Circumstances of Casualty: Killed in Action.
Location of Unit at Time of Casualty: Vicinity of Courcelette
BX November 3, 1916
Brant County Man Killed at Front – Sergeant Norman Dunningham, a Bomb Inspector, latest on Honor Roll.
Another Brant County boy has made the supreme sacrifice by giving up his life for his country. That Sergeant Norman John Dunningham had been killed in action was the substance of a telegram received by a friend. According to the message, Sergeant Norman Dunningham met his death about Oct 16. He enlisted and left here as a private with the 84th Battalion and about a month ago was made a sergeant and an inspector of bombs. Whether he was killed in action or while inspecting bombs, one of which might have accidentally exploded is not known.
He was formerly in the employ of the Crown Electric Company and previous to enlistment lived for nearly a year near Oakland, where he followed the occupation of gardener. He was a married man and leaves his sorrowing widow and one little daughter to mourn his loss. His wife left on Saturday last to visit relatives in New York City, and the message containing the news of her husband’s death has been forwarded to her.
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 – Pte. Melvin Bunston, Corp. Norman Dunningham and Lieut. 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.
