonson, 223rd Battalion.
Q.R. Sergt. J. Hartley, 218th Battalion.
Pte. J. Forest, Canadian Engineers.
Extracted by J. Kynman 2009-05-16
