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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Samuel Lewis Honey

In memory of:

Lieutenant Samuel Lewis Honey

September 30, 1918

Military Service


Service Number:

402174

Age:

24

Force:

Army

Unit:

Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment)

Division:

78th Battalion

Citation(s):

An extract from the London Gazette, No. 31108, dated January 3, 1919, records the following:
For most conspicuous bravery during the Bourlon Wood operations, 27th September to 2nd October, 1918. On 27th September, when his company commander and all other officers of his company had become casualties, Lt. Honey took command and skilfully reorganised under very severe fire. He continued the advance with great dash and gained the objective. Then finding that his company was suffering casualties from enfilade machine-gun fire he located the machine-gun nest and rushed it single-handed, capturing the guns and ten prisoners. Subsequently he repelled four enemy counter-attacks and after dark again went out alone, and having located an enemy post, led a party which captured the post and three guns. On the 29th September he led his company against a strong enemy position with great skill and daring and continued in the succeeding days of the battle to display the same high example of valour and self-sacrifice. He died of wounds received during the last day of the attack by his battalion.

Honours and Awards:

Victoria Cross

Distinguished Conduct Medal

Military Medal

Additional Information


Son of the Rev. George E. Honey and Metta B. Honey of Lynden, Ontario.

Commemorated on Page 431 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Samuel Lewis Honey is a recipient of the Victoria Cross.
Complete list of Canadian Victoria Cross Recipients

Burial Information


Cemetery:
Grave Reference:

C. 36.

Location:

Queant is a village 19 kilometres south-east of Arras. The Cemetery is on the western outskirts of the village on the west side of the road to Riencourt-les-Cagnicourt.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

Send us your images

  • Memorial– New location of the memorial plaque in Mount Forest . Further remembrance at https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/5934518 and https://astreetnearyou.org/person/316100/Lieutenant-Samuel-Lewis-Honey
  • Photo of SAMUEL LEWIS HONEY– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– Submitted for the project, Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– In memory of the men and women of London, Ontario (and area) who went to war and did not come home. Remembered on the pages of the World War One issues of the London Advertiser. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Newspaper clipping– From the London Free Press January 1919. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
  • Medals– Medals awarded to Samuel L. Honey, on display at the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa.  Left to right: Victoria Cross, Distinguished Conduct Medal, Military Medal, British War Medal, and Victory Medal.  (Image taken by Gregory J. Barker of Barrie, Ontario, in 2022.)
  • Honour roll– Memorial plaque in front of the United Kingdom High Commission in Ottawa to commemorate Canadians who have been awarded the Victoria Cross.
  • Photo of SAMUEL LEWIS HONEY– Samuel Lewis Honey
  • Group Photo– Sgt Honey, on the right, with fellow SNCOs of the 34th Battalion CEF. Taken at Bramshott Camp, circa late 1915 or early 1916. Lt Honey was subsequently drafted from the 34th Battalion to the 78th Battalion.
  • Attestation Paper (front)
  • Attestation Paper (back)
  • Biographical Information
  • War Diary– Extract from 78th Battalion War Diary for Septemper 1918
  • Photograph– Sergeant Honey, D.C.M., M.M.
  • Award Citation– Personal Information Sheet
  • Roll of Honour– "This Roll of Honour has been prepared as a permanent tribute to those men of the teaching profession in Ontario, who enlisted in connection with the Great War."  Source:  The Roll of Honour of the Ontario Teachers Who Served in the Great War 1914-1918 (The Ryerson Press: Toronto, 1922).   The 1914-1918 Roll of Service for Ontario Teachers contains 851 names.  101 died as a result of their military service.  The information on this Honour Roll may differ from other sources as it was compiled by the Department of Education in Toronto, Ontario, from "...varied and numerous sources, that mistakes are inevitable."
  • Journal– Ceremony in Canterbury Cathedral June 23, 1917 when the Regimental Colours of the 78th Battalion Canadian Infantry were deposited in the Canterbury Cathedral June 23, 1917.
From the war diary.
  • Plaque– Archaeological and Historic Sites Board of Ontario Plaque in front of Westcott United Church
10 Centre Street 
Conn, Ontario N0G 1N0


LIEUT. S. LEWIS HONEY, V.C., D.C.M., M.M.
1894-1918

Born at Conn, Honey enlisted in January, 1915 with the 34th
Battalion C.E.F. and served in France with the 78th Battalion.
During a Canadian attack in September, 1918, in the Bourlon
Wood area, he reorganized his unit under severe fire, and
rushed a machine-gun post single-handed, capturing the guns
and ten prisoners. Later he repelled four enemy counter-
attacks and led a party which took another post and three guns.
On September 29 he led his company against a strong enemy
position and was mortally wounded on the last day of the
attack. For his conspicuous bravery, Lieutenant Honey was
posthumously awarded the British Empire's highest decoration
for military valour, the Victoria Cross.
  • Letter– Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me.
  • Letter– Submitted for the project, Operation: Picture Me
  • Memorial Plaque– Lieutenant Honey's name was listed on the Memorial Plaque at London Normal School. The Memorial is now located at Western University in the Faculty of Education.
  • Cenotaph– Barrie Military Park, Canadian Victoria Cross Recipients, Cenotaph
  • Memorial– The Cenotaph at Memorial Park in St. Catharines, Ontario, was dedicated on August 7th, 1927 by the Prince of Wales (future King Edward VIII), and unveiled by Brigadier General W. B. M. King, C.M.G., D.S.O.  The names of St. Catharines men who died as a result of their service during World War I are listed on two bronze tablets located at City Hall.
  • Gravemarker

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