| Rank | Private |
| Service # | 6740 |
| Resident | Moraviantown |
Regimental number: 6740 Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 9358 – 30 Date of Birth 01/03/1872 Born at Moraviantown, Ontario. Prior to the war George was farming in the Cedar Springs area of Kent County, Ontario. He was the father of Sandy Stonefish of R.R. #3, Thamesville, Ontario and Cpl. Joel Stonefish. He had been undergoing military training with the 26th Middlesex Regt. when he joined the 1st Contingent CEF at Valcartier on 22 September, 1914.
Private George Stonefish trained with the 26th. Middlesex Regiment about six seasons.
Private George Stonefish mobilized at Valcartier with the 1st. Canadian Contingent and left for overseas September 23rd, 1914, on the “S.S. Laurentic.” He trained on Salisbury Plains, crossed to France February 8th, 1915, and served with the 1st. Canadian Battalion through the engagements at Ypres, April 22, 23, 1915; the gas attack at Festubert; Givenchy, June 15th, 1915; and received shrapnel wounds in the left side of the head, and left fore-arm July 9th, 1916. After hospital treatment in France and England he reported at West Sandling; was boarded as unfit for further active service and returned to Canada in November 1917.
Private George Stonefish received his discharge December 31st, 1917, at the Guelph Military Hospital as medically unfit for further military service.
He went to France with the 1st Battalion on the 8th of February, 1915, after training on Salisbury Plain. He was seriously wounded in the left side of his head and fore-arm on 9/07/1916 during the Battle of the Somme. The arm was so seriously wounded that George was honorably discharged at Guelph, Ontario 31 December, 1917 as “medically unfit” for further service.
“June 5th 1915” George begins his letter with the thanksgiving of many a soldier who survived in a terrible battle. “I must say I thank God that I am spared through the terrible war as yet, although while one is enjoying good health on the battlefield he never knows whether he will be spared till night”.
The horrors of the nightly shelling of the trenches by the Germans with their, “coal boxes or a Jesse Willard” was nerve-racking for George. ”Crouching behind the parapet of our trench, and all one can see is bunch of the trench blown up, and if there is anybody where the shell burst, well God pity them”.
George had transferred from the infantry to the stretcher-bearers, “My work is to help carry the wounded off the field” not an easy job in the dangerous territory of the trench war, amidst the exploding shells that didn’t distinguish between infantry and stretcher-bearer. George was well aware of the suffering of the wounded he was trying to help, “connected with anyone who get hit with any dreadful missiles”. It was heart rending for George to hear the shells approaching the Canadian trenches, “with their whistling shrieks.”
George was optimistic that they were driving the Germans back, albeit at, “enormous cost”. “What with the large Krupp guns and machine guns, when we make an attack, why they can just get a line on us and a lot of us have to go down”.
There was no love lost between the Canadians and their foes, “They don’t like us Canadians because we don’t take any prisoners, but just mow them down whenever we get a chance. So I guess the Canucks have accounted for a few Germans since we have been out in France”. Like so many men in the 1st Contingent of the CEF, George had little idea where he was actually fighting, in 1915 the Canadians fought in Belgium not France. When not at the ‘firing line’, George is never sure just where he is, “we don’t know where or when we are going till we get to the trenches. We never know where we are when we are going till we get there”.
His job as a stretcher-bearer he writes, “is a heartbreaking job, sometimes, carrying the wounded and to get a glimpse of the dead lying there on the field often causes the thought to pass my mind. “Well George, you will not go till your time comes and your work is completed here on earth”. The thought of it makes me shudder.
George closes his letter by expressing his gratitude to those people in Thamesville who have written to him and sent parcels that along with the help of the Red Cross have made a difference. “Hoping to see a speedy end to this murderous war, and may God bless and protect us all, and at last bring us safely home again.
George Stonefish is the only First Nations individual have come across in the 1st Contingent from Kent County. A letter from George dated “France June 20th” to a friend named, W.R. Davis, gives some insight into how he viewed this ‘European war’. The letter is written only five days after the Battle of Givenchy at which many ‘Chatham boys’ died or were wounded.
After thanking his friend Davis for sending him copies of the Thamesville Herald, George goes on to talk about the recent battle. “We met the Germans on the 15th of June and my battalion which you know is the first, made a charge and we lost a lot of men.” Two leading officers were lost in the engagement Lieut.-Col. BECHER and Major George SMITH who were leading many of the Chatham boys. “Sir, we took five officers bodies away back from the firing line to a cemetery of the R.C. – we were all very down hearted.”
Now in a ‘rest area’ waiting to have the battalion brought back up to strength, George isn’t finished with his fight with the Huns. “You know, we could have taken lots of prisoners but did not want to as we wanted to get some of our own back for what they did on April 23rd (Second Battle of Ypres). We only took six of them alive, so you can tell for yourself alright” Generals may wage wars but soldiers fight them and it was evident that scores were yet to be settled after the German gassing the Canadians.
“Out of what left Chatham there are only 12 men now in the firing line”. While in the ‘rest area’ he has been working hard carrying wounded to the dressing stations. “It is a very hard place for to get them out.” A number of stretcher-bearers would be killed or wounded before the job was completed.
He tells of meeting Major Earl D. HUBBELL M.D. from Thamesville at the burial of the officers, (Hubbell notes the meeting in his letter to his father, written on the same day). “He is looking very good after his hard work caring for the wounded”. Officers and ranks have the common bond of lost comrades, the democracy of war.
“I don’t think I have much more to say this time, as I miss a lot of my chums and I go around and see what is left of them.” Chatham Daily Planet 10/07/1915
After the letter above it seems strange that the same man wrote the following letter which has been, for the most part, edited by the newspaper. For this reason I have only transcribed that portion that is attributed to Private Stonefish.
Private George Stonefish of Moraviantown, in a letter to Magistrate Ward Stanworth, dated 21 July, “someplace in Belgium”, printed in the Chatham Daily Planet 11/08/1915
“Sir, – just a few words. I have had a hard work and danger. But still I am hear. I can’t say whether I’ll ever see Canada again but I’ll try, trying is nothing like it. Off course I am not alone you know that. I have seen a hot times and cool times both yet I am game as the day I left even if I was the last man. This is all good by if you can fill this you’ll do well you take all the hint that all good day.”
The article states that George is “now a stretcher bearer with the first battalion”.
Some time between July and September, 1915 George leaves the stretcher-bearers for the infantry and is becoming a well known sniper. “A marvel with a rifle”, according to an article in the Chatham Daily Planet 16/10/1915.
Pte. Stonefish was allowed a great many ‘liberties’ on the firing line and stories had reached Chatham of the splendid work he was doing picking off Germans. “He has a telescopic sight attached to the rifle and goes about as he likes. He is a silent man, talking to no one and wanders
about the trenches, waiting a chance to pick off a German. One German sniper was recently giving a lot of trouble. Officers with glasses tried in vain to locate him. The Indian came along. Without a word to anyone he fired at a big tree and down fell the sniper. The Indian saw with his naked eye what the officers glasses failed to discover.
“For some unaccountable reason this Indian never fires twice at the same man, and if he misses his mark he will not fire again, but lets the man alone. He is said to have killed 38 Germans.” It was then, as it is now, not wise for a sniper to fire twice at the same target this giving away his position to the enemy.
A letter from Pte. Stonefish to “Geo. Barker, Thamesville P. O.”, first appeared in the Thamesville Herald and was reprinted in the Chatham Daily Planet 20/10/1915. Dated, “September 9th 1915”, George begins by thanking his friend for the letter of the 30th of August and the cigars that he had enclosed. “We all come from different parts of Canada”, George writes. “So we enjoy our self by sticking a cigar in our faces as long as it lasts. I thank you very much for them.” A soldier at the front’s pleasures may seem insignificant, but they were important to the men at the front
The war and the loss of so many of the men that George had left home with is having an effect on him. “I am lucky to be leaving yet, when we have lost so many men, and I a here yet without a scratch on me. I have seen four big battles since I have been in the war and I am very sorry. I wish I never seen it.”
He is now looking forward to the arrival of the 2nd Canadian Contingent from England. “The second division coming in a few days and the first division go somewhere. We just liable to pull out right to the other end of the firing line because we are the flying division. We been here in the same place holding the line for three months. Now we in full strength.
Like all of the soldiers of the 1st contingent, George will be happy to see the end of the war and will gladly he says tell George Barker the real stories of the war, should he make it back to Canada and Thamesville. “I have no dough if the war declare in peace, you would see even those that never laugh before, they laugh so that your could not tell whether it was a face or something else.
A second letter appeared in the same article, this time to Mr. J. O. Hubbell, “Your friend Geo. Stonefish, Somewhere in Belgium, September 13th “. Thanking his friend for his last letter George provided his friend with more information on life at the front.
“We lost a few men the last time we was in, and was to the front line with a new men so that was all up to us to show they work. Of course the men are in throughout the Batt. Seem to me them is the one they get pickoff first. They too careless. It is too bad. The answer was we want to know too much. No sir. All right carry on. This is no summer camp in Canada. This is war time.
The war in the air often involves the troops on the ground and such was the case the morning George was writing this letter. “Airplane fight early this morning. Our man get the best of the German. German airplane drops in our quarter. That fat German as more gall then man I have seen. Just before he on a grown he turn machine gun on company. But he didn’t last long.”
The second letter in the Chatham Daily Planet 4/ 03/1916 to Mr. J. O. Hubbell, dated, “Belgium Feb. 15th , 1916” is in reply to the letter and parcel sent to him, “from the kind people of round old Thamesville.”
“I am in trenches all O.k.”, George begins, he has been kept busy and has had little time to write. Airplanes have been flying around, “up behind the clouds and fighting up there to there class.” George is, “very glad to see nice and red sun come up in a morning”. The ground is beginning to dry, which to the veteran soldier means, “we’ll be in for it too”
To the farmers in the area spring still means work to do in the fields, “I hope they grow some good crops so can have some green pot beans and peas and then I’ll just joke when we start to butcher with the Germans”. George is now back with No. 4 company again, but “we only 6 ‘old-timers’”.
They had been receiving some reinforcements, “last night 3 men. They say war will be over this summer, but you know Hubbell, that didden come yet and it’s going to cost lots more men – and if not this summer coming you know it’s going to stand for another year.” The men at the front had a more realistic view of the course of the war than the politicians wanted to present
“My partner asked me if I was home sick. I told that why I let home.” George goes on to thank Mr. Hubbell for his parcel and for sending him the “Herald” (Thamesville newspaper) he should write more but, “when have got time I’m glad to lay down any old place and sleep.” He ends this by saying, “I have to go to work tonight near the German lines.” Perhaps he was out snipping at the Germans?
RSM Robert WHITFIELD 6641 in a letter dated 19 May 1916 to Pte. Clifford Morrice 6709 who had been invalided to Canada wrote, “Very few of your platoon is here now. Sergeant Sheff, Lance-Corp. Moore, Tack, Stonefish, Spurgeon and Joe Ivison, who is still on the cooker.”
Chatham Daily Planet 7/06/1916.
‘A Famous Marks-Men was reported in the CDP 3/10/17 had arrived along with Pte. J. F. Kennedy a well – known local butcher and Pte. Kinnaird of Blenheim.
George was a veteran of the Fighting First” Battalian. George “slipped quietly away from some returning veterans. Pte Stonefish had been on service for three years was in fine condition when contacted with the Planet he refused to give any of his experiences as a sniper during his 18 months service that he saw in France.
The Planet, “however, was able to learn that it was on the 9th of July, at Zellebeck, near Ypres, that he sustained the wounds which in capitated him from further services. “I was carrying on,” a ‘coal box exploded close to where I was standing burying several other and myself. After the ‘resurrection I found that I had wounds in my arms”.
“I am certainly glad to be back though I tell you can didly when I left I did not think I would ever return, I took everything ove there as a matter of course, and enjoyed myself as best I could.
CDP 4/10/17:- George was a bit of a cleberty talking to school children with pupils at Queen Mary and Central School. The students were a big hit.
After George’s return to Canada and his recovery from his wounds, it seems clear that his service had left lingering effects. By 1919 he was getting into trouble with the law. It was reported in the Chatham Daily News 5/11/1919 that George his brother Gilbert and a Zimmer Noah had got into a “brawl” in Thamesville leaving the men much the worse for the fight and George himself “severely injured. The cause of the altercation was unknown an the incident was under investigation by Chief Constable Peters.
Sadly the Chatham Daily Planet 18th of February, 1920 would report that the body of George Stonefish was found near his home on the Moraviantown reserve, death apparently a result of exposure. George was buried in the cemetery at Moravianton.
See Attestation record STONEFISH G 6740 copied.
Nominal Roll D-Company, 13 Platoon 1st Canadian Infantry Battalion. 17/02/15
Photo at C-K Museum – IODE Books.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
| Sources | Chatham Daily Planet (02-10-1917), Chatham Daily Planet (03-10-1917), Chatham Daily Planet (04-10-1917), Chatham Daily News (05-11-1919), Chatham Daily Planet (18-02-1920), Chatham Daily Planet (21-02-1920), Chatham Daily Planet (24-02-1920), Victor Lauriston - Romantic Kent - The Story of a County 1626-1952 |
| Height | 5' 5" |
| Eye Colour | Brown |
| Age | 43 |
| Complexion | Dark |
| Hair | Black |
| Race | Indian |
| Birthplace | Moraviantown, Ontario |
| Religion | Anglican |
| Last Place of Employment | Farmer, Cedar Springs, Ontario |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Marriage Info | Moraviantown, Ontario |
| When Enlisted | August 1914 |
| Where Enlisted | Chatham, Ontario |
| Next of Kin | Son- Sandy Stonefish, R.R.#3 Thamesville, Corporal Joel Stonefish |
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