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Record #14656
Name :
: Stephen Sargeant Claude NUNNEY (1892 - 1918)
  aka : Claude Joseph Patrick Nun


Father
:
Mother
:
BMD and other details
Date of Birth
: 24 Dec 1892

Marriage (1)
:
Marriage (2)
:

Date of Death
: 18 Sep 1918   Notes : Wounds Received in Battle
Abode (1) : Place of BirthEngland
Abode (2) : Place of Death / BurialFrance, Vis-en-Artois
Sailing Information
Date of Arrival
: 13 Oct 1905
Country
: Canada

Ship
: Tunisian

Placement Family
:
Homes / Agencys
Institution (GB)
:

Agency
: Catholic Emigration Association
NotesIn 1905, Stephen Nunney, 13 (along with brother, Alfred Nunn[e]y, 11) arrived at Quebec, Canada, in a group of 42 children from the Catholic Emigration Association en route to St. George's Home, Hintonburg, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

Claude Joseph Patrick Nunney [also known as Stephen Nunney] stated he was born in Dublin, Ireland, on the 24th of December 1891 or 1892.

Dave Lorente (Homechildren Canada) wrote in an article on Claude:

"It is interesting to speculate how Claude Nunney would answer, were he alive today and asked to give his first names, DOB and birthplace, because for some unknown reason or reasons he knowingly or unwittingly gave false information when he joined up in World War I. Perhaps it was because, like so many other Home Children, he had lost his baptismal record and/or birth certificate. ... [H]is birth certificate shows he was actually born in Hastings, England - not in Dublin as his military Attestation papers show. Nor was he Irish...and his name was not Claude Joseph Patrick Nunney as he stated but Stephen Sargent Claude Nunney' - the 'Sargent' being his mother's maiden name. His birthdate was also wrong and he came to Canada as Stephen - not Claude. All that said, none of it detracts in any way from the brave things he did during World War I when he became one of 'Canada's Magnificent Seven' and won the former Empire and Commonwealth's highest award for bravery in the ranks.

Claude and two brothers were sent to St George's Home in Ottawa by the Catholic Emigration (Rescue) Society. ... They were placed far apart in the Ottawa Valley. George, the eldest, drowned in the Jock River near Ottawa. Alfred was placed further north near Cobden and Claude was placed far south in Glengarry County's Lancaster North. "

After arrival in Ottawa, Claude was placed in the home of Mrs. Donald Roy McDonald, North Lancaster, Ontario, Glengarry County. He lived with Mrs. McDonald until her death in 1912.

After Mrs. McDonald's death he lived the greater part of the time with Mr. D.H. McGillis, North Lancaster, Ontario, from where he enlisted for services overseas.

On March 8, 1915, at Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Claude Joseph Patrick Nunney, 22, enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces. He declared that he had been born in Dublin, Ireland; that his next of kin was his friend, Gordon Calder, who resided at R.R. #2, Green Valley, Ontario, Canada [Editors Note: Previously the name had been his friend Mrs. D. J. McDonald, who resided in North Lancaster, Ontario, Canada, but that had been crossed out]; that his date of birth was December 24, 1892; that he was a painter; and that he was not married. He was described as 5 foot 5 inches in height; fair complexion; blue eyes; and red hair. He was a member of the Roman Catholic faith. He had a half-inch scar in right side of forehead.

Dave Lorente goes on to say:

"Claude was sent to school, later took a harvest train west and returned to Eastern Ontario to join up 'with his comrades'. They were sent to Ottawa Armouries for training and went 'overseas' first to Bermuda and then to England and France with the CEF - The Canadian Expeditionary Force. In France Claude was wounded and returned to England to recover. While there he witnessed Germany's first bombing raid on London by zepplin 'air ships' and the destruction of a school full of children. He asked to be returned to the trenches immediately. He was part of the successful Canadian 'creeping barrage' attack on Vimy and won the Military Medal and Distinguished Conduct Medal.

When, on Sept first,1918, Nunney heard that Canada was to replicate its unique Vimy strategy on the 2nd at the battle for the hitherto impregnable Hindenburg Line, he ran atop the Canadian lines, his back to the enemy, and urged his Canuck comrades below to follow him on the morrow when he would be yards ahead 'mopping up the Bosch'.

He was as good as his word. The next day he wiped out at least four enemy machine gun installations, was wounded in the arm, refused to leave the field, was credited with killing 25 enemy and suffered another wound. Only when his wounded comrades were safe did he allow himself to be taken to a field station. He was awarded the Victoria Cross - the highest award for bravery.
Shortly after that he died. One record suggests it was on the same day but a month after his young brother Alfred also lost his life in the trenches in France. "

The actual service record of Claude Nunney shows:

He was assigned to the 30th Battalion and sailed from Canada on August 8, 1915, on the SS Caledonian for the United Kingdom. He departed for France in August, 1916.

on September 14, 1917, he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in the Field.

On October 19, 1917, he was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the Field.

On May 5, 1918, he was wounded in action.

On May 15, 1918, he was in confinement awaiting trial and convicted for having struck his Superior Officer while in action and was sentenced to the ranks of 1 year. He was recommended to mercy on account of his previous good service.

On September 13, 1918, he was dangerously wounded.

On September 19, 1918, his sentence of 1 year was suspended for his gallantry in the field.

Claude Joseph Patrick (Stephen) Nunney served "in the European War and won the Distinguished Conduct Medal and Military Medal and for his services in France was awarded the Victoria Cross (Published London Gazette, 14 December, 1918). [EDITORS NOTE: The Victoria Cross is the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.]

For most conspicuous bravery during operations against the Drocourt-Queant line on 1st & 2nd September, 1918. On September 1st when his Battalion was in the vicinity of Vis-en-Artois, preparatory to the advance, the enemy laid down a heavy barrage and counter-attacked. Private Nunney, who at this time at company headquarters, immediately, on his own initiative, proceeded through the barrage to the company outpost lines going from post to post and encouraging the men by his own fearless example. The enemy were repulsed and a critical situation was saved.

During the attack on September 2nd his dash continually placed him in advance of his companions and his fearless example undoubtedly helped greatly to carry the company forward to its objectives. He displayed throughout the highest degree of valor until severely wounded."

On that morning, Canadian soldiers advanced towards the heavily defended area. Tanks rumbled through the dense barbed wire, cutting wide swaths for the infantry to charge through. The Germans, however, had anticipated the attack. The day before?on September 1st, it had laid down a heavy barrage and counter-attacked in the vicinity of Vis-en-Artois.

During that counter-attack, Private Nunney left his post at company headquarters and scrambled through the bombardment to lead and encourage his comrades by example. On the following day, during the Canadian assault, Nunney was badly wounded but refused to leave the field. Instead, he positioned himself at the forefront of the advancing infantry, often 50 to 75 yards ahead where he inflicted heavy casualties on enemy gunners. In fact, he accounted for 25 German gunners killed.

Private Claude Joseph Patrick Nunney is buried at Aubigny Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France [Grave Reference: IV. B. 39.] 
ContributorsCreated : 2011-05-29 07:42:10 / From original database

Last Updated : 2011-05-30 09:47:59 /

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Surnames starting with:   A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z  3 Entries        
IDNameDOBPlace of birthArrivals & ShipsDest.AgencyFamily links
14657 NUNNEY, Alfred 1894ENG,     Oct 1905 : Tunisian CAN Catholic Emigration Association  
14664 NUNNEY, George Frederick1891ENG, SSX, Hastings - Unknown - CAN Unknown  
14656 NUNNEY, Stephen Sargeant Claude1892ENG,     Oct 1905 : Tunisian CAN Catholic Emigration Association