Circumstances of Casualty: Died of Wounds. He was struck in the side by a splinter of a bursting shell and succumbed to his wounds at No. 4 Canadian Field Ambulance shortly after being hit. This happened behind the railway embankment between Vimy and Farbus Station.

BX May 25, 1917

In the midst of holiday festivities yesterday the receipt of a fateful yellow messenger saddened the home of ex-Alderman S.P. Pitcher, 111 William Street, with the sad news that his youngest son, Gunner Earl P. Pitcher, had given up his life for his country, having succumbed to wounds received on the battlefield of France.

The telegram briefly stated that Gunner Earl P. Pitcher, artillery, had been officially reported as having died of wounds in the 4th Field Ambulance Depot on May 7. No word had been received by his parents here of his wounding, so it is presumed that he was severely wounded and that death resulted very shortly afterwards. It was only last week that a letter and card were received from him. These were dated France April 26. 

Gunner Earl Pitcher was in his 22nd year, and his taking off in the early prime of manhood is regretted all over the city. He was a fine type of young man, a good clean living fellow, and exceedingly popular with all whom knew him. He enlisted with a local battery and went overseas under Major Henderson of this city. To what he was transferred after reaching England is not known, but it is thought that he was engaged in transport work after reaching the front. He had only been at the front a very short time. 

Earl Pitcher was born in Brant County near the city and received his education here. For a number of years he was a clerk in Broadbent’s store on Market Street, and then went into the real estate business with his father and brother. On his return he was to have been made a partner in the business.

Besides his father and mother he is survived by one sister, Miss Winifred, at home, and one brother, Arthur, proprietor of the Brant Motor Company.

BC May 25, 1917

Gunner Pitcher – Meets a Hero’s Death at the Front – Responded to the Empire’s Call from a Sense of Duty

Ex-Ald. Pitcher received the sad word yesterday that his son, Earl Pettit Pitcher, had passed away in the base hospital in France from wounds. No particulars were given. The telegram sent from the Militia Department at Ottawa, reads as follows:

“Deeply regret to inform you that No. 322952, Gunner Earl Pettit Pitcher, Artillery officially reported died of wounds, 4th Field Ambulance Depot, May 7th.”

At an early period of the war, the young hero decided to enlist, because, as he said, he felt such a course to do his duty. Animated by this spirit, he joined the 54th Battery (Major Henderson), and left overseas with that unit some months ago. For some time past he had been on the firing line, and his father and mother received a letter from him only last week.

He was in his 23rd year, a very fine young man in every way, clean living and a favorite with a very large circle of friends. After leaving school, he was in Mr. Joseph Broadbent’s establishment for a number of years, and then entered the real estate business with his father and brother. He showed great adaptability and business instinct, and if he had returned, would have been taken into partnership with his father.

In addition to the grief-stricken parents, he leaves one brother Arthur S. Pitcher, proprietor of the Brant Motor Company, and one sister, Winnie at home.
    
To the sorely bereaved parents and brother and sister, the very deep condolences of a large circle of friends in this city will be extended.

BX May 28, 1917

Paid Tribute to Local Hero

Feeling reference was made at Brant Avenue Methodist Church last evening by the pastor, Rev. A.A. Bowers, to the late Earl Pettit Pitcher, who gave up his life for the great cause. Rev. Mr. Bowers said: “Once again the dreaded yellow envelope has come into our congregation and has plunged another family into grief and sorrow. To the list of our fallen heroes, a list that is growing painfully long must be added the name of Earl Pitcher, who gave his life that his fellow countrymen might be free. In the presence of that speaking “honor roll” we may well ask ‘Are we who remain at home and far from danger, in any degree worthy of the price that is being paid for our privilege to live and be men and not slaves?’  Not unless we are doing all that in us lies to support those who are in the midst of the actual strife and to help them gain a sure and speedy victory. To be in any measure worth the sacrifice these heroic and patriotic youths are making for us we, too, must make sacrifices for them, sacrifice of means, of comfort, of convenience. And after we have done our utmost, we will still have to confess that our sacrifices are insignificant compared with theirs, for nothing can equal the giving of life.”

BC May 29, 1917

He Gave His Life – That His Fellow Countrymen Might be Free

In Brant Avenue Church on Sunday evening Rev. Mr. Bowers made this reference to the passing of another Brantford hero, a son of Ex-Ald. and Mrs. Pitcher:

Once again the dreaded yellow envelope has come into our congregation and has plunged another family into grief and sorrow. To the list of our fallen heroes, a list that is growing painfully long must be added the name of Earl Pettit Pitcher, who gave his life that his fellow countrymen might be free. In the presence of that speaking ‘honor roll’ we may well ask ‘Are we who remain at home and far from danger, in any degree worthy of the price that is being paid for our privilege to live and be men and not slaves?’  Not unless we are doing all that in us lies to support those who are in the midst of the actual strife and to help them gain a sure and speedy victory. To be in any measure worth the sacrifice these heroic and patriotic youths are making for us we, too, must make sacrifices for them, sacrifice of means of comfort, of convenience. And after we have done our utmost we will still have to confess that our sacrifices are insignificant compared with theirs for nothing can equal the giving of life.

BX September 27, 1920

Memorial Window to Heroic Fallen Unveiled at Brant Avenue Church – Chancellor Bowles of Victoria College Officiated at Official Recognition of Nine Members of the Church Who Gave Their Lives in the Great War – A Ceremony Pregnant With Meaning

In dedication to the nine men of Brant Avenue Methodist Church who gave their lives in the Great War, a memorial window was unveiled in that church at the morning services yesterday.  Rev. Chancellor Bowles of Victoria College, Toronto, gave the message of consolation to the friends of the soldiers whose memory he extolled and Major A.E. Lavelle, D.D., and Major E. Sweet both in uniform, unveiled the window.  The congregation filled the church to the last pew and each one could not fail to receive, from the simple and impressive ceremony, a strong, new motive for keeping alive what Chancellor Bowles called a great and glorious memory.”

Deeply impressive and heart soothing was the whole ceremony.  Rev. J.D. Fitzpatrick, the pastor of the church, was in charge and the choir gave special music, including solos by Miss Reba Force and Miss Margaret Stephen, the latter of Toronto.  The military significance of the event was emphasized by the number of men attending in uniform.  Besides Major Sweet and Major Lavell, places of prominence were given to Col. M.A. Colquhoun, D.S.O., C.M.G., Lieut.-Col. M.E.B. Cutcliffe, Major Jordan, Lieut. K.V. Bunnell, Lieut. Donald Waterous, Lieut. Charles Sheppard, Capt. (Dr.) Leonard Coates, Capt. Dufferin Slemin, Lieut. Fred Pinnell, Capt. Morley Verity and Sergt. James Hitchon, Nursing Sister, Captain Annie Hartley, was also present.

The Decorations

A special committee had spent much time in making the church beautiful, draping the chancel in flags and wreathing maple leaves over the window and around the memorial tablets formerly erected.  Bouquets of mauve and white and pink and white asters were placed on the sill of the window.

The Sermon

Following the solemn prayer by Rev. J.D. Fitzpatrick and the choir offerings, Rev. Chancellor Bowles preached a most impressive sermon.

The dedication of the memorial, said Dr. Bowles, was promoted by instincts of love and gratitude and loyalty that sought to keep in recollection the names of those who were gone, their voices, their faces and the deeds they had done.  Thoughts of them were like a benediction after prayer, for memories such as theirs soothed and elevated and enriched men’s lives and kept them in touch with the living past.  Many memorials were being erected, he said, from simple tablets to costly community halls, churches and arches; yet the outward form mattered little, what counted was the appreciation and admiration of those who raised them.  Every memorial was erected “Lest we forget.”

It was not likely this generation would ever see such another war, it was the grimmest and most awful thing men had ever faced; they had been overwhelmed by its terrible destruction and death.  This ceremony was held to lead others to know its meanings and learn its lesson well – “Lest we forget.”  Drawing his bearers to think of the many elements that entered into the cause of the war, the struggle, said the Chancellor, had written its own inner meaning.  Humanity could live in safety on this earth only as a spiritual and moral force; there must be a right relationship among the nations; men had come to feel the sense of the ultimate value of what was right and what was fair.  “We know what conceptions and ideals moved our boys,” Dr. Bowles went on.  “They had the sense of human value.  Most of them were scarcely young men, they were only boys.  Life had no problems for them yet; the iron had not entered into their souls.  Now they make one small portion of those who like in Flanders’ Fields.  They had not lived their lives as some listening to me have almost done, they poured out the wine of youth, life’s passions; nor” he said, “will you cease to think of them as young and fair.  From the many letters I read written by Victoria College students, I was struck by the cheer and the steadfastness to duty they expressed.  From one I have here, written to the soldier’s mother, before the great struggle of August 8, he concluded, ‘a great triumph will take place and I shall have a part in it.’  Remember”, said the Chancellor in closing “that was the spirit that actuated them through it all.”

The Unveiling

Major Lavell and Major Sweet conducted the unveiling ceremonies, the former giving a brief address and the latter reading the names and drawing aside the Union Jack which covered the memorial window.

In beginning his remarks Major Lavell referred to Major T. Harry Jones, who had so much to do with the memorial window, but who had not lived to see the completion of the work.  He said that out of the many thoughts that crowded in upon his mind there were but three he had time to express.  The first was the sorrow that those present must feel who were nearest and dearest to the men whose names were on the memorial.  This sorrow and perplexity at death was as old as the race.  To this sorrow he had little to give but sympathy.  Possibly if they would find the secret of Calvary and see our Lord’s death as victory and not defeat, they would have light and much comfort.  The second was that the front line areas made a school the like of which existed nowhere else.  It tested, disciplined and changed every man.  They learned to know real values, what was worth retaining and what might be well given up.  The third was that these brave young men having passed through this school that most of those present had not passed through, and therefore knew not, willingly faced death and died doing their duty, which to them was far preferable to mere living.  Could their loved ones here not have faith in their faith and even in their sorrow and ignorance believe in the light seen by those who had fearlessly walked through the valley of the shadow?

Major Lavell quoted from Sir Arthur Currie’s message to the Canadian soldiers, delivered on March 27, 1918.  How true, he said, his finals words had become and how appropriately they had been chosen for the inscription on the window:  “You will not die, but will step into immortality.”

Impressively and clearly Major Sweet read the roll of those whose names were inscribed on the tablet:

Harold Staples Brewster
Alexander Finletter Brown
Hugh Dalton Livingston
Lawrence Wilmot Livingston
Joseph Howard Pinnell
Earl Pettit Pitcher
Harold Brant Preston
Frederick Stanley Schell
Egerton Vaughan

As the window was revealed and the names were called, the notes of the “Last Post” were sounded by Sergeant Beech of the Dufferin Rifles.

The committee of arrangements consisted of Mrs. R.S. Schell, Mrs. W.C. Livingston, Mrs. J.J. Vaughan, Messrs. W.S. Brewster, T.H. Preston, E. Sweet and C.S. Slemin.