IWM Photo Collection

De Ruvigny Roll of Honour Vol. 1 page 364

Newcastle Journal 10/05/1915

Canadian Virtual War Memorial page 40

Henry Atholl Charles Wallace was born at Trench Hall, Lamesley, Gateshead, Durham, on the 30th May 1879, and was the eldest son of the late Henry Wallace (born 1847), of Trench Hall, Gateshead, Durham, J.P., for many years, also agent to the 3rd Earl of Ravensworth, and his wife, Jessie Wallace, nee Strickland, (139, Ware Road, Hertford and also of 87, Heene Road, Worthing, Sussex, England). They were married in 1873. They had seven children Mary Louise Wallace, Jessie Atholl Wallace, Eleanor Liddell Wallace, John Owen Wallace, Edith Melanie Wallace and Justin J R Wallace.

In 1881 the census shows Henry residing at Trench Hall, Lamesley, Gateshead, with his parents and three sisters.

In 1891 a further 3 children were residing at the same address as the 1881 census. [Mary (May) Louise was born in 1874, Eleanor Liddell was born in 1876, John Owen was born in 1882, Edith Melanie E. was born in 1886, Jessie Atholl Affleck (née Wallace) was born in 1876, Justin J. R. was born in 1888, Mary Ann Ellis was born in 1852 in Edinburgh, she was sister-in-law of Henry Wallace].

Henry was educated at Uppingham College, and served in the South African War with the 14th Company (Northumberland) as a private with the service number 5/3198, 5th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry, he was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901.

Henry emigrated to Canada in 1902 and was a Farmer, later he was an agent for the Houston, Murray and Simpson, Insurance & Real Estate Agent company.

Henry was married at St Mary's Church in Gateshead in 1903 to Winifred Laura Jane Wallace, [nee Archer], (born 1881, 194, Hill Street, Norwood Road, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, daughter of the late Thomas Archer, of the Dunston Engine Works, Dunston, a well known inventor and engineer). They had two children Henry Archer Harold, born 3rd April 1906 and Dorothy Laura, born 15th March 1909. He had returned home for his marriage in the UK.

He joined the 106th Winnepeg Light Infantry Battalion in Canada, and volunteered on the 14th August 1914, for Imperial service abroad on the outbreak of the War. Henry also became involved in veterans’ affairs and became an officer of the Veterans’ Brigade. On the 24th April 1914 he qualified as an infantry captain.

Henry volunteered for service on the 5th August 1914, had a Medical Exam on the 15th September, but enlisted on the 26th September 1914, at Valcartier, Quebec, Canada and was appointed Captain, 'G 'Company of the 10th Battalion Winnipeg Light Infantry. Henry was 5 feet 10 and a half inches tall, 175 lbs, Fair Complexion, Blue eyes, Grey Hair. He came over with the first contingent in October 1914, aboard SS Scandinavian, ship number 109441, from Quebec to Plymouth, Devon. They moved on to Pond Farm Camp on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire and then on to Sling Camp, spent most of training at Salisbury Plain during the winter of 1914.

After Christmas Henry returned from Christmas leave and was now in 'C' Company. The 10th Battalion proceeded to Avonmouth, from where they travelled to St Nazaire aboard SS Kingstonian, ship number 113493. They disembarked in France on the 15th February 1915. The ship had drifted onto a sand bar and they had to wait a day for another high tide. The battalion was billeted at Romarin, Belgium where they spent time digging trenches prior to the battle of Neuve Chappelle and then moved on to Ypres, Flanders, Belgium.

On the 22nd April 1915, the Germans launched the first poison gas attack on the Ypres Salient and, unprepared for the chlorine gas, a gap appeared in the front line. The 10th Battalion, along with the 16th Battalion (Canadian Scottish), were ordered to counter-attack into the gap at Kitchener’s Wood. They advanced at 11:46 pm and the 10th Battalion approached the wood. They ran into a strong hedge interlaced with wire, which they were forced to break through with rifle butts, bringing down fire from German machine guns. Both battalions charged the last 200 yards to the wood and threw the Germans out, but suffered 80 percent casualties. One of those casualties was Captain Henry Atholl Charles Wallace.

Henry always took an interest in Military Matters, whilst in Canada, he belonged to the Veterans Brigade, composed of men who served their country in any part of the world.

Source: De Ruvigny Roll of Honour

Mrs Winifrid Wallace also resided at 26 Park Drive, Whitley Bay, Northumberland.

Henry Atholl Charles Wallace is remembered in Dunston on D38.04 and at Newcastle-upon-Tyne in NUT236 page 318.

Read the 10th Battalion War Diary for 22/04/1915
Imperial Yeomanry War Diary details
Canadian Virtual War Memorial page 40
The CWGC entry for Captain Wallace