PETER L. DRAKE was the eldest son of ELIZABETH ANN COWELL and PETER MONTROSE DRAKE.  ELIZABETH ANN COWELL was my Grandfather, RONALD BRADFORD COWELL’S, Aunt Elizabeth.  Elizabeth being my Grandfather’s father, CHARLES ANDERSON COWELL'S eldest sister. If I understand things correctly, this makes PETER my Third Cousin.

Peter enlisted with The Canadian Expeditionary Forces in February of 1916.  He was first assigned to the Canadian Infantry’s 188^th Battalion, then, after arriving in England via the S. S. Olympic on October 19, 1916, he was transferred to the 6^th Brigade’s, 28th Battalion, Saskatchewan (Northwest) Division, on November 30, 1916.

Peter enlisted at Saskatchewan because he had gone there from his Hometown of Dunnville, Ontario, Canada, to Homestead.  Had he remained in Dunnville, he probably would have enlisted and served with Haldimand’s 114^th better known as Brock’s Ranger’s.  It is also interesting to note that during World War I, Haldimand County had the highest enlistment rate of any other county in Ontario comparable to its size.

After being dispatched to the Field, Peter was wounded in action twice, once seriously, with a gunshot wound to the neck, and once, with minor shrapnel injuries, also to the neck.

His first injury, the “minor” shrapnel wounds sustained in July of 1917, gave him 10 days “R and R” in the Military Hospital in Shoracliffe.  Not long after this, apparently after having time to think about what had happened, Peter took the time to execute his Military Will, leaving all of his personal belongings to his father in Dunnville, Peter Montrose Drake.

Peter’s more serious injury, the gunshot wound to his neck, was sustained in a raid carried-out solely by the 28^th Battalion against a German enemy out-post line, front-line, and support position, situated along the Arras - Bapaume Road, on May 3, 1918. As a result, Peter was evacuated to a field hospital, and later admitted to 1^st Southern General Hospital in Stirchley, Birmingham, England, on May 8, 1918, where he convalesced for 20 days. 

On both occasions after being discharged from the hospital Peter was first sent to the 15^th Reserve Battalion for light duty before returning to his duties with The 28^th Battalion as a LEWIS (FIELD) GUNNER, a position often referred to as a "Suicide Gunner”. 

Sadly, 5 months after sustaining the gunshot wound to his neck, on October 10, 1918, in the days following the Battle of Cambrai,  Peter was killed in action in the vicinity of Thun St. Martin just outside The Village of Iwuy, only one month before The Armistice.

Peter’s death occurred one day before the actual Battle at Iwuy, the heaviest fighting it was written by the Battalion’s Commanding Officer at the time, to have ever be seen by the 28th Canadian Infantry Battalion . 

196 Canadian and British Soldiers are buried with Peter at Niagara Cemetery at Iwuy.  18 of them in addition to Peter died on October 10^th.  The remainder died on October 11^th or in the days that followed as a result of their injuries on the 11^th.

My introduction to my Third-Cousin and his brave service to his Country was made to me by my Grandfather in elementary school, and as a result, I did a classroom report about him as a young Canadian Infantry Soldier during World War I. 

My initial fascination was intense, but unfortunately short-lived, and as I grew older and other things became more important, it faded into the shadows of my childhood.  That original fascination however, was rekindled after my Grandmother’s death in 1998, and gradually it returned and into an obsession to discover as much as I could about PETER’S life during his time during WWI in France. 

As an adult, and finding myself left with no living family relationships to speak of, my connections to my ancestors became extremely important to me, but the spiritual connection I had with PETER was one, that in looking back to my childhood was obvious and unmistakable from the very beginning.  From the moment I learned the first basic things about PETER from my Grandfather, most especially that PETER was killed during the First World War and laid to rest so far from his home in Canada, somewhere outside a small village in France, I somehow felt responsible for the caretaking of his story and memory…

... even if it has taken some thirty-years to begin learning the story... and telling it... again

Even though I do understand the realities of war, I was nonetheless driven to find out why, and if at all possible, how, PETER had died the day before most everyone else buried with him at Niagara Cemetery, had lost their lives. The sadness that consumed me… and surrounded why PETER had died so young and so far from home for such a noble cause… and especially that he had never been able to return home… not even in death… broke my heart.  So much so that it drove me to search for and find anything that I could about the day PETER died and the days leading up to his death. 

When I began this “quest”, I knew nothing. But, little by little, and with the help of many WONDERFUL people from around the World, we have managed to piece together pieces of PETER and his Battalion, Brigade and Division, until finally, two possibilities of what might have happened on October 10, 1918, began to emerge from the pages of War Diaries, Archives and Battle Maps.  Here is some of what has been discovered….

THUN ST. MARTIN AND THE VILLAGE OF IWUY

The attack on the Germans who were occupying the Village of Iwuy was originally planned to begin on October 10^th, but because of the 4^th Brigade’s inability to get to and secure high ground surrounding the village (due in large part to low-flying enemy aircraft), heavy German resistance, and heavy casualties and injuries (especially officers) on the 10^th,  it was delayed until the 11^th of October. 

In the War Diary Narrative of the 28^th Infantry Battalion “Appendix H” Authored by Commanding Officer, Major G.F.D. Bond, for October 8-12, 1918, it reads as follows, beginning in the middle of Page 1 and going into Page 2:

War Diary Narrative 28th Battalion - October 10th 1918

(Notes in Italics are Added)

“The Battalion was ordered to be in position for the attack by 05:00 (5:00 a.m.) hours but this proved to be impossible and it was not until after 07:00 (7:00 a.m.) hours that the Commanding Officer who had gone forward personally was able to launch the attack.  The attack of the 28^th Battalion was successful and for some time little resistance was encountered. The 29^th Battalion however, had been unable to get up on the left flank and in consequence, machine gun fire from the left flank was encountered from the northeastern outskirts of Thun St. Martin as a result of which, the advance was held up at about 10:30 (10:30 a.m.) hours.  From this point it was found impossible to push on.  Report received showed the Village of Iwuy to be strongly held and the dumps and railway west and southwest the same.

At approximately 14.30 hours (The Written Orders by Mounted Orderly are Below and Timed 13:15 hours?) verbal instructions were received to the effect that the 4^th Brigade had crossed the Canal in U.13.c. and were attacking for the high ground in U.2.9 and 15.  Accordingly two companies of the 28^th Battalion would endeavor to cross the River (The Erclin) at U.13.c passing to the rear at the practice trenches in T.10.c and pushing N.W. along East side of the River and attack Iwuy from the flank.  The Commanding Officer again went forward and outlined the situation and “B” and “C” Companies (PETER WAS A LEWIS FIELD GUNNER AND IN “C” COMPANY) were detailed for the operation. The move for the position was commenced at 16:30 hours (4:30 p.m.).  At 16:30 (4:30 p.m.) hours information was received at Battalion HQ that the 4^th Brigade had not secured the high ground and the situation remained thus throughout the night of the 10^th/11^th of October. In consequence of this, it was found impossible for “B” and “C” Companies of the 28^th Battalion to carry out the operation. At a late hour it was decided that the 29^th Battalion take over the entire line of the Brigade and that the remaining (or what remained of the) two Companies of the 28^th be withdrawn to the practice trenches in T.10.c. and for the whole Battalion to attack IWUY on the 11^th, instructions as outlined roughly above”

Zero Hour Became October 11^th at 0900…. but by then… Peter would already be dead.

 The War Diary Narrative of the 28^th Battalion Commanding Officer doesn’t necessarily indicate that there was confusion surrounding the plan to attack Iwuy, but it does seem clear that it was a complex plan that was dependant upon many parts of a large whole coming together… AND…  I have to remember too that communication during WWI was completely dependant upon “runners”, “mounted orderlies” “signals” and “signal lights”.

With this in mind and reading the Narrative it seems to me that there are two likely scenarios or possibilities surrounding how and why Peter died on the 10^th instead of the 11^th  with the majority of the casualties at Iwuy.

First Possibility

Peter was killed in the early part of the day of October 10^th , probably between 07:00 hours (7:00 a.m.) and 10:30 hours (10:30 a.m.) when German resistance was encountered, possibly from high ground surrounding Thun St. Martin, as the 28^th Battalion was advancing toward the Village of Iwuy, making it impossible for the Battalion to advance further.

28th Battalion War Diary Narrative Excerpt – October 10th, 1918

“The attack of the 28^th Battalion was successful and for some time but little resistance was encountered.  The 29^th Battalion however had been unable to get up on the left flank and in consequence machine gun fire from the left flank was encountered from the northeastern outskirts of Thun St. Martin as a result of which the advance was held up at about 10:30 hours on a line approximately T.10.a.8.3. to T.4.c.4.5. From this point it was found not possible to push on.”

In this Map you can see where the “line” matches neatly with the edge of a field, making one suspect that the 28^th Battalion may have taken shelter behind an edge or sunken farm road on the morning of the 10^th of October, 1918.  The line of maximal advance (blue line between T.10.a.8.3. and T.4.c.4.5.) is just ahead of a series of roads making steps just behind it.

Two possible reasons for The 28^th Battalion to stop their advance at this point would have been because…

 1) they had suffered too many casualties, too many to keep fighting… but in reading the narrative, this seems unlikely, although there is an indication that 5 officers were wounded; or,

2) at their point of maximum advance at 10:30 hours, they encountered too strong a resistance and were forced to find and take shelter (and possibly even retreat) in the sunken roads shown on the map. 

the second would “imply” heavy casualties because I understand that during WWI, Battalions would have still tried to go forward even under heavy resistance, unless casualties were high.  This high casualty “implication” is a bit contradicted however, by 2^nd Division Field Hospital War Diary Records, that on October 10^th, 1918, list casualties as “practically nil” for that day.  Casualties however on October 11^th, on the day Iwuy was directly attacked, are listed as “extremely heavy with some 1,400 cases having passed through”

In reading the 28^th Battalion’s War Diary Narrative, for the 10^th though, and taking into consideration how things were done in battle during World War I, “the advance was held up” and “not found possible to push on”, is hard not to be taken as phrases for, “we sustained heavy casualties in trying”.

I am still learning about WWI and the “logistics” and “art” of war and battle, so I’ve had to have help from people who know more about The Great War than I do.  One of these gracious people, Pascal Lanthier in Canada, has helped me piece the morning of October 10^th, 1918, together and explained coordinates and protocol, and how things would have been done back then in a way that I can understand them

In WWI the 28^th Battalion would have continued their attempts to attack the Germans at Iwuy and move forward toward the Village, regardless of how heavy the resistance they faced, UNLESS there were heavy casualties.  So, in other words, written documentation by the 28^th’s Commanding Officer, clearly stating their advance was stopped, indicates casualties must have been high.  This is something that I would not have known without Pascal’s assistance.

So, the conclusion must be highly considered, that between the “step roads” and the “line” on the morning of the 10^th of October, 1918, the 28^th Battalion suffered high casualties, so many, that they were finally forced to take cover in and around the sunken little farm roads indicated on the map, (and possibly retreat), something that isn’t obviously apparent from reading the War Diary Narrative from that day.

Because of this high probability of casualties in the 28^th Battalion’s ranks (troops and/or officers) on the morning of the 10^th of October, 1918, at the point of maximum advance or very near it, I think that it is VERY possible Peter may have been killed here between 07:00 hours and 10:30 hours.

Second Possibility

PETER was killed between 14:00 (2:00 p.m.) and 18:00 (6:00 p.m.) hours during the afternoon/evening of October 10^th during which time his Company “C”, led by Lt. J. W. Lowes, along with “B” Company, led by Lt. Gibbs, of the 28^th Battalion, were carrying out a mission to attack German Ersatz 10^th Division soldiers occupying the Village of Iwuy.

Their orders (according to 28^th Battalion War Diary Narrative) were to cross the Erclin River, pass at the rear of the practice trenches along the railway, then push northwest along river and attack Iwuy from the flank.  Peter’s Commanding Officer, Major Bond, believed the 4^th Brigade had already reached high ground to provide cover for “B” and “C” Companies from the Germans, but at about the same time the Companies commenced their mission, word was received at Battalion Headquarters that the 4^th Brigade had not secured the high ground. 

Apparently, the instability of the “high ground” situation remained this way throughout the night of the 10^th  until eventually, seeing it would be impossible for the two Companies of the 28^th Battalion to carry-out their mission, the decision was made to withdraw them.  Why they were not withdrawn sooner, I don’t know and anything I might come up with now in reading the Narratives would only be conjecture.  One can only assume however, that the men of “B” and “C” Companies were more than likely in a very dangerous situation, one they probably found themselves in shortly into their mission. 28^th Battalion Records give no indication as to how far “B” and “C” Companies were able to advance, but 6^th Brigade War Diary entries are a little more detailed in this regard and state in the 1400 hour entry on the 10^th…

“but by nightfall the two attacking companies had only reached the line of the Railroad in T.11.b between the River and the Sunken Road T.6.c.3.0.”

This clearly indicates that “B” and “C” Companies of the 28^th Battalion reached the Railroad and were pinned down there before they were withdrawn

 Certainly in reading Major Bond’s outwardly simplistic Narrative, common-sense would tell me things were not as calm as they seemed, and more than likely, if Peter survived the casualties of the morning, this is where Peter met his end… either going in to flank-attack Iwuy as he was ordered, as far forward as they managed to make it, indications being that this was to the point of the railroad, and if he survived this, possibly when the two Companies were being withdrawn to the practice trenches.

I am struck most by those photos showing the peaceful serenity of the rolling country-sides and plowed farm-fields that give no indication of the carnage of almost 90 years ago, that no words can describe... and that now only cemeteries, and at a distance from Iwuy... the towering Cross and Sword at the corner of Niagara stand silent testament to.... the mayhem and horror of a fierce battle so long ago that now rests still and soft with the passage of time and lives past that were there... and once remembered.

 I have discovered a unity with wonderful people like Pascal and Alain that has helped bring Peter’s story to life… made it more personal… and brought to life the stories of many other WWI Soldiers as well. 

None of these brave and honorable men should ever be forgotten.

The People of Iwuy and their Descendants and Those of Thousands of Other Villages and Cities Throughout France and Europe are Forever Grateful To All of The Soldiers of The Canadian and British Expeditionary Forces.

All of The CEF and BEF Battalions and Brigades Buried at Niagara Cemetery just outside The Village of Iwuy, France, and A list of All of the Soldiers and the Military Units they belonged to, can be found at http://www.inmemories.com/Cemeteries/niagara.htm)

THE CEF SOLDIER AND THE GREAT WAR

Peter’s story is just one of many, many thousands of Great War Soldier’s Stories set in granite for eternity covering the country-sides of France and filling the cemeteries of many other European villages.

 These brave soldier’s sacrifices and their valor under the gravest of conditions… should never be forgotten. 

If you have an Ancestor or Loved-One who gave their life or served with The Canadian Expeditionary Forces in World War I (The Great War) please consider learning as much as you can about their service so their story and memory WILL NOT be forgotten.  And, if you don’t have a Loved-One who served in The Great War, please consider “Adopting a Soldier” so the legacy of a forgotten soldier’s story won’t fall silent and will be passed on through history, through your voice and your children and grandchildren's voices.

The Resources Below Should Help Get You Started!

Thank You.

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