John Andrew Garvey

Jean Longstaff has submitted the following:-

John Andrew Garvey was the first son to be born to Sunderland blacksmith Edward Garvey and his wife Jane Ann Eleanor (nee Binks). He was born on 16th April 1884, a year after the death of their first child from diphtheria. By the time he was aged 6, he had been joined by siblings Mary, Loretta, William, and Allan and the family were living in Suffolk Street, Sunderland, but three years later had moved to New Grey Street and were living above his father’s blacksmith’s shop.

Edward Garvey retired in 1898, sold his business and the family with the addition of younger siblings Eleanor, Cecil and Nora moved to Bainbridge, North Yorkshire where he opened a new blacksmith’s shop with John acting as his helper. After the death of Edward in 1907 Jane and the family returned to live in Salem Street, Sunderland where all the older boys worked as blacksmiths, and John found time to become a volunteer member of the 1st Durham Royal Garrison Artillery.

John left Liverpool for Canada in the summer of 1914 and six months later, on 7th January 1915 left his home in Wapella, Saskatchewan to enlist in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Moosomin. Becoming Gunner 115274 with “A” Company 10th Canadian Mounted Regiment John spent a further year at camp in Saskatoon dealing with the company horses, before being promoted to the rank of Farrier Sergeant, meaning his badge would show a shoe over his three stripes. In May 1916 he sailed with the 3rd Reinforcement Draft, 10 CMR from Halifax to Liverpool on board the SS Olympic where he joined the Canadian Cavalry Depot at Shorncliffe, Kent. Posted to Lord Strathcona’s Horse, then the Canadian Reserve Cavalry and in May 1917 to the 3rd Battery, Canadian Reserve Artillery, a month later he reverted to the rank of Gunner and was posted to France to join the 8th Artillery Brigade, 4th Canadian Division, joining them at Berthonval near Vimy Ridge on 16th August where he was appointed Shoeing Smith.

On leave to England at the start of 1918 John Garvey married Sunderland born Alice Harrison on 23rd February in St Mary’s Catholic Church in Sunderland, returning to duty in France two weeks later.

August 1918 saw the Brigade, as part of the Canadian Corps, involved in the capture of the town of Monchy-le-Preux, near Arras. Known as the Battle of the Scarpe, the Corps were clearing part of the trench system under heavy enemy fire when John Garvey received shrapnel wounds to his head and thigh, fracturing his femur. Evacuated to 42nd Casualty Clearing Station he died from his wounds on 31st August.

John Andrew Garvey is remembered in Sunderland on S140.048 part 9 page 200 and S140.089

In Canada he is remembered on their Virtual War Memorial and in their Book of Remembrance and on Wapella Cenotaph, Saskatchewan.

Canadian Book of Remembrance
Canadian Virtual Memorial
The CWGC entry for Shoeing Smith Garvey