Pte. Robert Gentles

by Donald Robert Bell
(Peterborough, Canada)

"Long may we all remember the multitude of Canadians, and indeed all of those who laid down their lives to defend the lives of others." - HM Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, at Canada House, London, November 2008, in a speech to honour Canada's war dead from the First World War.

My Great Uncle Bob was one of 68,000 young Canadians who did not live to return home from war-torn France at the end of the First World War. Private Robert Gentles died thirty years before I was born, and I regret never having had the chance to meet him. My father and his sisters described their Uncle Bob as being a kind and gentle young man. I was given my middle name, Robert, in his memory.

Robert Gentles was born on October 9, 1892, in Uphall, Linlithgow, Scotland. He later emigrated to Canada with his parents, Archibald and Annie Gentles, and his two sisters in 1904, and homesteaded at Dog Pound, near Cochrane, Alberta.

After the Great War (1914-1919) broke out in Europe, Robert joined the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force at age 24, signing his Attestation Paper on January 26, 1916. He became a Private serving in the 10th Overseas Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Force, Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment), Regimental Number 808492; later in France, he fought with the 89th Battalion, C.E.F.

Robert and other young men from the Cochrane area enlisted in the army to fight for King and country, it was certainly not for the pay. In a letter to home while training in England, dated July 20, 1916, he wrote:

"I do not need any money. I have not had the opportunity of spending what I have now as we are not allowed out, and money is no good to one in the trenches. If I should get "bowled out," don't be afraid to get after the military authorities for my back pay. I have heard it is sometimes hard to get. Half my pay is being held back just now and when we go to France we only get twenty cents per day so will have ninety cents per day of back pay."

He went on to write of the wartime dangers he was facing:

"I met two of the twelfth mounted rifle boys tonight, and they know all the Cochrane district boys and were telling me all about them. Jim Lyle is in the hospital in London. Brock Weatherhead is wounded & G. Borton is also wounded, but none of them seriously. We can hear the guns going night and day in France, but one never thinks of danger here, even if called out to scatter for an air raid. Aeroplanes are as common as horse flies in Alberta, and we seldom ever look up if one goes over."

Robert's unit was deployed to France in late August 1916, and he was reported killed in action on or about the 11th day of October, 1916, somewhere in France. His body was never recovered. The name "R Gentles" is inscribed on the ramparts of the Canadian National Vimy Memorial in France.

Robert wrote this last letter to his sister, Annie Stewart Bell nee Gentles (my grandmother), just ten days before he was killed:

_________________________

France,
Oct. 1st, 1916

My Dear Nan,

I am still plugging along and keeping well. I have had no letters since coming to France; that is five weeks ago today, but expect to have some soon. I suppose you are all through haying and have your green feed cut, or did you ripen your oats this year?

Tell Ernie that he may as well start farming now as later on horses are going to be a drudge on the market judging by the number there are in this country. I hardly know what to write about; it is merely a matter of filling up paper to have something to say.

I met one more Dog Pound boy the other day, Morgan Lewis who wishes to be remembered to you. Mick is now a sergeant. I suppose you have already heard Art Philips & Jerry Tulles were killed. Tell Ernie that the original 10th Battalion boys have a great name for Billy Nasmyth, and he paid them a visit when he brought the 89th draft to France.

Give my love to the kiddies & please excuse this short letter. You know I would sooner do anything than write.

Your affectionate Brother,

Bob
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There was an antique wind-up Gramophone at home when I was growing up, along with an early recording of "The Maple Leaf Forever." Whenever I played the old 10-inch, 78-rpm record, and listened to the song's stirring lyrics, I thought of my Great Uncle Bob and the ultimate sacrifice Pte. Robert Gentles and his comrades made so long ago to ensure our nation's freedom:

At Queenston Heights and Lundy's Lane,
Our brave fathers, side by side,
For freedom, homes, and loved ones dear,
Firmly stood and nobly died;
And those dear rights which they maintained,
We swear to yield them never!
Our watchword evermore shall be,
The Maple Leaf forever!

Chorus:
The Maple Leaf, our emblem dear,
The Maple Leaf forever!
God save our King, and Heaven bless,
The Maple Leaf forever!