Rank unknown Harold McCausland MC

Rank unknown, 47th Battalion, Infantry (Army).

Military Cross
Date of award: 1918-01-01
Date of award: 1918-01-01
Source: Supplement to the London Gazette, January 1st, 1918, 52.
Notes: Unknown.

Lt.-Col. Harold McCausland

From Trinity College, University of Toronto, Roll of Honour, 1922:

McCAUSLAND, Revd. Harold; Rector, Sutton West, Ont. Son of the late Joseph McCausland, Toronto; B.A. '00; M.A. '09; 2nd Regt., Q.O.R., Col-Sergt. 1893-98; Chaplain Services, Capt., November 9, 1915; attd. 95th Bn.; O.S. May 31, 1916; 47th Bn., July, 1916; France, August 10, 1916; Ypres, August-September, 1916; Somme October-November, 1916; Vimy Ridge, December 1916 - October 1917; Lens; Passchendale, October, 1917; C.R.T. Depot, Purfleet, England, Senr. Chaplain, January 7, 1918; M.C., January 1, 1918; ret'd from O.S. on furlough March, 1918; apptd. A.D.C.S. (Western Canada), Lt. Col. July 29, 1918; Senr. Chaplain, C.E.F. (Siberia) September 19, 1918; Major; ret'd from Siberia, June 24, 1919.

From University of Toronto Roll of Service, page 357:

McCAUSLAND, HAROLD; B.A. Trinity 1900, M.A. 1909; 2nd Regt., Col. Sergt. (1893-98). Can. Chaplain Svce., att. 95th Bn., Capt., Nov. 1915; 47th Bn., July 1916; France, Aug. 1916; Ypres, Somme, Vimy, Lens, Passchendaele; Can. Ry. Tps. Depot, Purfleet, Sr. Chaplain, Jan. 1918; To R.O., Mar. 1918; A./Dir. Chaplain Svces., Western Canada, Lt.-Col., July 1918; Siberian Ex. F., Major, Sr. Chaplain, Sept. 1918; M.C. Jan. 1, 1918.

HAROLD McCAUSLAND (1874-1958)

Background

Harold McCausland was the son of Toronto stained glass window manufacturer, Joseph McCausland and Elizabeth Key. This family business was behind many of the prominent windows throughout Toronto. Their family home was on Jarvis street.

Harold McCausland studied at Trinity College, University of Toronto. He received his B.A. in 1900 and M.A. in 1909. At the time of his enlistment in the war, Harold McCausland was a minister at St. Augustine's Church, Spruce & Parliament Sts., in Toronto. This church was destroyed in a fire after the war. He had also ministered at St. Thomas Church, Huron St., Toronto.

He married Miss Mabel Virtue, and their wedding was reported in the Toronto Star on November 20th, 1900 in an article entitled "A Mist Outside, All Joy Within / St. Luke's Church the Scene of Fashionable Marriage To-day / Popular Curate is Wed". At that time it was reported that Mr. McCausland was curate of St. Thomas' church on Huron St. Miss Virtue had taught at Louisa street school in Toronto.

Military Experience

Several family members were prominent in the Queen's Own Rifles in Toronto. Mr. McCausland was active with the Queen's Own Rifles and served as their Colour Sergeant from 1893-1898. His brother-in-law was Boyce Thompson who had been with the QOR for many years.

1914-1918

Mr. McCausland began his military service with the 95th Battalion in Toronto. He served as a Chaplain. By May 1916 he was overseas, and by July he had moved to the 47th Battalion.

While serving with the 47th Battalion in France, Mr. McCausland was with the unit during engagements at the Somme, Vimy Ridge, Hill 70, and Passchendaele. Mr. McCausland is mentioned in war diary entires dated: April 4th, Nov. 28, Dec. 2, 9, 16, 23, & 30th, 1917. The diary entry for December 23rd, 1917 indicates that he made his farewell sermon.

A chaplain's role included officiating at funerals. One funeral was reported upon in the 47th Battalion war diary for April 1917. The funeral of Lt. Charles H. Sparrow was conducted by Rev. Harold McCausland. Sparrow, formerly of Toronto, died while returning from a trench raid.

The Toronto Star reported on April 9th, 1917 that a marconigram was received by the rector, Rev. F. G. Plummer from the curate, Rev. Harold McCausland in France: "Easter greetings, St. Augustine".

McCausland was active at the battle of Passchendaele, where, according to the book "Padres in No Man's Land" (D. W. Crerar, 1995), with chaplain Alexander Gordon,: "While most chaplains caught up on correspondence with next of kin, Gordon remained on the battlefield, aided by Anglican chaplain and friend Harold McCausland, burying the last Canadian dead." (pg. 128)

As Chaplain, Rev. McCausland arranged to contact the next of kin of fallen soldiers. One such letter was reported upon in the Perth Courier. His letter dated June 29th, 1917 was sent to Mrs. Maude A. Stillar, wife of the late Sgt. Louis Stillar, Canadian Pioneers. He explained that her husband had been properly buried and provided the details of the location. This burial was at Villers Station Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.

Another letter was sent to the Mr. Walter Carruthers, father of Pte. William Ewart Carruthers, 47th Battalion who was killed on June 2nd, 1917 in France. Mr. Carruthers had sent a letter inquiring about his son and had hoped that there had been a mistake. McCausland's response was dated June 14th, 1917. He had researched the cause of death, and his letter tried to convey the impression that Pte. Carruthers had not suffered. McCausland signed this letter as Capt. and Chaplain, 47th Canadian Infantry Battalion.

After leaving the 47th Battalion, Mr. McCausland moved on to England for the New Year and by January 1918 he was with the C.R.T. Depot, Purfleet, England, as Senior Chaplain.

Mr. McCausland was awarded the Military Cross. This was announced in the Supplement to the London Gazette, 1 January, 1918, 52.

McCausland would have been entitled to several service medals: the Victory Medal, the British War Medal. The location of these medals and his Military Cross is unknown, though he may have passed them down to family members.

In March 1918 he returned to Toronto on furlough and was interviewed by the Toronto Star and the Toronto Evening Telegram. He was asked about the Military Cross and declined to comment on why he received the award.

His next appointment was in Canada. From the Toronto Star, August 1st, 1918: "Lt.-Col. McCausland to Calgary. Lieut. Col. Harold McCausland, M.C., left last night for the West, to assume his new duties as (A.D.C.S.) Assistant Director of Chaplains' Service for Western Canada, from Winnipeg to Victoria, B.C., with headquarters at Calgary."

His last activity during the war years was a position as Senior Chaplain, C.E.F. (Siberia), on September 19, 1918 with the rank of Major. He returned from Siberia on June 24, 1919. Officiating at Siberian funeral.

Post-War

Rev. McCausland was described as Rector at Sutton West, Ontario, in the biography included in the Trinity College Roll of Honour (1922).

His next move was to the United States where McCausland served as Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church in Bay City, Michigan, from 1923 to 1942. The Bay City directory of 1931 lists him as Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, 911 Center Ave. His home address was 909 Center Ave. His wife Mabel also appears in this listing. Donald J. McCausland, student, was listed at the same address, but the relationship is unknown. In 1936 he is mentioned in the Bay City Times as a speaker at the fall meeting of the Bay County Historical Society. In 1954 his friends connected with Trinity Episcopal Church arranged for the erection of a stained glass window in honour of McCausland's service at this church. Link to image of window.

McCausland's daughter, Mary K. McCausland, married Elliott Stoddard Kinney on 10 May 1930 in Bay City Michigan. They had two children. A Veteran's Death Card was submitted to Veterans Affairs by Mrs. Mary Kathleen Kinney, c/o People's National Bank and Trust Co., Bay City, Michigan, U.S.A. No cause of death was given. Link to original card.

Vimy Pilgrimage

Mr. McCausland travelled on the steamship Montcalm which sailed on July 16, 1936, bound for Antwerp and London. The ship was booked for a "Vimy and Battlefields Pilgrimage". He attended the Vimy Memorial unveiling in 1936. The souvenir passenger list included his name under "Cabin" class and listed him as "Major H. McCausland". (Original copy at Metro Toronto Reference library)

His son Harold Lawrence McCausland was a graduate of Upper Canada College in Toronto. He enlisted May 1918 with the 2nd Q.O.R. as a Bugler, then to 2nd Trg. Depot, C.A.M.C., Bugler. He was discharged Jan. 16, 1919. (Source: The War Book of U.C.C., 1923)

Mr McCausland's nephew was Lt.-Col. Alan Joseph McCausland who had served with the 36th Peel Regiment, and the 74th and 75th Battalions. After the war Mr. A. J. McCausland ran the stained glass window business and received commissions for memorial windows. One important commission was for the town of Kingston, Ontario. As part of a series of Memorial Windows, Mr. McCausland's firm designed and produced windows representing Sanctuary Wood and the Somme.

Harold McCausland was present for dedications of some memorial windows in Toronto. One such dedication was for a memorial window to a Toronto man who had served with Mr. McCausland in the 47th Battalion and was killed during the war.

According to the records of the Hyatt Ewald Funeral Home, Bay County, Michigan, Mr. McCausland died January 18th, 1958. His wife had died January 5th, 1947.

A "Veteran Death Card" is available at:
http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/microform-digitization/006003-119.01-e.php?PHPSESSID=iob4e6ep4ablcosh18bubv7bk5&sqn=118&q2=36&q3=2897&tt=1192

On this card the next-of-kin was named as follows: Mrs. Mary Kathleen Kinney, Daughter, c/o People's National Bank and Trust Co., Bay City, Michigan, U.S.A.

Cause of death was filled is as "nat". This abbreviation may mean "natural causes".

Many other family members served during the first World War:

Sgt. Kenneth Leighton McCausland (75th Battalion CEF)
Lt.-Col. Alan Joseph McCausland (75th Battalion CEF / 36th Peel Regt.)
Pte. Goldwin McCausland Pirie (1st Batt. CEF, DOW July 1st, 1915) (a nephew)
Gnr. Russell Fraser Pirie (41st Btry. CFA) (a nephew)

MC: London Gazette 30450 (January 1, 1918)

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Author: Marika Pirie (great great niece), Nov. 2006. Updated 2017. Please include author as source if you wish to use this in your own research.

Researched by Marika Pirie, great great niece of Harold McCausland.

McCausland's photo appears in a group portrait of officers of the 47th Battalion in France in a book on the history of the Westminster Regiment. See page 31:

http://www.royal-westies-assn.ca/Museum/Wilks_Book/Wilks_Book.pdf