Circumstances of Casualty: Previously reported missing, now for official purposes presumed to have died.
Location of Unit at Time of Casualty: St. Julien.
BX June 3, 1915
Brantford Boy is probably a Prisoner – Numbered Among Missing
Private Melvin Bunston of the 48th Highlanders, Toronto, son of Mrs. H. Bunston, 25 Pearl Street, has been placed on the missing list of the Canadian Expeditionary Force.
Mrs. Bunston received word of the fact that her son was missing on Wednesday when mail which she had sent to him at the front was returned to her, with the word “missing” thereon.
Private Bunston enlisted at Toronto with the 48th Highlanders, and had been through a large part of the heavy fighting. It is thought that he was among those of the 48th Highlanders captured at Langemarck in the big German rush, when two companies of the battalion were cut off, not having received the order to retire.
BX June 18, 1915
Yesterday afternoon an official telegram from the adjutant-general at Ottawa, was received in the city by Mrs. Bunston, who resides at 26 Pearl Street, announcing that her son, Melvin, a member of the 15th Battalion, had been reported among the missing, no trace having been found of him since April 24. Private Bunston, who two years ago was employed as a machinist at the Waterous Engine Works, Brantford, enlisted at Toronto with the 48th Highlanders, he being engaged as a machinist at the Massey-Harris Company’s plant in Toronto at the time of the outbreak of the war.
Private Bunston, who is of a quiet, unoffending disposition is 27 years of age, and during his sojourn of two years in Brantford, he became a member of the Masonic order in this city. The official announcement yesterday was confirmed in this morning’s list of casualties.
BX September 7, 1916
This morning’s roll of honor contains the names of two more Brantford County men. Melvin Bunston, Brantford, and William Taylor, Paris. Private Bunston is given as having been previously reported missing, now for official purposes presumed to have died and Private Taylor as being wounded. Private Bunston was reported as having been taken prisoner in May of last year, and it is quite probable he has been in a detention camp since that time. Whether his death was the result of wounds or disease is not known. Private Bunston enlisted here with the first contingent and became attached to the 48th Highlanders, Toronto.
BX September 17, 1917
Conscription Was Endorsed – Rev. Dr. G.W. Henderson’s Only regret That it Was Delayed so Long – Memorial Service – “All the fault I have to find with it is that it was not enforced two years earlier.”
So declared Rev. Dr. G.W. Henderson, pastor of Wellington Street Methodist Church, last evening, referring to the conscription measure which has been made law. The comment was made during a splendid sermon, in memoriam of three members of the church – Private Melvin Bunston, Corporal Norman Dunningham and Lieutenant Arlington Beckett, who had made the greatest sacrifice possible, that the honor of the Empire be maintained and that Christianity’s greatest foe be overthrown. The Great War Veterans’ Association paraded to the church in a body, headed by the Dufferin Rifles band, the entire portion of the church being reserved for them. During the service the choir rendered appropriate music, Mrs. Leeming and Mr. Sanderson being soloists, while Mr. Thomas Darwen played “The Dead March in Saul.”
Dr. Henderson commented that they had gathered to do honor to the fighting men and to the fallen heroes. There was a refrain being sung to 10,000 Canadian homes “Keep the home fires burning, but in three cases in the homes of members of the church their boys would not come home. Private Bunston was a member of the first contingent and was reported missing soon after reaching France. The news had much to do with the hastening the death of the mother. A month after word was received that he died, insane a prisoner of the Germans. He was an active member of the Young People’s Society. His brother Harry enlisted to fill the gap caused by his brother’s death. Corp. Norman Dunningham was killed in action in October 1916 while leading 54 men with new ammunition. Just before going up, he had taken out his Bible and commented, “Isn’t it wonderful, we have God with us no matter where we go,” in one short hour he was with his God. Lieut. Arlington Beckett was killed on August 15 at Hill 70, Lens. Just Saturday his people had received a letter from him, written the day before his death, in which he commented that no one could tell what the next 24 hours might bring forth. He was ready, for him to live with Christ, to die was gain.
The pastor reviewed the commencement of the war, showing conclusively that the Central powers had brought it on, and that Britain with consideration for her honor and for the protection of small nations, could not have done otherwise. They were fighting for the sanctity of womanhood, the safety of their children, the right of the small nations to live, the integrity of the state, the freedom of their homes and the defense of righteousness. The war must continue until Prussian military domination was overthrown.
