From the News

Dated:

Joyous Welcome at Sand Point for Home Coming Soldiers Including Some of Our Own - Youthful V.C. Aboard

Bronzed and weatherbeaten faces, that had been grim and hard and unrelenting in the shell torn areas of France and Belgium, were bright and smiling in the early April sunshine of this morning, when some 1,600 veterans gazed down from the decks of the Saturnia upon the waiting people on the pier at West St. John.

The liner moved slowly to her berth, and there was constant cheering and the varied noises of a great crowd of happy Canadians in the highest spirits home from the war. When the steamer had been warped close to the pier some of the men in khaki began tossing pennies and other coins to be scrambled for by a jolly group of longshoremen. Now and then one of the waiting groups on the pier recognized a familiar face, and there were some quick calls and waving of hands. When A. O. Skinner and other members of the reception committee appeared through the door of the big warehouse, wearing their badges, a great cheer went up. Then came the band and when the vessel had made fast the strains of O Canada thrilled the home-coming heroes and the waiting crowd.

Very quickly the gangway was swung up into place, and it was but a few minutes before the New Brunswick men were hurrying down, each with his kit, and each given a hearty welcome, as he passed through the lines to the welcoming committee, with their little gifts so much appreciated as an evidence of the thoughtfulness of the home-folk. Following them came the men from Nova Scotia, and the process of debarcation went on with remarkable smoothness and despatch.

It was good to be there to see the big ship come in, to see the splendid fighting men who thronged her decks and every point of vantage, with here and there the blue of a nurse's cloak and the eager face of a soldier's young wife en route to a home in Canada. Just outside the warehouse a train was waiting to carry western men on the long land journey that cannot end too soon for them.

At 9:20 o'clock the first train got away, taking the Montreal, Kingston and Ottawa men; at 9:45 o'clock the train for Toronto pulled out of the pier; at 10:15 o'clock another train carrying more Toronto men as well as many for Hamilton and London started on its journey and at 10:45 the last train was on the way, taking with it the men for the coast. The record established for quick an deficient work in handling the troops from the Empress of Britain was fully sustained this morning if not with a little edge over the last ship. From the time the boat docked until the last train got away there was just two hours and twenty-five minutes to elapse which reflects great credit on the officials, both military and civilian, who had charge of the debarkation activities.

The citizens' committee, the Knights of Columbus and the Salvation Army workers were right at the gangway and as the soldiers filed from the boat to the train they were showered with packages of cigarettes, apples and other good things. A. E. O'Leary, of the K. of C. Army Hut Fund was at work this morning and he and James Power and Arthur Mahoney, assisted by a corps of workers, kept the soldiers well stocked with eats, etc.

Youthful V.C.

A feature of the debarkation this morning was the enthusiastic reception and hearty greeting extended to Sergeant Holmes , Victoria Cross, of Owen Sound, Ontario. This youth, for he is not yet twenty, was styled the “boy wonder” by his pals and as he was carried down the gang-plank by two Tommies, it was seen that he wore the decoration of the highest military gift in the British War Office. He was the proud winner of the V.C. and as soon as the he landed on the pier the crowd standing about, including the reception committees, took up the “cry” and cheered lustily for the young hero. He was carried to the train and the bystanders went wild with enthusiasm.

While Victoria Cross winners come this way quite frequently, it is safe to say that this was the youngest that has reached Canada since the boys started to come home.

Sergeant Holmes enlisted as a private in his home town, and crossed to France. He was but seventeen years of age when he enlisted and was just a few months older when he performed what his khaki clad chums term “some stunt”.

He is probably the youngest V.C. winner in the British Empire, and is beyond doubt the youngest in Canada. He was just a private when he won it and is now wearing three stripes.

Other distinguished soldiers aboard were: Major William T. White , M.C., of Calgary, acting-Captain Henry H. Argue , M.C., of Shauville, Ontario, and Lieutenant-Colonel John H. Parks , D.S.O., of 62 Parks street, St. John. Other New Brunswickers were: major Malcolm MacKay , St. John; Major C. M. Rideout , Four Falls; Acting-Captain Irvine P. Price , Moncton, and nursing sister Alice A. Thompson , Chance Harbor.

The Saturnia, the second Donaldson liner to bring troops to this port, is a splendid ship, well built, of graceful lines and she looks a very stable seafaring steamer. She is 5,494 tons. Captain David Taylor brought the ship across on this voyage, which was uneventful. There were a total of 1876 souls on board, eight-eight civilians and 1788 troops. There was a noticeably large number of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia men to cross on the Saturnia.