John A.
and Mary McCall of Vittoria have received the dreaded telegram
from the department of militia at Ottawa announcing the death in the
trenches in Flanders of their only son, Gordon A. McCall, [79254]. It was the
usual, curt official communication, giving no particulars, and the
next day's published casualty list contained the information under the caption "died of wounds."
Gordon McCall was
one of Vittoria's exemplary young men. He was 27 years old and of very
steady habits. Sincere and of a noble mind, he had been popular among
the young folks of that community, where he had always lived with his
parents, except for his high school days, which were spent in Port
Dover.
The deceased
young man has been a distinct loss to the Sunday school of Vittoria
Presbyterian church, where he had been superintendent for a number of
years.
When the harvest
was gathered last fall Gordon laid aside his farm work and answered
the call of duty, coming to his county town and enlisting with the
second overseas contingent in Oct 1915. With the others he spent the winter in
Toronto and went to England with the 20th Batt. on May 24. He had not
been long at the front before being wounded.
He was wounded in
a trench bombardment near Ypres, receiving shrapnel wounds in the
chest and back, 24 Sep 1915; and died of his wounds a week later on 1
Oct 1915.
There are
surviving the deceased besides his parents, four sisters, viz.: Mrs.
Oliver Walsh, Vittoria; Mrs. Jas. R. Johnson, Vittoria; Mrs. W.
Beickler, Vittoria; and Mrs. Bruce Booth, Woodhouse.
The deceased was
a particular friend of Pte. Art Cross, from whom his friends hope to
hear more particulars soon.
