School Remembrance Projects

Harold Allen Craig's Private
Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (P.P.C.L.I)
7th Infantry Brigade 3rd Infantry Division
Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF)

Personal Information: Harold Craig was born on June 20, 1893 in Smiths Falls, Ontario. He was a student who enlisted at Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, about one-hundred and ten kilometers south-west of Harold's hometown of Smiths Falls. By December 1915, four of every ten male undergraduates at Queen's were in uniform for World War One. At twenty-one years and ten months he enlisted for The Great War in Montreal, Quebec on April 12, 1915. He had grey eyes, black hair, and a medium complexion. He stood five feet and four inches tall and weighed one-hundred and thirty-five pounds. He was of Wesleyan religion and was a single man. He declared his next of kin as his father, Richard Craig on his attestation papers. (Archives)

Two years after Harold Craig's enlistment, his younger brother William Benson Craig joined the 73rd Battery on May 21, 1917. Their brotherhood is significant to history because they both, coincidentally, received a prestigious award. While Harold Craig accepted the Distinguished Conduct Medal, his brother William Benson Craig was awarded the Distinguished Flying Award for personally destroying several enemy machines. He was killed in action on September 26, 1918.

Military Movements: Harold Allen Craig began as a member of the 38th Ottawa Royal Battalion in the 4th Infantry Division of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. The Battalion was officially authorized on December 28, 1914. It was the first complete infantry unit to be raised in Ottawa and by 1915, was sent overseas. The Battalion was divided into 4 parts: the A, B, C, and D Company. Harold Craig was organized into the D Company where he sailed from Montreal on the ship named "Missanabie" on June 24, 1915.

The Battalion arrived in Bermuda somewhat to their disgust as they wanted to fight in Europe. They relieved a British Battalion and commenced their active training and garrison duties. For 7-8 months the men trained at one of the most important military and naval bases of the Empire. Finally, the Governor-General of Bermuda inspected the Battalion's potential for war and declared the Battalion at a high state of efficiency. Immediately, the Battalion was relieved from the camp, sailed to Davenport, England on May 31 and arrived on June 13, 1916.

Upon their arrival, the General Officer Commanding (G.O.C) inspected the men and excitedly accepted them into the 4th Division. Quickly after the acceptance of the battalion, a draft of two-hundred and fifty men were drawn mostly from the 4th division, including Harold Craig, and moved into the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. This Battalion was named after the daughter of the Governor-General. All the ranks of this unit were filled by Veterans from all parts of Canada. (Nicholson, pg.19). Qualifications for this battalion included having seen active service, had to be 35 years old or less, had to be physically fit, etc. (Williams, p 61). This Regiment was also set up in the same four parts as the 38th Battalion.

Major Battles: The P.P.C.L.I endured several difficult and bloody battles including Vimy, The Somme, and Passchendaele. Early into his arrival with the P.P.C.L.I unit, Harold Craig was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for an act of gallantry and devotion to the field. On June 24th, 1916, The London Gazette posted a description of his act of bravery and courage: "For conspicuous gallantry. He picked up an enemy bomb which had fallen into the middle of a group of our bombers and threw it over the parapet where it immediately exploded. He thereby saved many casualties." (The London Gazette) The DCM was regarded as 2nd only to the Victoria Cross in prestige. There is no indication of a major battle during this time. Therefore, his act took place during a light barrage north of Steenvorde in the middle of June. He was awarded this medal June 24, 1916 in France.

Craig's first major battle took place upon a thirty kilometre front from north of the Somme river between the towns of Arras and Albert. The Princess Pat's moved into battle on October 7th, 1916 under the operation orders of Lieut. R.T. Pelly. The 2 Company would lead the first operation into the jumping-off trenches. In the second operation, half of the battalion would set up in columns of platoons just south of Regina Trench while the other half waited in Fabeck Graben. On this day, the unit was notified that zero hour would be at 4:50 am on the 8th. Both operation orders were completed by 7:45 am. There were 69 casualties.

The Battle of Passchendaele commenced on July 31st, 1917 in Passchendaele village and ended November 6th, 1917. It was very similar to the Battle of Somme in the tactics employed and casualties lost in the Canadian Regiment. The PPCLI moved into training on October 17th, 1917 until the 23rd under the operation orders of Lieut. Agar Adamson. On the morning of the 28th, the battalion was ordered to relieve three battalions, the 43rd, 52nd, and the 58th at Gravenstafel Ridge. They were heavily shelled while moving off from Ypres but maintained their objectives and lost few casualties.

Final instructions were given at the Battalion Headquarters at 11:30 am on the 29th where they were notified that zero hour would be at 5:50 am the next morning. All companies assembled to the jumping-off trenches. At zero hour of the 30th, the barrage opened and advance commenced. By 3:15 pm, several German pillboxes had surrendered and a large part of the hill was obtained but officer casualties were very heavy. By 6:50 pm, reinforcements were severely needed as the strength of the battalion was decreasing rapidly. The men fought into sunset, then sunrise completing most of their objectives. In capturing the Meetcheele Ridge, the Regiment won two Victoria Crosses. (Williams, pg.132) By late afternoon on the 31st, enemy retaliation became extremely heavy. The battalion was eventually relieved at midnight and proceeded to Pommern Castle and faced a gas attack during their march to relief. There were 363 casualties in the Battle of Passchendaele.

The Battle of Vimy Ridge was probably the most significant battle to the Canadian Regiment in the whole of World War One. Vimy Ridge is approximately 12km northeast of Arras. The importance of this ridge was the height which overlooked the Allied-held town. On April 8th, 1917, the Battalion was holding the line on Vimy Ridge from Suffied Sap to Tidza Crater, under the orders of Lieut. Agar Adamson, after preparations were completed for the attack and capture of the Ridge. At 6 pm that night, the Battalion was notified that Zero hour, the time of attack, would be at 5:30 am on April 9th, 1917.

The 3rd Division's attack was on at 1.2 kilometre front opposite La Folie Wood. At Zero hour the next morning, the men of the P.P.C.L.I commenced to climb up the lip of the craters. The 1 and 3 Company's objectives was to capture the Intermediate Objective which was the Junction of Blue and Beggar Trench. After that was completed, the 2 and 4 companies would capture the Final Objective which was to obtain the area from Britt Trench to Junction with Staubwesser Weg. By 4:10 pm, all Companies had reached their objectives. They managed to capture La Folie Farm, push through La Folie Wood, and capture an area south of Hill 145.

On April 10th at 12:50 am, the German forces began to bring up reinforcements from Merucourt to Vimy but all Canadian divisions, including the 3rd, were able to take the victory. On April 11th, all companies of the PPCLI were relieved from their duties and went on their way to Lamotte Camp. At Vimy, the P.P.C.L.I captured three enemy trench mortars and three machine guns. There were 335 casualties, 38 of them were fatal. (Nicholson, pg. 255)

Final Days: The Princess Patricia's were in several more somber but essential battles such as Arras (April and May, 1917), Pursuit to Mons (November, 1918), and Amiens (August, 1918). On May 25, 1918, Harold was transferred to England and posted to the E.O.R.D Seaford for the purpose of attending a Cadet School with a view to being granted a Commission in the Royal Air Force. On September 1st, he was struck of strength on posting to No. 5 School of Aeronautics in Denham. In a week, upon his arrival, Harold was appointed Acting Sergeant with pay. In consequence, he was discharged on November 30th, 1918 for being appointed Flight Cadet in the Royal Air Force. Harold contributed 3 years and 232 days in the World War and was payed $420.00 after his discharge at the age of twenty-five.

Medical Records: Harold Allen Craig was medically reviewed shortly before his battalion was accepted into the war and proved to have an exceptionally good heart rate of eighty. Harold Craig checked in to an infirmary in Havre but was diagnosed with Not Yet Determined and was released a few days later. He also went to the hospital with a sprained right ankle on May 31, 1917. On June 6, 1917 he was readmitted into the hospital for his sprained ankle. On November 3, 1918 he received a dental check with complimentary results.

Lest We Forget: Harold Allan Craig endured almost 4 years of the war and 85 years of his life. He died on May 7, 1978 at Sunnybrook Medical Centre in Toronto, Ontario of cancer. He was the husband of Gladys, the father of Gail and Michael Craig and the grandfather of Jan Mediner who were all with him at the time of his passing. Harold Allan Craig is buried at Hill Crest Cemetery in Smiths Falls Ontario. He died with a rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He is buried in Part II, Section Two, Plot 421. His efforts during the Great War will not be forgotten.

Obituary: Craig, Lt. Col. Harold Allen, B.A. (DCM, E.D. mentioned in dispatches)-suddenly at the Sunnybrooke Hospital, Toronto, on Sunday, May 7, 1978. Beloved husband of Gladys, and dear father of Gail (Mrs. T. Birnie) and Michael Craig. Dear grandfather of Jan Madiener. Also survived by one brother, Stedman Craig of Kingston, Ontario. Born in Smiths Falls, Ontario, in 1893. Graduate of Queens University, Kingston. taught high school in Peterborough, Ontario for many years. Served in two world wars with P.P.C.L.I. and Prince of Whales Rangers. A memorial service will be held at the Jerrett "Willowdale Chapel." 4661 Yonge St (between Hwy 401 and Sheppard Ave) on Tuesday May 9th, 1978 at 1 p.m. Interment on Wednesday May 10th, 1978 at 3 p.m. in Hillcrest Cemetary, Smiths Falls, Ontario. As expressions of sympathy donations to the Canadian Cancer Society would be greatly appreciated.

Future Reference: This is Harold Allan Craig's archive number at the National Archives of Canada (NAC) in Ottawa: RG 150, Acc. 1992-93/166, Box 2100-6

Primary Source
Military Files
National Archives of Canada

Internet
www.worldwar1.com
www.archives.ca
www.magma.ca/
www.dnd.ca/hr/dhh/downloads/
www.wtj.com/wars/greatwar/
www.kingandempire.com

Text
Williams, Jeffery First in the Field: Gault of the Patricia's (Vanwell Publishing Limited, St. Catharines, 1995)
Nicholson, Colonel G.W.L, Canadian Expeditionary Force 1914-1919 ( Queen's Printer, 1964)