HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1979-11-28, Page 7•
Lncknow Sentinel,. Wednesday, November 28, 1979—Page 7
Towards the end of May 1'9'15, Sergeant Angus
MacCrimmon was transferred from France to a.
hospital in London, England. Angus was net really.:a
bed patient 'but the wound in his abdomen required
special treatment. Most or the time he sat around -in
hospital uniform, reading •or playing cards with the
other patients. For the very first time he was able to
become acquainted with the people of the mother
country and theirway of life. The food., was an
improvement on the battlefield rations, but it lacked
imagination in both quality and quantity. Some items
relished by the English, Angus would never have
become used to - things like kippers and tripe. There
was too much mutton on the diet sheet and too little
beef. Any complaints to the old battle axe of a matron,
always brought the sante response. '`Don't you know
there's a war on?" Angus dreamed of a good thick
steak, apple pie and coffee • real coffee. The stuff
which the Bronco's dished out would never be his cup
of tea.
The news of the gallant exploits of the Caledonian
:Scottish was still a topic of conversation and the
wealthy ladies who visited the soldiers in hospital, to
show everybody they were willing to "do their bit",
spoke highly of the "brave colonials". Colonial was a
term which made Angus see red and he reminded
these ladies of charity that colonial was not his handle.
"I ain't no colonial. I m a c;anadran - so 1 a.m.'."
One day a reporter fromone of the daily
newspapers carne to the hospitalto. see Angus. It had
been quiet on the western front for a few days and the
man simply had to find something to, write about. The
War Office- files indicated that a.certain Sergeant
,MacCrimmon would be a likely source for a feature
article. The newspaperman snoke with a superior air -
as if he was doing Angus a favour by visiting .him.
Before the man opened his mouth, Angus was on the
attack,
'How, old are you,. mister.?`. . he asked the
would-be interviewer.
•`f'm 28 why, 'What makes you ask?"
"W'ell 1 figured youare about my age ,interested.
in warstories are yer?''
"I'm interested in you. ".understand you played a
rna}or role in the assa;.rit by,the Caledonian Scottish on
the German •Ilnes. You are quite the -hero, I am told."
Angus instinctively disliked the roan and he -felt.
hostility rising within him
"You might think ytr cah write about people, but
you_ sure 'as 'ell dont know' people. There ain't no
"eros. There are rnen who feel they 'ave ter' fight for
what they believe'in - but you ain tone of them. A
man who fights ter stay alive ain't -no 'ero. - anybody.
fights ter ,live - even, a barn rat will do .that." .
Angus walked away from the newspaper man and
then he turned abruptly and shouted for everybody in.
.the ward to hear.
'1 ain't tellin . you about the trenches 'cause I figure
that's where you should be - if you're so damned keen
about writin' war stories, get a uniform on and get out
th r - l know nothing -about 'ero but I knows about
e eis
cowards - I'm lookin' at one -.so Lam!"
Fara away. in Sudbury, Canada, there was also a
hospital and it .was there that a woman who had once.
been a MacLeod, gave birth to her child, Mary held
the wee babe to her breast. Its hair was black and it
had the. characteristic features of a highland bairn. As
she fed life into its eager mouth she • felt the
accomplishment and `happiness known only to a
mother. It was a man child'and it was a MacCrimmon
the last of a line of MacCrimmons who would not bear
that. proud narge.
Mary's legal .husband, the blond haired Swede,
Carl Neilson, spent many ..hours by her bedside;
gazing with pride at his. beautiful wife and -,the child
which he had accepted.as his own..
"We call it Erick," he told Mary. "That my father's
name - Erick Neilson."
Every day he brought some small but meaningful
gifts. Flowers, candy and always the newspaper to
pass away the time before 'she returned home. One
day as she scanned through the pages of the Sudbury
Times, her eyes caught the headline "Ontario soldier
decorated". Her heart raced and the blood pounded in
her head as she read the report.
"Sergeant Angus MacCrimmon of the Caledonian
Scottish Regiment has been awarded the Military
Medal for bravery during a recent action in France.
According to the War Office report, Sergeant
MacCrimmon, fighting single handed in a German
trench, was instrumental in spearheading the
Canadian attack, which resulted in the capture of
German positions. MacCrimmon was wounded
during the action but is now safe and recovering in a.
London hospital."
Mary buried her face in the pillow ° and holding her
child very close, sobbed quietly, as she whispered a
prayer of thanks to her God.
When the report reached Redtrees, the little village
received the news with excitement. Angus was a hero
and Redtrees was suddenly'an important place. The
postmaster hitched horse to buggy and set off.with a
-,copy of the newspaper to the Hungry Hundred. He
drove in,haste along the dirt roads, and every now and
then the buggy skidded as the wheels caught in the
hardened ruts, made during the;,springtime mud. In
his, haste. his mind did no•t dwell upon the glory of. the
new life which was returning to the rolling land. The
wheat sown last fall was now strong lines of fertility on
the sandy soil and the trees were a profusion of green
young leaves, waving gently in the warmth of the
morning' sun.
James MacCrinimon came out of the house when
the buggy came to 'a halt in the laneway. The
postmaster jumped from the buggy and waved the
newspaper in triumph.
"It's -a great day for us all, James- we are all very
proud - you lad has won the Military Medal".
James didn't read the paper and his face was' calm.
He walked over to the rail fence and looked out across,
the land. as if he saw the figure of his son out there,
where he really belonged!
'.'That's Angus." he said softly and tears came into
his eyes. "That's my boy.".
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_ PUBLIC
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,
ONE DAY ONLY
,
1 `Saturday, December 1st, 1979,
Bedford Arms Motel Si
Highway No. 21 Goderich
;'
$ 9 I Y ,#.
Phone 524-7348
in good condition
CASH PAID FOR ALL SILVER
& GOLD COINS.
PAYING:
SKI° and up for Silver Dollar
dated 1967 & before
400.for 50' Pieces dated 1967 8. before
$220 for 25' Pieces dated 1966 & before
40` for Silver Dimes dated 1968 & before
Canadian Olympic coins, American
Silver dollars & aII Gold Coins wanted
A Good Setectiotzi Available
)0.•
Sepoy *,
Stationery
Open Six Days A Week
LUCKNOW PHONE 528.2919
-J