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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2005-04-06, Page 66 Exeter Times -Advocate Wednesday, April 6, 2005 Opinion Forum News Seniors' perspective Continued from page 5 full battalion, they were split up into other battalions who needed reinforcements who were fighting in France at that time. The 161st remained intact for little more than a year. By the end of 1917, the 5th Division fighting in France had been split up. The 161st was absorbed into the 4th Reserve Battalion and the battalion soldiers went over to France in drafts. At this time Pte. Sydney West became part of the 58th Battalion Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment). He was sent to France and to the front line fighting where he was for eight months. He was killed in action on Oct. 26, 1917 while he was fighting at the Battle of Passchendaele. The Passchendaele Battle occurred from July 31 to early October 1917. Sir Arthur Currie was told by the British commander General Haig to take Passchendael. After personally surveying the terrain—a quagmire of deep heavy mud—he reported that it was not worth one drop of blood. He was ordered to attack on Oct. 26. Soldiers from the 161st were there. Conditions were appalling. The bottomless mud swal- lowed both men and horses. Here Canadian ingenuity came into play. Recalling the old resembled long wood- en pallets, each section easily carried by one man to navigate over the mire. If any fell off the duckboards, they were gone. Many wounded drowned in the muck. Wounds were usually fatal if they became infected with the soil of the Passchendaele, which was fertilized by centuries of human and animal waste. Gas gangrene was the result. The soldiers sloshing around in the trenches looked like a scene from hell. Beyond the barbed wire, the dead and the injured and dead often lay on the ground for hours or days, and the heads of dead men bobbed up and down in the mud -filled shell holes. By Nov. 7 the Canadians seized Passchendaele, show- ing once again that they could accomplish the near impossible. Seven Canadians won Victoria Crosses. They had succeeded where all others had failed, but at a ter- rible cost: 2600 Canadians out of a casualty list of 15,654 died taking 3000 metres of putrid mud. Over 1000 bodies were never recovered, Surveying the battle- field on Nov. 17, General Haig's chief of staff was horri- fied, "Good God, did we really send men to fight in that?". The Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Cemetery where Sydney West was buried is located in the Province of West Flanders. Pte. Sydney West was a member of the Exeter Oddfellows Lodge and was the first of the brethren to pay the ultimate price. He left a wife and three small children to mourn his loss. A memorial service was held at the Trivett Memorial Church in Exeter, Ontario on the evening of Nov. 25, 1917. Pte. Sydney West was the son of Ambrose West of Wootton Wawen, Warwickshire, England and the late Mary West. He was the husband of Harriett Elizabeth West of Exeter Ontario. Next week: Elmer Thomas Willis. Health Section: Herbs & Spices Angelica: This plant is a native of the Baltic and was supposed to have been blessed by St. Michael, hence its name. Despite Angelica's northerly origin it will flourish in most climates and withstand the cold. Medicinal Use: The roots, rhizomes, olant and seeds all possess stimulant and tonic activants. Their use is valuable for stimulating appetite, aiding digestion, pro- ducing perspiration and relieving troublesome coughs and colds. Angelica's complex constituents combine oils, resins and acids. It is a popular ingredient for herb teas. Angelica should not be taken by diabetics as it raises the level of sugar in the blood. A bump on the head A man who had just undergone a very complicated operation kept complaining about a bump on his head and had a terrible headache. Since his operation had been an intestinal one, there was no earthly reason why he should be complaining of a headache. Finally his nurse, fearing that the man might be suf- fering from some post-operative shock, spoke to the doc- tor about it. The doctor assured the nurse, "Don't worry about a thing. He really does have a bump on his head. About halfway through the operation we ran out of anesthetic. Older folks are worth a fortune Remember that old folks are worth a fortune, with sil- ver in their hair, gold in their teeth, stones in their kid- neys, lead in their feet and gas in their stomachs. I've become a little older since I saw you last and a few changes have come into my life, since then. Frankly, I've become quite a frivolous old girl! I'm seeing four gentlemen every day. As soon as I wake up, Will Power helps me get out of bed. Then Charlie Horse comes along and when he's here he takes a lot of my attention. When he leaves, Arthur Ritis shows up and stays the rest of the day. He doesn't like to stay in one place very long so he takes me from joint to joint. After such a busy day, I'm really tired and glad to go to bed with Ben Gay. What a life! The preacher came to call the other day. He said at my age I should be thinking about the hereafter. I told him, oh, I do all the time. No matter where I am - in the parlour, upstairs, in the kitchen or down in the base- ment, I ask myself, "NOW, WHAT AM I HERE AFTER?" Information meeting Dear Editor: Today as I write, the sky is overcast. Last night there was still snow in the air. I would enjoy the snow - if it were December - but it's March, and my heart yearns for spring. I'm longing for warm sunshine and the pun- gent smells of growing things. This weather makes me frustrated, depressed! Sometimes winter is a season that lives in our souls. Everything in our world seems dark and bar- ren and cold. Summer is but a distant memory. Joy is an alien word. Likewise hope. Almost all of us know the sad, tired feelings we call the `winter blahs.' But some of us can get stuck there. The sadness takes up residence in our hearts. The tiredness lives in our bones. Then our families and friends tell us we are depressed. Sometimes it's not sadness but anxiety that makes its home in us. Then ordinary things become fearful. The world becomes a scary place - new situations and strangers seem a threat. We all know those feelings sometimes - maybe the first day on the job or at a new school. But if they come to dwell with us on a constant basis, then we may be struggling with anxiety or depression. Winter doesn't have to last forever. With the loving support of family and friends, and the help of trained professionals, we can grab hold of the signs of spring around us. Hope can once more live in our hearts. If you would like to learn how to bring the gift of springtime to someone you love, or if you want that gift for yourself, then the churches of Zurich would like to help. On Sun., April 10, at 7 pm, we will be hosting an information evening on "Depression & Mental Illness" at the Zurich Bluewater Community Centre. Our speakers will be counselors from Homestead Christian Care, an organization dedicated to helping those who live with mental illness. Come join us - together we can open our hands to God's gift of hope. By coming, it is not a state- ment that you or your loved one suffer in this way - only that you are open to learning and to hope. Your neighbours and friends at Zurich's churches REV. ANN KRUEGER PASTOR OF ST. PETER'S LUTHERAN CHURCH, AND THE PASTORS AND PRIESTS AT ST. BONIFACE CATHOLIC CHURCH, ZURICH MENNONITE CHURCH AND ZURICH UNITED CHURCH. Letters to the Editor Shame on bad manners Dear Editor: Last Wednesday I was at Dr. Fatum's and I was never so embarrassed to be a Canadian. We hear how we are meek, mild and have excellent manners. Excuse me, but this is a myth. There were young men and women (with- out children) sitting there and they would not move out of their chairs to give some of the senior citizens a chair. I'm 61 and I gave up my chair. These people seem to have no conscience or manners. I could see this if they were on crutches or lame, but none were. One very nice gentleman who had two children gave up his chair. Like I said, I was embarrassed; but, these young, very rude people never even gave it a thought. Chivalry is definitely dead. Shame on you and you know who you are. DARLENE GI AVIN, Huron Park, ON Generosity appreciated Dear Editor: On behalf of the Kinsmen Club of Hensall, I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the executive of Community Living - South Huron for the purchase of their new bus. The Kinsmen Club of Hensall are very proud to take part in this endeavor, with the donation of $1000. We, as a service club, enjoy taking part in service projects in our surrounding community, as well as within the Village of Hensall. To change the subject, April is cancer month. I have been a member of the Kinsmen Club of Hensall for the past 40 years. Every one of these years, the Kinsmen Club of Hensall has conducted a door-to-door cancer canvass in the Village of Hensall. In the past years, the residents of Hensall have been very generous with their donations. This year, I hope the residents of Hensall will be just as generous as in the past years when they greet a kins- men or kinette at their door. WAYNE REID, president Kinsmen of Hensall, Hensall, ON Sports and Leisure Show cancelled Dear Editor: The Zurich Lions Club were planning to host their sec- ond annual Sports and Leisure Show from April 22 to 24 at the Bluewater Community Centre in Zurich. Due to lack of interest, the Lions Club has made a tough decision to cancel the show. We are very grateful to the interest that was shown from the community and area for last year's show. The Lions Club will be going ahead with the Fish Fry scheduled for Fri., April 22 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Zurich Complex. Tickets for that event are available from any Lions member or call Richard Erb at 565-5313 or John Becker at 237-3628. JOHN BECKER, sect., Zurich Lions Club, Zurich, ON Do you know your Hospital Board Members? The South Huron Hospital Board Members are volunteers who serve on the Board as representatives of the community served by the Hospital. WATCH FOR MORE MEMBERS TO BE FEATURED NEXT WEEK! MICHAEL HANSEN Mike was born in Sarnia, Ontario and moved from Keswick to Exeter in 2001. He attended Seneca College and Ryerson University taking many industry and business related courses. Mike is a member of the Quality, Risk & Utilization Committee of the Board. Mike, his wife Michelle and their two children, Jordan & Kayla live in Exeter. Michael and his wife Michelle own Hansen's Your Independent Grocer in Exeter. URON OSPITAL SSOCIA770N DR. PETER ENGLERT Dr. Peter Englert was born and raised in Kitchener. He is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario and McMaster University. Peter has held a number of medical related offices both locally and provincially. Currently he is President of the Ontario Region of the Society of Rural Physicians of Canada and is a member of the Board of the Ontario College of Family Physicians. He is Adjunct professor of Family Medicines University of Western Ontario. Peter lives in Grand Bend where he practises at the Grand Bend Community Health Centre. Currently, Dr. Englert is Chief of Staff and currently serves on the Executive & Resource Committee, and Joint Conference Committee.