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Chaplain Montgomery
By Helen Ruth Montgomery Yerxa, Vancouver
Grandfather Montgomery was a chaplain at the front during World War I. Six of his sons and one daughter, a nursing sister, all served at the front as well. My father couldn’t pass the medical examination so stayed home to care for his mother and two sisters.
One of my uncles, who was in London at the time, met with my grandfather, who was on leave. He told his son how drained he was and how difficult it was to bring news to the mothers of the casualties or deaths of their sons. It was a terrible strain.
The miracle was that all six sons, one daughter and Grandfather all returned to Canada. I have one of those old personal postcards people used to have printed. My grandfather was in the middle surrounded by his six sons. I cherish it and the story it tells.
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