The Men of the Menin Gate

Date of First Casualty: January 30, 1916. Privates Emerald Broadwell (reg. no. 53892) and Albert James Reeves (reg. no. 53847). They would both perish under unusual circumstances:

“Previously reported missing, now for official purposes presumed to have died.

About 9 a.m. on January 30th, 1916, he and a comrade [Private Broadwell] left their trench under cover of fog. They reached an unoccupied enemy listening post and found some bombs which they broad back to their own lines. They then returned to the listening post intending to wait there and bomb the enemy when they attempted to reoccupy the post. Private Reeves nor his comrade ever returned and from that time nothing has been seen or heard of them.”

Circumstances of Death Card for Private Reeves. It reads “Previously reported missing, now for official purposes presumed to have died.” About 9 a.m. on January 30th, 1916, he and a comrade left their trench under cover of fog. They reached an unoccupied listening post and found some bombs which they brought back to their own lines. They then returned to the listening post intending to wait their and bomb the enemy when they attempted to reoccupy the post. Private Reeves nor his comrade ever returned and from that time nothing has been seen or heard from them.”

18th Battalion War Diary entry for January 31, 1916 noting missing soldiers.

Private Broadwell circa 1915-16.

Private Broadwell circa 1915-16.

GALT, June 20 – Pte Emerald B. Broadwell, a former Galtonian, reported missing on Ferbruary 15, is now officially reported killed, his father, Amos Broadwell, of Pincher Creek, Alta., having been notified to this effect. The young mand enlisted with the 18th Battalion. He was 20 years of age and was born at Kingsville, Ont. He was serving his apprenticeship at the Goldie & McCulloch works and lived in Galt for three years. London Free Press, June 21st, 1916.

Circumstances of Death Card for Private Broadwell: “Previously reported missing, now for official purposes presumed to have died. About 9 a.m. on January 30th, 1916, he and a comrade [Private Broadwell] left their trench under cover of fog. They reached an unoccupied enemy listening post and found some bombs which they broad back to their own lines. They then returned to the listening post intending to wait there and bomb the enemy when they attempted to reoccupy the post. Private Reeves nor his comrade ever returned and from that time nothing has been seen or heard of them.”

On January 31^st, 1916, the War Diary listed them as missing though a news article in the London Free Press published on May 3, 1916 held out hope that Private Broadwell was a prisoner-of-war:

“Sergt. Eli Watts, a Galt man with a Western Ontario battalion, writing to his mother here, sends the news that Pte. Emerson Broadwell, who enlisted in Galt, and who was in February reported missing and later killed, is a prisoner of war in Germany and is well. Sergt. Watts and Pte. Broadwell were in the same battalion and Pte. Broadwell was given up for dead.”

London Free Press – May 3rd, 1916

London Free Press. May 3, 1916

Sergeant Eli Watts, reg. no.. 53977. He was to be killed in action at the Somme on September 15, 1916.

Worst Days of Casualties: Thirty-eight men if the 18^th Battalion perished at Passchendaele and have no know graves between November 9^th and 12^th, 1917.

Date of Last Casualty: November 12, 1917. Five men died on this date who are honoured on the Menin Gate:

Bennett, Andrew Whitton:  Service no. 159022

Burns, Robert:  Service no. 404600

Goethals, Edmund:  Service no. 225570

Mair, William George:  Service no.  770162

Watson, Alexander Scott:  Service no. 174729

These men, of course, are only representative of the sacrifice and valour of all the men of the 18^th Battalion who served, many giving the ultimate measure of duty.

All those on panel 10-26-28: