The Intelligencer April 5, 1917 (page 2)
“Brave Young Bellevillian Gets Military Cross. Mayor Ketcheson of this city, this morning received the following cablegram, which naturally was pleasing to him and the members of the family: London, April 5th. Mayor Ketcheson, Belleville, Ont. Have been awarded Military Cross. D. Ketcheson.
This honor has been worthily bestowed upon Lieut. David Ketcheson, son of Mayor Ketcheson, who when wounded in the arm and shoulder gallantly went on with a trench raid. Lieut. Ketcheson was lately again seriously wounded and at present is confined to a hospital in France. The many friends of the brave young officer will join with The Intelligencer in offering congratulations.”
The Intelligencer April 5, 1917 (page 2)
“Prof. C. E. Auger, of Toronto University, paid a visit to the High School to-day in connection with the campaign of the Ontario Government, to induce boys to go on the farm this summer, and to enable them to make arrangements satisfactory to boy and to farmer. He found that Principal MacLaurin had presented the matter to the youths, and that a good number of town boys will enlist for service to the Empire in this manner.”
The Intelligencer April 5, 1917 (page 2)
“The Mayor, the band and many citizens will give the Cobourg Heavy Battery a rousing send-off and God-speed at the G.T.R. station. Many will go up after the Opera House entertainment and await the arrival of the train.
The Battery draft is commanded by Lieut. Harry Hutton Ponton, and he has a right hand man in Corporal George Irwin, who as well as the 15 other Belleville boys, are rattling good soldiers, ‘keen as mustard,’ and will give a good account of themselves with the big guns at the front, where they will proceed almost immediately. Lieut. Ponton, (eldest son of Colonel Ponton of this city) is an all round soldier, having begun as a boy of 12 in the 15th Bugle Band, and having served in all ranks in infantry, cavalry and artillery, and is a qualified ambulance expert as well. Good luck to him and the lads of his gallant corps and may Canadian cannon thunder at the fortresses on the Rhine.”
The Intelligencer April 5, 1917 (page 8)
“Presentation to Popular Teacher. Mr. N. V. C. Clarke, assistant principal of Queen Victoria School, who recently enlisted in the Cobourg Heavy Battery, has been presented with a wrist watch from the pupils of the school, a shaving outfit from the staff, and a set of military hair brushes from his class.
Miss Winnifred Storey read the address, while Miss Edna Blackburn, Miss Florence Curtiss and Master H. Diamond made the presentation. Mr. Clarke, although taken by surprise, made a kind reply, thanking the teachers and pupils for their kind remembrance.
Mr. Clarke was very popular with both the teachers and pupils. The gathering closed with three hearty cheers for Mr. Clarke and the singing of the National Anthem.”
First World War Belleville 