<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\t\t\tFrom Brian Milthorpe, a paper written at the University of \tNorthern BC<\/p>\n\n\n\n
November 11, Remembrance Day. How many of us have \t\tstood and watched as old men, many now infirm or confined to \t\twheelchairs place wreaths to “Fallen Comrades” at the local cenotaph and \t\tstand to attention while the “Last Post” sounds? What are their \t\tthoughts? Are they being transported back in time by the melancholy \t\tnotes of the bugle to a dusty field in sun baked Italy or are they now \t\tas their number dwindle, remembering a grave side service amid the mud \t\tof Flanders. What was it that prompted them to take up arms against a \t\tfoe with whom they had no personal quarrel, which took them from their \t\tfamilies and their communities and caused them to be “buried in a corner \t\tof some foreign soil?”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many of these questions are impossible to answer, \t\tbeing locked away in private memories. Individual motives cannot be \t\tfathomed as there are as many reasons for doing something as there are \t\tmen. Although there are twenty-two names on the World War II portion of \t\tthe Quesnel cenotaph, the World War One section contains the names of \t\tsixty-six “men of the Cariboo whose name liveth for ever more.” During \t\tthe First World War, over 300 men from the Cariboo District of Central \t\tBritish Columbia volunteered for active service. What can be examined \t\thowever is who these men were and what led them to suffer nearly one \t\tquarter of their number to be killed in action, the numbers of men \t\tkilled in relationship to those who volunteered is quite out of \t\tproportion to the national average. Between August 1914 and January \t\t1919, the Canadian Expeditionary Forces totalled 630,000 strong. Of \t\tthese 59,500 were either killed in action, died of wounds or disease or \t\twere reported missing in action. This is roughly one death in ten that \t\tis, by any standards, a terrible price to pay. The fatality ratio for \t\tthe men from the Cariboo was almost one in five, double the national \t\taverage. This essay will endeavour to determine who these men were who \t\tvolunteered for active service and the reasons for their \t\tdisproportionally high casualty rate. It is not meant to be a history of \t\tCanada in World War One but will unavoidably trace the movements and \t\tactions of some units to which the men from this region were attached.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 1913, the Canadian economy was in the midst of a \t\tdepression. In central British Columbia however, the region was \t\tundergoing a minor land boom. With the building of the Grand Trunk \t\tPacific Railway to Prince Rupert, the Pacific Great Eastern Railway was \t\thurriedly being constructed to connect with it in Fort George. Land \t\tprices were on the rise and there was much speculation as to where the \t\tnew track was to be laid. Although the once prosperous gold mining towns \t\tof Barkerville, Stanley and Van Winkle were by now mere shadows of their \t\tformer glory, they still maintained active hydraulic and hard rock \t\toperations. The townsite of Quesnel was an active community supporting \t\tnumerous sports teams, a Masonic Lodge, movie theatre, newspaper and a \t\tlocal area population of approximately 850 people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many area residents were involved in multiple \t\tactivities. Nelson Kenny, for example, a surveyor for Haggon’s & Co., \t\tcaptain of the Quesnel Lacrosse League, a “crack hockeyist” (Cariboo \t\tObserver, 6 Nov. 1915) competed with rink manager and team mate George \t\tBox in billiards tournaments in his spare time. Secretary of the Quesnel \t\tHockey Association and assistant resident engineer Carl Beatty, another \t\tbilliards player, who as a member of the Quesnel Gun Club, also enjoyed \t\ttrap shooting. Sporting activities were far from the only leisure \t\tpastimes engaged in. There was also a lively amateur theatre group that \t\tincluded in its membership Alex Neveu and the ubiquitous George Merry \t\tBox.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Dominion Day Holiday of 1914 had been spent by \t\tCariboo residents oblivious to the ominous events unfolding in Europe \t\tthat would so deeply affect this small community. Chester Boyd had taken \t\tthe time from his position as clerk at the provincial court house to \t\tspend with his widowed mother and siblings at the family owned roadhouse \t\tat Cottonwood. Alex “Scotty” Shand had left his night shift operating a \t\tdonkey engine at the P.G.E. bridge over the Cottonwood River and had \t\tspent a couple of days in town. Irish born James Murphy, pipeman on a \t\thydraulic operation at Stout’s Gulch spent the weekend with his wife and \t\tchildren enjoying the holiday festivities held at their home in \t\tBarkerville.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
News of the assassination of the heir to the \t\tAustro-Hungarian throne by 18 year old Serbian, Gavrilo Prinzip competed \t\tfor space in the July 4, edition of the Cariboo Observer with headlines \t\tdeclaring a successful Dominion Day celebration in Quesnel. One of the \t\tmore successful competitors in the day’s sports events was another \t\tteenager, 15 year old Willie Hilborn with two first place and one second \t\tplace finishes in the “Young Men’s Races, 18 and Under. One month later, \t\ton August 8 the headlines read “WAR IN EUROPE!”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to the Observer, the town was “electrified” \t\tat the news that war had been declared between England and Germany. \t\tSince Canada was part of the British Empire, Sir Wilfred Laurier had \t\tdeclared that “When Britain is at war, Canada is at War.” Canada of \t\tcourse was ill prepared for war, the Cariboo even less so. The Minister \t\tof Militia, Sir Sam Hughes sent out a call for 25,000 volunteers and men \t\tflocked to recruiting depots by the thousands. By September, there were \t\t32,000 men encamped on the banks of the Jacques Cartier River near \t\tQuebec City in the hastily built camp of Valcartier. Men from the \t\tCariboo region were a little slower to respond to the clarion call to \t\tarms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Elsewhere, many who enlisted at the outbreak of the \t\twar were from areas suffering from economic depression or who had been \t\tmembersof local militias. The Cariboo had been enjoying relatively \t\tstrong economic health and there were no militia units in the area. In a \t\tnewspaper editorial, John G. Hutchcroft countered the general attitude \t\tthat “it would be over by Christmas” in an amazing stroke of insight, \t\twriting that “The war is likely to prove a long one, as there is much \t\tbitterness of long standing between the European nations” (Ibid., 8 Aug. \t\t1914). To satisfy the interest in the progress of the war, federal \t\tMember of Parliament John Fraser displayed the latest bulletins from the \t\t“front” in his store window on Quesnel’s Front Street. By the second \t\tweek of August, citizens were seemingly becoming already war-weary and \t\twere complaining that “one of the local merchants has advanced the price \t\tof flour $1.00 per 100 pounds” (“Are War Prices Beginning to Prevail in \t\tQuesnel?” Ibid., 15 Aug. 1914). In a time when “the might of the British \t\tEmpire was gathering towards the shores of Britain to fight her battles \t\tfor the freedom of the world” (Scudmore, 4). The citizens of the Cariboo \t\tseemed strangely complacent. This complacency was about to be \t\tchallenged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On August 29, 1914 “Englishman” had this letter to the \t\teditor of the Cariboo Observer under the heading “Where Does Quesnel \t\tStand?” It appeared that a corner had been turned:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To the editor of the Observer:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sir-not long ago England was roused by \t\t\t\t\t\ta speech from the King the gist of which was “Wake up, \t\t\t\t\t\tEngland . . . ” Where are our leading citizens, to \t\t\t\t\t\tstrike the note of help which a town of our size at any \t\t\t\t\t\trate can offer? Are the people of Quesnel content to sit \t\t\t\t\t\tback and do nothing, when the Empire is engaged in a \t\t\t\t\t\tlife and death struggle? Has the magnitude of this fight \t\t\t\t\t\tnot dawned on our citizens?<\/p>
Faithfully yours, Englishman<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Observer responded in an editorial in its 5 \t\tSeptember edition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The letter by an Englishman in our \t\t\t\t\t\tlast issue created considerable discussion, and has \t\t\t\t\t\tachieved the object for which it was written . . .We \t\t\t\t\t\tknow that there are numbers in our town and district who \t\t\t\t\t\tfeel that we ought to do something for the Empire at \t\t\t\t\t\tthis critical stage, many are ready to go to the front. \t\t\t\t\t\tThat necessity has not yet arisen, but there are other \t\t\t\t\t\tmeans by which we may gratify our desire to be of \t\t\t\t\t\tservice . . . we feel sure that the people of this \t\t\t\t\t\tdistrict will not be backward in extending all the \t\t\t\t\t\tassistance they possibly can, and thus show we are \t\t\t\t\t\tgrateful for all the benefits we have received. (Ibid., \t\t\t\t\t\t5 Sept. 1914)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
As the fall and winter progressed, Quesnel residents \t\thad begun to take positive steps in order to express their loyalty and \t\tsupport for the war effort. A Belgian Relief Fund had been established \t\tand “All young men of the town who have nothing to do in the evenings \t\tand would like to spend a few hours in good wholesome exercises, ” were \t\tinvited “to visit the Quarters of the Quesnel Home Guard, two doors west \t\tof the Rex Theatre, next Wednesday evening at 8 o’clock” (Ibid., 24 Oct. \t\t1914). There were calls for volunteers in the “Legion of Frontiersmen” \t\tbeing formed in Ft. George, Edmonton, Vancouver and Calgary and in a \t\tmounted corps “consisting of nothing but expert riders and crack shots,” \t\tto be “largely recruited in the interior of British Columbia” (Ibid., 3 \t\tOct. 1914).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Several men left town to make their individual \t\tcontributions. British born A.J. Pickup and Captain Geoffrey Watson had \t\tleft for England to accept commissions in their old regiments as soon as \t\tthe war broke out. Sam Scobie had joined the 101st Edmonton Fusiliers \t\tand by September 19 was at Valcartier training with the first \t\tcontingent. Joseph Callanan, only son of Barkerville physician and \t\tConservative M.L.A. for the Cariboo, Dr. Michael Callanan, had enlisted \t\tin the 29th Vancouver Battalion. Henry Stoner, resident engineer P.G.E. \t\tRlwy. left for Fort George, presumably to join the “Legion” and Carl \t\tBeatty had followed young Callanan’s lead and had enlisted in one of the \t\tVancouver battalions. Home Guard training continued throughout the \t\twinter having to move from their quarters next to the Rex Theatre to \t\tCowan’s hardware warehouse due to sub zero temperatures, but the rate of \t\trecruitment remained desultory. The Cariboo Observer of 2 January \t\t1915, reported an ironic statement made by “a local well-known Indian, \t\tupon learning that a number of Ontario natives were likely to go to the \t\tfront to fight for their King expressed a desire to go also. He believed \t\tthat 2,000 Indians would be able to hold down the Germans for one \t\tmonth-give white man a rest . . . ” This statement was made of course \t\tbefore any Canadian troops had even landed in France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was not until May of 1915 that there was any \t\torganized recruitment in the interior of the province. Until now, men \t\twho wished to enlist had to travel either to Vancouver or Victoria as \t\tthere were no military units operating outside the major centres. By May \t\t8, 27 men were awaiting placement as there were no vacancies in the \t\testablished British Columbia battalions. The 54th(Kootenay) Battalion \t\tbased in Nelson was authorized by the Militia Department under the \t\tcommand of Lieut. Col. Mahlon Davis on May 1, and by the 28th, \t\trecruiting officer Lieut. Archer and Sgt. Major. Edwards had arrived in \t\ttown and had signed up 40 successful candidates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They were a varied lot, these men of the Cariboo. \t\tEighteen of them were native born Canadians and another 18 called the \t\tBritish Isles home; there were two Americans, a Dane and a Serbian. \t\tThese were not young men flush with the first glow of patriotism, but \t\tolder seasoned men with an average age of 28, the youngest being 19 and \t\ttwo men of 45. They were by now well aware of the terrible casualties \t\tsustained by their countrymen’s first blooding at Ypres and knew that \t\tthe war was not a glorious adventure. After a lavish farewell dance and \t\tdinner lasting until 4:00am, the newly minted soldiers boarded the B.X. \t\tsteamer and amid cheers of hundreds of well-wishers left for Soda Creek \t\tfollowed by an overland stage trip to the training camp at Vernon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Quesnel contingent remained intact within the 54th \t\tBtn. and became part of “D” Company consisting of 250 men from Kamloops, \t\tRevelstoke, the Similkameen and the Cariboo. In June, Quesnel had to \t\tturn down a challenge from the Fort George Lacrosse League for a series \t\tof games as the entire team was in khaki serge practicing drill in \t\tVernon. After a slow start, the level of recruitment in the Cariboo \t\tbegan to makeup for lost time. Even as “D” Company was announcing its \t\tarrival at the Canadian base in Shorncliffe England in August, another \t\tcall for recruits from the Cariboo was sounded. By mid September, Lieut. \t\tCooke of the Victoria based 67th (Western Scottish, Pioneer) Battalion \t\thad succeeded in obtaining 30 more enlistees. By the time of the \t\tfarewell dance at the Rex Theatre “which was attended by about all the \t\tpeople who are left in town” (Ibid., 25 Sept. 1915), 51 men had taken \t\tthe oath. By the end of the month, this number had grown to 67. During a \t\tspeech to the new members of the 67th upon their departure, Mr. J.L.Hill \t\tstated:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
at in the portion of the Cariboo \t\t\t\t\t\tbetween 150 Mile House and Blackwater, a total of 6 men \t\t\t\t\t\thad enlisted, and if the same proportion had enlisted \t\t\t\t\t\tall over the Dominion, instead of having a few over one \t\t\t\t\t\thundred thousand men under arms Canada would have a \t\t\t\t\t\tmillion a and a half.<\/p>
(id., 9 Oct., 1915)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The editor of the newspaper observed that the number \t\tof recruits that joined after the previous week’s edition pushed the \t\tnumber to “near the 200 mark, and so strong is the feeling of loyalty \t\there that we feel certain half as many more could be secured if the age \t\tlimit was raised a few years.” (Ibid.) Like the earlier enlistees, this \t\tgroup of volunteers “left a variety of occupations, many of which were \t\texceedingly lucrative, to serve their country . . . not a few are miners \t\tand prospectors, and one cleaned up about $50 in one day from a \t\tnewly-staked claim. Of the contingent, which came from the Cariboo, \t\tthere are eighteen who have left ranches . . . while they fight for the \t\tcountry, and ten who have abandoned good mining claims that they might \t\tdo their duty. The Boyd brothers are owners of the 21-mile Cottonwood \t\tHouse, on the Cariboo Road . . . Their personal interests were not \t\tpermitted to come between them and their determination to do their duty. \t\t(Ibid., 6 Nov., 1915) There seemed to be an honour bound obligation to \t\tdo one’s duty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The true horror of the war had not yet been realised. \t\tIt was not until September 25,1915 that Pte. John Craig became the first \t\tQuesnel resident to be reported “killed in action.” Craig, second son of \t\t“the well-known road foreman” (Ibid.,23 Oct. 1915), James Craig was born \t\tin Quesnel and had been living in Vancouver when the war began. He had \t\tenlisted in the 47th New Westminster Battalion but had been transferred \t\tto the 7th to replace the dreadful casualties suffered by the First \t\tContingent during the poison-gas attack at the 2nd Battle of Ypres in \t\tApril of that year. On the 25th of September, the Canadian Corps was \t\tinvolved “in simulating a bogus assault to keep the Germans on \t\ttenderhooks” (Beaverbrook, 34)during the British offensive at Loos. This \t\trequired the laying down of smoke barrages and the firing of rifles and \t\tmachine guns over the parapet . The Germans believing that an attack was \t\timminent, laid down a heavy barrage on the Canadian lines “to prevent \t\tthe arrival of supports.” (Ibid., 35) This feint to divert the enemy’s \t\tattention was Private Craig’s first and last battle. With the losses \t\tsustained by the First Contingent in 1915, 1916 saw a renewed fervour in \t\tthe appeal for volunteers. A new battalion had been authorized for \t\tcentral British Columbia by Sir Sam Hughes to be designated “The Cariboo \t\tBattalion.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The feeling had arisen that Central British Columbia, \t\tby reason of the lack of a distinctively local over-seas battalion was \t\tnot receiving the recognition due to the efforts and sacrifices of the \t\tpeople of the district or the ready response of its young men to the \t\tcall for volunteers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Many . . . have been the complaints \t\t\t\t\t\tagainst . . . the removal of troops recruited in this \t\t\t\t\t\tdistrict to fill gaps in the ranks of corps mobilized at \t\t\t\t\t\tthe coast, or even in the ranks of the Kootenay \t\t\t\t\t\tBattalion. (Cariboo Observer, 15 Jan. 1916)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The Observer wholly supported this action in an \t\teditorial unsurpassed in its patriotic zeal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The historic name “Cariboo” is to \t\t\t\t\t\tfigure in the final chapter of the story which is now \t\t\t\t\t\tbeing written in letters in blood and fire on the fields \t\t\t\t\t\tof Flanders and France . . .and its reward will be won \t\t\t\t\t\ton the blood-red fields of battle. The volunteers of \t\t\t\t\t\t1916 will face unknown dangers and surmount . . . \t\t\t\t\t\tdifficulties to add another page to the record of an \t\t\t\t\t\tEmpire’s glory. Every man of military age, and \t\t\t\t\t\tphysically able to pass the medical should offer himself \t\t\t\t\t\twithout delay, and thus help to prove that the spirit of \t\t\t\t\t\t’62 still thrives and abides in the district. Friends \t\t\t\t\t\twill be able to remain together from the time of \t\t\t\t\t\tattestation, . . . and when the period of probation is \t\t\t\t\t\tover will be comrades in the trenches, and shoulder to \t\t\t\t\t\tshoulder in the wild rush of the iron game. (Ibid.)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Recruitment proceeded quickly for this new battalion \t\tofficially designated as the 172nd Battalion Cariboo Rangers, C.E.F. By \t\tthe end of February, over 700 men from the Boundary country on the south \t\tto the new settlements on the line of the G.T.P. on the north, (Ibid., 5 \t\tFeb. 1916) had “poured” in and were assembling at the regimental \t\theadquarters in Kamloops. By the end of March, sixteen men from Quesnel \t\tand the Barkerville area had left and there would be many more to \t\tfollow. A popular subscription had been set up to raise money for \t\tmaterial to provide a set of flags for the battalion to be made by women \t\tof the district, an official badge had been adopted and the slogan “The \t\tFighting Cariboos” had been decided upon as the “fighting name” of the \t\t172nd.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was the practice in the British Army after the \t\thorrific losses suffered by the regular army’s “Old Contemptibles” in \t\tthe retreat from Mons and in the First Battle of Ypres, of recruiting \t\tbattalions wholly from a particular area or town. This “New Army” known \t\tas “Kitchener’s Army”‘ was made up largely of so-called “Pals \t\tBattalions”. Since most of the volunteers were from the same region such \t\tas the “Barnsley Pals” or the “Manchester Pals”, when a particular unit \t\tsuffered often devastating casualties, a village or neighbourhood would \t\tbear a terribly disproportionate burden of loss. This practice being \t\tcopied by the Canadian authorities would, in the coming months and years \t\tbear bitter fruit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 54th Battalion arrived in Bramshott camp on the \t\tsouth coast of England in November 1915. Many of the drafts landing in \t\tEngland from the Second Contingent were being used to fill the depleted \t\tranks of the battalions of the First Division. The Kootenays and later, \t\tthe Western Scots were attached as reserve battalions to the 7th and \t\t16th Btns. and to the Royal Canadian Regiment. Among the men transferred \t\tdirectly to the firing line were Privates A. Gibson, Hagen, Mayant, and \t\tSafken to the 7th, Davis, Duckworth and Hendry to the R.C.R., Alex Neveu \t\tand Wilfred Weetman to the 16th Canadian Scottish and Pope to the 47th \t\tBtn. Since the Kootenay Btn. would not arrive in France until August, \t\tthese men were the first from the group that enlisted in Quesnel in June \t\tof 1915 to see action, they would also be the first to be killed. Davis, \t\tDuckworth and Hendry would be killed in a trench raid in January 1916. \t\tBert Pope “became curious and stuck his head over the parapet, and was \t\timmediately hit by a sniper’s bullet” (Ibid., 1 April 1916). The men of \t\tthe 7th Btn. would die during the fighting in the Ypres Salient for the \t\thigh ground at Mt. Sorrel during the Battle of Sanctuary Wood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Between the 1st and 4th June (1916), \t\t\t\t\t\tour casualties were particularly heavy, some of the best \t\t\t\t\t\tof the battalion losing their lives and when we were \t\t\t\t\t\twithdrawn on the 15th June we had the additional \t\t\t\t\t\tmisfortune to be caught in one last strafe and lose a \t\t\t\t\t\tlarge number of men . . . The Battalion counter attacked \t\t\t\t\t\ton 3rd June from Square Wood with the object of \t\t\t\t\t\trecapturing Sorrel Hill. (Scudmore, 25)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Alex Neveu was “shot by a German sniper while on \t\tpatrol duty” near Hill 60,13 May and “died of wounds” (Cariboo Observer, \t\t17 June 1916) June 5. His obituary read, “he met it like a man and a \t\tpatriot, in doing his best for the defence of his country” (Ibid). \t\tWeetman was “Killed in Action” 4 June at Zillebeeke Lake, one year and \t\ttwo days after enlistment and Joseph Callanan who had “enlisted early in \t\tthe war with the famous 29th Batt. of Vancouver . . . had been killed in \t\taction on June 6th” (Ibid., 8 July 1916). Callanan’s death in \t\tparticular, elicited a touching response of sorrow and of patriotic \t\toutpouring from the Quesnel newspaper that was unusual when there were \t\tso many casualty reports containing familiar names.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When we pick up our papers and scan \t\t\t\t\t\tthe columns listing the killed and wounded, the thought \t\t\t\t\t\tseldom strikes us that each individual name has the same \t\t\t\t\t\tmeaning to some hamlet or household, and sends a thrill \t\t\t\t\t\tof despair through some near relative as it robs them of \t\t\t\t\t\ttheir chief pride hope. And to those of us who stay \t\t\t\t\t\thome, with nothing to offer but a verbal demonstration \t\t\t\t\t\tof patriotism, excuse ourselves as we may, we may not \t\t\t\t\t\tclaim the same standard of citizenship as the young man \t\t\t\t\t\twho separates himself from all who are near and dear to \t\t\t\t\t\thim, and takes his place in the front trenches to oppose \t\t\t\t\t\tan inferno of shell fire and all the devices of the \t\t\t\t\t\thuman laboratory turned loose by an alien enemy whose \t\t\t\t\t\tlife dream is world domination (Ibid.).<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
At 7:30am, 1 July, 1916, the British Army climbed out \t\tof their trenches and attacked the German positions on an eighteen-mile \t\tfront astride the Somme River Valley. Thus began the longest and most \t\tcostly offensive of the war. The first day losses cost “Kitchener’s \t\tArmy” 57,470 casualties including19,240 killed and 35,493 wounded. The \t\tbattle would rage on for 141 more days, eventually grinding to a halt in \t\tmid November. On 14 August, the 54th Battalion crossed the English \t\tchannel with the Fourth Division, were issued steel helmets and gas \t\tmasks and were sent to join their countrymen at Ypres. On 31 August, the \t\tCanadian First Division moved into position on the Somme sector and into \t\tthe frontline trenches on Sept. 7th,relieving Australians at the German \t\tstronghold of Mouquet Farm between Thiepval and Courcelette. The Battle \t\tof the Somme took a high toll among the front line troops and casualties \t\tamong the Cariboo volunteers began immediately. A day after arriving on \t\tthe firing line, George Box who had recently returned to his unit after \t\trecovering from wounds, suffered a direct hit from a shell that “blotted \t\thim out of existence” (Ibid., 7 October, 1916) The Quesnel newspaper \t\tthat had two years earlier praised him for his singing voice in an \t\tamateur theatre production ran an obituary that read, “George was one of \t\tthe largest hearted men one could meet, and make a friend out of every \t\tperson he became acquainted with. Expressions of regret are universal at \t\this loss, but we all feel that his death is as noble as any man could \t\tdesire” (Ibid.). The history of the 7th battalion records that during \t\tthe Somme Offensive<\/p>\n\n\n\n
its losses whilst holding trenches \t\t\t\t\t\twere constant and severe and there was always the odd \t\t\t\t\t\tcounter attack to be repelled. As an instance of this, \t\t\t\t\t\tthe fight on 27th<\/sup> \t\t\t\t\t September, 1916, is a good example. Whilst No. 2 Company \t\t\t\t\t\tunder Major A.C. Nation, M.C. was moving up to Mouquet \t\t\t\t\t\tFarm to relieve another unit, they found a counter \t\t\t\t\t\tattack by the enemy in progress. They flung themselves \t\t\t\t\t\tinto the action without waiting and with such effect \t\t\t\t\t\tthat the enemy were driven back to their trenches, the \t\t\t\t\t\tnormal relief of the unit was carried out and the line \t\t\t\t\t\toccupied by the 7th Batt. (Scudmore, 28)<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
The losses from this action resulted in 22 “Killed in \t\tAction” and seven reported missing. Private L. Patrick Hennerty of the \t\tCariboo gold fields was listed among the missing. Alex “Scotty” Shand, \t\tthe former P.G.E. donkey engine operator on the Cottonwood was taken \t\tprisoner during his battalion’s failed attack on Regina Trench on the \t\tmorning of October 8 and died of wounds in Germany, October 25. He lies \t\tburied along with several hundred fellow prisoners of war at the \t\tCommonwealth War Graves Commission plot in Ohlsdorf Cemetery near \t\tHamburg. The Cariboo Observer \t\t would run many obituaries over the next few months, each one \t\textolling the noble and patriotic virtues of “Dulce et Decorum est Pro \t\tPatria Mori.” Privates Davis, Duckworth and Hendry of the Royal Canadian \t\tRegiment were eulogized as “heroes . . . who fell in the most righteous \t\tcause humanity has ever been called to” (Ibid., 12 Feb. 1916). Fred Knox \t\t“died for a just cause, as any one of us is willing to do if called \t\tupon. His glorious example has done much to help the rest of us to bear \t\tthe little discomfort we experience out here” (Ibid., 30 Dec. 1916). \t\tWhen Lance-Corporal Archie Boyd was killed at Vimy Ridge on April 9, \t\t1917 the paper recalled that “He had been in the trenches about nine \t\tmonths before he was called on to make the supreme sacrifice-to lay down \t\this life that right and justice might still prevail” (Ibid., 28 April \t\t1917).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Even as the casualty lists mounted, letters from the \t\tmen at the front made continuous pleas to those left behind to join them \t\tin the trenches. “A Timely Warning” appeared in the Cariboo Observer on \t\tMarch 15, 1916 directed to all single men of military age “who are of \t\tOld Country birth” decrying the “slackers” who “let thousands upon \t\tthousands who never saw England, fight and die in its defence . . . Why, \t\tthese men will never be able to show their faces at home again. Yours, \t\tetc., EX-CARIBOOITE.” This “stiff upper lip” attitude of the men at the \t\tfront was exhibited repeatedly in the letters received and printed in \t\tthe local newspaper. Driver, Henry Mehaffey of the 3rd Divisional \t\tAmmunition Column wrote to the editor of the Observer, “I hope \t\tall the boys left behind, whom I believe are few, will join up, as we \t\twill be pleased to see them over here before Fritz gets his fatal dose \t\tof lead” (Cariboo Observer, 30 Sept. 1916).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the so-called “Khaki election” of 1917, there \t\twas no question to which the \t\t Cariboo Observer\t\tsupported. The front page stated quite clearly where its loyalties lay \t\tin article titled “MONDAY IS POLLING DAY”: This will be the last issue . \t\t. . before the people vote on the question of conscription or no \t\tconscription, and as we feel strongly that the Union government should \t\tbe returned in order that Canada’s pledged word to her brave sons at the \t\tfront may be fulfilled, we are devoting considerable of our space this \t\tweek to current election news, so that our readers may have a clear \t\tconception of their duty in this important crisis(Cariboo Observer, \t\t15 Dec., 1917). Through its editorials, by publishing letters from the \t\ttroops overseas and by blatantly biased news stories, the \t\tpro-conscription Unionist Party led by Sir Robert Borden enjoyed \t\ttremendous support. There was absolutely no attempt at nonpartisan \t\treporting in vilifying Raymond Leighton, the local Opposition Candidate \t\tand heaping praise upon praise on Fulton who represented the Government. \t\tTestimonials from the front lines were especially popular. Sgt. Major \t\tWilliam Vaughan’s letter to his brother was faithfully printed stating, \t\t“Boost for conscription” (Ibid.). Corporal Ernest Seeley of Barkerville \t\tsimply wrote to a friend, “Returning soon, vote conscription” (Ibid.). A \t\tseries of short paragraphs following the afore mentioned letters read as \t\tfollows, “The Great War Veterans’ Association disowns Leighton. Are you \t\tgoing to support him? . . . A referendum wouldn’t be much of a Christmas \t\tbox for the boys in the trenches, would it?” and finally “Cast your vote \t\twith the Old Veterans and the Great War Veterans, for Fulton and the \t\tUnion Government” (Ibid.). The Unionist Party won by a landslide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On May 4, 1918 the Observer acknowledged that \t\t“Killed in Action is taking a considerable toll from the lads who \t\tenlisted from this section.” Among the last of the “Cariboo Boys” to die \t\tin the “Great War for Civilization” was 19-year-old Capt. Willie Hilborn \t\tD.F.C., R.A.F. who died of injuries sustained in a flying accident on \t\tthe Italian Front on August 16, 1918. Four years earlier he had shared \t\tthe front page of his hometown newspaper with Serbian nationalist \t\tGavrilo Princip who had preceded him in death four months earlier of \t\ttuberculosis in prison.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That there was an extraordinary amount of patriotism \t\tat the time of “The Great War” cannot be denied. Just how much influence \t\tthe local newspapers had in inciting these feelings or whether they \t\tmerely reflected the mood at the time is a question worth exploring. \t\tBeing the only newspaper between Ashcroft and Fort George, the \t\t Cariboo Observer was for most people of the region, the only \t\tsource of information available and exercised tremendous influence. It \t\twas supportive of the recruitment drive in the Cariboo region to the \t\textent that this area had one of the largest per-capita enlistment rates \t\tin the nation. Due to the nature of the local recruitment, it also \t\tsuffered one of the highest casualty rates in the nation as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The reason for this is quite simple. The Canadian \t\tCorps was made up of a large variety of units, only a small proportion \t\tof which were front line infantry battalions. In a large centre such as \t\tVancouver, Winnipeg or Toronto, a recruit had an opportunity to be \t\tplaced in any number of non-combatant roles such as the Army Service \t\tCorps, Transport Corps, Railways Corps etc. Quesnel had been selectively \t\trecruited by the 54th, 67th, and 172nd infantry battalions. Of the men \t\tof the 54th (Kootenay) battalion who enlisted in Quesnel in May of 1915, \t\talmost one quarter had been killed in action, many having being \t\ttransferred to the 7th battalion as reinforcements after that \t\tbattalion’s horrendous losses during the poison gas attack at the 2nd \t\tbattle of Ypres. Of the 1,440 fatalities eventually suffered by the 7th, \t\t16 of them had come from the Cariboo. Eight men had been killed while in \t\tservice with the remainder of the 54th Kootenays, five each with the \t\t16th Canadian Scottish, the 47th British Columbia and the 67th Western \t\tScots. Of all the fatalities experienced by the Boys of the Cariboo over \t\t90% were from infantry battalions. It is interesting to note that after \t\tconscription having been introduced, there was not a single case of a \t\tman from the Cariboo who having been drafted into service being listed \t\tas killed in action. All of the fatalities that took place were from the \t\toriginal volunteers that had enlisted in 1914, 15 and 16.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The purpose of this essay has been to find out who \t\tsome of these men were who so unselfishly gave their lives for their \t\tcountry. The argument of whether they succumbed to the jingoism of the \t\ttime and accepted what Wilfred Owen called the lie, “Dulce et Decorum \t\test Pro Patria Mori” must be left to another time. These men “Whose \t\tNames Liveth for Evermore” can only be remembered now through a \t\tconscious effort on our part, the living, otherwise the monuments to \t\ttheir struggle and sacrifice will be torn down to make way for car parks \t\tand shopping malls. We cannot let that happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Glorious Dead, Quesnel Cenotaph<\/p>\n\n\n\n
442031 Baker, George, Pte., 54th Kootenay \t\tBtn………………..Pulmonary T.B. 05-May-16<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Born 17 Oct. 1889, Age 26 yr, 6 mo., 18 dys. Son of \t\tAugust and Cecilia Baker, of Quesnel. “Pte. Geo. Baker, we are sorry to \t\tlearn, is seriously ill at one of the hospitals in England” (Cariboo \t\tObserver 29 April,1916). “We lost one of our dear Canadian boys in the \t\tHospital here a short time ago, George Baker, of Quesnel, B.C., he died \t\tof pulmonary tuberculosis” (Cariboo Observer, 1 July 1916). Chichester \t\tCemetery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
150793 Baker, William Victor, Pte., 16 Cdn. Scot Bt. \t\t(79th Btn.)………..K.I.A.. 04-Sept-16<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Soda Creek. Age 22, Son of Richard George and Augusta \t\tBaker. Memorialised (missing) on the Vimy Memorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
463237 Baker, Roy Elmer, Pte., 62nd Btn\/72nd Seaforth \t\tHighlanders Btn…….K.I.A.. 04-Aug-17<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Age 35, Born 2nd May 1882, Woodstock N.B., son of \t\tJames F. and Levina Baker. “Three more residents of Quesnel and district \t\tleft on Monday for Vernon for the purpose of enlisting for the war. They \t\twere . . . R. Baker of Alexandria” (Cariboo Observer 10 July, 1915). \t\tNoeux-Les-Mines Communal Cemetery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
259 Beatty, Carl John, 2nd Lieut. 7th Sqdn., Royal \t\tFlying Corps………………..K.I.A.. 15-Sept-16<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Age 27, Son of W. T. and Stella N. Beatty. Cornet \t\tplayer, member of Quesnel Conservative Association. “C.J. Beatty, member \t\tof Provincial Resident Engineer’s staff here during the summer, left on \t\tWednesday for the coast” (Cariboo Observer, 14 Nov.1914). Heath \t\tCemetery, Harbonnieres, Somme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
103101 Boyd, Archie Arthur, L\/Cpl., 67th Western Scots \t\tPnr. Btn……….K.I.A.. 09-Apr-17<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Born 21 August 1887, Cottonwood House. Son of the late \t\tJohn Boyd and of Janet Fleming Boyd. Enlisted 21 Sept. 1915, Quesnel. \t\t“Archie was shot through the heart while his company was charging, being \t\tkilled instantly, and was buried two days later on the spot where he met \t\this gallant end” (Cariboo Observer, 19 May, 1917).”Walter and Chester \t\twere alongside of Archie when he got killed, and took it pretty hard” \t\t(Cariboo Observer, 2 June, 1917). Killed in action, Vimy Ridge. Vimy \t\tMemorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
103114 Boyd, Chester Flemming, Cpl., 54th Ktny \t\tBtn.,(67th Btn.)……….D.W. 07-Aug-17 Born 24 March 1889, San Juan \t\tWashington, USA. Son of John and Janet F. Boyd, of Cottonwood House, \t\tChief Clerk, office of the Provincial Assessor. Enlisted 21 Sept.1915, \t\tQuesnel. “previously reported dangerously wounded, now officially \t\treported died of wounds on August 7th, 1917 at the 7th casualty clearing \t\tstation, of gunshot wounds in the abdomen and shoulder.” Hill 70. \t\tNoeux-les-mines Communal Cemetery, France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
442246 Box, George Merry, Pte., 7th B.C. Btn.,(54th \t\tBtn.)…………………K.I.A.. 08-Sep-16 Born 1st Feb, 1880, \t\tBathampton, Somerset Eng. Worked as a carpenter, popular singer and \t\tamateur actor. “He was wounded in the arm last June, and had not been \t\tlong returned to the trenches when a shell blotted him out of existence” \t\t(Cariboo Observer, 7 Oct, 1916) Somme front near Moquet Farm, \t\tCourcelette. Vimy Memorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
103178 Brennan, Peter Austin, Lt., 54th Kootenay \t\tBtn.,(67th Btn)……..D.W. 07-June-17<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Born 4 March 1889, East St. Cleod Minnesota USA. Son \t\tof William Peter Brennan and Catherine M. Healy, of Elk River Minn. \t\tRancher, 70 Mile House. “I feel keenly the loss of two of my officers, \t\tnamely Lieut. N.C. Kenny and Lieut Pete Brennan, both of whom were \t\tkilled in action. These officers are buried side by side with the \t\tregimental cross over each grave. C.C. Harbottle” (Cariboo Observer, 25 \t\tAug. 1917). K.I.A. Hill 70. Villers Station Cemetery, Viller-Au-Bois.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
76017 Callanan, D. Joseph, Pte., 29th Vancouver \t\tBtn………………………….K.I.A.. 06-Jun-16 Born 11 November \t\t1889, Victoria BC. Son of Dr. Michael and Hannah Callanan, of New \t\tWestminster. Enlisted 13 November 1914, Vancouver. “Perhaps not since \t\tthe beginning of the war has its grim reality been brought home to us \t\tmore personally than when word arrived that Joseph Callanan, only son of \t\tDr. Michael Callanan (M.L.A.) of Barkerville, had been killed in action. \t\tHe enlisted early in the war with the famous 29th Batt. of Vancouver” \t\t(Cariboo Observer, 8 July 1916).Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Deal\/696 Cameron, Ewan Donald, Spr., Royal Marine \t\tEngineers………………..K.I.A.. 13 Nov. 1916 Son of Donald and \t\tMargaret Cameron, Exeter England. Knightsbridge Cemetery, \t\tMesnil-Martinsart, France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
442081 Carlson, Eric, Pte., 7th British Columbia \t\tBtn………………………….K.I.A.. 13-Jun-16 Born 22 March 1889, \t\tStokholm Sweden. Occupation, miner, Barkerville. Enlisted 54th Btn. at \t\tVernon, B.C. 15 July, 1915. K.I.A. Mount Sorrel, Railway Dugouts Burial \t\tGround, Zillebeke,Ypres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
116909 Coppens, Benoit, Pte., 11th Canadian Mounted \t\tRifles……<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Born 21 February 1879, Miere Belgium. Owned ranch in \t\tQuesnel. Enlisted 11 May, 1916 in Victoria. Married, son of Jaiku \t\tCoppens, Belgium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
428762 Craig, John Dennis, Pte., 7th B.C. Btn.,(47th \t\tNew Westminster Btn.)…….K.I.A.. 25-Sep-15<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Born 25 February 1889, Quesnel BC. Employed as logger. \t\tOfficially reported killed in action on September 25th. “The deceased \t\tyoung man was the second son of Mr. James Craig and Catharine Denis \t\tCraig, of Quesnel, the well known road foreman” (Cariboo Observer, 23 \t\tOctober, 1915). On the 25th of September, the Canadian Corps were \t\tinvolved “in simulating a bogus assault to keep the Germans on \t\ttenderhooks” (Beaverbrook, 34) Berks. Cemetery Extension, Ploegsteert, \t\tYpres, Belgium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
76484 Davidson, James Rittie, Pte., 29th Vancouver \t\tBtn…………………….K.I.A.. 06-Nov-17 Alexandria. Born 14 July \t\t1888, Ellon Aberdeen Scotland, Enlisted 19 April 1915, Vancouver. K.I.A. \t\tPasschendaele, Tyne Cot Cemetery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
442048 Davis, Richard, Pte., Royal Cdn. Regiment, \t\t(54th Btn.)……………K.I.A.. 12-Jan-16 Enlisted Soda Creek, “I \t\tdeeply regret to inform you that a few casualties have occurred among \t\tthe Cariboo volunteers who enlisted last May. The following men were \t\tkilled: Pte. R. Davis, Pte. A. Duckworth, Pte. A. Hendry.Yours \t\tsincerely, E.A. Palmer, Royal Canadian Regt. B.E.F., France Jan. \t\t13,1916” (Cariboo Observer, 12 Feb., 1916). St. Quentin Cabaret Military \t\tCemetery, Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
227668 Denton, Horace Farnsworth, Pte., 11 CMR\/47th \t\tBC. Btn…………..K.I.A.. 18-Aug-17<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Born 23 May 1872, Logan Utah. Rancher, Alexandria BC. \t\tMarried to Louisa H. Denton of Challis Utah. Enlisted 4 June 1916, \t\tVictoria. Chaudiere Military Cemetery, Vimy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
116937 Dohaney, George Ernest, Pte, 11th CMR\/7th BC. \t\tBtn………………..K.I.A.. 15-Feb-18<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Born 2 October 1887, Chipman, Queen’s County, New \t\tBrunswick, son of John and Margaret Dohaney. Rancher, Alexandra BC. \t\tAix-Noulette Communal Cemetery Extension.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
442060 Duckworth, Arthur, Pte., Royal Cdn. Rgt, (54th \t\tBtn.)………………K.I.A.. 12-Jan-16 Born 19 August 1890, Burnley \t\tLancs., Eng. Enlisted Soda Creek. “I deeply regret to inform you that a \t\tfew casualties have occurred among the Cariboo volunteers who enlisted \t\tlast May. The following men were killed: Pte. R.Davis, Pte. A. \t\tDuckworth, Pte. A. Hendry.Yours sincerely, E.A. Palmer, Royal Canadian \t\tRegt. B.E.F., France Jan. 13, 1916” (Cariboo Observer, 12 Feb., 1916). \t\tSt. Quentin Cabaret Military Cemetery, Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen, \t\tBelgium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3030467 Dunn, Alfred, Pte., 54th Kootenay \t\tBtn………………………………K.I.A.. 09-Aug-18 Age 39, Son of \t\tJohn and Mary A. Dunn, of Bradford, Yorkshire, England; husband of Mary \t\tH. Dunn, of Philadelphia, U.S.A. Beaucourt British Cemetery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
442054 Durston, Jack, Pte, 7th BC Btn., (54th \t\tBtn.)……………………….K.I.A.. 23-Jun-17 “Pte. Durston \t\tenlisted here the latter part of May, 1915, went overseas in July of \t\tthat year, and to the trenches the following April” (CaribooObserver, 4 \t\tAug. 1917). Age 35, Son of Charles and Lydia Durston, of Bridgwater, \t\tSomerset, England. Born at Rooksbridge, Somerset. Arras Road Cemetery, \t\tRoclincourt, France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
443782 Ellis, Jack Hugh, Cpl., 54th Kootenay \t\tBtn………………………………K.I.A..01-Mar-17 Age 25, Son of \t\tSam and Harriett Ellis, Burton-on-Trent, England. “Another Barkerville \t\tman, John Hugh Ellis, was killed on the Western front during a raid on \t\tthe 1st of March. Enlisted Aug. 1915, and had been at the front, \t\tincluding six weeks in the Somme drive, nearly nine months” (Cariboo \t\tObserver, 21 April 1917). “Jack Ellis got killed about a month ago; he \t\twas wounded in a sap in “No Man’s Land” with a machine gun bullet, and \t\tbefore he was able to get back he got gassed” (Cariboo Observer 2 June, \t\t1917).”The young men from the Kootenays . . . were mowed down almost \t\tbefore they left the security of their own lines. And when they tried to \t\ttake cover they died horribly. The gas – the ultimate weapon, which was \t\tsupposed to nullify all opposition – was waiting for them in the slime” \t\t(Berton, Vimy,130) Vimy Memorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
116928 English, Eugene, Pte., 29th Vancouver \t\tBtn……………………………K.I.A.. 19-May-17 “In respect to the \t\tdance given at Soda Creek . . . Guest present were . . . F. English, of \t\t150 Mile House, father of Eugene English . . . who was killed at \t\tPasschendaele” (Cariboo Observer, 15 March, 1919). Boulogne Eastern \t\tCemetery, France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
76233 Farley, Patrick Joseph, Cpl., 6th M.G. \t\tCoy………………………………K.I.A.. 16-Sept-16 Shoemaker, \t\tBorn 21 April 1879, Bailieborough, Co. Cavan, Ireland. Age 35, Son of \t\tPatrick Farrelly and Cathrine Farrelly. Enlisted 6 Nov. 1914. Vimy \t\tMemorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
335865 Fowler, William Leslie, Gnr., 4th Bde., Cdn \t\tFld. Arty……………..K.I.A.. 10-Mar-18 Age 20, Son of Lydia \t\tFlockhart (formerly Fowler), of Moncton N.B. and the late W.E. Fowler. \t\tAmherst Cemetery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
442067 Fryer, Charles Richard, Pte., 7th B.C. \t\tBtn……………………………..K.I.A.. 27-Sep-16 Born 24 May \t\t1881, London Eng. Son of Frank Fryer. Rancher, Harper’s Camp. “Word was \t\treceived here last week of Chas. Fryer having been ‘killed in action, \t\tsomewhere in France.’ Mr. Fryer was one of the local boys who left here \t\tearly last year. He had been on the firing line for some months” \t\t(Cariboo Observer, 4 Nov. 1916). “At 4pm a defensive flank was dug from \t\tHessian Trench to Zolleran Trench, mainly by the 7th Btn. who took over \t\tthe left flank at 10:30pm.” (Scudmore, T.V.). Vimy Memorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
437514 Gibb, William, Pte., 7th British Columbia \t\tBtn………………………..K.I.A.. 10-Apr-18 Born 16 June 1880, \t\tAlva Scotland, son of Mary Gibb. Enlisted Edmonton, 15 August, 1915. \t\tVimy Memorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
442075 Gibson, Arthur, L\/Cpl., 7th British Columbia \t\tBtn…………………….K.I.A.. 03-Jun-16 Born 11 June 1889, \t\tManchester Eng. Age 26, husband of Catherine Gibson, of Horsefly. “Mrs. \t\tA. Gibson, states that her husband, Pte. Arthur Gibson, is still \t\treported as “officially missing” and she thinks his chances of being \t\talive are slim. Pte. Gibson enlisted at 150-Mile House with the 54th \t\tKootenay Battalion, and went into the trenches last January” (Cariboo \t\tObserver 28 Oct.1916) Ypres(Menin Gate) Memorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
102911 Graham, James Edward, Sgt. 67th \t\tBtn………………………..<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Born 15 Aug. 1877, Windsor Nova Scotia. Enlisted \t\tQuesnel 18 Sept. 1915. Son of Mrs. Jane Graham. “Sgt. J.E. Graham. who \t\tenlisted in the fall of 1915 in the 67th Western Scots, states that he \t\trecently received the Croix de Geurre (Belgian) for “conspicuous \t\tgallantry and devotion to duty during the recent Ypres operations” \t\t(Cariboo Observer 25 May 1918).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
443773 Guy, James, Pte., 54th Kootenay \t\tBtn…………………………………..K.I.A.. 01-Mar-17 Born 7 \t\tDecember 1887, Alexandria BC. Son of Frank and Agnes Guy; husband of \t\tJulia Annie Guy, of Vancouver. Harness maker and teamster. Special \t\tMemorial at 27, Memorial Row, situated right and left of the entrance. \t\tLa Chaudiere Military Cemetery, Vimy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
116910 Hanson, Clayton M., Pte., 11th CMR\/47th BC \t\tBtn.,…………………..M. 31-Mar-17 Born 6 November 1876, St \t\tAndrews New Brunswick. Son of the late Jeremiah Munn Hanson and Mary \t\tElizabeth Hanson. “Pte. Clayton Hanson, who enlisted here about two \t\tyears ago, has been reported ‘presumably dead’ being missing since last \t\tMarch and not having been reported as a prisoner. Pte Hanson apparently \t\tleft no next-of-kin.” (Cariboo Observer, 20 Oct. 1917). Vimy Memorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
442102 Hagan, James Francis, Pte., 7th BC \t\tBtn………………………………………….M. 05-May-16 Soda \t\tCreek. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
442086 Hennerty, L. Patrick (Mike), Pte., 7th BC \t\tBtn………………………………….<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Born 15 August 1887, County Armagh, Ireland”J. P. \t\tMacAdams, of Alexandria, informs us . . . of the death of Pte. Patrick \t\tHennerty of Soda Creek. Pte. Hennerty enlisted with the 54th and went \t\toverseas with the first draft. He was formerly employed by Mr. \t\tHargreaves” (Cariboo Observer, 25 Nov, 1916). M.I.A. Mouquet Farm, \t\tSomme.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hilborn, William Carrall, D.F.C., Capt., 45th Sqdn., \t\tR.A.F……………..K.I.F.A. 26-Sep-18 Alexandria. Born 1899. Age 20. \t\tSon of Stephen Lundy Hilborn and Josephine Elizabeth Hilborn, of \t\tQuesnel. Joined the Royal Flying Corps in the summer of 1917 and served \t\tin Italy. Three days after he transferred to 45 Squadron, he was fatally \t\tinjured in a flying accident. “Word was received that Capt. Willie \t\tHilborn, who died on the 26th from injuries received on the Italian font \t\ton the16th of that month, had been awarded the newly instituted British \t\tdecoration for airmen, the D.F.C. While on patrol he attacked \t\tsingle-handed and put to flight, eight enemy machines” (Cariboo \t\tObserver, 5 Oct. 1918). “An excellent patrol leader who on all occasions \t\tdisplays courage, endurance and skill. He has accounted for six enemy \t\taircraft” (D.F.C. citation, London Gazette, 2 Nov.1918) Montecchio \t\tPrecalcino Communal Cemetery Extension, Italy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hunter, Andrew, Pte., Rly \t\tServ.Guard………………………………………………….K.I.A.. \t\t? 1918 Harper’s Camp (Horsefly).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
116932 Isnardy, William, Pte., 11 CMR\/29th Vancouver \t\tBtn…………………………….K.I.A.. 28-July-17 Born Feb 15 1895 \t\tin Chilcotin, son of Joe Isnardy of Chimney Creek BC. Employed as \t\tcowboy, Soda Creek. Fosse No. 10 Communal Cemetary Extension, \t\tSains-en-Gohelle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
103098 Jensen, George, Pte., 67th Western Scots Pnr. \t\tBtn…………………..K.I.A.. 10-Sep-16 “Pte. Geo Jensen is the \t\towner of the ‘Dog Prairie’ Ranch at Quesnel, of which seventy acres are \t\tunder cultivation. He is another who left his crops that he might train \t\tfor active service” (Cariboo Observer, 6 Nov. 1915). Supplied hay to \t\tOccidental Hotel stables. “The Observer received a letter from \t\t“Somewhere in France” confirming the death of Pte. Jensen” The Somme \t\tfront nr. Courcelette. Reninghelst New Military Cementary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
107346 Jones, Henry Horace, Dvr., 6th Bde., Cdn. Field \t\tArtillery…………K.I.A.. 21-Oct-16<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Owner of “Last Chance Claim” in Stanley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kenny, Nelson Clarke, Lt. 54th Kootenay Btn (67th \t\tBtn.)…………………..K.I.A.. 18-May-17 Born at Guelph, Ontario. \t\tAge 25, Son of James and Amy Kenny, of Whitby, Ontario. Member of R.W. \t\tHagen’s survey party, “Information was received in town this week of the \t\tdeath in action of Lieut. Nelson Clarke Kenny, of the Western Scots. He \t\twas born in Orillia Ont. in 1891. He had only returned to firing line a \t\tshort time when he met his death” (Cariboo Observer, 9 June 1917). \t\tVillers Station Cemetery, Viller-Au-Bois.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2138516 Kitchen, William Douglas, Pte., 46th \t\tBtn……………………………..K.I.A.. 01-Nov-18 Age 22, Son of \t\tJames and Mina Kitchen, of Hillsdale, Ontario. Aulnoy Communal Cemetery, \t\tnr. Valenciennes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
443270 Knox, Frederick Vivian, Cpl., 2nd Cdn Mtd \t\tRifles, (54th Btn)…..K.I.A.. 21-Nov-16 Age 30. Son of late John A. and \t\tF. E. Knox. Employed at the Australian Ranch, enlisted May 1915, 54th \t\tBtn. “We made a night raid on the enemy, and he was unfortunately killed \t\twhilst bombing thro’ the trenches. He was leading his squad, and I could \t\thear him distinctly calling to his comrades . . . when suddenly he was \t\tstruck by a bomb and was instantly killed. We took his body back to our \t\tlines, and the next day I took the party out, including all his comrades \t\tin the raid that were not wounded, and we buried him in the cemetary \t\twith full military honours” (Cariboo Observer,<\/em> 30 Dec. 1916). \t\tLouez Military Cemetery, Duisans, nr. Arras.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
442132 Mayant, Arthur Zephirin, Pte., 7th B.C. \t\tBtn.,(54th Btn)…………..K.I.A.. 03-Jun-16 Age 35, Son of Pierre \t\tMagnan Mayant, and his wife, Valerie Depatie. “Casualty list published \t\ton the 9th contained the name of A. Mayant, Kersley, under the heading \t\t“previously reported missing-now killed in action” enlisted June 1915 \t\tand was listed as missing since last June. He is brother of Mrs. George \t\tDuclos, of this town.” (Cariboo Observer,<\/em> 17 Feb. 1917). K.I.A. \t\tMount Sorrel. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
443293 McLeese, John James, M.M., Pte., 54th Kootenay \t\tBtn…………………….K.I.A.. 28-Oct-17 Age 25, Son of John and \t\tMatilda McLeese, 150 Mile House. “He was hit by a bursting shell, and \t\tdied instantaneously. He was buried on the spot where he fell, and a \t\tcross is now being made to mark this spot. He was awarded the Military \t\tMedal for conspicuous bravery in getting the rations up. He was killed \t\twhen taking water up to the front in one of the worst places ever” (Cariboo \t\tObserver,<\/em> 22 Dec. 1917). Killed at Passchendaele. Potijze Chateau \t\tGrounds Cemetery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Middleton, \t\tErnest……………………………………………………………………<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Chezacut.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A42133 Muir, James, Sgt., 7th British Columbia \t\tBtn…………………..W. and M. 15-Aug-17 Soda Creek. Age 28, Son of \t\tRobert and Jessie Muir, of Dalbeattie, Scotland; husband of Agnes Boyd \t\tMuir, of Rutherglen, Glasgow, Scotland. K.I.A. Mount Sorrel. Vimy \t\tMemorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
102912 Murphy, James, Sgt., No. 3 Co, 67 Wstn Scts \t\tPnr. Btn……………D.W. 20-Oct-16 Age 44, Son of Stephen and Mary \t\tMurphy, of Navan, Ireland. Well known mining man of the district of Wing \t\tDam. Pipeman for John Hopp on hydraulic monitor, Stouts Gulch, \t\tBarkerville. “Private Jas. Murphy had the honour of proposing the toast \t\tto the “67th Batt. Western Scots . . . his fluency and his refreshing \t\tbrogue made the points of his observations forcible” (Cariboo \t\tObserver,<\/em> 27 Nov. 1915).”Sgt. Murphy was wounded by gunshot in the \t\tback, on the 16th of October, and died on the 20th, two days after being \t\tadmitted to the hospital” (Cariboo Observer,<\/em> 18 Nov. 1916). \t\tWounded in action, Somme. St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
103199 Murray, Norman Frederick, Pte., 54th Kootenay \t\tBtn……………….K.I.A.. 12-Oct-16 Born at Scotsburn, Pictou Co., \t\tNova Scotia. Age 48. Son of the late Angus Murray and his wife Jane \t\tMackay, of Scotsburn and Truro. Educated at Truro Academy and Dalhousie \t\tCollege, Halifax.Was engaged in mining and civil engineering in British \t\tColumbia. Murray River and Murray Range in Northern British Columbia, \t\tPeace River District, has been named after him. “I suppose you know ‘ere \t\tnow that Norman Murray went over the Big Divide. W.F. Cogce (Cariboo \t\tObserver,<\/em> 18 Nov. 1916). K.I.A. Somme. Vimy Memorial, France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
645715 Murray, Hector William, Pte., 7th B.C. \t\tBtn…………………………….K.I.A.. 02-Sep-18 Age 33, Son of \t\tMrs. D. J. Murray, of Martintown, Ontario. Proprietor of the Quesnel \t\tBakery. Upton Wood Cemetery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
442169 Neveu, Alexander, Pte.,16th Cdn. Scottish \t\tBtn.,(54th. Btn.)……….K.I.A.. 05-Jun-16 “Pte. A. Neveu…now wears \t\tthe kilts as a member of the 16th Canadian Scottish” (Cariboo Observer, \t\t29 Apr. 1916). Wounded May 13 1916, Hill 60, trench 38-44, “Lover’s \t\tLane”, “Alex was shot by a German sniper while on patrol duty” (Cariboo \t\tObserver,<\/em> 17 June 1916). Boulogne East Cemetery, France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pickup, Alfred James, 2nd Lieut. 2nd Btn. Yorkshire \t\tRgt.,…………………..K.I.A.. 26-Sept-15 “Formerly in a London \t\tTerritorial Regiment . . . Member of Mr.Garneau’s timber and surveying \t\tparty . . . in the vicinity of Barkerville . . . when the war broke out \t\t. . . threw up his job and went to England at once”. “On Dec. 18, I \t\tstopped a bullet through a couple of fingers of my left hand, also hit \t\tme in the side but did not perforate” (Cariboo Observer<\/em>, 28 Jan. \t\t1915) Loos Memorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
442239 Pope, Norman Allan, Pte., 7th B.C. Btn.,(54th \t\tBtn.)………………..D.W. 04-Jun-16 Age 32. Son of Arthur N. and \t\tEmma Ryland Pope, of Melita, Manitoba. “Monday last’s daily papers \t\tcontained among those . . . listed as dying from wounds was N.A. Pope, \t\tPeachland B.C. The latter was one of those who enlisted here in May 1915 \t\tand will be remembered . . . as an employee of the Water Rights Branch” \t\t(Cariboo Observer,<\/em> 1 July 1916) Also listed as K.I.A. on \t\tPeachland cenotaph. D.W. Mount Sorrel. Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, \t\tPoperinge,West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
79873 Profit, James Allen, Sgt., D.C.M., 31st Alberta \t\tBtn……………………K.I.A.. 26-Sep-16 Barkerville. Vimy Memorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reader, William, Pte., Royal Canadian \t\tDragoons…………………….<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Richards, Joseph Wilfred, Lt. 67th \t\tBtn…………………………………………….K.I.A.. 01-Apr-18 \t\tEmployed Hudson’s Bay Co., South Ft. George, Enlisted 67th Btn. Fall \t\t1915. “In the casualty list issued on Saturday, April 6th, appears the \t\tname of Lieut. Jos. W. Richards, under the heading of “accidentally \t\tkilled” (Cariboo Observer,<\/em>\t\t20 Apr. 1918). Watlington (St. Leonard) Churchyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
189360 Ritchie, Richard A., 18th Western Ontario \t\tBtn……………………….K.I.A.. 08-Aug-18 Alexis Creek. Vimy \t\tMemorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2138520 Ross, Thomas T., 2nd Depot Btn, B.C. \t\tRgt…………………..Meningitis 02-Mar-18 Son of Ralph Ross, of \t\tAlexis Creek, British Columbia, and the late Susan Ross. Age 20. Ross \t\tBay Cemetery, Victoria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
442196 Safken, August William, Pte., 7th B.C. \t\tBtn.,(54th Btn.)…………..K.I.A.. 28-May-16 Born 26 June 1876, \t\tOsborne Kansas, son of Charles Safken. Employed as barber. Dragon Lake, \t\t“Last week’s casualty lists contained sad news for many readers, in the \t\tannouncement of the death of another of the local lads. A.W. Safken was \t\tkilled in action on May 28th” (Cariboo Observer,<\/em> June 1918). \t\tRailway Dugouts Burial Ground, Zillebeke, Ypres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
827131 Saucier, Bert Daniel, Pte., 143 Btn\/47th B.C. \t\tBtn………………………………K.I.A.. 29-Sept-18 Born 23 \t\tFebruary 1896, Kelowna BC, son of Joe Saucier.Vimy Memorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
447909 Shand, Alexander (Scotty), Pte. 50th (Alberta) \t\tBtn……………………………..K.I.A.. 24-Oct-17 Born 13 February \t\t1889, Knockandu, Moray Scotland. Enlisted at Calgary 15 Nov. 1915.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
” . . . letters sent from here to the following boys \t\thave recently been returned with the words ‘Killed in Action’ stamped \t\tacross the face: ‘Scotty’ Shand, formerly employed here by Johnston \t\tBros. and engineer of Occidental Hotel.” (Cariboo Observer<\/em>, 4 May \t\t1918). Menin Memorial, Ypres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
500255 Snider, Edwin Percival, Pte., 1st \t\tBtn……………………………………K.I.A.. 03-May-17 Born 30 \t\tAugust 1880, Victoria BC, son of Mrs. W.H. Snider. Miner and bridge \t\tcarpenter. Vimy Memorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
103096 Smith, Frank, Pte., 54th Kootenay Btn., (67 \t\tWstn Scots)………….K.I.A.. 06-Sep-17 Born October 7 1878, Pittsburg \t\tPennsylvania. Enlisted Oct. 1915, “Three years ago came to Cariboo, \t\tlocating on pre-emptions up the Quesnel River, had been at the front \t\tabout 15 months when, reported killed in action on the 6th of September” \t\t(Cariboo Observer<\/em>, 22 Sept. 1917). K.I.A. Hill 70. Vimy Memorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2355681 Stoner, Henry \t\tBlaine,Pte…………………………………………………<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Born Moose Jaw, Sask, 20 May 1885. Engineering staff \t\tof P.G.E. Enlisted London Ontario, 15 Nov. 1917. Married to Dorothy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
443786 Tanfield, Francis Louis, Pte., 54th Kootenay \t\tBtn…………………….K.I.A.. 11-Sept-16 Williams Lake. \t\tReninghelst New Military Cemetery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\t\t688085 Trueman, John Pte<\/a>., 47th British Columbia \t\tBtn……………………….M. 13-Apr-17 Co-owner with brothers James \t\tand Tom of pre-emption at Dragon Lake.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
442234 Warlow, Fred Norton, L\/Cpl., 7th B.C. Btn.(54th \t\tBtn.)…………..D.W. 01-Oct-16 Age 32 Son of William Warlow, of \t\tPembroke Dock, South Wales. “Cpl. Warlow, a fellow-employee of the \t\tP.G.E. here died of wounds at Havre on Oct. 1st.” Wounded on the Somme \t\tfront, Sept 1916. Ste. Marie Cemetery, Le Havre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
442227 Weetman, Wilfred Henry, Pte.,16th Btn.,(54th \t\tBtn)……………….K.I.A.. 04-June-16 Age 19, Born in England. Son \t\tof Francis and Frances E. H. Weetman, of Williams Lake. Enlisted June \t\t2nd, 1915. Killed in action at Zillebeeke Lake, Fosse Way nr. Ypres. \t\tRailway Dugouts Cemetery, TransFarm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
442238 Wiley, Ralph, Pte., Royal Cdn. Rgt.,(54th \t\tBtn.)………………………K.I.A.. 27-Apr-16 Harper’s Camp. Menin \t\tRoad South Military Cemetery, Ypres.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ADDENDUM: Men reported K.I.A. but not \t\tlisted on Quesnel Cenotaph<\/p>\n\n\n\n
437150 Hawthorne, Thomas Orlando, Pte., 7th B.C. \t\tBtn…………………….K.I.A.. 10-Nov-17 Born 26 May 1889, Warsaw \t\tOntario. Son of Edward & Mary Ann Hawthorne, “…letters sent from here \t\tto the following boys have recently been returned with the words “Killed \t\tin Action” stamped across the face: Tom Hawthorne, an employee of Mcleod \t\t& Smith, P.G.E. contractors” (Cariboo Observer, <\/em>4 May 1918). \t\tYpres(Menin Gate) Memorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
442085 Hendry, Alexander, Pte., Royal Cdn Rgt, (54th \t\tBtn.)………………..K.I.A.. 12-Jan-16 Born 20 May 1882 Seatown, \t\tGardenstown, Banff, Scotland. Son of Mr Alex Hendry. Enlisted 1 June \t\t1915 Soda Creek, “I deeply regret to inform you that a few casualties \t\thave occurred among the Cariboo volunteers who enlisted last May. The \t\tfollowing men were killed: Pte. R. Davis, Pte. A. Duckworth, Pte. A. \t\tHendry.Yours sincerely, E.A. Palmer, Royal Canadian Regt. B.E.F., France \t\tJan. 13, 1916″(Cariboo Observer,<\/em> 12 Feb. 1916). St. Quentin Cabaret \t\tMilitary Cemetery, Heuvelland, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
426011 Jones, Albert Henry, Pte., 16th Cdn Scottish, \t\t(46th Btn.)………….. K.I.A.. 8-Oct-16 Enlisted in the 46th Bn \t\t18.12.14. Arrived France 16.6.16. K.I.A. at Regina Trench, The Somme. No \t\tKnown Grave, memorialised at Vimy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6672 Newton, H.W. Goodwin, 2nd Lt., S. L. I., \t\t(1st\/14th Bn., London Regt. [London \t\tScottish])……………………………………………………………………………………K.I.A.. \t\t19-Sep-16 Layman on staff of St. John’s Mission, Dragon Lake. Enlisted \t\tas Sgt. in Pnr. section of 21st London Fusiliers. ” . . . killed in \t\taction, September16th . . . He was given a commission as a Second \t\tLieutenant in the Somerset Light Infantry, and was with his battalion at \t\tthe front only two days when he was killed” (Cariboo Observer<\/em>, 4 \t\tNov. 1916). Thiepeval Memorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
688023 Martello, Frank, Pte., 172nd Rocky Mtn. Rngrs \t\tBtn………….Rptd. K.I.A.. Jan-1917 “Pte. W. Irwin of the 172nd \t\tBattalion announces the death in action of another member of that unit \t\twho enlisted here-Pte. Frank Martello, who had a pre-emption near Mud \t\tHill” (Cariboo Observer<\/em>, 27 June 1917).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
77454 Mason, Morton Joseph, Capt., M.C. 16th Btn., \t\t(30th Btn.)………..K.I.A.. 02-Sept-18 “Lieut. Morton Joseph Mason, \t\tM.C., acting Captain in command of No. 4 Co. of the 16th Btn. Canadian \t\tScottish, was killed in action Sept., 2 according to advices received. \t\tLieut. Mason was the son of the late Mr. Joseph and Ada Mason, (partner \t\tof Mason & Daly in Barkerville) M.P.P. for Cariboo (in 1890)” (CaribooObserver<\/em>, \t\t21 Sept. 1918). Age 34. Dominion Cemetery, Hendecourt-Les-Cagnicourt, \t\tPas DeCalais, France.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
116907 Parsons, John Thomas, Pte., 29th Vancouver \t\tBtn……………………K.I.A.. 21-Aug-17 Age 29. Son of James and \t\tSusannah Parsons, of Curling, Newfoundland. ” . . . letters sent from \t\there to the following boys have recently been returned with the words \t\t‘Killed in Action’ stamped across the face: J.T. Parsons, from the \t\tNazko” (Cariboo Observer,<\/em> 4 May 1918). Vimy Memorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
442245 Pope, Bert, Sgt., 47th British Columbia \t\tBtn……………………Rptd. K.I.A.. Mar-1916 ” . . . the writer \t\tstates that he had been notified of the death in the trenches of Bert \t\tPope . . . It appears that Pope became curious and stuck his head up \t\tover the parapet, and was immediately hit by a sniper’s bullet. This is \t\tthe first fatality among the boys who enlisted at Quesnel” (Cariboo \t\tObserver,<\/em> 1 Apr.1916).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
443707 Trainer, Patrick, Pte., 54th Kootenay \t\tBtn………………Reported K.I.A.. Oct-1916 “In the casualty lists \t\tissued recently appeared the name of P. Trainer, who was killed in \t\taction, address of kin unknown. A soldier of that name apparently \t\tunknown to a majority of our citizens, enlisted here with the 54th, and \t\the is doubtless the same, his number corresponding with others in that \t\tbattalion” (Cariboo Observer<\/em>, 28 Oct. 1916).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Watson, Geoffrey Launcelot, Capt. “A” Coy. 3rd, attd. \t\t1st Bn, East Surrey Rgt………………………….K.I.A.. 20-Apr-15<\/p>\n\n\n\n
108 Mile Ranch. “News was received at Westholme on \t\tSunday that Captain G.L.Watson was killed in action near Ypres on \t\tWednesday inst. Early in the war Captain Watson left for England and \t\tobtained a commission in the East Surrey Regiment. Captain Watson came \t\tto British Columbia some eight years ago,and purchased a ranch in the \t\tCariboo District (108 Mile)” (Cariboo Observer,<\/em> 8 May, 1915). Age \t\t35 Son of the Rev. C.S. Watson. Menin Gate Memorial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\t\tWestman,W……………………………………………………………………Reported \t\tK.I.A.. Jun-1916 “Monday last’s paper contained among those killed in \t\taction at the front the name of W. Westman, 150-Mile Cariboo Road” (Cariboo \t\tObserver,<\/em> 1 July,1916).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
D.W. – Died of Wounds, K.I.A..- Killed in Action, \t\tK.I.F.A.- Killed in Flying Accident<\/p>\n\n\n\n
M.- Missing, P.O.W.- Prisoner of War, W. and M.- \t\tWounded and Missing<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bibliography:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aitken, Sir Max. Canada in Flanders Volume<\/em> I<\/em>, \t\tLondon: Hodder & Stoughton, 1916<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Beaverbrook, Lord. Canada in Flanders Volume II<\/em>, \t\tLondon, Hodder & Stoughton, 1917<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Berton, Pierre. Vimy<\/em>, Markham Ontario: Penguin, \t\t1987<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bindon, Kathryn M. More Than Patriotism, Canada at \t\tWar 1914-1918<\/em>, Toronto, Personal Library, 1975<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bird, Will R. The Communication Trench,<\/em> \t\tAmherst, Nova Scotia: Bird, Will, 1933<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Books of Remembrance<\/em>, \t\tSept-Nov. 1997. Online internet<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Canadian Expeditionary Forces Archives, Sept-Nov. \t\t1997. Online internet. Available: .ca\/db\/cef\/records.html<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cariboo Observer,<\/em> July 1914 \t\t– September 1922<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cinquante Quatre: Being a Short History of the 54th \t\tCanadian Infantry Battalion by One of Them.<\/em> N.p., n.d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Comonwealth War Graves Commission, Online internet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dancocks, Daniel G. Legacy of Valour: The Canadians \t\tat Passchendaele<\/em>, Edmonton: Hurtig, 1975<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Elliott, Gordon R. Barkerville, Quesnel & the \t\tCariboo Gold Rush<\/em>, Harker, Vancouver: Douglas & McIntyre, 1980<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Douglas E. The Dukes, The Story of the British \t\tColumbia Regiment<\/em>, Vancouver: The British Columbia Regiment, 1974<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Luddit, Fred. Barkerville Days<\/em>, Langley: Mr. \t\tPaperback, 1980<\/p>\n\n\n\n
McCarthy, Chris. The Somme: The Day by Day Account,<\/em> \t\tLondon: Greenwich Editions, 1996<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Morton, Desmond, and Granatstein, J.L. Marching to \t\tArmagedon<\/em>, Toronto: Lester & Orpen Dennys Limited, 1989<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nasmith, Col. George G. Canada’s Sons and Great \t\tBritain in the World War<\/em>, Toronto: John C. Winston, 1919<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scudmore, T.V. A Short History of the 7th Battalion \t\tC.E.F.<\/em>, Vancouver: Anderson & Odlum, 1930.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Skelton, Robin. They Call it the Cariboo<\/em>, Victoria: Sono Nis Press, 1980 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
From Brian Milthorpe, a paper written at the University of Northern BC November 11, Remembrance Day. How many of us have stood and watched as old men, many now infirm or confined to wheelchairs place wreaths to “Fallen Comrades” at … Continue reading