Day 24 - 20 Sept 2016: To Mons and area and the Netherlands

Day 24 - Sept 20, 2017:  Mons and Area to the Netherlands

Mons Town Hall
The British first engaged the German forces in Mons in 1914. The Canadians were in Mons when the Great War came to an end at 11:00 on 11 November 1918. Lt Col. Arthur Curry addressed the men in the Town Hall Square on that day. A plaque is mounted in the entrance of the Town Hall commemorating the Canadians in the Great War



Private George Price
Ville-sur-Haine is a small town near Mons. It was here that the last soldier of the Great War was killed at 10:58 on 11 November 1918. He was a 26 year old private by the name of George Price and was a member of the 28th Battalion CEF - same battalion as our Great Grandfather Timothy. A memorial stands near the spot he was killed.



As Bill and I were looking at the the monument a local Belgique lady who lived across the street called us over. She showed us a nicely framed picture she has of Private George Price. That was amazing! She only spoke French so we weren't able to communicate very well. But she sure was proud of that picture!



In 2010 the town's local school changed its name to Ecole George Price.



St. Syphoriem War Cemetery
Burials:  227 British, 2 Canadians and 284 Germans
The owner of the land donated it as a last resting place as long as German and allied forces were able to be buried together. That so something that makes this cemetery so unique!
The cemetery contains the graves of the first man killed in the in the Great War John Parr...


...And that of Private George Price.



Mons Communal Cemetery
505 burials, 57 are Canadians
We toured the Communal Cemetery in Mons. Here the cemetery allows the vets to be buried with their comrades once they die - war related or not



Adagan Canadian War Cemetery
1146 burials, 849 Canadians, 2 Unidentified
We met a couple whose son and a friend discovered a Canadian soldier in a field in 2012. The couple assisted in ensuring the man was indeed identified and given 



Comments

  1. Unknown21 September 2017 at 20:05

    That's really awesome that all the soldiers were buried together

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unknown22 September 2017 at 15:46

      Thanks for following along Serrina. It was likely the only cemetery in the area - but they are buried very closely together just the same.

      Delete
  2. M Magee22 September 2017 at 05:16

    Thanks Tanner. This is the first time I have ever heard the story of Private Price. A memorable one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Unknown22 September 2017 at 15:49

      It is a very sad tale Mike. When I get back and am able to spend some people time to fine-time the blog I will be adding the details to this story. Thanks for tagging along Mike!

      Delete
  3. Unknown22 September 2017 at 15:43

    Thanks for following along Marco. I have learned a great deal on the subject and that is just the tip of the iceberg!

    ReplyDelete

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