Throughout my childhood my siblings and I often heard stories about our distant ancestors, from those who lived near Eilean Donan castle in Scotland, to a soldier wounded on the Plains of Abraham and a pilot who died in the First World War. An outline of this personal family history was written in 1918 by my Great Grandmother Mary E.E. McRae (nee Hunt). Her son Gwynnyd McRae, the pilot who died during the Great War, was included in "British Roll of Honour", a collection of soldier biographies, which was published shortly after the First World War.
For the 100th anniversary of his death, I want to use the biography and poem that she wrote as a basis for telling the larger story of this family history.
The following is the biography of Gwynnyd McRae as it appeared in "British Roll of Honour". I also added Links within her text to pages which provide interesting details.
Malcolm McRae,
20 January 2018
For the 100th anniversary of his death, I want to use the biography and poem that she wrote as a basis for telling the larger story of this family history.
The following is the biography of Gwynnyd McRae as it appeared in "British Roll of Honour". I also added Links within her text to pages which provide interesting details.
Malcolm McRae,
20 January 2018
FLIGHT-LIEUTENANT RONALD GWYNNYD
MONTAGUE MCRAE
OF THE
ROYAL FLYING CORPS
' The second son of Mr and Mrs A.C. McRae of Weston, Ontario. Flight Lieutenant Ronald Gwynnyd Montague McRae was 23 years of age when he fell in action in France on January 28th, 1918.
He received his education at the High School Weston Ontario, passing his matriculation and teacher’s examinations with the highest honours of any Weston scholar and on the outbreak of the war he was studying law at Osgoode Hall Toronto. At the time of his enlistment he was in his third year at law and gave promise of a brilliant career. He took his first two years of practical law work with G. H. Gray Esq. L.L.B. of Weston. He enlisted in the 208th Battalion rising rapidly to the rank of Sergeant and immediately afterwards on passing the necessary examinations was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. As soon as he obtained his pilots certificate he left for England on September 29th, 1917, being one of a party of sixty officers of the Royal Flying Corps. They left Union Station, Toronto amid a great ovation from their relatives and friends and a number of University men, gathered together to pay a fitting tribute to these stalwart sons of a great land, who were following duty’s path into danger and hardship from which many were destined never to return.
On arrival in England Lieut. McRae completed a course in scout-machine work at the Central Flying School in Upavon, Wiltshire, and then went to Turnberry, Scotland, for a course in aerial gunnery. From the latter he proceeded to France, where he joined the 24th Squadron, and the commanding officer in a letter to his parents said that on January 28th, 1918, Lieut. McRae’s areoplane went to pieces in the air under strain during an evolution at a height of three or four thousand feet, the gallant young aviator being instantly killed.
The commanding officer also said:
“His death was a great blow to all in his squadron, as his cheery smile, personality and extremely good record would long be remembered by all the officers and men of his squadron with whom he was a great favourite.”
With full military honours he was laid to rest in his soldier’s grave in France, whilst at his home town, the flag was hung at half mast for several days, announcing to his many sorrowing friends that one more soldier-citizen had passed on to the Higher Service.
From Sir Frederick Ponsonby, Keeper to the Privy Purse, Mr and Mrs McRae received the following gracious message:
"The King and Queen deeply regret to hear the loss you and the army have sustained by the death of your son in the service of his country and I am commanded to convey to you the expression of their Majesties true sympathy with you in your sorrow.”
Among the many other expressions of sympathy, greatly appreciated by the sorrowing family, was a resolution of condolence from the Mayor and Council of Weston, who also presented an exquisite gold medal to Mr. and Mrs. McRae in memory of their son.
Lieut. McRae came from a very old Scotch military family, and has proved himself worthy of the traditions of a long line of soldiers who never spared themselves in the cause of Honour and Justice. He was the grandson of the late Major William McRae, of Hopetown, Quebec, and the great grandson of the late Lieut Colonel Farquhar McRae, of Hopetown, Quebec who was the son of the late Colonel Duncan McRae of the 92nd Gordon Highlanders, who took part in the taking of Quebec, 1759, and who then carried the sword handed down to him by his ancestors who fought in the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. This same sword is now in the possession of Andrew Cameron McRae, Lieut McRae’s father.
Though Lieut. McRae now sleeps in his grave in the British cemetery at Ham, near St. Quentin, in France, his memory will remain forever green in the distant land that gave him birth.
In The Times and Guide, a Weston paper, the following poem, In Memoriam, written by Mrs McRae in memory of her gallant son, was published, and we cannot more fittingly close this inadequate memoir by reproducing it here.'
He received his education at the High School Weston Ontario, passing his matriculation and teacher’s examinations with the highest honours of any Weston scholar and on the outbreak of the war he was studying law at Osgoode Hall Toronto. At the time of his enlistment he was in his third year at law and gave promise of a brilliant career. He took his first two years of practical law work with G. H. Gray Esq. L.L.B. of Weston. He enlisted in the 208th Battalion rising rapidly to the rank of Sergeant and immediately afterwards on passing the necessary examinations was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. As soon as he obtained his pilots certificate he left for England on September 29th, 1917, being one of a party of sixty officers of the Royal Flying Corps. They left Union Station, Toronto amid a great ovation from their relatives and friends and a number of University men, gathered together to pay a fitting tribute to these stalwart sons of a great land, who were following duty’s path into danger and hardship from which many were destined never to return.
On arrival in England Lieut. McRae completed a course in scout-machine work at the Central Flying School in Upavon, Wiltshire, and then went to Turnberry, Scotland, for a course in aerial gunnery. From the latter he proceeded to France, where he joined the 24th Squadron, and the commanding officer in a letter to his parents said that on January 28th, 1918, Lieut. McRae’s areoplane went to pieces in the air under strain during an evolution at a height of three or four thousand feet, the gallant young aviator being instantly killed.
The commanding officer also said:
“His death was a great blow to all in his squadron, as his cheery smile, personality and extremely good record would long be remembered by all the officers and men of his squadron with whom he was a great favourite.”
With full military honours he was laid to rest in his soldier’s grave in France, whilst at his home town, the flag was hung at half mast for several days, announcing to his many sorrowing friends that one more soldier-citizen had passed on to the Higher Service.
From Sir Frederick Ponsonby, Keeper to the Privy Purse, Mr and Mrs McRae received the following gracious message:
"The King and Queen deeply regret to hear the loss you and the army have sustained by the death of your son in the service of his country and I am commanded to convey to you the expression of their Majesties true sympathy with you in your sorrow.”
Among the many other expressions of sympathy, greatly appreciated by the sorrowing family, was a resolution of condolence from the Mayor and Council of Weston, who also presented an exquisite gold medal to Mr. and Mrs. McRae in memory of their son.
Lieut. McRae came from a very old Scotch military family, and has proved himself worthy of the traditions of a long line of soldiers who never spared themselves in the cause of Honour and Justice. He was the grandson of the late Major William McRae, of Hopetown, Quebec, and the great grandson of the late Lieut Colonel Farquhar McRae, of Hopetown, Quebec who was the son of the late Colonel Duncan McRae of the 92nd Gordon Highlanders, who took part in the taking of Quebec, 1759, and who then carried the sword handed down to him by his ancestors who fought in the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. This same sword is now in the possession of Andrew Cameron McRae, Lieut McRae’s father.
Though Lieut. McRae now sleeps in his grave in the British cemetery at Ham, near St. Quentin, in France, his memory will remain forever green in the distant land that gave him birth.
In The Times and Guide, a Weston paper, the following poem, In Memoriam, written by Mrs McRae in memory of her gallant son, was published, and we cannot more fittingly close this inadequate memoir by reproducing it here.'
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'Far o’re the sea, in shell torn France
Gwynnyd McRae, a Weston Aviator lies But his pure brave soul soared heavenward Triumphant through the skies. Fair hair, pink cheeks, bright blue-grey eyes And a winning smile had he: A manly stalwart handsome boy Who was past twenty-three. He left the seats of learning. Where his talents brightly shone. But he hoped to return to Osgoode After the war was done. He enlisted with the 2-0-8th, A gallant lot were they, And soon became attached to them In a true fraternal way. But men were sorely needed For the Royal Flying Corps, So to help his country win He joined them to do more. The autumn winds were sighing He bade his loved ones adieu, And o’er the vast ocean going To his duty he was true He made many friends in England And in Bonnie Scotia too. But his heart was in his homeland Which he never more might view. He took gunnery in England And in Scotland too as well Then across the channel to France Where his tragic fate befell. He found France fighting bravely To keep the Huns at bay. He longed to help the country In an aviator’s way. Then writing home to his mother He told of rows of graves in France. And the desolated country That had suffered great mischance. He wrote brightly to his sisters, Of the time he would return, And bade them comfort mother, As his loving heart did yearn. To his brothers and his father, Such kind earnest letters penned, They little thought they were the last That ever he would send. And then one dreadful morning, A sad cablegram arrived. Telling of the tragic fate That there boy betide. No more for him the buzzing plane, The eager crowds below. In vain his comrades long for him Who had so soon to go. But duty’s call he headed o’er, His comrades true he left. Soared up from squadron twenty-four So soon to be bereft. The armies watched with ‘bated breath, The daring birdman rise, As “Per ardua ad astra” He climbed up in the skies. Then various evolutions, He performed with wonderous skill Before the applauding armies, That showed there great good-will. Wile soaring many thousand feet, High above the camp. He dipped and dived, then lowered fast, Far in the chilling damp. But lo the wires weakened, snapped. Hurling down he came. Oh God! In what a plight to be! How fearful was the scene! The draw a veil o’er it all, The fearful agonizing sight; Such a gallant aviator’s life, Put out like a candle at night. He was a skilled young airman, Trained well in all the art Of handling any air-craft, Quite well he knew his part. With military honours the Royal Flying Corps Laid our brave Canadian to rest, And marked his grave with a wooden cross, To show his friends who loved him best. In the British cemetery he is buried, At Ham, near St Quentin in France, Nearby, the bass-voiced guns are roaring But he hears not their thunderous chants. His grave is far from his kindred, Yet only marked with a wooden cross ; But he was one of the earth’s noblest, His friends deeply mourn his loss. Far away in saddened Weston, The flag at half mast hung, For the gallant boy who had done his best In hope of final victory won. The Mayor and Council sitting Their deepest sympathy expressed By a resolution of condolence To the mourners so distressed. The Weston council and citizens, Honoured this young hero brave, And an exquisite gold medal In his memory to his parents they gave. Our gracious King and Queen Their sympathy conveyed In a very kind letter To his parents grief-dismayed. In dear old St Phillips church The sorrowing people prayed That God would comfort the mourners And keep them undismayed. The loving Rector tenderly Said the young Flight Lieutenant there Had knelt at Holy Communion On last leave, bowed in prayer. The other Weston churches too Their sympathy also gave To this grief-stricken family, Whose boy is in his grave. Kind friends tried to cheer the mourners In their hour to deepest woe, Their true sympathy was offered. It was all that they could do. Now we leave our hero sleeping, Far away in Sunny France, Praying God we all may meet him In that land of Heavenly chance. MARY E. E. McRae March 1st, 1918 |
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