The name, ‘Private S-C’ represents a real person. The name has been removed to protect family privacy. In this researcher’s opinion, Private S-C had poor legal Counsel.
On the night of Saturday, November 4, 1939 there was a major Fracas in Moose Jaw between Moose Jaw soldiers from the South Saskatchewan Regiment, posted in Weyburn; soldiers of the 77th Field Battery and City of Moose Jaw Police.
The Fracas grew out of animosity between a few 77th Field Battery, 3rd Field Regiment, Royal Canadian Artillery solders from the West-Side of Moose Jaw and “East-Side” Moose Jaw men who had enlisted in the South Saskatchewan Regiment. Based on their sequential Regimental Numbers, the SSR soldiers in question, were all buddies and had joined together at the same time.
The ‘East-Siders’ had once attended Prince Arthur School. Before the Fracas Prince Arthur School had honoured them for joining the Army.
Main Street was the ‘Line of Demarcation’ between East and West, Moose Jaw.
The 77th Field Battery mobilized in 1939 and included many local men from the King’s Own Rifles of Canada (MG) Militia. They had finished early training in Moose Jaw and were on leave. The South Saskatchewan Regiment soldiers were based at Weyburn. They were home on their first leave after extensive training.
Animosity, lots of beer and an ‘ignition source’ could result in trouble – and it did.
Regular drinking age was twenty-one but anyone in uniform could drink at age 18. One assumes beer was consumed.
The animosity overflowed in the vicinity of Main Street, Manitoba Street and River Street.
The ‘ignition source’ was probably Gunner Earl K. Treadwell, of the 77th Field Battery, R.C.A. He was acting in the capacity of ‘Service Police’ (Military Police) and responded to a complaint.
The Fracas Began
It was a wild and crazy event at Main and Manitoba Street. When the dust settle the East-Side SSR solders were arrested.
The Moose Jaw Times Herald reported:
“Private S-C was one of five soldiers taken into custody as the result of a brawl that occurred on the corner of Main Street and Manitoba Street on the night of Saturday, November 4, 1939. The others involved were Joseph Yaschuk, John McAlpine, Clarence Ashworth, Reginald Pollard and Donald Hill. They were alleged to have obstructed police officers in the execution of their duty.”
Of this group, and as the Court Case shows, Private S-C seems to have been singled out to take the punishment. In an odd twist of fate, he faired the best of the SSR soldiers involved.
The City Police told the South Saskatchewan Regiment Commanding Officer he could take the men back to Weyburn. He declined, saying he had no place to keep them. They remained in jail until the court case was heard on November 15, 1939.
Beer from the Brunswick may have played a role.
“They approached him and started to shout and swear at him. Gunner Treadwell declared. Then he stated they apparently picked out one of their number to “knock the can off me.” The witness asserted that he did not know if the man picked out had struck him first or not he just remembered lashing out and the fight had started.”
It seems convenient that Gunner Treadwell didn’t remember who threw the first punch. This could be interpreted as him throwing the first punch.
The report continues: “After a short time his opponent had suggested they stop fighting and he dropped his hands and started to walk away. With that, according to Treadwell, someone had dropped on his back and knocked him to the ground and he was dazed. The City Police arrived on the scene at that point.”
The Moose Jaw Times Herald continues.
“According to the witness there was a crowd of between 40 and 50 persons attracted to the brawl. He (Gunner Treadwell) declared that he could not be sure that Private S-C had taken part in the fight.”
This is important. There seems to have been a desire to single out Private S-C who was described as a ‘Youth’, so a young guy. Seems they were out to get Private S-C. At some point he may have been the most ‘vocal’ of the group.
The report continues:
“Conducting the defence, Don Morrison called as his first witness Reginald “Stubby” Pollard. He testified that he had been among the five soldiers in the café when they were warned to be quiet by Gunner Treadwell. He stated definitely that Private S-C was not among the band of soldiers from the S.S.R. that was in the café at the time. Pollard added that Treadwell had approached the S.S.R. soldiers in the café and without any warning had hit Yaschuk across the mouth, ordering him to be quiet. The group of S.S.R. soldiers had met Private S-C later in the evening, Pollard declared, but he could not say whether Private S-C had taken any part in the brawl. It was not a fight, according to Pollard, ‘just a lot of pushing around’.”
At this point in the Court Proceedings, Private S-C should have been released from custody and sent back to his Unit. He wasn’t.
More testimony:
“A second witness for the prosecution was Mrs. William Hogarth. She testified that the accused Private S-C had been in the company of herself, her husband and several other persons for the greater part of the evening from 8:30 to 10:40 o’clock, Saturday night.”
This was confirmation of what Pollard had stated. Private S-C should have been released. He wasn’t.
The Conclusion of Fracas on Main Street
The Fracas Five and the Hell of Dieppe, August 19, 1942
Private S-C was just a kid; a ‘Youth’, at the time.
The Moose Jaw Times Herald was an afternoon paper so they went to press before the trial was concluded on November 15, 1939.
The next day, Thursday, November 16, 1939 the Times ran these headlines:
“Private C-S Was Given Fine and Jail Term on Wednesday”
“Local Youth Admitted He Escaped from Police and Got Two Months”
All things considered, it seems to have been a very harsh sentence for a ‘Youth’. His exact age is not known, but in those days an Adult was age sixteen and older and a Juvenile was under age 16. He was probably only 18-years-of-age.
The Times Herald reported:
“Convicted in City Police Court Wednesday on a charge of causing a disturbance on Main Street and pleading guilty to a second charge of escaping lawful custody, Private S-C, local youth who has enlisted in the South Saskatchewan Regiment at Weyburn, was fined $15.00 and costs with the alternative of 20 days, in jail on the first count and an additional two months in jail on the second charge. Magistrate G. R. Trethewey refused defence counsel Don Morrison’s appeal to make the sentences concurrent.”
Magistrate G. R. Trethewey was a tough old buzzard. None of the evidence pointed to Private S-C. I think he just pleaded guilty to finish the event and get the other SSR solders off of any charges. And, in fact, Private S-C told his counsel he wanted a speedy trial and entered guilty pleas to the charge of escaping custody.
Private S-C pleaded not guilty to the charge of causing a disturbance but Magistrate G. R. Trethewey found him guilty of the charge, even though the evidence showed he was not there.
The crown Prosecutor was LeRoy Johnson, KC.
The Fracas lasted a long time and, as one would expect, attracted many onlookers. The City of Moose Jaw Police Force suffered the most injuries. Someone smacked Sub-Inspector J. Hendry over the head with an object and he was confined to hospital.
The Fracas Five – The Times Reported
“Other five soldiers of the S.S.R. involved in the fracas and who are alleged to have obstructed police officers in the execution of their duty were: Joseph Yaschuk, John McAlpine, Clarence Ashworth, Reginald Pollard and Donald Hill. They have been remanded for eight days until Wednesday, November 22, 1939.”
Charges?
After the remand expired the men returned to their Unit.
What Became of the Fracas Five?
Private S-C, Reg. #12376
Private S-C did the best of the group. He left the army in early 1940 – just when the economy was opening up – an economy that had been dead for ten years. While the NAZIs were trying to kill the other lads overseas he was able to find work and did quite well.
The Fracas Five Joseph Yaschuk, John McAlpine, Clarence Ashworth, Reginald Pollard and Donald Hill went overseas. They all participated in Operation Jubilee, the Raid on Dieppe on August 19, 1942.
Dieppe
A/L/Cpl. Clarence Ashworth, L12368 was capture on the Dieppe Raid and became a Prisoner of War. He was released on April 28, 1945 after 3 years as a POW.
Private Don Hill, L12357, was on the Dieppe Raid. Was unhurt and returned to his Unit. It is assumed Don Hill came back to Moose Jaw after the War.
A/Cpl. John B. McAlpine, L12366, was not injured in Dieppe and made it back to his Unit. Unfortunately, the experience got the better of him and he began to have trouble with his legs. He was transferred to the Canadian Army Postal Service.
McAlpine died July 28, 1944. He was living in London and was leaning on the balcony railing when it gave way and he plunged to his death.
Sergeant Reginald Pollard, L12367 was on the Dieppe Raid. He survived and returned to his Unit. He was with the SSRs for the remainder of the war and returned home.
A/L/Cpl (later Sergeant) Joseph Yaschuck, L12369, was wounded in the Dieppe Raid. He made it back to England and eventually returned to his Unit. He went with the SSRs to France in July 1944 and fought, without injury, until the end of the war.
Gunner Earl K. Treadwell – Seems to have survived the War. There is no other information.
The following are Photos of men returning to England after the Dieppe Raid.
Stepping off an Landing Craft onto the stony beach of Dieppe and having NAZIs try to kill you makes the Fracas on Main Street insignificant. More than 900 Canadians were killed at Dieppe, 80-years-ago.
