Her “Boy Scout”

The smile seems more intimate than a smile a young officer would give a stranger. It is a smile of familiarity and pride as the Officer marches past. The young boys stand with apparent casual regard for the men of the 99^th Overseas Battalion marching past. The Sergeant to the officer’s left looks askance with a touch of disapproval and the soldier immediately behind the sergeant has his head cocked towards the photographer with an almost admiring gaze.

The young photographer is Gertrude Green and she is the same age as the officer. Sixteen-years old. The young man was a friend, Lieutenant Bernard John Bates and Miss Green took the opportunity of the men marching past to take a photograph of her friend.

The photograph is undated and the reason for this military formation and parade is unknown, but the soldiers appear to be shouldering Ross rifles and wearing Oliver Pattern webbing that they would replace with more effective Pattern 1908 Web Gear when they got overseas. They are carrying what appears to be a shelter-half over their right shoulder and there are full duffels laying against their right hips. The trees on the right side appear sparse of leaves but the trees on the left by the utility poles appear to have foliage. This picture is likely taken in mid-May 1916 as the Battalion left Windsor, Ontario before the Battalion embarked for England on May 31, 1916.

Lieutenant Bates looks confident and manly, a beacon of English masculinity. Yet, his records belies to a youthful ignorance to the task that will be taken in hand for him on September 15, 1916 at the Somme. On his officer’s attestation paper, he lists his two-years as a Boy Scout as part of his “former Military Service.”

Miss Green has taken a photograph full of information. The boys in their slouched hats, perhaps wishing they were old enough to join – perhaps some of their brothers are marching past. The older sergeant, sure to be part of the Canadian Militia, who looks with concern and a little disapproval at the young girl, in her best dress and overcoat, snapping a picture of the men of military bearing. If only the Sergeant knew of his officer’s engaging smile towards her one would think his look of disapproval would be more acute. Did the stress of trench life age him prematurely and invalid him home? Was he a father figure to the officer only to be separated when Lieutenant Bates was to be posted to active duty with the 18^th Battalion at the Somme? The private behind the Sergeant, with head cocked in appreciation to the young beauty taking the picture making him think wistfully that he had a girl or that she reminded him of someone special.

This moment in time captured so perfectly reverberating into the future with us only being able to extrapolate the meaning. Thanks to Miss Green we get to remember Lieutenant Bates and his sacrifice.