Gazette 21 Oct 2000

John Bleakley: He Blew His Own Trumpet
From "The makers of Canada New series - The Pioneers of old Ontario"
by W.L. Smith, Toronto.

Peter Spiers of Mayfield writes of a story about his maternal Grandfather John Bleakley. John was with Sir John Moore at Corunna and with Wellington at Salamanca. Like a number of old Peninsular and Waterloo verans, Bleakley came to Canada when his fighting days were over. He was one of the first settlers in Chingacousy, locating on Lot seven on the 5th concession.
"When my grandfather settled here", Mr Spires recalls, "it was a common thing for settlers to get lost in the bush, and to guide the lost ones in finding there way out of the forest, my grandfather was often asked to sound a call on the trumpet he had carried with the Royal Artillery in Spain. At a later date he used his trumpet for another purpose. When taking a load of chickens, butter and garden produce to Toronto, he would carry his trumpet along and with this he would sound the "assemble" on nearing the old fort where a British Garrison was then maintained. The soldiers, thinking that it was their own trumpeter, would rush to the parade ground. Catching sight of the wagon they would shout: 'Oh, it is out old friend Jack!' and the load of provisions was soon disposed of to them."