Nova Scotia/Nunavut Command of The Royal Canadian Legion www.ns.legion.ca 155 A Noble Record Mr. and Mrs. Gass have a most enviable record in their sacrifices and the service of their family and relatives. The brave mother has given up one after the other, her beloved boys and only daughter. Mr. Gass since the outbreak of war, been an indefatigable recruiter, serving altogether without rank or renumeration of any kind. The record of their family and relatives is as follows: Nursing Sister Clare Gass, A.M.C., No 3 Canadian General Hospital (McGill), Boulogne France, (daughter) still serving with the unit. No 2497 Trooper Gerald Gass (son) Strathcona Horse, one of the first Canadians to enlist, went overseas with First Contingent. After serving for over a year in the trenches with his battalion has now been transferred to 3rd Divisional Signal Corps, and is still at the front. No 67097 Lance Corporal Cyril Gass (son), N.S. Battalion. Joined the battalion at its organization and was with it in its training and fighting. Spent ten months in the trenches. As Machine Gunner on the Ypres Salient was seriously wounded in the third battle for Ypres, June 12th 1916, and after 6 months in hospital in England is returned to Canada, with right leg amputated. No 69064, Lance Corporal Blanchard Victor Gass (son) N.S. Battalion, killed in action April 9th 1917, (Vimy Ridge) as reported above. No 901864, Pte. Athelstan Gass (son) N.S. Battalion, went overseas with battalion volunteered in drafts but was debarred from going to France and is returned to Canada underage. Corporal Reginald Gass (cousin) N.S. Battalion, seriously wounded, April 9th 1917 (Vimy Ridge). Dr. Charles Gass (cousin), Heavy Artillery, killed in action April 9th 1917 (Vimy Ridge), same time as Blanchard). Major Thomas Gass (cousin), Toronto Battalion. Pte. Roy Gass (cousin), N.B. Battalion. Pte. William Gass (cousin), 106th Battalion, sent to France in reinforcements. Seriously wounded in the recent fighting. Pte, Harry Gass (cousin), reinforcements. Wounded 1916. Pte. James Courtney (nephew), N.S. Battalion. Sent to France in reinforcements for N.S. Battalion. Pte. William Courtney (nephew), N.S. Highland Brigade. Pte. Lewis Miller (nephew); Pte Norman Miller (nephew); and Frank Miller (nephew) went overseas in reinforcements. That is 1 daughter, 4 sons, 7 cousins, and 5 nephews, to which may be added 10 or 12 other relatives of whom the names or corps are not available. The month of April has been a sorrowful one for the Gass family. Blanchard and Lawrence killed in action, Reginald and William seriously wounded. Mr. Gass was in the city in company with his wounded son Cyril, (who is working in the city) when the heartbreaking news reached him. He, with Cyril, and Rob (an elder son) immediately left for their home to comfort the stricken mother. Mr. Gass had the evening before he received a cheerful letter from Blanchard, and also recently a kind letter from a superior officer of the Battalion, telling of the good work Blanchard was doing and the probability of his immediate promotion, but the brave lad has received his promotion to the higher office awaiting those who have done their whole duty. Mr. and Mrs. Gass and the family desire through The Daily Echo to express their sincere thanks for the many expressions of sympathy received by mail and otherwise. continued ...
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM0NTk1OA==