Connecting the generations
Re Fallen soldiers admitted to bar, Nov. 5
This story, published just a few days before Remembrance Day, holds both national and personal significance. With research from a family in Western Canada and others, it outlines the life and death of John William Gow Logan, who enlisted in May 1915 and died in the Great War, World War One, on Nov. 18, 1916 — on the last day of the Battle of the Somme.
Originally a Manitoban, Logan had completed his legal studies at the University of Alberta and was awaiting acceptance to the bar when he enlisted in the Canadian war effort.
I also am a great niece of Cpl. Logan and live in Toronto.
Lawyers with the Alberta Bar Association and here in Toronto with a partner at Gowling WLG Law firm, in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War, tracked down the families of law students killed in battle to posthumously admit them to the Alberta Bar Association, a very touching and appreciative action.
They were able to track down John William Gow Logan through the efforts of family, here in Toronto and in Alberta, and the Manitoba Historical Society, a remarkable organization of capable leadership, including Gordon Goldsborough.
Mr. Golsborough recalled family connections to the Logan name and made the effort to assist the Gowling and Alberta Bar Association efforts to find families, including ours, of some of the 37 law students killed in battle, for this posthumous event, held Friday in Calgary.
Known in the family as “Great Uncle Gow,” rather than John, Cpl. Logan was succeeded in the family by a nephew, Arthur Gow Harvey, named for John William Gow.
Gow Harvey, also a Manitoban, enlisted in the Second World War. Known in the family as simply “Uncle Gow” to distinguish the two, Arthur Gow, the son of Dr. Robert Harvey and Lois Ada (Logan) Harvey, joined the RCAF at age 18, served as a navigator in Bomber Command, was shot down over Germany — the only member of his crew to survive — and spent years as a PoW enduring harsh conditions and forced marches.
Arthur Gow survived the war and, when he was finally demobbed, as it was known — or demobilized and returned to Canada — he was met late one evening on the docks of Halifax harbour, for one single precious night of long walks and long talks, by his sister, my mother, M. Lois (Harvey/ Lavers) Dunn before continuing his journey home to Manitoba.
M. Lois also enlisted in the war effort, as a WREN assigned to Halifax.
Your story by Kevin Maimann illustrates the connections between generations and provinces, the significance, still, of those who enlisted, and the thoughtful and poignant efforts of those who remember. Daphne Lavers, Toronto