Private Goldwin McCausland Pirie

Private, 1st Battalion, Infantry (Army).

Goldwin McCausland Pirie

Photographs, biography and research: Marika I. Pirie, great-niece.

Goldwin Pirie’s parents were Hester Emma McCausland (1858-1901) and Alexander Fraser Pirie (1849-1903). Mr. Pirie’s father was George Pirie (1799-1870), a native of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, brought his family to Elora, Ontario in 1838. He initially took up farming in Bon Accord settlement, but later sold the farm. George Pirie became the publisher of the Guelph Herald newspaper - a position he held until his death. Pirie was a staunch conservative. During the Fenian Raids he trained with a group of younger men at Guelph.

Initially his son and his second wife Jane (Booth), looked after the Guelph Herald. The Herald Office in downtown Guelph including a printing shop. By 1878, Alexander Fraser Pirie left for Toronto to work as a journalist. He was a popular editorial columnist, as well as social figure and public speaker. Pirie first came to public attention with his "Sun Skits" political humour cartoons for the Toronto Sun. He was best known as the second Editor of the Toronto Evening Telegram, a paper "for the people", a role he held until 1888. By 1889 Mr. Pirie was working at the Montreal Star and in 1893 he was elected President of the Canadian Press Association. Around 1890 the family decided to settle in Dundas, Ontario, for the benefit of the children. They hoped to move back to Toronto when the children were older.

Goldwin Pirie's mother was Hester McCausland. She was born in Toronto and lived with her family on Jarvis Street. Miss McCausland likely met A. F. Pirie while he was working at the Toronto Evening Telegram in the 1880s. She was the eldest daughter of Joseph McCausland (b. 1828), who arrived in Canada in the 1830s from County Armagh, Ireland. He married (first) Elizabeth Key, whose family came from Yorkshire, England. McCausland founded a Stained Glass window firm in Toronto.

Many of the beautiful buildings of Victorian Toronto were graced with McCausland windows, including the Peace Rose Window at the University of Toronto, Old City Hall (Queen St.), St. Paul's Anglican (Bloor St.), and the Bank of Montreal dome (now the Hockey Hall of Fame). Mr. McCausland lived until 1905. Today a plaque on the lawn of Toronto's Old City Hall honours his contribution, as does another plaque inside the building next to the magnificent window representing the city of Toronto. Rumour has it that McCausland's portrait was used for the face of the old man in the centre of this window.

Although Mr. A. F. Pirie did not live to know that his youngest son died in the war, Mr. Pirie was known to support Canadian nationalism and national identity. During an address at an American Press Conference he asked that the United States recognize the many Canadians who volunteered during the Civil War to serve with the American army. In another speech in Canada in 1900, he mentioned Canada's contribution to the South African War. This patriotism went back to Pte. Pirie's grandfather - George Pirie had published patriotic poems on the Fenian Raids, Riel / Scott, and a patriotic poem called "The Volunteers of Canada".

Childhood

A. F. Pirie and H. McCausland had four children - all born in Dundas, Ontario: Russell Fraser Pirie (1890-1956), Elsie Gowan Pirie (1892-1933), Goldwin McCausland Pirie (1894-1915), and Jean Booth Pirie (1895-1958). Goldwin was born on April 12th, probably at the family home in Dundas. He was named after his father’s mentor at the Toronto Evening Telegram, Goldwin Smith (1823-1910). Goldwin Smith was an ardent Liberal and a strong supporter of public causes.

Goldwin M. Pirie lost both his parents as a child - his mother died of pneumonia in 1901, and his father died in 1903. The children were raised by their paternal aunt - Ada Pirie (Mrs. W. Murdoch)(1860-1948). She had moved to Western Canada when she had married. She left her husband after a short lived marriage, and by 1901 was back in Dundas helping her brother with his children after the death of her sister-in-law. She had no children of her own. Aunt Ada sent Goldwin (known by the family as Goldie) to Port Hope's Trinity College School (TCS) in 1911 (he was admitted April 19th). He was a member of the Rugby team at the school and played on the team during a major victory. A large picture of the 1911 Rugby team still hangs at TSC, and Goldwin Pirie is in this picture.

Before the War

Goldwin Pirie graduated from TCS in June 1913. He joined the Canadian Bank of Commerce and worked at the Yonge & Eglinton branch in Toronto. From the TCS "The Record" yearbooks, re: G. Pirie: “Centre half, first year man, but thoroughly acquainted with the game. Best kick in years, fair catch, good dodging runner, and combination play. Inclined to be slightly erratic at commencement of games, but settles down and finishes strong.” (1911) “Centre half, Weight 165 pounds, height 5’ 10”, a fine kick, sure catch, and dodging runner who uses his head.” (1912).

Enlisting with the 1st Contingent C.E.F.

Goldwin Pirie enlisted in August 1914 and entered the war with the 77th Wentworth regiment of Dundas, Ontario. The 77th Wentworth contingent left Dundas for Valcartier by train in August 1914 after a parade and send off. The Dundas Star reported that on that day a final photo of the Dundas volunteers was taken while posed in front of the Grafton's store in downtown Dundas, shortly before the men marched off to the train station. This photo cannot be located at present.

Goldwin Pirie sent letters home to Dundas from Valcartier training camp in Quebec. These letters were published in the Dundas Star newspaper. There may have been other letters - but all are missing except for a December 1914 Christmas card including a group picture of the 1st Battalion CEF at Salisbury Plain. The 77th Wentworth regiment became the 1st Battalion Western Ontario regiment. The 1st Contingent went to England to train at Salisbury Plain, and the 1st battalion was stationed at Bustard Camp. Once the men crossed over to France and then moved to the front lines in Belgium in early 1915, Goldwin Pirie, because of his athletic experience, was selected for additional training for bomb throwing.

2nd Battle of Ypres

After the German gas attacks at Ypres in April 1915, Goldwin Pirie was wounded in the counterattack of the 1st and 4th battalions at Mauser Ridge. He was left for dead on the field, and a newspaper article that appeared in the Dundas Star indicated that he was on the field for 4 days. An eyewitness reported that he was hit by a shell (Dundas Star article). He was later evacuated for medical care, and wrote home from Boulogne, France. At that time he thought he was on his way to Shorncliffe camp, and indicated that he thought he would recover. He was sent to Netley hospital (Royal Victoria Hospital) in Southampton U.K. He died there two months later as a result of infected wounds that led to recurring internal hemmoraghing. During his hospital stay he received visits from Mr. Jack Wort of Salisbury Plain. His sisters Jean and Elsie made plans to travel to visit him in hospital, but these were cancelled when they were advised of his death. A relative, Dr. George R. Pirie, made the funeral arrangements. Dr. George R. Pirie was working at the Sick Children's Hospital in London, England. Pte. G. M. Pirie was buried in Netley Cemetery, next to the hospital.

Remembering Goldie Pirie

In Dundas, the family arranged for his name to be carved on the family plot in Grove Cemetery and his name appeared on the honour roll of the Dundas Knox Presbyterian Church and on the Dundas War Memorial.

His maternal aunt, Mrs. Boyce (McCausland) Thompson, visited the CWGC grave at Netley in England in the 1920s and placed flowers on the grave on behalf of the family. She also arranged for his name to appear in an ornate mosaic memorial at the altar of St. Paul's church in Toronto (Bloor Street East). His name appeared on two rolls of honour published shortly after the war's end by the Canadian Bank of Commerce (now CIBC) entitled "Letters from the Front"; and in the Trinity College School, Port Hope, honour roll. During the 1980s the decision was made in Dundas to name new streets after the men listed on the local war memorial - thus one street is named Pirie Street in G. M. Pirie's honour.

G. M. Pirie's older brother was Russell Fraser Pirie. Gnr. R. F. Pirie entered the war in December 1915, joining up in Toronto with the 41st Battery Canadian Field Artillery. R. F. Pirie was a graduate of Queen's University, and later Osgoode Hall law school. He returned to Toronto in early 1919 after his war service. R. F. Pirie served in the Veteran's Guard of Canada in the Second World War as an officer in a POW camp based in Petawawa, Ontario.

A number of Goldwin Pirie's relatives served in the war. His cousin, Sgt. Paul S. Clark, served with the 5th CMR and was killed in action at Sanctuary Wood. His name is on the Menin Gate at Ypres. Another cousin, Lt. Gordon Moore Pirie, 116th Batt. CEF, died of illness after the war at Brant Military Convalescent Hospital in Burlington. His uncle Harold McCausland was a Chaplain of the 47th Battalion (1916-1917) and served with the Siberian Expeditionary Force. Harold McCausland was present at the unveiling of the Vimy Memorial.

Another relative, Lt.-Col. A. J. McCausland was connected with the 36th Regiment, the 74th (Commanding Officer), and 75th Battalions. On his return from the front he commanded 2nd Depot Battalion, 2nd Central Ontario Regiment (Toronto Star - Dec. 26, 1917). This was a new depot battalion for the draftees (conscripted men) of the Toronto Military District. He was also connected with the Army & Navy Veterans' Association. It was reported in July 1919 that he would serve as first vice-president (Toronto Star - July 26, 1919). During the Second World War he was acting second-in-command at No. 20 Canadian Army (Basic) Training Centre at Brantford, Ontario (Toronto Star - Jan. 30, 1942).

Written by Marika I. Pirie, 2006. Updates 2010.
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Researched & compiled by M. I. Pirie. Please source if using in your own work.
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