Tribute to Roland Coalfleet Reid (MM)

Hello — my name is Hana, member of the community of Hantsport, I was selected as one of 20 students from across Canada to be a recipient of the 2024 Vimy Pilgrimage Award, where I had the once in a lifetime opportunity to learn about First World War history in Belgium and France. 

When I heard that I had been selected as a recipient of the Vimy Pilgrimage Award, I knew it was going to be one of the best and most impactful experiences of my life, and it was. The Vimy Pilgrimage Award program has given me the rare opportunity to learn about history at the location it took place over 100 years ago. This is a personal and powerful experience that will stay with me for the rest of my life and the program was transformative to my understanding of Canada’s history. 

Through learning about the past, we shape the future. In my opinion, this is absolutely essential to creating a future of educated and powerful leaders and to inspire future historians and archivists, who can preserve this history for another 100+ years, passing it on to generations to come. Our history cannot be forgotten. 

Because of this program, many stories of war that would have been lost to history, making them forever forgotten, were preserved. Through this program the participants were able to share stories of a chosen soldier or nursing sister from the First World War. 

I chose a soldier from my hometown of Hantsport — there are so many hometown heroes. 

I was privileged to work with historians and community members to create a presentation to share the story of soldier Private Roland Coalfleet Reid. I had the opportunity to visit his grave, place a Canada and Nova Scotia flag, an image of Private Reid, and a rock from his hometown. Through this, I “brought him home” for my community, his family, and most importantly, Private Reid, who never saw the day where he returned to his home on Main Street Hantsport. This was a beautiful and moving experience. 

To provide a glimpse into Private Reid’s life, below is the biography I created, along with a reflection. 

Biography: 

Private Roland Coalfleet Reid 

June 5th 1897 – November 1st 1917

Service Number 901596

Grave Reference: XXI. CC. 12A. Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery 

Born and raised in rural Hantsport, Nova Scotia, to parents Jessie Coalfleet and John Wiley Reid; Roland Coalfleet Reid lived there for 18 years. Reid volunteered for service on April 4, 1916 at age 18 and was killed in action a year and seven months later on November 1st, 1917 at age 20 in Belgium during a battle in Passchendaele, his body now laid to rest in Wellt-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Reid ultimately died from shrapnel wounds to the abdomen during battle. 

Before enlisting in the Great War, Reid attended Hantsport School until age 14 in 1911. It is assumed that after his final year in school, Reid left to work as a labourer. 

Reid’s service record shows that he sailed from Halifax on the “S.S Olympic” in October 1916, initially arriving in England. Reid was originally assigned to the 193rd Battalion, then transferred to the 42nd Battalion in December 1916, and later transferred once again to the 85th Battalion in March 1917. 

During his active service, Reid was granted a ten day leave of absence on September 12th, 1917 and returned to service on September 23rd, 1917. In the back of an old cheque book, it was discovered that Reid was on a list of  “addresses to send a Christmas Box to our soldiers” from back home. Reid did not survive to receive this box.  

Reid was awarded a Military Medal marked with the words “For Bravery in the Field” in March 1918. Although lost in the battle for freedom, Reid is survived by family and community members. 

Reflection:

As I stand outside of Reid’s childhood home, 60 Main Street Hantsport, Nova Scotia, I imagine his life. I imagine him as a toddler, joyfully playing in the yard. I imagine him as a young school boy attending school in Hantsport, where I too attended school. I imagine him as a young adult hugging his mother and father, Jessie and John, and his sibling; John, Annie, George and Eleanor goodbye as he prepared to leave to serve in the First World War. His young life was cut short as a casualty of the Great War on November 1st 1917, at the age of 20. 

As I reflect on my research, Reid’s life and death, I try to piece together what drew me to this young soldier. Volunteering for service at age 18, I admire that at such a young age, the same age as I am now, the bravery he had to volunteer his life for the sake of bringing freedom to others. I consider Reid incredibly selfless and admirable beyond words. 

What made learning about Reid’s life so significant and special to me, was how it became a project beyond just my own research. I met with local Historical Societies, heard from historians across the province, and connected with many community members who wanted to share information and support this project. 

Below is a poem that highlights the story of young soldier Roland Coalfleet Reid leaving to fight in the Great War. 

In youth's embrace, he took his stand,
A soldier boy, with rifle in hand.
With dreams of glory, he marched away,
To lands unknown, where shadows lay.
His laughter, once so carefree and light,
Now mingled with the sounds of fight.
For in his bravery, we find a tale,
Of a young soldier's courage, amidst the terror.
So let us remember the boy who went,
To war's cruel grasp, his youth he lent.
In his memory, may peace arise,
And may his sacrifice never be demised.

Through these presentations we learned individual and personalized stories of soldiers and women on the front. We learned about minority groups and their war efforts, such as the nursing sisters and Black, Indigenous and LGBTQ+ soldiers who faced discrimination. Conversations on such topics are necessary to understand this dark part of history and recognize their contributions after many years of silence and a devastating lack of commemoration. 

At monuments and commemoration sites we learned about the battles that had significantly impacted our Canadian soldiers. We heard stories of bravery, weakness, death, fight, devastation, victory and humanity in times of darkness. This evoked emotion within the group, and when one’s heart is touched is when true learning and understanding happens. This is something that is achieved on a heightened level when you stand looking over 11,000 graves, seeing 580,000 names commemorated at the Ring of Remembrance, standing in a trench, in the underground tunnels, on Hill 60, or looking up at the Vimy Ridge Memorial. It becomes more than words and numbers on a page, but a story of the past that unveils before your eyes in real time. 

Going beyond the textbooks and interacting with history, allowing stories to come to life before your eyes. Learning, remembering, reflecting, and partaking in thought-provoking and important conversations. I will hold this experience close to my heart. I am eternally grateful. Thank you.