Resource: The letters of Lt. V.C. Eastwood are transcribed and available at Letters from Vincent transcribed by his Great Grand-Son Michael Ritchie.
Vincent McCarterEASTWOODage 27 bond salesman Peterborough 610 George Street same s/o VincentEASTWOOD(born Ontario) and wife IsabelleMcCARTER to Margaret McKeeNEILLage 28 Peterborough 359 Hunter Street same d/o Robert McKeeNEILL(born Ohio USA) and wife AgnesMERCER witnesses: JeanEASTWOODand RobertNEILLboth of Peterborough
source:Ontario Vital Statistics 16887-1924
Military Cross Citation, London Gazette. No. 30095.Page 5186.
Lt. Vincent McCarter Eastwood, Can. Infy.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in command of a raiding party. He carried out several valuable reconnaissances previous to the raid. During the operations, he, with a few men, entered the enemy’s trenches, personally show two of the enemy, and bombed his way along their front line, inflicting several casualties before withdrawing.
London Gazette. No. 30095.Page 5186.Telegram from The Lord Chamberlain to King George V requesting Lieutenant Eastwood’s attendance to Buckingham Palace to be invested with his Military Cross. Source: Michael Ritchie.Lieutenant Eastwood’s Military Cross, a treasured family heirloom. Source: Michael Ritchie.
Peterborough Examiner. July 24, 1917. Page 1.
Peterborough Examiner. September 28, 1917. Page 17.
Summary of Service for Eastwood, Vincent McCarter, Lieutenant, Military Cross
Date
Event
Remarks
January 4 1897
Born
Born to Mr. Vincent Eastwood and Mrs. Isabelle McCarter Eastwood at Peterborough, Ontario, Canada.
April 6, 1916
Enlisted
Enlisted with the 93rd Battalion at Peterborough. He was 19-years of age and had three years of experience in the Militia with the 57th Regiment. The Officer’s Attestation Paper was signed by his Uncle, Major J. H. Eastwood. He also had a cousin, John Hubert Eastwood who served in the 93rd March 8, 1916.
May 27, 1916
On Command
On Command at Ottawa, Ontario re. Daily Orders 133 of June 3, 1916.
June 14, 1916
Off Command
Off Command at Ottawa re. Daily Orders 143 of June 15, 1916.
June 30, 1916
Anti-Typhoid Inoculation
July 1, 1916
Assigns Pay
Assigns pay at the rate of $20.00 per month to his father, Major Vincent Eastwood.
To parents. The Battalion is down to 250 men and most of the officers have been posted overseas.
September 26, 1916
Writes Letter
To father. Interesting reference to a “breast plate”. A piece of personal armour that “Stevenson” had also purchased and was designed against shrapnel and could protect against bullets and bayonets.
October 6, 1916
Transferred
Transferred to 39th Battalion and then overseas to 18th Battalion.
October 7, 1916
Writes Letter
To parents. Writes letter day after posting to 39th Battalion. He may know he is due overseas soon. Relates about leave in London and one soldier who goes crazy.
October 11, 1916
Writes Letter
To parents. Relates that leave was extended 3 days when he got posted to the 18th Battalion. The Canadian involvement at the Somme occurred almost a month prior.
Battalion in service in Bully Grenay and Hersin sector. War Diary states:
“Position as yesterday. LIEUTS. V.M. EASTWOOD, J. Mc. WATT, and P.G. MIGHT arrived as reinforcements. LIEUT. H.W. McBRIDE admitted to hospital.”
October 21, 1916
Writes Letter
To parents. Arrives at front and meets “Steve Stevenson”, battalion unknown.
October 30, 1916
Writes Letter.
To parents. He is reunited with Lts. Might, Watt, and Worth, all formerly of the 93rd Battalion.
November 8, 1916
Writes Letter
To parents. Attending a machine gun school and references indigenous soldiers from the 93rd Battalion being in his [D] Company.
May 26, 1917
Awarded Military Cross
Per London Gazette, number 30095, page 5186. Citation reads:
“Lt. Vincent McCarter Eastwood, Can. Infy.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in command of a raiding party. He carried out several valuable reconnaissances previous to the raid. During the operations, he, with a few men, entered the enemy’s trenches, personally shot two of the enemy, and bombed his way along their front line, inflicting several casualties before withdrawing.”
August 23, 1917
Granted Leave
Granted 10 days leave to England.
September 6, 1917
Granted Leave Extension
Granted extension to leave.
October 28, 1917
Appointed Acting Captain
Appointed A/Captain per London Gazette. No. 30524.
November 10, 1917
Wounded
Reported wounded. GSW back. Severe. Wounded at Passchendaele. War Diary entry states:
“During the whole of this tour the Officers and men held this part of the line under the most severe conditions possible. Great difficulty was experienced in the evacuating of casualties from the front line to R.A.P.s and dressing stations. Front line trenches were subjected to frequent barrages and the rear country [area] was also heavily shelled and bombed. The supports on this front were reached by a series of tracks, being trench mat walks, and rations had to be carried by mules up these tracks. Each track being subjected to continual shellfire, the transport and ration parties where fortunate in escaping with the loss of 3 men killed and 1 mule which fell off the duckboard track and owing to the depth of the mud had to be shot. Splendid work was done by the Battalion Stretcher bearers in tending and evacuating the wounded.”
November 11, 1917
Admitted Hospital
Duchess of Westminster Hospital, Le. Torquet.
December 5, 1917
Reported Dangerously Ill
February 2, 1918
Removed from Dangerously Ill List
GSW, Back. Fractured right scapula. Severe.
February 21, 1918
Transferred
Via hospital ship transferred to 2nd West General Hospital, Manchester.
April 4, 1918
Transferred
Perkins Bull Hospital, Heath.
April 28, 1918
Transferred
Granville Canadian Special Hospital, Buxton.
May 6, 1918
To Canada
To Canada via Hospital Ship No. 56 via Avonmouth.
May 16, 1918
Arrives Canada
Arrives Canada at Halifax. Transits Atlantic aboard the Llandrovery Castle.
May 23, 1918
Base Toronto
GSW right shoulder.
July 29, 1918
Admitted Base Hospital, Toronto
Admitted with ankylosis, right shoulder. Boarded “D3” and issued with 2-months sick leave.
August 5, 1918
Discharged Base Hospital Toronto
October 2, 1918
Admitted Spadina Military Hospital
Admitted with GSW, right shoulder and reports “Good movement of clavicle and scapula. Muscular strength in arm good. Received “B2”.
January 31, 1919
Demobilized
Listed with Phi Delta Theta Fraternity in the University of Toronto Torontonensis, 1921.
