Memorial Proposed for Isabel Hampton Robb
[Welland Telegraph, 30 May 1916]
It will interest many readers of The Telegraph in town and country to learn that a movement was started in the United States some time ago to raise $50,000 as an endowment for a memorial for the late Isabel Hampton Robb. Mrs. Robb was born in Welland and after graduating from the Welland High School taught school for a time at Merritton. She was graduated as a nurse from the Bellevue Hospital, New York, and then went to Rome, Italy, returning to take the superintendency of the large Cook County Hospital at Chicago. Her appointment to be head of the hospital of Johns Hopkins University gave her great scope for the undoubted genius she possessed. In the organization of the training school for nurses her achievement placed her as a leader in the nursing profession. It was while here that she issued the textbooks that are today classic in the United States and indeed throughout the world for they have been translated into many tongues.
Already nearly twenty thousand dollars have been subscribed for the endowment fund which is to provide scholarships for advanced courses in hospital administration and social welfare. At the head of the board which is to administer the fund is Miss M. Adelaide Nutting of Columbia University. Miss Nutting is also a Canadian (a native of Ottawa) who has won distinction in the great profession which Mrs. Robb so conspicuously adorned.
It has been thought that many in Welland where Mrs. Robb was born would be glad to assist with the endowment fund and any such are asked to send their contributions to Miss L.J. Gross, Welland, who will make suitable acknowledgment.
Only Son of Mayor John H. Crow and Mrs. Crow of Welland Awarded Military Cross Which He Had Not Yet Received From King
NARROW ESCAPE OF HIS SISTER, MISS CROW, FROM GOING IN CANAL WITH CAR.
[Welland Tribune, 21 September 1916]
Flags on the public buildings of Welland are flying at half mast. Welland mourns the death of one of her brightest sons and the sympathy of the entire community is extended to Mayor John H. Crow and family, who were notified yesterday afternoon that Lieutenant Gordon Willson Crow had been killed in action Sunday last, Sept. 17. The first word was received yesterday afternoon in a cable from Major McDonald, who was Lt. Crow’s commanding officer. This was followed by the official notification this morning from Ottawa.
Deceased was the only son of Mayor and Mrs. Crow, and besides his bereaved parents, is survived by one sister, Miss Muriel Crow. He was born in Welland in May, 1894, and was therefore 22 years of age. He attended Welland public and high schools, matriculating from the latter institution in 1910. He then attended Toronto University and Victoria College, graduating in arts in 1914. In 1915 he took his first year’s exam in medicine.
In University life he was very active, playing college tennis, basketball and water polo. His chief athletic sport was swimming and he had been a member of a team in many intercollegiate matches, winning a medal at McGill University, Montreal. He was a member of the University club and had won a medal for achievement in that line. While a schoolboy in Welland, he was an active member of the Welland Rifle Club.
Lt. Crow enlisted in the 26th Battery in March, 1915, serving six months in training as a gunner. He then took out a commission as lieutenant, and qualified at Kingston Military school. Eager to get to the front, he then became attached as supernumerary to the 31st Battery, without pay. In November 1915 he was sent overseas with a draft of 50 men and finally joined the 7th Battery, 2nd Brigade, 1st Canadian Contingent, going on active duty in February 1916. He had therefore served at the front for seven months without leave of absence, but this was largely of his own choice, as he was anxious to stay. His letters, the last one received having been written on Sept. 4th, were always hopeful.
It will be remembered that Lieut. Crow recently was awarded the Military Cross, a miniature of which was received here this week by his parents. This decoration would have been presented to him by the King on his first leave of absence, had he not met death on the field of battle. In all his letters, he modestly refrained from telling of the action which won him this honor. The official report states: “Lieut. Gordon Willson Crow repelled with a revolver a party of the enemy, then reconnoitred and sent back information of the enemy’s new position.”
Just before the war broke out in 1915, he had taken a trip over most of the countries in the western theatre of war. War was declared while he was on the ocean on the return trip and on his arrival here he said he wished he had been in England when this occurred, and he would have joined the British army. While on the Rhine in Germany he met a young German officer who was then enroute to join his army and Lt. Crow, recalling their conversation in the light of later events, knew that the German officer was aware that the Germans were about to strike.
Lt. Crow was an exemplary young man in every respect, with splendid physique and the assurance of a brilliant future. His death has cast a deep gloom over the whole town.
Miss Crow’s Close Call
Yesterday afternoon, previous to learning of her brother’s death, Miss Muriel Crow had a narrow escape from possible death. She was driving her father’s auto and in turning around on the tow path at Dain city, the brakes failed to work and the car started to back down the bank toward the water. With marvellous presence of mind, Miss Crow whirled the steering gear and the car quickly turned broadside to the canal, with one front wheel in the water, when she succeeded in bringing it to a stop. She was accompanied by Mr. Kottmeier of Toronto. The failure of the brakes to work is attributed to the use of the car through the Adirondacks for the past ten days, when it is supposed they had become worn. The car was pulled back up the bank by a passing motor truck and Miss Crow drove it back to Welland.
14 March 1879-15 September 1916
[Welland Telegraph, 26 September 1916]
The war brought news of death to another Welland home on Saturday when Mrs. William Horsley, 53 Randolph Street, received a telegram from Ottawa announcing that her husband, William Horsley, had been killed in action on Sept. 15th. He had been only a month at the front when he met his fate. Born in Yorkshire 40 years ago, he was a British soldier for eleven years, serving in South Africa and India and obtaining an honorable discharge at the age of 29. He was the holder of two medals for service. He came out to Canada and lived for a time at Hamilton, moving to Welland six and a half years ago. He was employed for three years by W.G. Somerville, contractor, and then joined the staff of Ryan & Gardner, where he remained until the outbreak of the war. He joined the 44th Regt., and on enlisting for active service was drafted to the 76th Bn., with which he went overseas in April of this year. He leaves a wife and one daughter, a child under three years, and two step-children-Vera Nixon, a pupil at Welland high school and Wilford Nixon, an actor at present in Pittsburg. Those bereaved have the true sympathy of the community in the loss they have sustained.
One is Right Between the Eyes, Others on Arms and Chest
His Sight is Affected But That is Thought to be Only Temporary
[Welland Telegraph, 14 November 1916]
In a letter received yesterday from C.J. Bradshaw, formerly of 12 Randolph Street, Welland, now of Leicester, England, Mr. and Mrs. W.J. Best were informed of the very serious injuries sustained by their son Frank in the engagement in which he was wounded.
Mr. Bradshaw says:
| I’m writing you tonight to let you know how Frank is getting along, for I have had the pleasure of visiting him in the Leicester hospital, which is within six miles of my home. I’m very pleased to tell you that Frank is progressing well and as far as they can see he will be walking around in another two weeks. All his wounds are flesh wounds but they are very painful at times. He got a bullet through the right arm just above the wrist and the flesh blown away above the elbow on the left arm, a cut on the chest and also one on the right arm and one on the nose right between the eyes, and the sight of the right eye is affected, in fact, he cannot see light from dark, but he thinks that he may regain his eye sight, for the eye is not damaged, and when he can get up he will go and see the eye specialist.
You will wonder why he cannot get up, but you must understand he could not get back to the trenches after being wounded and the exposure and loss of blood weakened him so that he is only just beginning to pick up, and his temperature went high at times.
The way I got to see Frank was through Dr. Colbeck. He found out some way that I was at Leicester and he wired me to go and see him and wire back Frank’s conditions, but unfortunately the wire came to my Leicester address on Saturday afternoon and I had left and gone to the country and did not get the message until late Sunday night.
Frank cannot do much writing himself yet, for his fingers are very stiff, but he is doing all he can to get them limbered up so in time you will see some of his own writing again.
One thing Frank asked for was a Welland paper, but unfortuately I could not supply him with one. Frank is quite cheerful and is making himself at home amongst the others, and says he is being looked after very well by all.
I will write you another letter next week and tell you how he is getting along.
Your truly,
C.J. Bradshaw
12 Randolph Street, Welland |
KILLED IN ACTION
Appalling News Received by Mayor Crow on Wednesday Afternoon, 9 May 1994-17 September 1916
[Welland Telegraph, 22 September 1916]
Lieutenant Gordon W. Crow, only son of Mayor John H. Crow and Mrs. Crow, was killed in action on Sunday last.
This news which has prostrated the Mayor’s home, and which has shocked all Welland, came in a cable to Mayor Crow from Major McDonald, and officer of the battery to which Lieut. Crow belonged, that was received here shortly after noon on Wednesday. It was further confirmed by a message from Ottawa received on Thursday morning. Of course, no further particulars are known.
To the bereaved father and mother and to Miss Muriel, the young officer’s sister, The Telegraph, speaking for everyone of its readers, extends the most heartfelt sympathy.
Lieut. Crow enlisted with the 26th battery in March 1915, and spent six months in training as a gunner. He then took out his commission as a lieutenant and qualified after a course at the R.C.M. Kingston. He was next attached to the 31st battery and served for some time without pay.
Note is made elsewhere on this page that he had been awarded the Military Cross. That cross has not yet been received for it was to be presented by the King when Lieut. Cross had leave to visit England.
The last letter received from him was dated September 4th. Since he went to the front he has been a very constant correspondent. He had the faculty of writing a good letter. One of his letters appeared anonomously in The Telegraph two months ago under the heading “A Day at the Front,” and it was much commented on.
Strangely enough he was in Germany and got out just on the eve of the outbreak of the war. His trip across the Atlantic was not without its excitements for the German raiders were then afloat.
He was born in Welland in May, 1894 and was subsequently 22 years of age. Educated at the Welland public and high school, he matriculated in 1910 and then attended Toronto University and Victoria College, graduating in arts in 1914. He passed his first year examinations in Medicine in 1915.
Gordon Crow had in a marked degree those qualities that have been the pride of the British people. Stalwart of fame he was an athlete of note. He excelled in tennis, basketball, water polo and as a rifle shot. He represented the University in many of its intercollegiate games, and won medals for both shooting and swimming. When a mere lad before he left for University he was a member of the Welland Rifle Club.
Gordon Crow will not return again to the home where he was loved, to the town whose pride he was and to the country whose arms he has honored, but he he will ever have here grateful hearts who prize him for his true worth as a young man of clean record and clean heart, brave, chivalrous, modest-in a word a gentleman.
Welland County Man Who Went West in 1882 is Calling on Old Friends
[Welland Telegraph. 18 January 1916]
On Friday morning while the mercury was hovering around zero, a well built, well dressed and well preserved gentleman still looking young despite streaks of grey in his hair and his whiskers, called at the Telegraph office to pay his subscription.
“It is over fifty years since I began taking the Telegraph,” he explained, “ and while I was not a subscriber from the very first, I was on your list very soon after the paper started.”
The writer was John Wright, former resident of Welland-how many of you old Wellanders remember him? He lived for a time in Humberstone and went west in 1882-why that’s thirty-four years ago. Mr. Wright settled in Virden, Manitoba, which was then the jumping off place in the West. He prospered and for the last decade and a half has been living retired in what he calls the neatest, cleanest, prettiest town in the West.
Last year Mr. Wright lost his wife and thought he would relieve the monotony of the winter by visiting old scenes and seeing old faces in Welland county. He says he expects it to be his last visit to the East. Mr. Wright is 78 years of age but he doesn’t look it, not by a long chalk.
He has been reading The Telegraph for over half a century and is thereby almost a charter member. The Telegraph is now in its 53rd volume.
The Telegraph has a deep appreciation of these old friends.
Subscribe..
