Articles

By Holly Bridges

There aren't many Canadians who can pay tribute to the veterans in their family the way Major JP Peart did yesterday.

The 3 Wing Bagotville fighter pilot flew his CF-18 jet in a two-ship formation over St. Alban's Cemetery in Bathurst, New Brunswick in honour of his great grandfather-in-law, Corporal Herman James Good, who also happens to be one of Canada's few Victoria Cross recipients of the First World War.

Cpl Good received the Victoria Cross for courageously disposing of three German machine-guns and their crews, and then, with the assistance of three comrades, assaulting and capturing a German battery of 5.9 inch guns and their entire crews during the Battle of Amiens at Hangard Wood on August 8,1918. Most of the battle involved hand-to-hand combat.

Although the late Cpl Good was a local hero in Bathurst, he was buried in St. Alban's in 1969 with only a lone black marker to signify his grave. The ceremony yesterday saw friends, family and several dignitaries gather to unveil a new cairn in memory of this very special Canadian.

Members of the Bathurst Black Watch Association raised significant funds to erect the cairn, which was unveiled by the Minister of Veteran's Affairs, as well as Cpl Good's son and grandson. Maj Peart was only too happy to participate in the event, which honoured his wife's great grandfather.

"It was a great honour for me, not just purely because of my family connection with Herman Good, but because he was a Victoria Cross recipient. There just aren't that many of them around in Canada. So it was very special for me to participate."

The Victoria Cross is the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. Cpl Good's medal is on display at the War Museum, Herman J. Good V.C., Branch # 18, Royal Canadian Legion, 575 St. Peter Ave, Bathurst, New Brunswick.