The South Shore Tide Watch: July 2026

Today I made my first visit to CWGC graves at Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa. The location is considered as the national cemetery of Canada, situated in the east end the city. Over 82,000 people are buried at the site, including Governor General Ramon Hnatyshyn, Prime Minister Robert Borden, and several members of parliament, premiers, Canadian armed forces personnel and veterans, Royal Canadian Mounted Police personnel, Canadian Security Intelligence Service intelligence officers, and Hockey Hall of Famers, alongside other notable Canadians.

Canadian soldiers who were killed in the line of duty and war veterans have been buried in Beechwood Cemetery since the North-West Rebellion of 1885. The cemetery contains the National Military Cemetery which consists of two sections managed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC), a Veterans Section administered by Veterans Affairs Canada, and the National Military Cemetery of the Canadian Forces created in 2001 and is managed by the Federal Department of National Defence.

The CWGC is responsible for 99 WWI and 113 WWII graves, located mostly in Sections 27 and 29 of the cemetery, together with the Cross of Sacrifice, incorporating a bronze sword inlayed within a granite cross, which honours the memory of the war dead buried in the cemetery. Of those, 196 are recorded as Canadian, of which many originally came from the United Kingdom, and two who were born in New Zealand. Officially thirteen are from the United Kingdom, two from Australia, and one from New Zealand.

Of the 212 who are under the care of the CWGC at Beechwood there are officially registered 213 ~ WWI casualty “Sydney George Hornblow”, service number 144006, with Canada recorded as his country of service, is also on record as “James Jackson” with the same service number, but with the United Kingdom as his country of service. CWGC records state that the name of “James Jackson” was an alias, which is true because information indicates he was the son of Julia Ann Hornblow, and the late of Charles George Hornblow of 38 Goldsmith Avenue, Acton, England. Throughout the 82 days from joining up on 27 July 1915, until his death on 17 October, all military documents record his name as “James Jackson”.

I have actually come across this alias situation before in Europe, mainly with WWI graves. "Sydney (James)", as I will refer to him as, was aged 38 when he died, and has both names engraved on his gravestone, which he shares with Henry Smith (a Canadian) who died 15 August 1915 aged 22. Henry is registered as the grandson of James Mackie, of Boyne Cottage, Brangam by Portsey, Banffshire, Scotland. I have written more about the shared gravestone detail later in the blog.

It appears that Sydney (James) may have been a bit of a character, and perhaps deliberately changed his name from “Hornblow” to the less amusing “Jackson” when he joined the Canadian military during July 1915 in Ottawa. From his Attestation Paper shown below, he has his next of kin listed as “Annie Jackson” from Manchester, England. From a number of British census records, expertly researched by Neil Marston from Leicester, England, I can confirm that Annie did exist, but she was not Jackson, she was in fact Annie Hornblow.

Reading through other documents within Sydney'(James) military records, I have found the following statement ~ “Details on his attestation paper should be treated with caution.”

Also from British census records, it appears in addition to his sister Annie Louisa Hornblow (1870 - 1966), Sydney (James) had the following siblings, Ada Edith Hornblow (1872 - 1958) and Kate Mabel Hornblow (1879 - 1973). His father Charles George Hornblow, was born 1843 and died in 1907. His mother Julia Ann Benham was born July 1846 and died December 1938. From Canadian immigration records, Sydney (James) arrived in Canada at Quebec City on 19 June 1911, having departed Liverpool the month before.

Later during the day that Sydney (James) died, a court of inquiry was held into his death, with statements from eight witnesses. All witnesses state that he was found early in the morning cold and face down in his bunk, having been in a state of drunkenness the night before. The inquiry documents shown below conclude in declaration ~

“The court having considered the above evidence is of the opinion:-

#144006 Pte. James Jackson of the 77th Overseas Battalion C.E.F. died at Rockcliffe Camp during the night 16/17 October, 1915, while off duty, and that his death was due to circumstances over which the Military Authorities had no control, and for which they were not responsible.

It was not until May 1921 that the first document turned up within his military records that gave indication to the name “Hornblow”, which made reference to his mother as, “Mrs. Julia A. Hornblow of 38 Goldsmith Avenue, Acton, London W, Eng.”

A further document dated 21 September 1921, makes an amendment to his records and stating ~

“The true name of this soldier has now been ascertained to be HORNBLOW, Sydney Geo. Under which name his records have been cross-referenced at the D. of R.” ~ (I assume Dept. of Records)

Another fact about Sydney (James), in addition the gravestone he has today, which is shared with Henry Smith, he also had the one of his own shown below, and at one time it was laid flat ....

Interestingly Henry Smith also in the past, had his own gravestone ..

Further investigation was done to determine why both Sydney (James) and Henry Smith now share a gravestone. Typically any gravestone replacement by the CWGC is initiated if the stone is cracked, broken, or has deteriorated to the point that the engravings cannot be read due to environmental damage or wear. Another reason which I have done research for in the past, is that some of the details engraved on the stone have been found to be incorrect.

For Sydney (James), his original stone indicates the date of death as 16 October 1915, but his official date of death is recorded as 17 October 1915. Both dates could in fact be true, as stated in the Court of Inquiry ~ “#144006 Pte. James Jackson of the 77th Overseas Battalion C.E.F. died at Rockcliffe Camp during the night 16/17 October, 1915, while off duty ....."

All eight witnesses who made sworn statements for the inquiry, mention that they saw Sydney (James) on the evening of the 16th intoxicated, one mentioned that he saw him in downtown Ottawa at 7.30pm, “full of liquor”. He was last seen alive at 10.30pm on the 16th at the military’s Rockcliffe Camp, and was found dead early in the morning of the 17th ~ so 17 October 1915 was determined to be his official date of death, and therefore would be a reason to replace his original gravestone.

But what about Henry Smith who’s original stone appeared to be in very good condition in the photo dated from 2016 ~ why replace, then share it with Sydney (James) ….?

The mystery was eventually solved with the help of Shauna at the CWGC in Ottawa. It seems the initial task was to replace the gravestone for Sydney (James), to correct the date of death. During this task, within the CWGC archives the following document was found …

The document indicates that Sydney (James) for an unspecified reason, was buried in the same grave as Henry Smith on Monday 18 October, at 4.00pm. This is something I have seen many times for CWGC graves in Europe, but never before in Canada.

So, today and in perpetuity Sydney George Hornblow (alias James Jackson) and Henry Smith will share the same gravestone and grave at Beechwood Cemetery, Ottawa.

What I did not know until my arrival at the shared grave of Sydney (James) and Henry, was right next to them was another shared grave belonging to …

Private John Kenneth McLean

Canadian Militia, 43rd Regt.

Died 10 August 1915, aged 18

and ..

Private John Royston

Canadian Militia, 43rd Regt.

Died 10 August 1915

Private John Kenneth McLean and Private John Royston served with the Canadian Militia, 43rd Regt., and both drowned in the Ottawa River on 10 August 1915, at the foot of the city's Kent Street.

John Royston’s body was not discovered until the 13th and was buried later that day. He had only joined the military the previous month. He was a “home child”, that is one of over 100,000 disadvantaged British children relocated to Canada between the years of 1869 and 1948, having arrived in Quebec City on the ship Corsican at the end of April 1910 at the age of 13, under the administration of the Catholic Emigration Association group.

John McLean was also a home child, research indicates that he arrived in Canada on the ship Virginian during June 1913, at the age of 16, giving his occupation as clerk. A possible 1901 census entry in Islington, England, shows his mother Alice, a 33 year old widow, and younger sister Catherine.

That was a brief, but tragic, summary of two home boys, whose upbringing and life was probably tremendously difficult in Britain, who came to Canada at the very early ages of 13 and 16. Both joined the Canadian military in time of war, then horribly died together, and now lie with each other in perpetuity at Beechwood Cemetery.

A newspaper clipping about the event …

After 38 years in Canada, which included many family visits to Ottawa, it is surprising that I have never before made a visit to this cemetery, and the war graves within.

In a similar way to my previous visits to CWGC graves and locations in other parts of Canada, in Britain, Europe and last month in Iceland, when it’s time to leave, the impact of the visit makes it very difficult to do that, I never want to turn my back on them. Also when I do finally depart, I am filled with an enormous desire fueled by emotion to learn more, to write about each of the casualties whose grave's I spent time at, as a way of giving back a deserved lost voice. With time, it would be possible to write about all 212 casualties who are under the care of the CWGC at Beechwood. In complete contrast, looking back upon my past travels to CWGC sites in The Netherlands, Belgium and France, where I have stood in cemeteries with many hundreds and sometimes with thousands, such a task of returning a lost voice would be bordering on the impossible, which is an enormous loss to us all.

On this visit to Beechwood, I have chosen four casualties who are a long way from home ~ their journey ended in Canada, far from where it began in New Zealand and Australia ...

Recorded as a Canadian …

Acting Paymaster Sub-Lieut. Frederick Twiss Thomson

Service Number: VR/465

Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reserve

Died 31 March 1918 aged 32 ~ of meningitis

Born 4 October 1885

Son of David Thomson, of North Branch, Milton, Otago, New Zealand.

My thanks to the newspaper “Otago Daily Times” in Otago, New Zealand for the following archive clip dated 10 April 1918, which I have reproduced below the image …

Mr. David Thomson, of North Branch, Milton, has received cable advice from the Canadian naval authorities of - the death of his youngest, son (Paymaster Fred Twiss Thomson) in hospital at Ottawa from some internal complaint. Deceased was a native of Milton district, and was educated at-the Tokomairiro High School. On leaving school he joined the service of the New Zealand Loan and "Mercantile Agency Company, and remained in the Dunedin office for seven years, initially attaining the position of auctioneer to that firm, and in that capacity he was well known throughout Otago. He resigned the position in 1910, and proceeded on a trip 'to the Old Country, after visiting which, he crossed to Vancouver, where he took up his residence, and followed his particular line of business until war broke out, when he joined H.M.S. Rainbow, and remained with this vessel until transferred to shore duty at Montreal and Ottawa. One of his principal hobbies was a keen interest in political economy, also in debating societies, and in the latter he had represented the Vancouver Y.M.C.A. in debating competitions, and won first prizes. He also wielded a facile pen in contributions to newspapers on current topics. He was 32 years of age.

Also from New Zealand ...

Sergeant Blyth Kempton-Werohia

Service Number: 41385

Royal New Zealand Air Force

Died 14 August 1942, aged 21

Born 4 June 1921, Tauranga, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand

Son of Whetu Henare Kempton-Werohia and Margery Dinah Kempton-Werohia, of Te Puke, Auckland, New Zealand.

WITH THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN AND IN THE MORNING WE WILL REMEMBER HIM

Sergeant Pilot Blyth Kempton-Werohia of Maori heritage, was a member of the Royal New Zealand Air Force who trained in Canada during World War II. Born in Te Puke, New Zealand in 1921, Blyth was the son of Whetu Henare Kempton-Werohia and Margery Dinah Kempton-Werohia.

Sergeant Kempton-Werohia left for Canada to undergo a course of training under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP). He completed his courses at the Royal Canadian Air Force’s No.6 Service Flying Training School in Dunnville, Ontario. After earning his wings in Rockcliffe in June 1942, he was posted to No.31 Bombing and Gunnery School in Picton, Ontario. He quickly made his mark as a student of ability and passed out of his school with the highest marks. He was looked upon as a skillful pilot and was kept in Canada as an instructor still with the R.N.Z.A.F.

Tragically, his life was cut short on August 14, 1942, when his aircraft, Fairey Battle Bomber (L5427), crashed into Lake Ontario off Soup Harbour, near Point Petre, while making an unauthorised dummy attack on another aircraft during an Air-To-Ground Practice Attack, killing both himself and his two crew on board. At just 21 years old, he died 6 days before his planned wedding to Margaret Mary Humble, who came from Ottawa.

Pāpāmoa War Memorial, New Zealand (North Island), with the name of Sergeant Pilot Blyth Kempton-Werohia engraved upon it ...

The two crewmembers killed with Sergeant Pilot Blyth Kempton-Werohia on 14 August 1942, are buried at Glenwood Cemetery, Picton, Ontario …

Leading Aircraftman Harry Charles Pigerham

Service Number: 1320030

Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Died 14 August 1942, aged 26

Born 4 March 1916, Islington, London Borough of Islington, Greater London, England

Son of Harry and Phoebe C. Pigerham, of Bishops Stortford, Hertfordshire, England.

HE DID HIS DUTY. GREATLY LOVED AND DEEPLY LAMENTED. FATHER, MOTHER AND SISTER.

Leading Aircraftman David Noel Jones

Service Number: 655518

Royal Air Force

Died 14 August 1942, aged 24

Born 24 November 1917, Bangor, Gwynedd, Wales

Son of Mr. and Mrs. H. Jones, of Bangor, Caernarvonshire Wales.

From Australia buried at Beechwood Cemetery ...

Leading Aircraftman Douglas Mervyn Lord

Service Number: 400721

Royal Australian Air Force

Enlisted 13 October 1940

Died 06 May 1941, aged 22

Born 17 July 1917, Warrnambool, Victoria, Australia

Son of George Walter and Eliza Ellen Lord, of Essendon, Victoria, Australia.

Leading Aircraftman Douglas Mervyn Lord was engaged in night flying training, when he and Flying Officer Bennet Lorel Duffey, RCAF, were both killed. Their Harvard aircraft, registration 2884, crashed and burned two and one half miles south of the aerodrome at RCAF Uplands, near Ottawa.

Killed with Leading Aircraftman Douglas Mervyn Lord, and buried at Mount Hope Cemetery, Toronto, Ontario …

Flying Officer Bennet Lorel Duffey

Service Number: C/4802

Royal Canadian Air Force

Died 06 May 1941, aged 33

Born 20 September 1907

REST IN PEACE

Son of John B. Duffey and Anna Duffey, of Toronto; husband of Dorothy E. Duffey, of Toronto

Accident Report and newspaper clips about the incident ...

Also from Australia buried at Beechwood Cemetery …

Leading Aircraftman Harry William Long

Service Number: 403352

Royal Australian Air Force

Enlisted 6 January 1941

Died 15 August 1941, aged 20

Born 14 August 1921, Rockdale, New South Wales, Australia

Son of Arthur Henry and Brenda Mary Long, of Balgowlah, New South Wales, Australia.

Leading Aircraftman Harry William Long was one of the RAAF personnel who had embarked from Sydney, Australia, on 20 May 1941; the group disembarked at Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on 13 June. On 17 June the group commenced their training (Course #31) at No.2 Service Flying Training School (SFTS) at Uplands, Ottawa, Ontario.

On the 15th August 1941, Harvard (Serial #2689) flown by Harry was detailed to carry out a solo night training flight. At approximately 2.30am, the instructor in charge of night flying noticed lights of an aircraft which appeared to be flying against the circuit, gliding along at a height of about 100 feet some two miles away. The aircraft soon disappeared from sight, which was followed by instructions for all aircraft flying at that time to be grounded. A search for the Harvard commenced, the wreck was found about 3 miles from the aerodrome. Harry was seriously injured and later died of his injuries at about 7.40am.

Photographs taken at the military funeral for Leading Aircraftman Harry William Long …

Being placed on the conveying lorry after the service

The Last Post

Shown here are ~ Squadron Leader Burden and Flight Lieutenant Woods, both of No.2 SFTS, together with Squadron Leader John Rutherford Gordon of the RAAF

Other photos of Harry and his family in Australia …

Harry is in the centre of the second row, on a march through Sydney, Australia during March 1941

At No.2 Initial Training School (2ITS), Bradfield, NSW, Australia 1941. Harry is on the extreme right crouched down in the front row

Jean Frances Lord and Harry, they were engaged on 7 June 1941

Harry with his mother and brother Kevin, taken just before his departure for Canada

Harry and his fiancé Jean Frances Lord prior to his departure for Canada

Harry with his mother and brother Kevin, taken just before his departure for Canada

The WWI and WWII casualties who I left behind today at Beechwood Cemetery, along with my own five relatives killed in war, and the 1.7 million others at 23,000 locations in 150 countries who remain under the care of the CWGC, gave us a chance, bought time for us, so that we could do better than we have ever done before. Every time I visit a war cemetery or related memorial, I think about that, and the sacrifice they each made. But then looking out into the world today with its many conflicts, I get filled with much disappointment that we have learned nothing, and always seem determined to do it all over again ~ I wish we could change that ...

Below are blog links that cover my visits to CWGC and other war related sites in Canada, click on the image or link …