HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1973-06-28, Page 122Section 1, Page 34 THE EXETER TIMES -ADVOCATE JUNE 28, 1973
HURON COUNTY UNIT - Several Exeter and area men were members
of the 161 Regiment of Huron County which was formed in 1915. In this
picture, with Major Heaman out in front, the reginent posed in front of
the.town hall the last time they were in Exeter before going overseas in
1916. They acted as reinforcements for other units and served, among
other places, at Amiens,Paschendale and Vimy. A total of six officers
and 127 men were killed, either in action, or as the result of the
fighting.
161st Battalion enlisted
many from Exeter area
Mere than 50 survivors of the
161st Battalion, Huron County's
unit in World War I, gathered in
Exeter on the weekend to witness
the dedicating of new colours.
About 15 veterans from Clinton
attended the ceremony attended
by veterans from all over the
county. Four former members of
the battalion, Ephriam Snell,
Andrew Steep, Morley Counter
and Frank Andrews, travelled to
Exeter for the event. Also present
were Walter Westlake and S.
Cann, battalion members from
Hayfield while Frank Boyce and
Jack Smith from the village were
unable to attend.
Guest speaker at the ceremony
was J.K. Cornish of Brucefield,
the first man to join the battalion
in Exeter. He recalled the bat-
talion was organized in Clinton on
December 6, 1915 by Col. Combe
and several officers of the old
33rd Huron Regiment. Soon after
that recruiting offices were set up
in various towns in the county
and recruits were trained there
until April 1916 when they came
to Clinton for further training.
The battalion was mobilized
and remained in Clinton until the
end of May with 35 officers and
790 men. Further training took
place in London and Camp
Borden.
In October 1916 the battalion
left Borden and sailed for Britain,
landing at Liverpool then moving
by train for Shorncliff to Lower
Dibgate Camp on November 12.
During the. war the battalion was
used as reinforcement for other
units already in the field.
Members of the 161st served with
the 1st, 4th, 8th, 18th, 38th, 43rd,
47th, 48th, 52nd, 58th, Bn. and the
5th CMR and to several Machine
Gun Corps.
They took part in the battles of
Arras, Avion, Amiens, Bourlon,
Wood, Cambria, Canal Du Nord,
Hill 70, Lens,Paschendale, Vimy,
Valencieenes, Vis-en-
Artois. Killed in action were 6
officers and 111 men with 15 men
dying of wounds in France and
one man missing.
Four officers were awarded the
Military Cross, four men the
D.C.M., 18 the M.M., two the
M.M. and bai' and one, Cpl. Harry
G.B. Miner was awarded the
Victoria Cross and Croix de
Guerre.
Today only two officers are still
living, Lieut. W. O'Neil of Halifax
and formerly of Clinton, and
Lieut. Charles Hall of St. Mary's.
The battalion colours were first
presented to the unit at Camp
Borden on August 29, 1916 by the
ladies of the 'Soldiers Aid
Society" a group of young ladies
from Exeter who worked to
lot (GI 101
provide Red Cross and Hospital
supplies and other war needs.
Ili-October of the same year the
colours were consecrated and
placed in the County Court House
in Goderich for safe keeping until
after the war. After the war, on
May 24, 1920, the colours were
placed in Trivitt Memorial
Anglican Church in Exeter where
they remained until the present.
The new colours, presented at a
ceremony in the church following
a march by the veterans, will also
be kept in Trivitt church.
io Apr 191 i t
Exeter, England
home of Orange
July 18, 1963
Exeter has a significant link
with King William of Orange,
Hon. C. S. MacNaughton
revealed Friday.
This town's mother com-
munity, Exeter, England was the
birthplace of the Orange
movement, the Huron MPP told
the crowd at the July 12
celebration.
Mr. MacNaughton discovered
this while reading his historical
material on King William in
preparation for his appearance*,
here.
Sunday November 11, 1688, the
King (then Prince William of
Orange) attended divine worship
at Exeter cathedral. Ten days
later, a reception was given in
Exeter for Prince William as a
result of which the order called
Orange was first instituted. In the
five days that followed
declarations drawn by the bishop
of Exeter were signed,
establishing the first Orange
confederation.
Orangemen from 32 lodges in
three local counties proved
beyond a shadow of a doubt
Friday they're loyal, proud and
persistent.
Although many of the most
staunch are well up in years, they
marched nearly a two-mile route
through Exeter with hardly a
whimper.
The bigger the badges and
ribbons they displayed on their
chests, the more determined they
seemed to be to complete the
march in grand style.
With past local master Doug
Triebner in colourful King
William costume astride the
white horse, the procession
wended its way north within a
block of No. 83,
The marches were cheered by
a large grandstand crowd as they
completed their procession.
Chairman Oliver Jaques iden-
tified the lodges when they
paraded past the dais.
There were close to 1,000 in the
parade, counting bands,
majorettes and other special
groups.
iCl ICI
EXETER...
16/1
Cutting Hair
RIGHT here in
Exeter for 32 years
Home to the friendliest
people we know!
It's been our pleasure to serve
you for the past 27 years.
CUDMORE
HEATING
Mery & Avis
- 01 1CR ICIf 1p'
Er
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