145062 Pte. John Alexander "Jack" McIntosh was born in the community of Greenfield, Kenyon Township, Glengarry County, Ontario, on 9th May 1894, to Donald John "Dan" McIntosh, and Nancy McDonald.
Jack was raised in a home full of the highland traditions of Glengarry County. Both of his parents were Gaelic speakers and were heavily involved in the community's arts and culture. Jack's father, Dan, was an innkeeper and hotel keeper throughout his life, owning and operating properties in Greenfield, Apple Hill and Maxville at various times. However, one constant in the McIntosh family, throughout this period was the keeping of horses and livery stables from the mid-19th century into the 1920s.
By all accounts, Jack, like his brother Duncan, was a keen sportsman in his youth, playing hockey and lacrosse. Jack attended Loyola College (now part of Concordia University) in 1909, and he served in the local militia from at least 1913. The local unit was, of course, the 59th Regiment (SD&G Highlanders).
On 7th September 1915, Jack enlisted at Ottawa in the 77th Overseas Battalion (CEF). The 77th was created in July of 1915, recruited from Ottawa and surrounding areas, and embarked for England in June of 1916 where it served as reinforcements to other overseas battalions of the Canadian Corps during the First World War.
Jack, however, was sent overseas early with a number of his other comrades that were early joiners of the 77th in order to reinforce Canadian forces that were already overseas. This was likely possible for men like him that had already received military training as part of their previous militia service. He arrived at Shorncliffe, England, on 31st October 1915 on the S.S. California, where he was taken on strength by the 12th Reserve Battalion CEF.
On 15th March 1916, he was transferred to the 4th Bn Canadian Mounted Rifles (4CMR), and sent to France to join his unit in the field. He arrived via Le Havre, and worked his way through the Canadian Base Depot, eventually joining his unit in the field in Belgium on 20th March 1916.
At the time, the 4CMR was active in the Ypres Salient, and specifically in the area known as Sanctuary Wood. Unfortunately Jack was one of the many men who saw significant, and hard action on the Western Front of the Great War, not long after arriving at the front.
Within months of arriving in France, he was involved in intense fighting, resulting in serious shell shock, that had a lasting effect throughout the following number of months. On 2nd May 1916, Jack reported to the divisional rest station with severe shell shock, but was able to return to duty after 5 days rest on May 7th.
Jack was with the 4CMR during the fateful 1st and 2nd days of June, at the violent beginning to the 'Battle of Mount Sorrel', where his unit was almost completely destroyed. On the 2nd of June 195 of his comrades were killed and 358 taken POW. Jack, having already suffered from Shell Shock in the past, returned to hospital again with shell shock, being one of a pitiful few surviving members of the front line trench companies mostly wiped out that morning.
No doubt, this condition led to some operational challenges for Jack in his overseas service. On 16th June 1916, he was sentenced to 7 days Field Punishment Number 2 (FP.2) for failing to turn out for a carrying party after being warned by the NCO in charge. Field punishment resulted in a soldier being tied in fetters or handcuffs during the duration of their punishment, while being subjected to hard labour, and forfeiture of pay. What part did shell shock play in this incident?
On 1st October 1916, while the 4th CMR was participating in the Battle of the Somme, specifically in the attack on Regina Trench, Jack was wounded in the head and neck with a shrapnel blast. It would seem that a shell exploded near him, lodging small pieces of shrapnel (roughly ½ inch (12mm) to ¾ inch (19mm) in size) in the right rear side of his head and jaw.
The 4th CMR War Diaries described the action:
"...very costly as Regina Trench was not fully captured and held. Vicious, close, bomb for bomb, hand to hand fighting saw advances into Regina Trench won and lost, as shell and sniper fire withered the attack to a halt as worn and very tired men and dwindling munitions made for a very long and very costly day. Some 70 men of the 4th CMR were lost as a result of that one day alone."
Jack was admitted to No. 10 Field Ambulance in Albert, France (in the Somme region) for immediate treatment, and was later sent to Queen Mary's Military Hospital, Whalley, Lancashire, England on 5th October 1916. He was later transferred to the Convalescent Military Hospital, Epsom, England, and finally to the Ontario Military Hospital, Orpington, England (1st January 1917). He was subsequently returned to Canada for ongoing medical treatment and struck off strength as medically unfit to continue in February 1918.
After the war, Jack would eventually relocate to the Detroit, Michigan area of the US, where he worked in the then booming automotive industry. He would marry there, and eventually retire to Florida, where he passed away on the 9th of September 1973, at the age of 79.
While the wounds he sustained in the Great War would cause a lasting effect on his life, it never prevented him from living his life to the fullest. He was described as a joyful soul who truly loved life.
Biography credit with thanks to Stuart O'Brien.