Wallace Lloyd Algie VC

b. 10/06/1891 Alton, Ontario, Canada. d. 11/10/1918 Cambrai, France.

Wallace Lloyd Algie (1891-1918) was born on 10th June 1891 at Alton, Peel County, Ontario, Canada. His father, James, was born in Dumfries Township, Ontario. He graduated from Trinity Medical College in Toronto and was licensed to practise as a physician and surgeon in 1878 at Ayr, Ontario. He married Rachel Jago, originally from Cornwall, England, on 13th October 1880 at Rockwood, Wellington County, Ontario. She had emigrated to Canada in 1875. In 1884, James became Medical Officer for Caledon Township and his first action was to rebuke the inhabitants of Alton, Caledon East, Charleston, Mono Mills and Belfountain for their poor sanitary habits. He pioneered better public health standards in the area. He was also a novelist, under the pen name “Wallace Lloyd”. He married for a second time after Rachel’s death in 1917, when he married Cordelia Shelby Thornton on 12th June 1923 at Clarke County, Georgia, USA. James sadly committed suicide in 1928 due to financial difficulties. Wallace had three sisters – Ada, Ethel and Bessie.

Wallace was educated at Alton Public School, Peel County, Ontario. He worked as a bank teller at the Elm Street Branch of the Bank of Toronto, Ontario. He spent two months with the Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada before being commissioned as a lieutenant in 40th Regiment (Militia) in late 1915. He attested in 198th Battalion CEF and applied for a commission in the CEF on 19th April 1916. On 25th September he embarked on RMS Laconia at Halifax, Nova Scotia, and arrived in Liverpool on 6th October. He then proceeded to the Canadian Military School, Shorncliffe, Kent with the 198th Battalion Officers Draft for the 19th Course. He qualified on 23rd December and was posted to 95th Battalion.

On 25th January 1917, Wallace was attached to 5th Reserve Battalion, Bramshott, Hampshire and transferred to 5th Battalion on 31st January. He attended a bombing course in Aldershot and an anti-gas measures course at Eastern Command School between 2nd – 7th April. He went to France with reinforcements for the 20th Battalion on 28th May. On 5th November he was appointed Battalion Lewis Gun Officer.

Wallace Algie VC

On 24th April 1918 he was admitted to 6th Canadian Field Ambulance and No 45 Casualty Clearing Station with pyrexia of an unknown origin. He was transferred by 42 Ambulance Train to 2nd British Red Cross Hospital, Rouen on 26th April with trench fever. On 4th May he was transferred to the Canadian Infantry Base Depot and classified “A” by a medical board on 6th May. He returned to 20th Battalion on 30th May.

For most conspicuous bravery and self-sacrifice on the 11th October, 1918, north-east of Cambrai, when with attacking troops which came under heavy enfilade machine-gun fire from a neighbouring village. Rushing forward with nine volunteers, he shot the crew of an enemy machine gun, and, turning it on the enemy, enabled his party to reach the village. He then rushed another machine gun, killed the crew. captured an officer and 10 enemy, and thereby cleared the end of the village. Lt. Algie, having established his party, went back for reinforcements, but was killed when leading them forward. His valour and personal initiative in the face of intense fire saved many lives and enabled the position to be held.

In telling of this attack, Colonel Rourke, the C. O. of the 20th, who is also a South African veteran, said: “It was the nerviest thing I have ever seen.” In his words Lieut. Algie was “the man in front” at Cambria. His batman, Pte. Saunders, to whom he was deeply attached, was killed almost at the same instant as himself. Lieut. Algie’s last spoken words to his men were, “Carry On.”

Algie was buried in Niagara Cemetery, Iwuy, near Cambrai, France with full military honours. The VC was presented to his father by Sir John Strathearn Hendrie, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, in Toronto on 28th March 1919. Wallace is commemorated with Lt Algie VC Branch No 449 of the Royal Canadian Legion, on the Alton War Memorial, with Algie Avenue in Etobichoke, Toronto, and is named on the VC Obelisk in Barrie, Ontario. He is also on Plaque No 3 at the York Cemetery VC Memorial in Toronto, a VC commemorative stone at the National Memorial Arboretum, Alrewas, Staffordshire, England, and on the Canadian Buffs War Memorial in Canterbury Cathedral, Kent, England.

In addition to his VC, he was awarded the British War Medal 1914-20, and Victory Medal 1914-19. His next of kin was eligible for the Canadian Memorial Cross. The VC was sold for £16,800 at Glendinning’s on 22nd March 1995 and was purchased by Lord Ashcroft.

LOCATION OF MEDAL: LORD ASHCROFT COLLECTION.

BURIAL PLACE: NIAGARA CEMETERY, IWUY, FRANCE.

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