John Bernard Croak, Victoria Cross (V.C.) was born on May 18th, 1892. He grew up on West Avenue, New Aberdeen and attented St. John’s School. At age 14, Croak left school and started working at the the No. 2 Mine in
Dominion to help support his family. In 1911, at age 19, he left the
mine to work out west in the wheat fields. In 1915, he joined
the army. When WWI broke out in 1914, Croak went overseas to defend his country.
Details
Croak was born in Little Bay, Newfoundland, on May 18, 1892 to James and
Cecelia Croak.[2] The family moved to Glace Bay, Nova Scotia when Croak
was two years old. He attended school there and then began work as a coal miner.
Croak enlisted in the military in 1915. He was a private in the
13th (Royal Highlanders of Canada) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force.
On August 8, 1918 at Amiens, France,
Croak performed a deed which earned him the Victoria Cross. He was wounded
in the act, and died shortly thereafter at the age of only 26.
Citation
For most conspicuous bravery in attack when having become separated from his
section he encountered a machine gun nest, which he bombed and silenced, taking
the gun and crew prisoners. Shortly afterwards he was severely wounded, but
refused to desist. Having rejoined his platoon, a very strong point, containing
several machine guns, was encountered. Private Croak, however, seeing an
opportunity, dashed forward alone and was almost immediately followed by
the remainder of the platoon in a brilliant charge. He was the first to arrive at the
trench line, into which he led his men, capturing three machine guns and bayonetting
or capturing the entire garrison. The perseverance and valour of this gallant soldier,
who was again severely wounded, and died of his wounds, were an inspiring example
to all.
—The London Gazette, No. 30922, September 24, 1918
Croak was involved in many famous battles during WWI such
as The Somme, Vimy Ridge, Arras, Hill 70, Passchendale, and
Amiens. Amiens was dubbed Canada’s 100 Days. On August 8th,
1918, Croak breeched enemy lines. He captured an entire machine gun
crew single handedly. He was seriously injured and later died from
these injuries. His mother was awarded the Victoria Cross for her
son’s acts of bravery. To honour his memory there is a school and
park bearing his name in Glace Bay.
HMCS GLACE BAY-A WORLD WAR II WARSHIP HMCS GLACE BAY – SHIPS COMPANY |
This is a picture of the new ship, HMCS Glace Bay. HMCS GLACE BAY (2010) |
The HMCS Glace Bay was launched on April 26th, 1944 and commissioned at
Levis, Quebec, on September 2, 1944. The crew included 3 officers and 133 men
initially, which in time rose to 8 officers and about 150 men.Following her commissioning in September 1944, she sailed from Quebec City
to Sydney N.S., arriving on September 20. The following day an “Official Inspection
Day” for the people of the town of Glace Bay was proclaimed, and the ships log
notes that the same evening, September 21, the ‘Ships’ Company (personnel) went
into Glace Bay for entertainment.
From Sydney she sailed for Halifax, arriving September 23. She carried out
workups in Bermuda in mid-October and on her return was assigned to EG, C 4
(Escort Group), Londonderry, Ireland. She left St. John’s for that port on
November 17, escorting a number of U.S. built sub-chasers destined for the
Russian Navy. The Glace Bay was employed continuously on escort convoy duty
until VE-Day. In October, she made a round trip to Bermuda and on her return
was paid off on November 17, at Sydney. She lay in reserve at Shelbourne until
sold in 1946 to the Chilean Navy and renamed ESMERALDA and then, in 1952, BACQUEDANO. She was broken up in 1968.
Glace Bay Sports
Glace Bay has a long and rich history in sports. Below are
some of the athletes and teams that have achieved success
over the years in sports.
Joey Mullins was an Olympian in the 1952 Summer Games. He
was from Glace Bay and was in track and field. He broke every Nova
Scotia High School record and was on the Bronze Medal Relay
Team.
The Caledonia Rugby Team in 1929, won the Canadian Rugby
Championship and was awarded the prestigious McArthur Shield.
The Cape Breton Colliery Baseball League was a popular five
team league. It included the Glace Bay Miners. Del Bissonette, a
Miners player, went on to coach the Boston Braves.
A dentist from Glace Bay was the backup goalie for the 1917
Stanley Cup Winning Team, The Toronto St. Pats. When he came
back he was offered $1.00 a game to play with the Sydney Millionaires
but he refused this. He helped build the Glace Bay Miners Forum
where they sold programs for $0.25.
If you held on to your program you would be eligible for a $35.00
draw.
In this forum the Glace Bay Miners played teams such as the
Russians, the Fins, the Ottawa Senators (old team that won seven
Stanley Cups) and the NY Rangers.
Louis Siderski was born in 1888 and died in 1981. Louis was
one of the earliest great Glace Bay Athletes. His early exploits as an
English Rugby player are recorded in the Dalhousie University
archives. Lou was also a great baseball player and was selected by the
Chicago Cubs. He was one of the first boys from eastern Canada to
try out for the Major Leagues.
He was also a track star in short sprints and long jumping. On of his
feats was to kick a football from the centre of the field over the
crossbar. No one has done this in 100 years. He is an original
inductee of the NS Hall of Fame.
TABLE HEAD TOWERS
Gugliemo Marconi was born at Bologna, Italy on
April 25th, 1874. He was the second son of Guisippe
Marconi, an Italian country gentleman, and Annie Jameson,
daughter of Andrew Jameson of Ireland. He was educated
privately at Bologna, Florence and Leghorn University.
Glace Bay played a crucial role in the history of
communication as it served as one of the main hubs for the
first transatlantic radio communication. This was truly the
start of the first wireless network that are taken for granted
today. Marconi built two large radio stations in Glace Bay
and one in Louisbourg. If one was viewing these structures
in the early 1900’s they would see an impressive tower over
two-hundred feet high along the banks of what is now
referred to as Table Head in Glace Bay. Two structures were
located in Glace Bay with a third being built in Louisbourg.
A museum dedicated to this technological advancement is
now located in the Table Head area of Glace Bay.
MARCONI
(Special thanks to the Internet for much of the foregoing material)
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