George Cann was
born in 1810 (approx.)
at Willisden, Middlesex, England.
Cann joins the
Royal Sappers and Miners and obviously dedicates himself to
being a Career Soldier.
By 1854, Cann has
been promoted to Corporal and is sent to the Seat of War at the
Crimea with the 7th Company of Sappers and Miners.
|
"Early in
the morning a corporal and five sappers were sent to
the Inkermann light-house battery on the extreme right
of the French position, to open embrasures and fit the
work to share in the bombardment. It was manned at the
time by British Artillerymen, and the sappers were
despatched to the battery at the instance of the
adjutant of the siege-train. Two embrasures only were
cut through, when the eager gunners opened fire on the
enemy. So weak an armament brought upon it a
crushing cannonade, which effected considerer able
mischief before the Russian fire could be drawn off to
other batteries. Corporal Ramsay - "a valuable
man" - "one of the best corporals at the
right attack, and a most efficient sapper" - was
killed by a round shot, which made a trough in his
chest and tore out his heart. Of this non-commissioned
officer Lieutenant-Colonel Tylden thus wrote:
"This morning corporal Ramsay was killed while at
his duty in charge of a detachment opining embrasures
of the battery opposite to the light-house at
Inkerman: and such is the character this
non-commissioned officer bore, and such the very high
opinion entertained of his merits and services since
he joined the siege, that I am inclined to submit to
the Major-General commanding Royal Engineers, that
some recognition of his merits be recorded in corps
orders". Impressed with the justice of this
suggestion, Lord Raglan gave directions that his name
and deeds be recorded at Chatham. Private William
Taylor was severely wounded in the right hand. Two
casualties out of this weak brigade induced the
artillery adjutant to relinquish the employment of the
men by day in so fatal a spot. At night the work was
completed by four sappers under the foremanship of Corporal George Cann."
-- History
of the Royal Sappers and Miners :
from the formation
of the corps in March 1772
to the date when its
designation was changed
to that of Royal Engineers in
October 1856.
Pgs, 268 -269
|
|
"Before
daylight on the 21st, the furthest screen in the
Russian series, about fourteen yards in front of the
captured pits, were taken by a detachment of 100
men from the guard of the trenches, under an adjutant,
accompanied by a small band of twelve volunteers as a
working party consisting of four men of the 19th
Regiment, four of the 90th , and three of the sappers,
under the direction of Corporal George Cann of the 7th
Company. The covering party was directed not to fire
but to use the bayonet. All having mustered on the open,
the adjutant gave the word to advance. On went the stormers at the charge, and jumping into the screen,
which fortunately had been vacated, they took
possession of it unassailed by a single shot. Quietly
the destroying party set to work, and before returning
to the trenches, completely uprooted the ambuscade. The parapet had been formed of discarded casks,
crested with large sand-bags made of old sails,
specimens of which were brought away by the men to
show the expedients adopted for Russian
protection"
-- History
of the Royal Sappers and Miners :
from the formation
of the corps in March 1772
to the date when its
designation was changed
to that of Royal Engineers in
October 1856.
Pg. 287
|
"Other
non-commissioned officers were detached to the
hospital-stations on the Bosphorous as overseers. Serjeant
Barnard was at Pera, Serjeant Lynn at Kulalee and Corporal Cann
at Ismid. Corporal Cann continued at Ismid till
May, 1856, when the troops were withdrawn.
"He
had for the last few months sole charge and direction
of the various works required at that station; and
fulfilled that charge in a most satisfactory
manner".
Such was the report of
Major E.C.A.
Gordon, of the engineers."
-- History
of the Royal Sappers and Miners :
from the formation
of the corps in March 1772
to the date when its
designation was changed
to that of Royal Engineers in
October 1856.
Pg. 383
|
Promoted to Acting Serjeant-Major, Cann
travels to British Columbia on board the Thames City, with the
bulk of the Columbia Detachment.
| As a Serjeant
Major, Cann's Regimental Pay per Diem would have been 3s. 10 1/2d. plus Working Pay per
Diem 3s. to 5s. |
The newspaper which was written on board
wrote a parody of a Society page report of the costume ball that
was held on the troop deck on the 11th of November, 1858.
|
Fashionable
Intelligence
"On Thursday
evening last, a grand ball was given in the "City", which was
very numerously attended. Amongst the company we noticed the
General Commanding-in-Chief, with his two Aides-de-camp, Sir George Can't the Inspector of Infantry and lady..."
-- 13th
November, 1858, from
The Emigrant Soldier's Gazette and Cape
Horn Chronicle |
As to voyage
continued, entertainments became more important for the bored
crew and passengers. Cann steps onto the stage one evening.
|
"The rapturous
encore accorded to Serjeant-Major Cann on his first appearance
needs no eulogium from us. But to those who were denied the
pleasure of hearing him we have but to say that our worthy S.M.
was in full tune, that his black eye was all perfection, and
that the lovely episode in the life of a broom-seller was most
musically narrated to a pleased and gratified audience."
-- 18th December,
1858, from
The Emigrant Soldier's Gazette and Cape Horn
Chronicle |
Cann is also included in the
Epic poem/song written by Second Corporal Sinnet.
"I'll sing ye lads a Falkland sang,
Wi' thumpin' chorus loud and lang,
I'll tell ye o' the gleesom' thrang,
"At Huthlicaut's braw weddin' O.
The first that cam' was Geordie Cann . . ."
--
excerpt from "Huthlicaut's Wedding",
sung by Corporal Sinnett at
a theatrical entertainment on 4th March, 1859, on board the
Thames City |
After landing in BC, the RE go to work on
their Duties. As the Detachment surveyors are the first to see
the Lands to be later sold at Auction, Cann takes some of his
Pay and purchases land.
|
GR-1040
BRITISH COLUMBIA. DEPT. OF LANDS AND WORKS.
Originals, 1859, 0.5 cm
Sale book of rural lands, October 5th, 1859, Records of lands
sold to Sgt. Wm. McColl and Sgt. Major George Cann of the RoyalEngineersand
a Capt. MacLean, Charles Good and Governor James Douglas (Manson
Island lands).
BC Archives |
The RE begin the work of making
the Cariboo road in 1862 and Cann is one of the section
commanders.
|
Royal Engineers Camp
Yale 12th June 1862
To: Captain Luard
Royal Engineers
Sir,
I require as early as possible for the Yale Waggon Road -
- 1000 Feet Fuze
- 6 Crow Bars, "small", similar to those in Carpenter's
Chest
We are also out of Rum. Captain Grant told me before he left
for Lillooet that he had send by express for Rum which has not yet arrived. I borrowed 3 Gallons from a Merchant at Yale.
The water is raising very fast. I am afraid we shall have to
shift Camp tomorrow as it is within a foot of the Tents -
I have the Honer
To be Sir
Your obd't Servant
George Cann
Act'g Serj't Major
Royal Engineers
|
|
Royal Engineers Camp
Yale 23rd June 1862
To, Captain Luard
Royal Engineers
Sir,
Required for the Yale Works: 20 Barrels of Powder and 200 lbs.
6" Spikes and 100 lbs. 5" do. Likewise, 50 lbs
3" Nails
I am told that 8 more men is at Emery's Bar I have just sent the
Train for their Baggage. I have commenced this morning the
other side of the Bluff. The Detachment is all very
Steady. I have no complaints whatever to mention.
I have a small Magazine that I can place 40 Barrels of Powder in
safety. At present I have Powder enough to last 8 or 10 days
but I don't like to be short. The Fuze come just in time as I
was out.
George Cann
Acting Srjt. Major, RE
|
|
Governor Douglas, in a letter to the Secretary of States for the
Colonies in 1863, writes:
"The arduous part of this undertaking--excavating the mountain near Yale by Royal Engineers under
Sergeant-Major George Cann, and it has been completed in a manner
highly creditable to themselves and to the officers who directed the
operation."
|
According to Woodward:
Acting Serjeant Major Cann and his wife returned to England, November
1863.
The
1881 British census reports:
| George CANN |
|
Age: |
71 |
|
Birth Year: |
1810 (approx.) |
|
Birth Place: |
Willisden, Middlesex, England |
|
Occupation: |
"Superannuated Engineer H.M.P." |
|
Marital Status: |
Widowed |
|
Dwelling: |
Jeffrey St., Gillingham, Kent, England |
|
Also resident: |
Daughter Ann Cann, 33, unmarried, housekeeper
Grandson George Gray, 19, Apprentice boilermaker |
|
