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Dyer, Hugh Marshall, of Minnedosa, Manitoba, late Chairman of Board of Directors, Manitoba Agricultural College. Medals/Honours: Mentioned in Dispatches (MID) (five times), Distinguished Service Order (DSO) & Bar, Companion of the Most Distinguished Order St Michael and St George (CMG), Companion of the Order of the Bath (KCB). Military Service: Brigadier-General, 7th Division, Attestation Papers. Diary Reference: 3:8 July 1916. “[F. W.] Crawford and I went down to the Scottish lines this morning – he to visit Col. [H. M.] Dyer and I to see Allan Bell,” 3:8 Jul ’16.
Additional Biographical Information:
Brigadier-General Hugh Marshall Dyer was the father of Lieutenant Wilfred Harry Dyer and was a brother of Major William Alexander Dyer.
For a detailed biography, see Hugh Marshall Dyer, Brigadier-General.
For a shorter biography, see the Manitoba Historical Society Hugh Marshall Dyer (1861-1938).
See also Every Stone a Story: Manitoba's Buried History.
1915
Word has just been received from Major and Mrs. Dyer that he has so far recovered from his serious wound that he is able to be about again, but one lung is not entirely well.
Minnedosa Tribune, 24 June 1915, Local News, 3.
1916
A Singular Instance of Bravery. [n.p.] Scarcely had we heard of St. Julien and Festubert and the terrific onslaught of the Germans on our Canadian front on May 8th than honourable mention was made in the press of distinguished services of Major Dyer, late chairman of our Board of Directors. [n.p.] During a critical engagement a shell had broken the field telephone connection of the 45th, and it became necessary for someone to cross the 500 yards of bare and fire swept zone, with the command to retreat, when reinforcements failed to appear. Major Dyer and an adjutant started on the mission that alone would save the regiment. About half way across the machine guns caught them. The major, though wounded twice in the arm, was able to carry the adjutant to cover, and then proceeded with his command, arriving at the trenches exhausted, but in time to save the regiment from destruction. [n.p.] It was with such yeomen of the soil that Cromwell in the last battle on English soil (Sedgemoor) established the supremacy of infantry in modern warfare, and the democracy that is based on bucolic courage and the rights of the individual.
University of Manitoba, Archives and Special Collections, M.A.C. Gazette, v. X, no. 1 (Nov 1916), 19.
1917
Late Chairman of Board of Directors, Brig.-General H. M. Dyer, 7th Division.
University of Manitoba, Archives and Special Collections, Managra, v. XI, No. 1 (Nov 1917), 6.
1919
Return of Brigadier-General Dyer
On Tuesday there was a record crowd gathered at the C.P.R. station to great Brigadier-General Dyer on his return to town after over four year’s service with the forces fighting against the Huns.
The train arrived on time and as the general and Mrs. Dyer were seen at the car door a great cheer went up. The mayor and councillors were there to bid him welcome and the crush was so great that they could hardly get near him, but finally managed to do so and to greet him.
Then there was the handshaking, all wishing to do so, and pleasure beamed from every face.
The school children were there in full force occupying every point of vantage to get a glimpse of Minnedosa’s popular general.
Luncheon was had in the Tremont hotel and afterwards the general and wife were taken to their home, some 2 miles from town, by Councillor Philps and Mr. Bridgeman by auto.
Arrangements are being made for a formal reception to be tendered the general at an early date. The Minnedosa Tribune, 17 April 1919, p. 3.
Reception to General Dyer
On Thursday evening last the citizens of Minnedosa and the residents of Minto and Odanah municipalities, gave a rousing reception to Brig. Gen. Hugh M. Dyer, C.R.C., M.G. D.S.O., and presented him with a handsome cabinet of silver in recognition of the great service he had rendered in the war, and the esteem in which he is held here.
Early in the evening he was escorted from his home, about two and a half miles out, to the town by a great procession of automobiles. After parading the principal streets headed by the Brandon military band, the whole company, consisting of over 1,000 persons, assembled in the armory. Flags and banners decorated every building along the main street, and the armory was tastefully decorated with flags and bunting. A guard of honor consisting of returned soldiers was drawn up to receive him at the armory, in which he was escorted by Mayor Brown, Reeves Shuttleworth and Cameron and H. F. Maulson, president of our Community club. His appearance was greeted with enthusiastic cheers. After he had ascended the platform an address of welcome was read by G. L. Stone and the presentation was made by Mesdames Andrew and Gray. The general made a very suitable reply, basing his remarks on three words from the address. “Friends, Home, Love” and in feeling terms, spoke of the loyal friendship of the boys in the trenches, their love and longing for home, and their love and devotion to their country, their king and their loved ones.
The ceremony was followed by a buffet luncheon during which the band played. Old friends crowded around General Dyer and Mrs. Dyer to greet them and to welcome them back to their home town. After the reception a dance was held in the armory which was immensely enjoyed. The Minnedosa Tribune, 8 May 1919, p. 2.
Local News. Brigadier-General Dyer went to Winnipeg yesterday to attend a reunion of the 5th battalion at the Royal Alexandra hotel. The Minnedosa Tribune, 8 May 1919, p. 3.