War Veterans

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World War 1 Veterans

World War I began in 1914 and Bay de Verde with a population of about 800 people made a significant contribution to the fighting power of the Armed Forces by sending eight of its young men to fight in the war.

Allan Blundon – Born in 1896 the son of William Blundon and Mary Ann Riggs. He was killed in action on August 24, 1917 when the armed Merchantman Heatherside was sunk.

Charles Blundon – Born November 13, 1895 the son of Stephen Blundon and Lydia Pretty. Charles enlisted in the Newfoundland Regiment and was wounded in action. He was given an honorable discharge in 1918.

John Thomas Keats – Born on October 16, 1900 the son of David Keats and Sarah Jane Garland. He was a member of the Royal Naval Reserves.

Matthew Jacobs – Born in 1896 the son of George Jacobs and Victoria Coish. He was a member of the Royal Naval Reserves. A medal for bravery is on display at the Bay de Verde Heritage House.

Robert James Keats – Born December 26, 1894 the son of John Keats and Selina Emberley. He was a Private in the Royal Newfoundland Regiment.

Phillip Walsh — Philip Walsh – Born January 3, 1894 the son of Patrick Walsh and Elizabeth Sullivan. Philip enlisted in the Newfoundland Regiment May 26, 1916. During battle on August 2, 1917 he received gunshot wounds to both legs as well as shapnel wounds to his body. He was hospitalized and medically discharged from the Regiment on January 11, 1918.

Peter Sullivan – Born in 1898 the son of John Sullivan and Alice Johnson. He enlisted in the Newfoundland Regiment in St. John’s on May 23, 1916. He sailed for England with the next draft of soldiers and received basic military training at Newton Park School near Ayr, Scotland. His unit left Southampton, England on November 30, 1916 and joined their batallion in France on December 12, 1916. From then to the end of the war, he engaged in combat in many of the major battles of the Great War, including Monchy le Prieux, Steubrucken, Cambrai, Armentieres, Bailleul and twice at Ypres. He was promoted to Corporal on July 7, 1918 for his leadership at Armentieres. He was awarded the Military Medal after distinguishing himself at the heavy fighting around Bailleul, France in the spring of 1918. During his time of combat, he was wounded three times, for which he received three Wound Stripes. His most serious wound occurred during the assault on Kieberg Ridge on September 29, 1918. He was sent to hospital in nearby Boulogne and from there he was transferred to London where he stayed until November 8, 1918. He returned to Newfoundland on the RMS Corsican on February 7, 1919 and was discharged from the Regiment on March 20, 1919.

World War 2 Veterans

James Barter – Born August 22, 1922 son of Bertram Barter and Suzanna Barrett. He joined the Royal Navy and sailed with the first Two Hundred on the R.M.S. Newfoundland on November 27, 1939. He had the distinction of being the youngest of the volunteers from Bay de Verde at just 17 years of age.

Alfred Blundon – Born in 1919 son of James Blundon and Hannah Pottle. He joined the Royal Navy and sailed with the first Two Hundred on the R.M.S. Newfoundland on November 27, 1939. Alfred’s contribution was particularly unique and helped people in a far different way than the actual war effort. When his ship was on patrol in the South Atlantic, they visited the remote Island of Tristan de Cunha. Local fishermen there, were catching crayfish using a hoop covered with netting. Alfred thought that this method was very inefficient and consequently proceeded to make a lobster pot. On first try, the lobster pot filled with crayfish. A new method of fishing, used to this day, was Born in Tristan de Cunha.

Donald Blundon – Born July 13, 1920 son of Moses Blundon and Janet Barrett. He joined the Royal Navy in St. John’s and sailed with the first Two Hundred on the R.M.S. Newfoundland on November 27, 1939. After arriving in England he was assigned to a base in Devonport where he did basic training in handling small boats.

Malcolm Blundon – Born in 1917 son of James Blundon and Eliza Riggs. He joined the Royal Navy in St. John’s and sailed with the first Two Hundred on the R.M.S. Newfoundland on November 27, 1939. After arriving in England he was assigned to a base in Devonport where he did basic training in handling small boats.

Thomas Doyle – Born in 1916 son of Moses Doyle and Mary Riggs. He joined the Royal Navy in St. John’s and sailed with the first Two Hundred on the R.M.S. Newfoundland on November 27, 1939.

Charles Emberley – Born Sept 28, 1917 son of James Emberley and Lillian Rolls. He joined the Royal Navy in St. John’s and went overseas with the 8th Naval Draft on the R.M.S. Newfoundland on Nov 27, 1939.

Maxwell Maidment – Born in 1918 son of William James Maidment and Mona Boone of Hant’s Harbour. He joined the Royal Navy and sailed with the first Two Hundred. After the war he made his home at Bay de Verde.

Harrison Riggs – Born Sept 6, 1916 son of Nehemiah Riggs and Lucy Vivian. He joined the Royal Navy in St. John’s and sailed with the first Two Hundred on the R.M.S. Newfoundland, on November 27, 1939.

Leonard Riggs – Born October 16, 1916 son of Thomas Riggs and Selina Norris. He joined the Royal Navy in St. John’s and sailed with the first Two Hundred on the R.M.S. Newfoundland on November 27, 1939.

Richard Sutton – Born October 1, 1919 son of James Sutton and Beatrice Button. He joined the Royal Navy in St. John’s on May 3, 1940.

Joseph Woodrow – Born December 27, 1916 son of Richard Woodrow and Elizabeth Doyle. He joined the Royal Navy in St. John’s in 1940. He did basic training in Davenport, England.

Korean War Veterans 1950 - 1953

William Emberley – Born March 5, 1929 son of Robert Emberley and Harriett Harnum

Hayward Keats – Born August 25, 1922 son of Isaac Keats and Mary Fry. Hayward served with the Royal Canadian Engineers during the Korean War. Following service with the Royal Canadian Engineers during the Korean War, Hayward was among the first Canadian Peacekeepers deployed with the United Nations Emergency Force in Egypt from 1959-1960. He went on to complete 22 years of service in the Canadian Forces, retiring in 1973. He received the Korean Medal, United Nations Service Medal, United Nations Emergency Force Medal, Korean Volunteer Service Medal, Canadian Peacekeeping Medal and the Canadian Force Decoration.

Clyde Pryor – Born October 27, 1932 son of Archibald Pryor and Emily Jane Baldwin

Forestry Unit of World War II

In addition to calling for volunteers for the Royal Navy, England also asked the Commission of Government of Newfoundland to recruit two thousand loggers to engage in timber operations in the British Isles. The Newfoundland Overseas Forestry Unit was formed on November 19, 1939. Volunteers from Bay de Verde were:

Albert Blundon	Born December 6, 1910 son of Stephen and Mary Ellen Blundon
Harry Blundon	Born 1900 son of Stephen and Mary Ellen Blundon
Levi Coish	Born 1918 son of Allan Coish and Alice Button
Frank Coish	Born 1917 son of Thomas Coish and Florence Snow
Thomas Coish	Born June 11, 1899 son of Robert Coish and Hannah Sutton
Isaac Emberley	Born August 23, 1913 son of Isaac Emberley and Amelia Milley
James Fitzgibbons	Born December 11, 1911 son of William Fitzgibbons and Catherine Power
Michael Moore	Born 1904 son of Andrew Moore and Elizabeth Doyle
Maurice Noonan	Born April 14, 1912 son of Thomas Noonan and Mary Hennessey
James Riggs	Born July 31, 1905 son of Thomas Francis Riggs and Mary Lynch
Andrew Riggs	Born July 6, 1899 son of Thomas Francis Riggs and Mary Lynch
Thomas Riggs	Born 1920 son of Patrick Riggs and Elizabeth Mullally
John Walsh	Born April 2, 1897 son of Michael Walsh and Mary Jo Traverse

War Veterans

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