BX July 6, 1916
Wedding Bells
Hitchon – Verity
One of the prettiest weddings of the season took place in the Colborne Street Methodist church at 4 o’clock this afternoon, when Edna, the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.J. Verity was united in marriage to Mr. Wilton Wallace Hitchon, Lieutenant in the 204th Overseas Battalion, C.E.F., and son of Mr. and Mrs. C.B. Hitchon of this city. Rev. W.E. Baker, pastor of Colborne Street Methodist church, performed the ceremony.
The church was beautifully decorated, the bridal party taking their places under a huge arch of pink and white peonies, marguerites and ferns. The charming bride entered leaning on the arm of her father, looking particularly lovely in a handsome gown of white charmeuse and georgette crepe trimmed with rose-point lace, the court train falling most gracefully from the shoulders, and wearing the Juliet cap with lily of the valley, and carrying a bridal bouquet of roses and lily of the valley. Preceding the bride were Master James Harley as page, and dainty little Josephine Harley as flower girl. The bride was attended by her sister, Miss Millicent Verity, as maid of honor, attired in blue chiffon with pink satin. The bridesmaids were Miss Muriel Heaven, in pink chiffon and mauve satin; Miss Cora Long, in yellow chiffon and blue satin, and Miss Breta Hitchon in mauve chiffon, and yellow satin, with corresponding hats to match and carrying pink and white sweet peas and roses. The groom was attended by Mr. Morley Verity, lieutenant in the 125th battalion.
The groom’s gift to the bride was a platinum bar pin set with diamonds, and to each bridesmaid a platinum bar pin with corresponding stones to match their gowns.
The classic wedding music was played by Mr. G.C. White, and during the signing of the register Miss Estelle Carey of Hamilton sang an appropriate solo.
The ushers were Messrs. Thomas Jackson, C.M. Thompson, A. Leitch and Lawrence Hitchon.
After the service a reception was held at “The Pines,” the home of the bride’s parents, which was beautifully decorated with pink and white peonies.
Mrs. Verity, mother of the bride, was gowned in grey taffeta and georgette crepe and carried pink roses. Mrs. Hitchon, mother of the groom, wore black duchess satin with mauve hat and carried mauve sweet peas. Mrs. Slingsby of Fullerton, Cal., wore blue taffeta with white hat.
Mr. and Mrs. Hitchon left on a ten-day trip to points east. The bride’s travelling gown was of sand cheviot cloth with white hat.
Out-of-town guests were present from New York, Chicago, Washington, D.C. Los Angeles, Cal., Ottawa, Toronto and Ottawa.
BX March 9, 1928
Demise Occurs of Lieutenant Wilton Wallace Hitchon
Close is Recorded of Remarkable and Inspiring Career – Was Active Despite Great Affliction – Funeral to be Here
Following a suddenly serious illness, Wilton W. Hitchon, beloved husband of Edna Verity, passed away in the Toronto General hospital yesterday. The deceased was in the thirty-eighth year of his age and the eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. C.B. Hitchon of this city.
Remarkable Career
By his demise the close is recorded of one of the most remarkable and inspiring careers in connection with the Great War. While in the office of the Massey-Harris company at Toronto, he received the commission of lieutenant with the 204th Battalion, the “Beavers,” commanded by Lieutenant Colonel W.H. Price, and became bayonet fighting and physical training officer of the battalion.
Honored by Battalion
Before leaving for overseas, Lieutenant Hitchon, because of his splendid physique and fine soldierly bearing, was chosen as one of the color-bearers when the colors of the battalion were deposited in the Legislative Chamber of the Ontario Parliament Buildings. His companion was Lieutenant Harvey Rochester who was later killed in France.
Lieutenant Hitchon went to England with the “Beavers,” where the battalion was broken up, and he was posted to another unit in France. He was the first member of the 204th to be wounded, shrapnel taking the sight of both eyes and inflicting a fracture of a leg.
Sent back to England, he took the course at St. Dunstan’s, the famous hospital for the blind founded by the late Sir Arthur Pearson. There he took an active interest in athletics, canoeing and boating being his chief pursuits. Despite his affliction, he gained prominence as a paddler, handling the bow paddle while a man with eyesight paddled in the stern.
Retiring to Canada, he immediately re-entered the employ of the Massey-Harris Company in an executive position, where he remained until the time of his death.
Interested in Aquatics
Throughout the years since the war, he was a prominent and active member of the Parkdale Canoe club, retaining his interest in aquatic sports. Accompanied by his wife, he spent many hours during the boating season paddling about the lake. He was also an expert swimmer and an accomplished dancer.
His most remarkable activity, however, was that of bowling. A member of the team captained by C. Arthur Scott in the Canoe Club league, Toronto, it was largely due to his skill on the alleys that the team won the club championship in the last series.
About two years ago, Lieutenant Hitchon was seriously injured in a street accident. Attempting to cross a busy street without an escort, he was struck by a trailer attached to a motor truck, sustaining severe head injuries and a fracture of the leg. He completely recovered from these hurts, however.
Col. W.H. Price, attorney-general in the Ontario Cabinet, his former commanding officer, paid tribute to Lieutenant Hitchon’s qualities last night. News of his death, he said, came as a great shock to him, as he, like most of his friends, did not know of his illness, which attacked him only Wednesday morning, the effects of a shrapnel wound in the head being responsible for his death.
War Hero
The late Lieutenant Hitchon was often a visitor in Brantford and here, as elsewhere, he always impressed everyone with his great cheerfulness and adaptability to surroundings, although suffering such a severe disability, incurred while nobly helping to fight for the Empire and the cause of liberty.
Deceased was a member of Harmony lodge, I.O.O.F., of this city and while resident here was an outstanding member of the first degree team.
In addition to the sorrowing wife and little daughter, he leaves to mourn his loss his father and mother, Brantford; two sisters and two brothers, Miss Edith, Brantford; Mrs. H.J. Fuller, Des Moines, Iowa; Arnold G. Hitchon, Brantford, and Lawrence, Pittsburgh. The funeral will take place at Brantford on Sunday afternoon.
BX March 12, 1928
Many Hundreds Paid a Disserved Tribute – Funeral of the Late Wilton W. Hitchon was Most Impressive – Large Turnout of Military Men to Honor a War Hero
With impressive solemnity, and the tribute of hundreds of former comrades, militia men and veterans who followed the cortege to the church and to the grave, the remains of Lieutenant Wilton Wallace Hitchon, a Brantford son who gave his sight as part of a gallant contribution in the World War, were laid to rest in Farringdon cemetery yesterday afternoon. Brantford militia units, Dufferin Rifles, 10th Brant Dragoons, Machine Gunners and 54th Battery, were represented by detachments of officers and men, and from Toronto came fellow officers who served with Lieut. Hitchon in the 204th and 54th Overseas Battalions during the war. The Toronto officers were headed by Lieutenant Colonel W.H. Price, attorney general in the Ferguson cabinet, and included the following honorary pallbearers: Lieutenant Colonel Price, Colonel E.G. Switzer and Sergeant W.S. Dalby of the 204th Battalion, the unit with which Lieutenant Hitchon served.
In addition, Major McMaster MC, Captain W.A. Orr MC, Captain H. Gee MC, Captain W. Dunlop MC, Lieutenant M.W. Duthie, Lieutenant Paul Lange, Captain Joseph Lawson, Major J.A. Gilpin, Captain C.A. Scott, Major A.D. Watts, Captain Gordon Dingle, Lieutenant Charles Reid, Captain Arthur Welsh, Major G.W. Keith, Captain F. Francis, Lieutenant D.M. Sykes, Sergeant William Lee, Sergeant Beat, Corporal Saint, Corporal Walter Huff, and P.H. Parafarey. Harry Sutherland and A.G. Veits, of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, one of the first Canadians blinded in the war, were also with the Toronto officers. Other officers included Captain H. Donald, 48th Highlanders and Captain W.W. Davidson, Canadian Field Artillery.
The acting pallbearers, veterans from the local militia units were: Lieutenant Colonel S.R. Wallace, Lieutenant J.T. Wallace, Major W.J. Oxtaby, Captain J.J. Hurley, Captain N.F. Macdonald, and Capt. C.C. Slemin.
Representatives present from the Massey-Harris Company, Toronto, included Thomas Bradshaw, general manager, George Valentine, assistant general manager, Charles Wisner, S.B. Chadsey, William Maglavery, Irving Findlay, Bamber Hannigan, and a large representation form the office staff. Among other Torontonians were Archibald D. Leitch, assistant manager of the Standard Bank, and T.J. Jackson.
The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Dr. Langton, pastor of the First Baptist church, assisted by Rev. H.L. Roberts, pastor of Colborne Street United church, a private service at the home of Lieut. Hitchon’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. C.B. Hitchon, 4 Roberts Avenue, being followed by a public service at the First Baptist church at 2 o’clock.
The funeral was one of the largest witnessed in this city since the war and many were unable to get into the church, which was early filled. As the procession approached the church, some 50 veterans from the Canadian Legion, under Major Edmund Sweet, lined the left, while former members of the 204th Battalion lined the right side of the approach to the entrance, standing at attention as the casket was borne past and up the aisles to rest on its bier, amid the high banked floral offerings, mute evidence of the high esteem and honor which was universally accorded Lieut. Hitchon by all who knew him. During the church service, a sol, “Over the Stars There is Rest” was sung by Lieutenant G.E.F. Sweet, and tributes to the sterling character, true courage and undaunted optimism of Lieut. Hitchon were paid by Rev. Dr. Langton in his address and by Rev. Mr. Roberts who offered prayer. Rev. Dr. Langton remarked upon the frequency with which death had in recent weeks taken from Brantford, as in the present instance, men who it did not seem could be spared. The departure of Wilton Hitchon was the departure of a real gentleman, outstanding son, husband, father and citizen. In his passing, death had taken not only a sterling gentleman, but also a noble soldier. Wilton Hitchon was a man of great heart and of great courage, but as kindly and gentle as a little child. He had been profoundly optimistic, courageous and heroic. These qualities of character persisted with him to the end of his career, though wounded in limb and with blinded sight he had suffered much. He showed always a cheerful, optimistic and courageous viewpoint of life. “Thank God for such a man,” Rev. Dr. Langton. “True, he was a great soldier, but his most sterling characteristic was that he was a true Christian.” “A man who is a Christian soldier and a Christian gentleman has ended his sphere in this scene called Time.” In comfort to the bereaved, he said, “Hold fast in your faith in God. Thank God that the great consolation has come.” “The work is done. As far as Wilton Hitchon is concerned, it is the completion of God’s purpose.”
The service over, a long procession followed the funeral carriage through West Brantford to Farringdon where, on the hill’s summit, the remains of the soldier were lowered to their last resting place in the midst of a group of silent mourners, the silence disturbed only by the solemn words of the burial service uttered by Rev. Dr. Langton, and a prayer by Rev. Mr. Roberts. The last post, sounded by Buglers John Frost and W. Cleeves, concluded the solemn ceremony.
The floral tributes included wreaths from the 204th, 54th Battalion associations, Brantford military units, Harmony Lodge, I.O.O.F., also a personal token from Colonel Price.
