By TOM GODFREY
These three courageous brothers from Fourth Street would set out for war, but only one would return home.
It’s almost like the movie Saving Private Ryan, but it took place right here in New Toronto more than a century ago.
It will be 105-years in September when the three valiant brothers enlisted in the Canadian military to fight for their country, but only one survived to return home as his siblings were killed in action overseas.
In the award-winning movie, U.S. officials learn that three of the four sons of the Ryan family were killed in action and frantic efforts were underway to return home a fourth son, James.
Victor, John and Thomas Arding, were born in Berkshire, England, but moved to Canada with their parents, William and Emily, who brought them up with lots of love in a small house on Fourth St.
Close brothers Victor and John enlisted into the Canadian military on the same day in October 1915 and were members of the 75th Battalion, as members of the 9th Mississauga Horse, of the Canadian Infantry.
They were both killed in action just more than a year later on November 18, 1916.
Their youngest brother, Thomas, had enlisted in the Canadian navy.
John, at 32, a Corporal, had worked as a fireman at Ritchie’s paper mills, was a member of a militia and had eight-years with the Queen’s Own Royal Lancers, a cavalry regiment of the British Army.
The father of three young children had also served in the Imperial Army of India, along with Victor.
He was injured in France in September 1916 and killed two months later.
His wife, Florence, was devastated and almost collapsed when told of her husband’s death, according to the Toronto Daily Star.
Brother Victor, a sergeant, was killed in a bomb explosion in the Desire Trench at the Somme. His remains were never found and he is listed on the Vimy Memorial in France.
A devastated Thomas completed his term with the navy and returned home.
News of the deaths spread like wildfire in New Toronto rocking the tight and closely-knit community.
Community leaders decided to honour the Arding brothers, and other slain soldiers from the area, by constructing The New Toronto War Memorial, which was designed as a fountain and opened in 1919 before hundreds of residents.
The 626-pound memorial now sits deserted outside the former Royal Canadian Legion Hall on Eight St.. A new home has been found for the monument on the grounds of Humber College.
The fountain was a brainchild of the ladies of Soldiers’ Comforts Association, which sent thousands of parcels overseas to troops during the war. The group had $800 cash left over and the fountain was constructed. Engraved on it are the names of the 19 area soldiers who had lost their lives in war.
The names included: John Arding, Victor Arding, Reginald Barron, Ernest Clark, Frank Clark, William Cooper, Fred Critchley, Joseph Hodges, Canton Gordon, Vincent Leaghey, Neil McFadyen, Arthur Millard, Joseph Mullineaux, John Neil, Richard Saunders and Joseph Staples.