Noted Soldier Was One Of Founders Of Agriculture College
BRIGADIER-General Hugh M. Dyer, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., known affectionately throughout Canada by hundreds of veterans of the Great War as "Daddy Dyer," died early Sunday night in Lady Minto hospital, Minnedosa. Two weeks ago he contracted a severe cold which developed into pneumonia. He was in his 79th year. The funeral services will be held at 2 p.m., Wednesday in St. Mark's church, Minnedosa. Interment will be in the family plot in Minnedosa cemetery. General Dyer first came to Manitoba since the late 80's. Widely known and respeced in his community, he carved a distinguished military record in the world war from 1914-18, which in 1917 brought him the apppointment of brigadier-general of the Seventh infantry brigade. He commanded it with great distinction until September, 1918, when he was appointed commandant of the Canadian troops in the Seaford area.
Born in Ireland
He was born at Kingstown, County Dublin, Ireland, and lived most of his early life in the south of England. His father served in both the army and the navy and was a captain in the Royal Navy at Plymouth. He died in 1875. General Dyer received part of his early education in the Royal Naval School, New Cross, London. He came to Manitoba when he was 22 years of age. Remaining a year, he returned in 1882 and was married at Plymouth to Helen May Pearson, a daoughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Pearson of Boxhill, Devonshire. He came back to Manitoba immediately after his marriage, first settling at Glendale. A few years later he moved to Minnedosa where he had resided until his death. General Dyer was one of the founders of the Manitoba Agricultural College and in its early days was for several years president of the board of directors. He took a keen interest in agriculture and many of his recommendations were followed when the provincial institution was drafting its early curricula. He likewise was one of the founders of the agricultural society in Minnedosa and for five years was its president.
In Charge of Dragoons
Aside from his many community activities, he made military matters his hobby. For many years he was in charge of the 12th Manitoba Dragoons in Minnedosa and it was largely through his work that his home town obtained an armory. At the outbreak of the war he held the rank of major in the 12th Manitoba Dragoons. He was a first contingent man; in fact, one of the first to offer his services overseas when war was declared. when the Fifth battalion was organized at Valcartier in 1914, he was appointed second in command. He attained full command in 1916. In 1915 he was severely wounded in the second batted of Ypres. The following month he was invalided to England where he was joined by Mrs. Dyer who remaining in England until the close of the war. In spite of his injuries, he rejoined the Fifth battalion in France in July, 1915, was again wounded while carrying messages at Langemarck. It was in June the following year, he was given command of his battalion.
For Distinguished Service
He was mentioned in the dispatches five times. In January, 1916, he was awared the Distinguished Service Order, and in 1917 was awared a bar to it. In 1918 he was appointed Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. This was followed in 1919 by his appointment as Companion of the Order of the Bath. General Dyer had also served in the South African war. In his younger days he was a well known cricketer and took part in international matches. His brother, Lt. Col. W.A. Dyer, enlisted early in the war with Glen Campbell's 107th Pioneer battalion and left Canada for overseas with the rank of Major. In May, 1931, General Dyer was honored by some 1,000 citizens of his home town who, at a meeting in the Minnedosa armory, presented him with an oil painting of himself, only a few weeks ago he was honored by members of the Fifth Battalion association by being elected life honary president of the association. Only once did he try his fortune in politics, in the Dominion elction of 1921, when he ran as Conservative candidate in Marquette consistuency. He ran second in a three-cornered fight in which the other two candidates were Hon. T. A. Crear, now minister of mines and resources in the King government, and L. St. G. Stubbs, who ran as a continuing Liberal and is now a member of the Manitoba legislature.
MINNEDOSA, Man., Dec. 28. -
Brigadier-General Hugh M. Dyer, C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., five times mentioned in dispatches during the Great War, died here Sunday night after a two weeks illness. A prominent agriculturist, he was 79. Born in County Dublin, Ireland, he was educated at the Royal Naval school, New Cross, London, and came to Canada in 1881, settling in this district 50 miles north of Brandon. When the Great War broke out he went overseas as second in command of the 5th Battalion with the rank of major. He was twice wounded and in 1917 was made brigadier-commander of the 7th Infantry battalion. Near the close of the war he commanded Canadian troops in the Deaford area of England. He is survived by four sons, three here and Harry in British Columbia.
We have lost a valued leader and friend. Coming from England in 1881, he was one of Western Canada's early pioneers, a leader in community life, and one of the founders of Manitoba Agricultural College, serving as chairman of its Board for several years.
Starting out in command of the "Fighting Fifth" Battalion of the first Contingent, he was badly wounded in 1915 and later became the Brigade Commander of the 7th Infantry Brigade in France. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, and Bar, and in 1918 he was appointed Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George. In 1919 he received his appointment as Companion of the Order of the Bath - - - and was five times mentioned in dispatches. With all these honors he was still best known to all ranks of the Canadian Corps - - and later by all veterans -- as "Daddy Dyer".
Back home in 1931, citizens among whom he had lived for fifty years joined in a general desire to give him some token of their esteem and good wishes. This took the form of an oil painting of himself which, at the gathering in the Minnedosa Armory, was presented to him by Premier John Braken on behalf of some 1000 citizens in attendance.
As a Director and as Vice-President of our Company since 1920, we have come to know him for those qualities of stability, courage and resourcefulness of which his life bears a record.
Along with his neighbors and his men, we are deeply conscious of a gap left in our ranks.
(As a tribute to his memory, our offices in Winnipeg, Regina, Edmonton and Vancouver were closed during his funeral on the afternoon of December 28, 1938.)
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