Lorne W. R. Mulloy

Lorne Winfield Redmond Mulloy (April 14, 1879 – February 21, 1932) was a Canadian soldier, hero of the Boer War, professor at the Royal Military College of Canada, and prominent lawyer. He was blinded in both eyes at the Battle of Witpoort and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

Early life Lorne Winfield Redmond Mulloy was born on a farm located at Lot 21, Concession 7 in Mountain Township, Dundas. The farm, which had been owned by the Mulloys since 1864, was not far from the villages of Winchester and Chesterville. His father, George Mulloy (1815–1888), was born in Ireland and immigrated to Dundas County. His mother, Mary Redmond (1835–1917), was born in Matilda, Dundas County.

Many secondary sources state his birth date as April 14, 1879. However, records from his early life suggest that his birth year was 1876, including the 1881, 1891, and 1901 Censuses of Canada. His enlistment record, dated December 28, 1899, states his age as 24 years (born 1875). A birth record exists for a child of George Mulloy and Mary Redmond named Redmond Laura Mulloy, female, born April 17, 1876.

Mulloy's mother came from a military family. Her father, Marcus Redmond (1797–1889), had served with the 1st Regiment of Dundas during the War of 1812 and at Prescott during the Rebellions of 1837–1838. Her paternal grandfather, Nicholas Redmond (1760-), had fought with the Prince of Wales' American Regiment in the American Revolution, while her maternal grandfather, Johannes Ault (1765-1851), had served with the King's Royal Regiment of New York. Mulloy proved to be an outstanding student, being president of his year and critic for the Alma Mater Society. With support from the Canadian Patriotic Fund, Mulloy attended Balliol College, Oxford, graduating with distinction in 1910 with a Masters in Political Economy.

In the 1910s, Mulloy worked hard to promote stronger ties between Britain and Canada, becoming an accomplished speaker and debater. When he returned to Canada, he was appointed a professor of Military History and Strategy at the Royal Military College of Canada. He passed his supplementary exams in September 1921 with honours. He passed his second year exams the following spring, also with honours. He passed his final exams with honours the following year and completed his studies. He was called to the bar on November 22, 1923 and was enrolled as both a barrister-at-law and a solicitor. His law office was located in the west wing of his home in Iroquois. It was an Independent weekly newspaper. Its first edition was published on June 8, 1922.

He had a strong interest in community sports. He helped to form the Iroquois Arena Company, which built the village arena. He played a part in the establishment of the St. Lawrence Box Lacross League (1931) and the Iroquois Driving Club. The trophy engraving reads:

Center|Col. Lorne Winfield Mulloy D.M.C., B.A."

Personal life On March 4, 1911, Lorne Mulloy married Jean Munro, a well-known soprano who had studied at the Boston Conservatory of Music. Jean Munro would be the author of various patriotic marches and tunes during the First World War; including the Trooper Mulloy March and Johnnie Canuck's the Boy.

In September 1912, he purchased a bungalow and fishing lodge in Iroquois, Ontario as a summer home for him and his wife.

Around 1921 or 1922, Mulloy purchased a property on Iroquois Point, which became the Mulloy estate, otherwise known as "The Maples." It consisted of about 7 acres of land on the banks of the St. Lawrence River, located across the canal and just west of the village. Mulloy practiced law from the west wing of this property. He was originally buried on the property as well. The house was demolished during the St. Lawrence Seaway and Power Project in 1958. The following afternoon, he went upstairs to bed and suffered a heart attack that lasted several hours. He died just before 11:30 pm on February 21, 1932.

His funeral was held three days later on February 24. Local schools and businesses were closed for the event, and it was attended by about 2,000 people. The procession left his home, The Maples, at 2:30 pm. The service took place at the Iroquois United Church, after which the procession proceeded to the Iroquois Point Cemetery. He was given full military honours under the direction of the 4th Hussars, the regiment that Mulloy had first enlisted with in 1899. The lengthy cortege was led by the hearse carrying Mulloy's casket, which was draped with the Union Jack and topped with the stetson that he had worn during the Boer War. The hearse was followed by a lone cavalry mount with the boots reversed in the stirrups. According to Jack Schecter, "there were at least seventy-five veterans of the South African and the First World War at the funeral, including Major G.H. Collins, who had served with Mulloy 30 years earlier at the fateful Battle of Witpoort."

Following the funeral, Mulloy's remains were placed in the vault at Iroquois Point. In late April, about two months after his death, it was announced that, with permission from the Ontario Government, one acre of the Mulloy estate in Iroquois would be designated as a park and private burial ground. Mulloy's body was buried in the new Lorne Mulloy Memorial Cemetery, which was located at the top of a hill that overlooked the St. Lawrence River. His wife Jean, who died in 1934, was buried next to him.

The Mulloys' gravesite remained unmarked for several years. In September 1936, around the time that the estate was sold, newspapers across Ontario reported about the lack of headstone and described the gravesite as "overgrown with weeds." By August 1937, it was reported that a simple marker had recently been erected. It read only: "Hon. Col. L. W. Mulloy." There was no marker for his wife, nor was there any mention of Mulloy's service. Some time later, a military-style headstone was erected with the inscription: "Hon. Lt.-Col. Lorne W. R. Mulloy, CDM, 146th Battalion, CEF, died Feb. 22, 1932, and his wife Jean Munro Mulloy." The headstone and gravesite were maintained by the veterans of Iroquois until the St. Lawrence Seaway Project in the 1950s.

Because the cemetery was located within the area that would be flooded for the Seaway Project, it needed to be moved. The Ontario Hydro-Electric Power Commission was responsible for relocating grave markers (and remains, if requested) that were in the flood area. Mahlon W. Beach and his wife Lillian, who were both close friends of the Mulloys, provided space in their plot at the Iroquois United Church Cemetery (part of the Iroquois Point Cemetery) for Lorne and Jean to be reburied. The Mulloys' names were inscribed on the back of the Beach family headstone.