72nd Regiment, Seaforth Highlanders of Canada engaged in Aid to Civil Powers for the Coal Miners' Strike on Vancouver Island, Nanaimo,1913 - 1914. Caption on page (just impression): "Capt. Godson" Captain Gilbert Godson-Godson, DCM the Adjutant of the 72nd Regiment. He is dressed in pith helmet, service dress jacket with ribbons, Sam Browne Belt, tartan breeches with long puttees. There are bell tents in the background. Gilbert Godson Godson, DSO, DCM (Godson-Godson) was born in Redhill, Surrey in 1872, and served in the Boer War (with the Natal Guides) and the First World War. Gilbert Godson-Godson served as a Guide (honorary rank of Sergeant) in the Natal Guides during the South African War, 1899-1902. He also served with Royston's Horse and South African Constabulary. He participated in the Matabele Expedition. He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and mentioned in despatches. There were 2076 awards of the DCM for the Boer War. At formation of the Regiment in 1910, Captain and Brevet Major G. Godson-Godson was appointed permanent adjutant. He served on Vancouver Island during the Coal Miner's Strike of 1913-14. He worked for the City of Vancouver as the head of a department in civilian life. Gilbert Godson-Godson enlisted in the 16th (Canadian Scottish) Battalion CEF on 22 Sept 1914 as its adjutant on its formation in 1914. He went to France on 9 February 1915. He was promoted to Major. He was severely wounded with gunshot wounds in the neck and face at Bois des Cuisiniers (later Kitchener's Wood) due west of St. Julien on 22 April 1915. Major Godson Godson, up to the moment he was hit, displayed magnificent battle leadership, rallying the men with shouts of "Come on Canadians!" He was awarded the DSO and was mentioned in despatches on 22 June 1915 for his actions. He was evacuated to England and left the 16th Battalion on 13 May 1915. Godson-Godson was promoted to Lt Col and became the Camp Commandant of the Canadian Corps HQ from 9 January 1916 to 28 December 1916 and later became the Officer Commanding Canadian Troops in the London Area as a Brigadier. Colonel Gilbert Godson Godson DSO, DCM was appointed as the first Provost Marshal of the Canadian Military Police Corps on 4 December 1917. His services were brought to notice of Secretary of State for War. He was also made an Officer of the Ordre du Merite Agricole by the French Government. The Order of Agricultural Merit is an order bestowed by the French Republic for outstanding contribution to agriculture. It was second in importance only to the Legion of honour within the French order of precedence when it was created. Godson-Godson was made a Brevet Colonel and left the Army on 10 March 1920. CEF Service File attached. The Vancouver Island Coal Strike began on 16 Sept. 1912 when miners at Cumberland declared a "holiday" to protest the firing of Oscar Mottishaw. Canadian Collieries locked them out and hired Chinese and strike breakers. The issues were safety (gas explosions had killed hundreds) and union recognition. Other employers followed the pattern in resisting any union. By spring 1913, 3,500 miners from Vancouver Island were off work with the United Mine Workers of America providing leadership and strike pay. In the summer of 1912, the Vancouver and Nanaimo Coal Co., settled with its employees, but not before rioting, arsons and "shoot-outs" had broken out in all the coal towns. Peace was restored when the BC government sent in 1,000 militiamen. The withdrawal of strike pay in the summer of 1914 and the beginning of WW I ended the confrontation. By then the mines were running at almost pre-strike capacity using newly hired labour.