HEROES OF LUNDY’S LANE

Toronto Globe

[People’s Press 15 May 1900]

Niagara Falls Village, with all its hallowed associations, its historic connection with the stirring times of 1812-14, and its picturesque vicinage to Niagara’s mighty cataract claims a new brightness to its undimmed halo of imperishable glory. Six stalwart soldiers from the little village enrolled themselves under the Union Jack at England’s call for men, and are now on African soil fighting for their Queen and country. It is but fair to give equal prominence to these men among the many brave Canadians whose rise to the call of duty has been portrayed in The Globe’s war pictures. In today’s illustrated supplement their names and photos appear. Of the six, two are members of the 44^th Battalion, and one is a lieutenant in the 2^nd Dragoons, Welland troop.

G. Douglas Palmer of Lundy’s Lane, who enlisted in the Canadian Mounted Rifles and sailed on the Milwaukee, is a son of Capt. Palmer, in the Royal navy, and is a descendent on his mother’s side of the celebrated Black Douglas of Scottish history. Lieut. Palmer is a splendid horseman, of soldierly bearing, and a social favorite in the smart set at the Falls. In his letters home Lieut. Palmer writes enthusiastically of the glories of war, and sees nothing but the bright side of what must sometimes look a gloomy picture indeed.

Joseph J. Stokes of the village of Niagara Falls, aged 23, sailed with the Laurentian as orderly on the Brigade Division Staff, Royal Canadian Artillery. He enjoys the flattering distinction of being selected as orderly on the staff while in barracks at Kingston with D. Battery. Joe is an entertaining writer of camp life and scenes in South Africa, and has participated in some of the stirring scenes that have made the Canadians famous in the war.

Private Aleck Moore sailed on the Milwaukee with D Battery of the second Canadian contingent. He is a recruit from the 44^th Battalion and a general favorite in the village of Niagara Falls. Private Moore is a typical sprig of Erin, born of Irish parents, and a rollicking, whole-souled good fellow. He is a tall, broad-chested and athletic young man of 28 years, and a credit to the old “hill of fire” in Lundy’s Lane. He was one of the first to enroll for the second contingent.

The youngest of the six volunteers for the second contingent to South Africa from Niagara Falls Village is Frederick Speck, aged 20, son of Alderman J.W. Speck. Fred is with D Battery, R.C.A., and sailed on the Milwaukee. He is robust for his years, and is an enthusiastic gunner. Private Speck has seen military life at Camp Niagara as a member of the 44^th Battalion. His description of life on the South African veldts varies somewhat from the tented field pictures of old Niagara. He is a capital marksman and makes a fine soldier.

Herbert Edwards, one of the brave six who left the village of Niagara Falls to sail with the second Canadian contingent on the Milwaukee, is a son of Thomas Edwards of Lundy’s Lane, who served on H.M.S. devastation at the siege of Alexandria. “Like father, like son,” and the fire of war rekindled in the heart of the son the spirit of his warlike sire. Private Edwards is 23 years of age, and a young man of excellent parts. He is with D Battery.

The last of the Niagara Falls village boys to leave for South Africa was Private Archie Pay. He is 25 years of age, and was born in Grantham township, township of Lincoln. Private Pay was enrolled with D Battery, was taken ill while at Kingston, with typhoid fever, and his departure with the boys of D Battery was impossible. As soon as he recovered, however, he succeeded in securing a place with the troops enrolled to fill the gap of those slain in the first contingent, and sailed on the Monterey. His spirit is commendable, and many warm friends wish him safely through the campaign.

The welfare of these six young men is being anxiously looked after by many friends in the Niagara district. Their photos and the data for this sketch have been secured through the efforts of Joseph Forde, whose place of business in the village has been called the “war office” by reason of his enthusiastic patriotism and the numerous are relics he has collected.