A Canadian Soldier in France

My mother’s uncle, Thomas (Tod) Victor Rutherford, was born in Ridgeway, Man., on February 4, 1892, and grew up in Stonewall, Man. He enlisted with the Seaforth Highlanders on September 17, 1915, serving with the 72nd Battalion. He left for Bramshott, England, in May 1916 and for France in August 1916, fighting in the trenches near and around Kemmel.

He wrote home to his mother in September of 1916: “I think we have the upper hand…our artillery has theirs eating mud all the way. Our divisional reserve hut is about 5 miles behind trenches. We are here 4 days and out 16 (ie 4 days here, 4 days in trenches, 4 days at Kemmel, 4 days in trenches). The food is fare and we are treated well. The trenches are in bad shape but we are trying to fix them up.”

In January 1917 he wrote home: “… and within six months will likely be here wounded or ‘pushing up daisies in France’ but

I hope I’ll get right through it all.”

On the morning of April 9, 1917, the troops rose early and went into the

Assembly trenches.

After the main ridge was taken, Tod was hit by shrapnel in his left leg, but did not say anything to the other men and refused to be taken out until reinforcements were set up. By that time, it was too late.

His initial grave was marked by a small wooden cross and, as is the case with many of the graves, there were two other soldiers buried in the same plot. Later, a tombstone was erected with his name and an epitaph that reads: “He hath done what he could.” Carol Tucker, Sandford, Ont.