It has been my custom for the last several years to devote several pieces during the month of July honouring those of the 1st Newfoundland Regiment from Fogo Island who served in World War I. The 1st Newfoundland Regiment, as most of us know, is forever associated with the Battle of Beaumont Hamel and in Newfoundland and Labrador today, July 1st is known by many as Memorial Day. The 1st Newfoundland Regiment was ordered into battle at the village of Beaumont Hamel as part of the opening phase of the Battle of the Somme at 07:30, July 1st, 1916. The Battle of Beaumont Hamel was over for the Newfoundlanders in less than half an hour. 733 of 801 in the 1st Newfoundland Regiment were killed or wounded. The subject for this particular piece is Ignatius Penton of Joe Batt’s Arm. Ignatius was not a participant in this particular battle, but was a fatality, nevertheless, of the war. He was pronounced missing in action on the 14th of July, 1917, and presumed dead for official purposes on the 17th of November, 1917.

Mr. Penton was born in Joe Batt’s Arm in 1891 but I am not able to ascertain the name of his parents. They were both dead when he enlisted on 25th of April, 1916. It seems that he may have been around 11 or 12 when his mother died. He had 3 brothers and four sisters but in 1919 all of them had moved away from Joe Batt’s Arm and living either in Pouch Cove or Hearts Desire. On April 24th, 1916, at the age of 25, he took the oath of allegiance to His Majesty, King George the Fifth, “to faithfully serve and defend him for the duration of the war against all enemies.” His Regimental Number was 2589. He gave his occupation as lumberman. He named his brother, Edward, then living in Joe Batt’s Arm, as contact, presumably his oldest brother, but signed a statement prior to going overseas that fifty cent per day be taken from his pay, per day, and allotted to his brother Ambrose, who at that time was already living in Pouch Cove. He was given a thorough medical and physical examination in St. John’s, found to be in fit condition, and embarked at St. John’s per S.S. Sicilian, July 19, 1916. Having reached Great Britain he embarked at Southampton on the 11th of October, 1916, and disembarked the next day at Rouen, France, for the British Expeditionary Force, and joined his battalion on 22nd of October, 1916. He was wounded in battle on the 19th of November, 1916 but was able to rejoin his regiment on the 17th of December, 1916. He was declared “Missing” on the 14th of April, 1917, having served 356 days.

On December 8th, 1916, J.R. Bennett, telegraphed Mr. Edward Penton, at Joe Batt’s Arm, this message:

” Regret to inform you that Records Office, London, officially reports # 2589, Private Ignatius Penton was wounded November, 19th, 1916. Upon receipt of further information I shall immediately wire you and trust that the next report will be of his convalescence.”

On January 3rd, 1917, Edward did receive this follow-up telegram:

” Record Office, London, today reports #2589, Private Ignatius Penton is with unit. On May 11th, 1917, J. R. Bennett, Colonial Secretary, telegraphed Mr. Edward Penton at Joe Batt’s Arm, this message and its implications are clear: “Regret to inform you that Record Office, London, officially reports No. 2589, Private Ignatius Penton, missing April 14th, (1917). Upon receipt of further information I shall immediately wire you.”

On June 22nd, 1918, this letter was addressed to Mr. Edward Penton:

Mr. Edward Penton,
Joe Batt’s Arm,
Fogo,

Dear Mr. Penton:

I am writing to inform you that it is my regrettable duty to forward to you by “S.S. SEAL” one KIT BAG, which belonged to your brother #2589 Pte. I Penton, The Royal Newfoundland Regiment.

Assuring you of my deepest sympathy in your bereavement, and in the renewed sorrow which the receipt of these effects must entail.

I am enclosing herewith receipt. Will you kindly sign same and return at your earliest convenience.

Yours truly,
R.B.H, Lieut

Posthumously, Pte. Ignatius Penton was awarded the Victory Medal and the British War Medal. This was duly acknowledged by his brother, Edward, on October 13th, 1921, who at this time was living in Heart’s Desire, Trinity Bay.

Ignatius’ brother, Ambrose, received from the Department of Militia the sum of $77.00, the balance of money owing to him from the estate of Ignatius.

There is a lot of other correspondence regarding this particular soldier mostly with Edward who had moved, as noted, to Heart’s Desire, in Trinity Bay. There also seems to be some lack of correspondence between members of the family and perhaps conflict regarding their brother Ignatius. There is a letter written by Edward Penton at Heart’s Desire on September 3rd, 1918, stating that the ‘Kit Bag” mentioned earlier had not been returned to him, as it had been sent to Joe Batt’s Arm, and he is asking that the matter be looked into and addressed. There is a letter addressed to Edward Penton in response to a letter that he had written stating that all moneys due to the estate of the late Ignatius Penton were paid to his brother Ambrose, who was named by the Court as administrator of his estate. Edward, obviously, was not aware of this.

There is another final note. There is a reference to a letter addressed to Mr. Edward Penton, at Heart’s Desire, in which it is noted that he, Edward, had stated that he was unable to meet the cost of a personal inscription on the headstone of his brother. Perhaps he felt that that was his brother Ambrose’s responsibility. It seems, however, that there would be one put on the headstone, regardless, but it wouldn’t be of a personal nature. I am not able to find out where that headstone is. Anybody out there who knows, contact me.

There you have it; another resume of a former young Fogo Islander, who gave his life for the freedom we take for granted today. As I write this, a part of my garden is ablaze with poppies, and I am reminded daily of the poem, Flanders Fields by McCrae, and I do realize that we especially acknowledge that symbol on November 11th. But my garden will long be dead by then. Most of you reading this are aware of this line from that poem, “To you from failing hands we throw the torch…” Some of you may be aware of a response of sorts to that particular verse, by the American poet, R.W. Lilliard written when America had decided to join battle with the allies in 1917. He wrote:
Fear not that you have died for naught,
The torch ye threw to us we caught.
And now our hands will hold it high
Its glorious light shall never die.
We’ll not break faith with you who lie
On many a field.

But did you know that that particular line from “Flanders Fields” is also on the wall of the Montreal Canadien dressing room at the Forum: “To you from failing hands we throw the torch…”? A reminder, I am presuming, for each team that they have much to live up to. Excuse my cynicism, but I am thinking that hockey players, whatever their caliber in hockey might be, can hardly be compared to soldiers.

I am concluding with a stanza from “The Anxious Dead” also written by Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae:
O Guns, fall silent till the dead men hear
Above their heads the legions pressing on!
(These fought their fight in time of bitter fear
And died not knowing how the day had gone.)