Menin Gate

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Miss Batten of Barras Cross, Liskeard received notification from the War Office on Wednesday that her brother, Lance Corporal Albert Batten, Princess Patricia’s Light Infantry, Canadian Expeditionary Force, had been killed in action. A native of Liskeard, his father having worked for a great number of years with Mr J L Rapson, deceased was about 30 years of age. In h9is early manhood he served two years in the British Army, and, buying himself out, went to Canada between five and six years ago, and did not return until the Old Country was in need of the services of her sons. He went to France with the Canadians just before Christmas, was wounded in action and in hospital for nine weeks, and it is understood that he had only been in action a week after leaving hospital when he was killed. Much sympathy is felt with the parents, who have recently gone to Mr Rapson’s farm at Hill, and to whom the sad news was taken by Mr Rapson himself. There are two other sons, one serving in the Navy and the other with the National Reserves. The telegram from the War Office gave deceased regimental number as 349, whereas it is 539, but it is feared that the error is in the number and not the person. (Cornish Times 14 May 1915)

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Alec and his brother, George (my Grandfather), came to Canada in 1904, and eventually homesteaded in the Buffalo Lake area, near Bashaw, Alberta. Bruce came about 1910. They were from England. When war was declared in August of 1914, the three men drew straws to determine who would fight, and who would stay to manage their collective homesteads. Alec and Bruce, along with two older brothers, William and Arthur, determined to enlist. Arthur had been living in Clark's Fork, Idaho, and Willie, we believe, had been living in the Seattle area. Both men came North in early 1915 to enlist at Medicine Hat with the 3rd Candadian Mounted Rifles. According to my Grandmother's memoirs, Alec and Bruce signed up with the 19th Alberta Dragoons in September of 1914. In December of 1914, Bruce fell ill, and succumbed to pneumonia on 31 December 1914. He apparently did not live long enough to attest for overseas service. Alec did attest on 29 December, then after Bruce's Funeral, made his way to Medicine Hat for service with 3 Canadian Mounted Rifles. The three uniformed surviving Salmon brothers, all with 3 Canadian Mounted Rifles, sailed from Montreal on 12 June 1915. From England, they landed in France on 22 September 1915, and were involved in heavy fighting in the Ypres salient by November of that same year. This is where they served with Major F.W.W. Fane, as he is mentioned in letters home. On 31 December 1915, the 3rd Canadian Mounted Rifles were disbanded, and their numbers apportioned to the 1st and 2nd Mounted Rifles. On 02 June 1916, Alec and Arthur were caught in the opening action at Sanctuary Wood. Arthur was badly wounded. Alec assisted Arthur, bound his wounds, and carried on with the fighting. He was never seen again, although his ID disc was recovered several days later. His fellow soldiers believed he died on 02 June, although he is listed as KIA on 05 June (probably when his ID bracelet was found). William was not at the front on that day, as he was conducting gas-drill exercises. Arthur's war ended several days later when he was found, and evacuated to England. Willie apparently served through to Armistice.