Had you strolled along Ramsgate sands at an early - a very early hour on Saturday morning, your attention would have been drawn to the antics of two soldiers with Canada emblazoned upon their epaulettes. You would have seen a wiry Sergt.-Major enjoying an early morning game of leap-frog with a small, sturdy trumpeter of tender years, the two enjoying themselves like children in the keen morning air down by the rolling sea. The smaller figure was Rueben Ginsberg, the youngest soldier serving with H.M. Forces, and just now a wounded convalescent - aged just 13! The other was Reubens father, Sergt.-Major George Ginsberg, also of H.M. Canadian Forces. The interesting couple spent last week-end at Ramsgate, and their history is unique. The two soldiers are both attached to the 1st Battery of the Canadian Field Artillery, the younger being a trumpeter and the mascot of the battery.
Sixteen months ago Rueben was a promising schoolboy of Montreal, a bright inteligent lad keen on his studies, and full of life and good spirits. But that was sixteen months ago, and the eager student has seen something of life since then - much more than he could have learnt from books, no matter how closely he studied them.
His father, the Sergt. - Major, is an old soldier and has seen service in Eygypt, Africa and in the Soudan. When war broke out he at once joined the first Canadian contingent. The loyal and patriotic instincts of the father were shared by the son, who yearned to come forward - young as he was - and to do his duty with the rest. As preparations went forward for the first contingent to leave, the seeds of an idea began to form themselves in the childs mind, and although Reuben's parents knew nothing about it, he was already making his plans. He was determined that his father should not go to England without him, for he is a devoted son. "I will never leave my Dad" he used to say again and again to his schoolfellows, and they would laugh at him, little dreaming how very much in earnest he was. Reuben carefully made his plans, and when the time came for his father's battery to leave for England he withdrew his savings from the Penny Bank - "To buy a present for my Dad," he informed his teacher.
With these few dollars he was enabled to speed off to Halifax. He managed to find the transport on which his father's battery was to cross the ocean and promptly stowed himself away in the hold.
His heart was full of joy as the big ship swung out from Halifax. "I am with my Dad after all" thought to himself. When well down the stream he came forth and made himself known to his astonished parent. The Sergt. - Major was just thinking of his son left as he imagined far away in Montreal, when the startling apparation came before him. "Hello Dad !" said the child, gazing at his parent joyously out of big brown eyes, "My this is a big ship !" His father was inclined to send him back to school by the next ship, but Reuben begged and pleaded so hard that the C.O. gave way and then and there Reuben was listed on board as a trumpeter and mascot, and as a soldier of the king.
On Salisbury Plain it was soon discovered that Reuben was an expert horseman - could ride anyhow and anything and that he was a good motor-cyclist. He went through the course of training in England with energy and will. "I took guard like any soldier" he says proudly, "and why shouldn't I ? I am a soldier." The C.O. however had no inytention of allowing Reuben to accompany the battery to Flanders, and that was the next "hard nut" that Reuben had to crack.
"I have not come to england to stick on Salisbury Plain" he pleaded. "I am not a coward, and I want to go with the boys." When Lord Kitchener came to review the troops previous to their departure, the case was brought before his notice. Kitchener remembered Sergt. - Major Ginsberg, for he is an accomplished linguist and acted as interpreter for Kitchener in Egypt. They conversed together in Arabic about the boy's future, and at last Reuben was brought before the famous field marshal. The usual catechism was gone through, and the result of the conversation was that Reuben went to the front with the rest of the battery.
In the cold and the mud and the blood of Flanders, the lad learnt what a soldiers life really meant. He braved it and roughed it with the best of the gallant Canadian lads, and his bright courage and endurance made him the pet of the battery. He made great friends with the Ghurkas, and he speaks of them with shining eyes as his very best"friends in need" In various parts of the firing line the lad did his duty, lying for many a night in the open.
"He wanted to be a soldier" said his father, and he had to put up with a soldier's life with the rest of us. This is an experience he will never forget"
Three times the lad's horse was shot from under him, but he escaped unscathed until a terrific bombardment at Ypres, when he was struck by shrapnel while on his motor-cycle. He was brought to England - a wounded soldier, aged a little more than twelve years ! But Reuben didn't mind. "I have fought and shed my blood for my country"
Reuben Ginsberg -