Albert Harold Ketch was born in Oil Springs, Ontario, on June 16, 1893, the son of Albert Edward Ketch (of Lancashire, England, editor of the Oil Springs Chronicle, and later the editor and proprietor of the Alvinston Free Press) and Helena Pamelia (nee Willsea, of Avon, Ontario) Ketch. His siblings included Lyla Marilla (born 1896) and Clara Hazel (born 1897, would later reside in London, Ontario, employed at the London Free Press). As a young boy, he was an enthusiast in baseball, football and hockey. In November 1903, when Harold was 10 years old, his father Albert Edward would die in Alvinston. Two years later, in July of 1911, his mother Helena married James N. Dodd and they moved to 108 Durand Street, Sarnia.
Harold left high school at the age of 15 and took charge of the Alvinston Free Press. Realizing the importance of an education, he returned to school two years later and obtained his second class certificate. He had experience in several well-equipped offices, such as The Montreal Herald and the Simcoe Reformer. He then returned to once again take charge of the Alvinston Free Press. He was a member of the St. Clair Press Association and the Canadian Press Association. Harold enlisted with the 48th Highlanders in Toronto on May 10, 1915. At the time, he listed his occupation as printer and his marital status as single. Harold came from a military family. His father having first-class certificates from Military College and from London and his uncle, Robert Ketch, was an officer who was killed in the trenches of France in March 1915. A cousin, Henry Ketch, was also killed at the Dardanelles. There were only 35 soldiers left out of 1,000 who were trying to land at that time. After Harold completed his course as a signaler, he was transferred to the 35th Battalion of Toronto and then later the 24th Battalion.
Harold went overseas in October of 1915, and was in France by March of 1916. In early March of that year, Harold would write the following letter home to his mother:
My dear mother,
I have just finished telling Hazel (his sister) some news that I consider the best of news, and that is by the time you receive this letter, I will likely be somewhere in France. Two others and I volunteered to reinforce the signal section of the 24th Battalion, which is at the front. We volunteered this morning when Lieut. Woods called for volunteers. We were lucky to be in the front rank and in a jiffy we were out in front. We have had medical examination, and our rifles have been inspected, our bayonets sharpened and we had also had our kit inspected. We have identification discs about our neck on a string. On it is “No. 405569, Pte. A.H.W. Ketch, 24th Batt., Inf., Canadians”. On Monday, the 6th, we have a final inspection and then I suppose we leave. The two fellows who go with me, are good chaps and as we have three of our signalers with the 24th now, it won’t be like going to a strange bunch by any means. You should see the big black English army boots I have on, No. 10, and I have two pair of socks on. When I get back to civis again I sure won’t be able to wear freak shoes. We take the Oliver equipment with us and the Ross rifle. We also take two suits of underwear, three pairs of socks, one rubber sheet, one blanket and a few necessaries issued by the army. The rest we pack in our kit bags and they are stored away for us till we claim them. I got the papers you sent to Hettie. Don’t worry about me. Buck up and assist in anything you can to help us win the war. Be cheery under all circumstances. Regards to my Sarnia friends and acquaintances. Harold
On June 8th of 1916, Harold would send his mother another letter from Flanders, France. The following is an excerpt from Harold’s second letter:
Dear mother,
I am going to write several letters today as there is no telling when I’ll get the chance again for as you are aware already by the papers, we are in the thick of things now. I will let you know how I make out at every opportunity. Our regiment has a distinctive hat badge now. It is very bright and is the shape of a star surmounted with a crown. It has the letters V.R.C. on it (Victoria Rifles of Canada)…
Well, we are likely to be in the heat of things so what is in store for me is uncertain. What we want is more help from Canada in the way of willing men. We have a hard fight yet ahead before we beat Fritz, and all the men are needed. If the fellows at home would just stop to realize fully where their duty lay. If they were over here a few minutes just to see what noble sacrifices our fellows are making for the glory of the old empire, I’m sure they would enlist by the thousands. Well Mother, be cheery and don’t worry about me. If anything happens to me you’ll know I did my best in a good cause and work hard all the time for more recruits and assistance to those over here….
Well, be cheery and send me a parcel of eats and newspapers.
Lovingly, Harold
In France, Harold was a member of the Army, Canadian Infantry, Quebec Regiment, 24th Battalion, with the rank of Lance Corporal. One year after writing the above letter, Harold would be wounded at Vimy Ridge and would be awarded the Military Medal on May 17, 1917. The Military Medal award reads: “For conspicuous bravery at VIMY RIDGE on April 9th, 1917, when as a Lineman attached to BN. Report Centre, he showed great courage and determination in laying lines and keeping them in repair under heavy artillery fire, thereby enabling communication to be maintained throughout the operation. Although wounded he carried on with his duties for over twenty-four hours, when he was ordered out by his Officer. His action was indeed a most excellent example to his comrades.”
On August 15, 1917, Harold Ketch would lose his life while fighting on the first day of the Attack on Hill 70, France. His mother Mrs. J.N. Dodd would receive the following short telegram informing her of her son’s death in early September of 1917:
Ottawa, Ont. September 3
Deeply regret to inform you 405569, Lance Corporal Albert Harold Willsie Ketch, infantry, officially reported killed in action, August 15, 1917. Director of Records
Only a day or two before receiving the above telegram, Mrs. Dodd had received a letter from Harold, dated August 12th, 1917. In it, he described how he was in England on leave visiting his cousin and uncle George and that he was that day leaving to return to France. Harold Ketch would later be officially listed as, Killed in Action. Attack north of Lens. He was buried on the roof of a bomb store between two deep dugout tunnels, back of Lens, between St. Elio or St. Emile and another small place. Grave cannot be located as bomb store and dugouts have been blown up. Twenty-four year old Albert Harold Ketch has no known grave. He is memorialized on the Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calasi, France. Harold Ketch’s name is also inscribed on the Village of Alvinston’s Memorial.
SOURCES: A, B, C, D, E, F, L, N, 2C, 2D, 2G