Friday, April 2, 1915
In rest billets northern outskirts of Estaires
The Battalion War Diarist wrote for this day: “C.O. and 2nd in Command went to Fauquissart with GO.C. 3rd Brigade and reconnoitred German lines for proposed attack which however, did not take place.” [1]
THIS DAY IN RMR HISTORY: “(Canadian Associated Press Cable) London, April 2 – The Distinguished Conduct Medal is gazetted tonight to Private C. B. Nourse, of the Princess Pat’s, for conspicuous gallantry at St. Eloi on the 28th of February, when he was one of the first to enter the German trenches in an attack. He scaled the barrier and continued to fight on the far side until he had fired 130 rounds of ammunition.
Private Nourse is a South African and is a member of No. 1 Company of the Pat’s. He is the first member of a Canadian regiment to be decorated in the present war. He enlisted from Toronto.” ** [2]
* Note 1: Although the media often referred to them as the ‘Princess Pat’s’ no member of Canada’s distinguished regiment, the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry,” past or present, would ever refer to their fine regiment as the ‘Princess Pat’s.’ That is considered an insult, and they rightfully refer to their regiment as the “Princess Patricia’s.”
** Note 2: See our posting for March 11, 1915 in which was recorded the award of a D.C.M. for Stretcher Bearer Reginald H. Drake of the 14th Bn. His was the first D.C.M. to be awarded to a member of the First Canadian Division.
The above announcement of the award of the D.C.M. to Private C. B. Nourse of the Princess Patricia’s for gallantry on February 28th was the first such award to a Canadian in the First World War. The distinction is that the Princess Patricia’s were then serving as a part of the 80th Brigade of the 27th British Division, and not under a Canadian formation.
[1] War Diary, 14th Canadian Battalion, The Royal Montreal Regiment, April 2, 1915. Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa, http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/e/e044/e001089714.jpg
[2] “First Canadian to Receive the D.C.M.,” The Citizen, Ottawa, Ontario, Friday, April 2, 1915, pg. 3, col. 1.