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19th Canadian Machine Gun Company, CEF

February 12, 1917 to June 7, 1918

Origins of the Company

"Following the announcement late in December 1916 that Canada would place a 5th Division in the Field, the Canadian Machine Gun Depot, then stationed at Crowborough, Sussex, was asked by Canadian Headquarters to select the personnel, consisting of 10 Officers, 10 Sergeants, and a nucleus of 32 men per Company, for three Brigade Machine Gun Companies to be attached to the 5th Division, then mobilizing at Witley Camp, Surrey. Shortly after this information was received that the proposal to, place a Fifth division in the field had been abandoned. Toward the end of January 1917 further instructions on the matter together with definite information that the organization of the 5th Division was being proceeded with were received, and at the same time came notification that the selections of Officers and N.C.O.'s were warned on January 27th 1917, to hold themselves in readiness to proceed to Witley Camp, upon receipt of further notice, it being announced at the time that the mobilization, organization, and training of the three Companies would be proceeded with at Witley under the supervision of the Officers in charge of the organization of the new Division." [source: War Diary of the 19th CMGC, CEF--February 1917]

Officers

The following list of officers was derived from the Company's War Diary. Many, including Major Brownlee, were members of the 86th (Machine Gun) Battalion, which was recruited in Hamilton, Ontario, and on May 22, 1916, became the Canadian Machine Gun Depot. I have yet to determine who Lt. W. MacIntyre was, and believe Lt. A. H. Wylie and Lt. J. F. B. Davies to be Alexander Hugh Wylie and Joseph Bedford Davies, respectively.

Officer Commanding

  • Major James Herbert Brownlee--Born in Meaford, Ontario on September 19, 1881, he was residing in Owen Sound, Ontario when he was assigned to the 86th (Machine Gun) Battalion as a Lieutenant. He remained with the unit after it became the Canadian Machine Gun Depot another nine months before taking comand of the 19th Canadian Machine Gun Company. Major Brownlee remained commander of the unit until June, 1918 when it was absorbed by the newly created 2nd Canadian Motor Machine Gun Brigade. He served with this unit until war's end.

    Second in Command

  • Lt. J. M. Cumming--Shortly after the unit's organization, Cumming was promoted to Captain. He was most likely Joseph McCombie Cumming, a native of Peterhead, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, who enlisted with the 29th (Vancouver) Battalion in 1914. Born on May 19, 1887, he was a lumber merchant by occupation.

    Sectional Officers

  • Lt. William Charles Killip--Born on September 18, 1881 in Consecon, Ontario, Killip joined the 86th Machine Gun Battalion in August 1915 as a Lieutenant. He had seen previous service with the 16th Battalion.
  • Lt. George Cameron Anderson
  • Lt. J. H. Morwick
  • Lt. M. M. Robinson--This is most likely Melville Marks Robinson, a sports journalist with the Hamilton Spectator. Born in Petersborough, Ontario on April 8, 1888, Robinson joined the 86th Machine Gun Battalion in October 1915 as a Lieutenant. Following the war, M. M. Robinson was instrumental in the creation of the British Empire Games (later Commonwealth Game), and in recognition of this, as well as his dedication to sports and education in general, M. M. Robinson High School in Burlington, Ontario was named in his honour.
  • Lt. A. H. Wylie
  • Lt. W. MacIntyre
  • Lt. Howard Morwick--Born in Alberton, Ontario on January 26, 1892, Morwick was a Barrister residing in Hamilton, Ontario. In August 1916, he was drafted as an officer; on his decleration paper, it states that he had served two months with the 120th (City of Hamilton) Battalion and two months with the 13th R. G. [most likely Royal Regiment].
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  • Lt. J. F. B. Davies

    Other Men of the 19th CMGC, CEF

    Since the Company's men were derived from several depot units, it is impossible to compile a full list of men who served from the regimental number system that the CEF employed. I have, however, been able to glean some names from the Company's War Diary.

    Bierd--Sergeant.

    Binns--Sergeant.

    Buck, F. J.--Lieutenant; "F" Battery.

    Butchart, E. A.--Private.

    Dean, H. H.--Private; awarded good conduct stripe on January 24, 1918.

    Dinnie--Lieutenant; "E" Battery.

    Ellis, P. H.--Company Sergeant-Major.

    Frost, P. J.--Private.

    Gwinn, J. M.--Private; married on January 14, 1918.

    Halbert, J. S.--Private.

    McCullough--Sergeant; wounded April 25, 1918.

    Potter, R. A.--Private.

    Prentice, J.--Private.

    Prince, F. L.--Private; struck off January 23, 1918.

    Rennie, S.--Lieutenant, later Captain; "F" Battery.

    Ruddle--Sergeant.

    Sandstrom, R. L.--Private; struck off January 7, 1918.

    Savage, E. B.--Private; married on January 29, 1918.

    Savage, M.--Private; wounded April 27, 1918.

    Stewart, R.--Private; awarded good conduct stripe on January 3, 1918.

    Tuxford--Private; promoted to temporary Lieutenant on March 31, 1917.

    Wilson--Sergeant.

    Roll of Honour

    As far as I can determine from the War Diaries, no members of the 19th CMGC died as a result of illness, injury, wounds or combat during the course of the unit's existence. However, one man is identified in the Canadian Book or Remembrance has having been a member of the 19th Canadian Machine Gun Company. He is Private Charles Hales (#823314). Born in London, England on February 27, 1888, he was residing in London, Ontario when he joined the 142nd O.S. Battalion during the winter of 1915/16. He is listed as having died on July 23, 1917 and is buried at Bramshott (St. Mary) Churchyard in Hampshire, United Kingdom.
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