Source: Mentioned in Dispatches re. Holloway folder.
Family Search: When Ross Phillips Silcox was born on 5 November 1885, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, his father, Rev. John B. Silcox, was 38 and his mother, Esther Ann Brotherhood, was 35. He registered for military service in 1914. In 1914, at the age of 29, his occupation is listed as clerk. He died on 25 March 1954, at the age of 68, and was buried in Saint John’s Anglican Church Cemetery, Richmond Hill, York, Ontario, Canada.
Are We Backing Them Up?
London Free Press: Pte. Ross Silcox, son of Rev. Dr. Silcox, of this city, writes to his father giving details of the simple burial of the body of Major Sales, of Goderich, (brother of Mrs. Albert J. Johnston of Sarnia) of the 18th Battalion. The officers of the regiment and a very few of the men were gathered at the graveside as they laid the gallant officer in his last resting place in foreign soil.
Major Sales was one of the Canadians who listened to the call of duty and forsook all to answer the call. He has given his life and his duty is done. There are many of his comrades over in France, however, who are fighting desperately and courageously and the question comes: What are we doing to back them up?
If we as Canadians had seen Major Sales in danger of losing his life, would we have hesitated to go to his rescue? All the more so, when he had gone forth to fight for us as well as for himself? Would we wait to consider whether it was our place and our turn to go to his aid, or would we have rushed into the encounter with only one thought and one determination, and that to save a fellow countryman?
Yet this is the issue that presents itself to every able-bodied Canadian today, as surely as if he were looking down upon Lieut. Col. Wigle and his men of the 18th and the officers and men of the other Canadian Battalions. We know that these Canadians are over there in Flanders and in France straining every nerve and taking deadly chances against a desperate enemy, and the question strikes us fully and fairly: What are we going to do about it?
Sarnia Observer. February 15, 1916.
SERGT. ROSS SILCOX WRITES INTERESTING LETTER TO PARENTS
Tells of Life at Front and of Many Experiences Received by Rev. E. D. Silcox
A letter received yesterday by Rev. E. D. Silcox, from his son, Sergt. Ross P. Silcox, was a welcome one. It was written from the front in France, April 14, 1916, and contains many interesting details of life in the trenches. Sergt. Silcox says they are having a rather quiet time just now, but he has seen his share of danger and excitement. He says he has been under shell fire a number of times, but has escaped injury. He tells of a thrilling experience when a German aeroplane flew low over the trenches and dropped bombs. One of these bombs fell within 200 yards of his dugout, but did no damage. He says he is well and happy and is looking forward to the time when he will be able to return home. Sergt. Silcox also writes of the many kindnesses shown to the soldiers by the French people. He says they are very grateful for the support given to them by Canada and England. He also speaks of the splendid work done by the Canadian Red Cross Society and other organizations in looking after the comfort of the soldiers.
A Fearless Chaplain
A French Chaplain, who speaks a little English, came to the trenches a few days ago and held a service for the soldiers. He gave an address on the text, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” He spoke very feelingly of the sacrifices made by the Canadian soldiers and paid a high tribute to their bravery and devotion to duty. The Chaplain said that the French people would never forget the help given to them by the Canadians and that they would always cherish the memory of their heroic deeds. Sergt. Silcox says he is looking forward to the time when he will be able to return to Canada and see his friends and relatives again. He sends his love to his parents and all his friends.
Receives Thomas Jones
Mr. Thomas Jones, of Frome, Ont., received a letter from his son, Pte. William Jones, who is now in France. Pte. Jones writes that he is well and happy and is looking forward to the time when he will be able to return home. He says he is proud to be fighting for his King and country and that he is determined to do his duty to the end. Pte. Jones also speaks of the many kindnesses shown to the soldiers by the French people. He says they are very grateful for the support given to them by Canada and England. He also speaks of the splendid work done by the Canadian Red Cross Society and other organizations in looking after the comfort of the soldiers. Pte. Jones says he is looking forward to the time when he will be able to return to Canada and see his friends and relatives again. He sends his love to his parents and all his friends.
St. Thomas Times. 4 May 1916..
Title: CORP. SILCOX IS ILL
Text: Suffering From Attack of Pneumonia at Moore Barracks.
Body: Re. E. D. Silcox, editor of the Congregationalist and former chairman of the Congregational Union of Canada, received a cablegram yesterday announcing that his nephew, Acting-Corp. Albert Brotherhood Silcox, had been confined to Moore Barracks on January 3, seriously ill with pneumonia. The cable came as a decided shock to Mr. Silcox and his daughter, Corp. Silcox’s wife, who is staying with her four little children at her father’s home, 4 Sussex avenue. Only the same day she had received a letter from her husband, in which he said he was quite well, although he had received a chill while attending a church service. Corp. Silcox is 33 years of age, and a son of Rev. J. B. Silcox, D.D., pastor of the First Congregational Church, London, Ont. He went overseas with the 142nd London’s Own last October, but has since been transferred to the 23rd Battalion at Digbate Camp. Before enlisting he had charge of a flour mill at Frome, Ont. Previous to that he was for sight years in Toronto, where he was employed on the Roadway Department at the City Hall. His brother, Sergt. Ross P. Silcox, went overseas with the 18th (London) Battalion, and is now in the salvage department of that unit In France. As soon as the father received word of the cable he cabled his son in France to try and go to England and look after his brother.
Images:
Corp. Albert Silcox
Sergt. R. Silcox
Public Figures:
E. D. Silcox: Editor of the Congregationalist and former chairman of the Congregational Union of Canada.
Rev. J. B. Silcox, D.D.: Pastor of the First Congregational Church, London, Ont.
Corp. Albert Brotherhood Silcox: Nephew of E. D. Silcox, and a son of Rev. J. B. Silcox.
Sergt. Ross P. Silcox: Brother of Corp. Albert Brotherhood Silcox.
Other Information:
Date: January 4, 1916
Newspaper: The London Free Press
Location: London, Ontario, Canada
History of the 18th Battalion CEF, "The Fighting Eighteenth" 