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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1981-11-11, Page 14Brussels Post 109th Year — issue No. 45 WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 1981 BRUSSELS ONTARIO Plan C of C here LEFT TO RIGHT — Fred, Roy and Joe Thuell Brussels council passed a bylaw to officially purchase the Brussels cemetery for a price of$2 when council met in regular session last Monday. The village decided to install the sewer line into the trailer park, to the inlet of the septic tanks, as soon as the weather permits in the spring. Council approved the proposed Krauter, McDonald, Bryans subdivision as revised September 24 from a three zone stage to a two zone change. Council discussed inviting tenders for a new 1981 one ton truck for the village and the P.U.C. to be in by November 6. Council was going to request the fire department put a used gas tank on the van as a new gas tank would be too expensive. The village expressed displeasure at the condition of the roads after Bell Telephone put in underground services and intends to inform all of their displeasure. Building permits were approved for Gordon Miller - siding and Dave Hastings - roofing. The village is also talking of changing its tax billing to another company because if the telephone quote from the new company is correct, it would be half as much as the village paid for services last year. ESTABLISHED 1872 Brussels buys cemetery for $2 Remembrance Day is sacred says WWI vet BY DEBBIE RANNEY "Remembrance Day is very sacred to me. It brings back memories, very close memories of very special buddies who gave the supreme sacrifice. It was indeed a sad experience to see one of your closest buddies give up his life. Therefore Remembrance Day will always be ne ar and dear to my heart." Those words come from Fred Thuell of Brussels, a First World War veteran who served in various capacities during the war. During some of his activities, the bullets came so close to his head he could feel the breeze from them as they went by. Three Thuell brothers from Morris Township -- Fred, Roy and Joe enlisted in the First World War. Roy enlisted in December of 1915 and Joe and Fred enlisted on January 7 or 8, 1916 in the 161st Huron Battalion. 71 members from Brussels and the surrounding area were in that Battalion. They trained in Brussels in the winter of 1915-16 and went to Wingham which was the headquarters of A Company, to which the Brussels Platoon belonged. Their Company Commander was Major Sinclair and their Battalion Commander was Colonel Coombs of Clinton. From Wingham, they proceeded to London where the battalion was assembled for a short period of time. Then they went to Camp Borden, sailed from there early in October 1916 and embarked from Halifax to Southampton, England and from there were dispatched to Shornecliffe, England. At this time, Fred was'16, his brother Joe 17 and his brother Roy was 20. The following is a story of Fred's experience in the First. World War. Being 16 years of age, he was transferred from Shornecliffe to the 34th Boys Battalion in Shoreham, England where he spent the winter as batman for the Battalion adjutant. From Shoreham, he was transfer- red to Bramshot, England to the Western Ontario Regimental Depot and was given a medical category of C-3 which meant he was to return to Canada. He was given another medical examination before departure and received an A-1 category so was transfer- red to the 25th Reserve Battalion, Bramshot, a reinforcement battalion for the Second Pioneers in France. QUARANTINE He was put on draft to the Second Pioneers in France and then he developed a throat infection and a very high fever and was invalided out of the line. Fred was shipped back to England and put in quarantine in Bramshot for six or eight weeks. Upon his recovery, he was transferred to the Fourth Reserve Battalion in Bramshot and later was put on draft to the First Battalion in France. Upon final inspection he was removed from the draft and replaced by another soldier. He was then transferred to Purfleet outside of London, England and attached to the newly formed Battalion 13th C.R.T. -- Canadian Railway Troops and was sent to France with that Battalion early in December 1917 and spent the remainder of the war in France. The C.R.T. were responsible mainly for delivering supplies and ammunition to the Gunnery, Batteries and Soldiers. It was their duty to lay the light gauge track for the light gauge railway. On Armistice Day, November 11, 1918, Fred was in Valenciennes , France, eight miles. from, the Belgian border and after that moved to Mons, Belgium where he was billeted in boxcars alongside-the canal which ran on the outskirtsof Mons. He was picked from the Battalion and transferred to England in February 1919 where he was assigned to headquarters staff at Whitley Camp in England as driver for the command pay office where he received an Acting Sargent's rank and $1 extra pay a day. He served there until the camp was closed in early September 1919. He was discharged and returned to Canada on September 22, 1919. COMBAT Asked about his role in the fighting, Fred said, "I was involved in actual combat all through my service," even when he was giving out supplies, he was in combat. "We would lay this light guage railway and the enemy would blow it out with artillery. "I had a varied career though the war. I was !moved around considerably and experienced a lot of activity throughout the war." Weather conditions were not always the best. There was a lot of rain and the soldiers had no protection from the weather other than the trenches which were generally muddy sometimes there • was a foot or more of mud in them. When Fred was with the railway troops they'd just find cover as best they could. They couldn't put up any tents or the enemy would blow them. all to pieces with artillery fire Their rations were sometimes confined to emergency, "but fortunately we receiv- ed our issues of rum, night and morning Which kind of kept our spirits up," Fred said. Fred's brother Roy was wounded at Passchendale when a bullet went through Please turn to page 3 If you're interested in trying to help the Brussels community be more attractive and inviting then you might like to join the Chamber of Commerce. On Monday night, a number of the Brussels merchants met to discuss setting up a Chamber of Commerce, but as only a few people attended, another meeting has been arranged, for this Thursday, November 12 at 8 p.m. at the Brussels Inn. This meeting is not just for merchants but Short Shots by Evelyn Kennedy Remember them. Forget not the horror,of war. Pray for peace. ****** The Horticultural Society of Brussels and District will hold their meeting on Monday, November 16th. It should be an interesting meeting. See coming events in this paper to find out just what will be going on. ****** As war veterans gather around Cenotaphs on November 11th what do they remember? Is it the moment of thankfulness when they knew the war was over and their lives had been spared. Or do they hear, again the fearful clamour of war; cries of agony of their fallen comrades. Is it the valour of those beside them on land, water or in the air that they remember as they assemble this day to pay tribute to their dead. We suspect that their eyes too are misty as are those who have gathered with them to honour the memory of loved ones who did not come home. ****** Leaders for the Guides and Pathfinders groups are urgently needed, also mothers to take an active part in the Mothers Group. These mothers are the ones who find ways to provide financial aid when needed. If support is not forthcoming for both more leaders and mothers interested enough to come forward and help those already involved in working for the good of their daughters they will have to suspend operation. See the Letter to the Editor for more information. * * * * * * St. Ambrose C.W.L. will hold their Christmas Bazaar, Tea and Draw on Saturday, December 5. Look for particulars in coming events and reserve this date. * * * * Both Canada's federal and provincial governments are united in an attack on alcohol abuse: Last month the retommend- ations of a task group on Med-heal and youth were discussed. An eciticatirmal program, Specifically for young people about alcohol abuse, will be initiated. A Canadian Medical for anyone who would be interested in helping to make improvements to the community. Remembrance service today Remembrance Day services will be held today, November 11 starting at the Brussels cenotaph at '10:30 a.m. A church service will follow at Duff's United Church in Walton at 11:00. Association statement recently declared alcohol "the greatest public health problem in Canada." Anything that can be done to impress young people about the hazards of alcohol abuse should have everyone's support. The number of alcohol related car accidents that claim the lives of so many young people are only one of the tragic results of alcohol abuse. ****** Football fans had two exciting close games to entertain them Sunday afternoon. Ottawa and Montreal fought it out on the Roughriders' muddy, slippery home field. Hurrah! Ottawa hung on to their slender margin in the dying moments of the game to win the C.F.L. Eastern Division Champion- ship over Montreal with a 20-16 victory. The Roughriders were the underdogs. Most people forecast an Alouette win. It was the same in the West. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers with two decisive victories over the B.C. Lions were favoured as the Western Division Champions. Again the underdogs won. B.C. Lions scored a slim 15-11 win. ****** Diana, Princess of Wales, is expecting a baby in June. Now, perhaps, the harassing reporters who have hounded them since they first learned of the romance of Diana and Charles, can leave them alone to enjoy some privacy. At least they can now stop needling Prince Charles to "Get on with it and do his duty." It is said there is the possibity"that Diana may have twins. There has been twins in her past family history. If that happens which twin would be second in line for the throne? Guess it would be the first-born one. * * * * * * Marlene Roberton, public health nurse, will be the special speaker at the Brussels Horne and School meeting on Monday, November 16. The subject will be the School Health Program including Sex education for pupils of older grades and possibly drug and alcohol abuses. In view of the problem of lice in the schools of other communities it might be well for parents to attend this meeting and obtain information on how to guard against such a problem here.