RICHARD MANSON LINDSAY
BIOGRAPHY
Richard Manson Lindsay was born in Norwood, Peterborough Ontario on October 15th, 1894. He was a laborer and was raised a Protestant Christian by his mother Mrs. Clara Scales. He stood at 5-foot 6-inches, with fair skin, brown hair, with browny-green eyes. He signed his will on March 18th, 1915 and left all of his belongings to his mother. This was before he decided to enlist in the army while in Ottawa on March 29th, 1915 for $10 per month, and serve for one year. He was cleared for service in the military later that year on September 3rd.
He arrived in England on the 24th of October 1915. He was a private, and was assigned the service number 111569. He served for the unit 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles, Quebec Regiment, a unit that saw action in France and parts of Belgium. He served for 9 months and 24 days before being killed at 21, during the Battle of The Somme, on August 17th, 1916. The war documents describe his death as “killed in action” with no further explanation. He was buried in Belgium at the Railway Dugouts Burial Ground. his grave reference is VI. K. 1. and the inscription on his grave is “Laid to rest.” His name is displayed in the memorial chamber of the peace tower in Ottawa on March 20th every year.
ATTESTATION PAPERS
MEMORIAL CHAMBER OF THE PEACE TOWER
LIFE IN THE trenches
Life in the trenches was incredibly tough for soldiers in World War 1. This was due to many men living in such a confined space, disease, and tough whether conditions. Trenches were often covered in scraps of food, tins and other waste. Soldiers lived in mud and were not able to wash themselves or change for weeks at a time. Disease was spread by the rats in the trenches and the maggots and flies that came for the corpses. Common diseases were, trench foot, frostbite, pneumonia, trench fever, and shell shock. When possible the floor of trenches was made using wood. But, majority of the time this was not possible. Most of the time the floors of trenches were a muddy wet mess. Usually a soldier would spend 4 days at the front line, 4 days back closer to reserve, then 4 days at rest. A common attack during trench warfare was called a “trench raid” this was making a small scale surprise attack during the night. To stay prepared for trench raids armies would make their soldiers in the trenches sleep with their rifles and have them ready all hours of the day. Men typically only got one hot meal a day and they could only cook them at night. This was because the enemy would often shell and snipe at known roads and tracks leading up to the trenches.
(Soldiers attempting to sleep in a trench)
(The Ideal Trench)
5th Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles
The 5th Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles was a unit of the Canadian Expeditionary Force in world war 1. It was a mounted infantry unit. The unit was created from volunteers of the 7th and 11th (Canadian) Hussars from the eastern townships of Quebec. The group was formed in 2015 and transferred to England later that year. In 1916 the group was converted to an infantry battalion attached to the 8th Canadian Infantry Brigade, 3rd Canadian Division. The battalion fought in battles in France and Flanders from 1916 to 1918.
(Badge that would go on the hat of 5th Battalion, Canadian Mounted Rifles' soldiers)
Letters
(These letters were made by a student)
Railroad Dugouts Burial Ground
