Category: Soldiers
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Captain Francis Alexander Scrimger VC in the Great War
First Canadian Officer Victoria Cross Captain Francis Alexander Caron Scrimger VC born in Montreal, Quebec, on 10 February 1881 and earned his medical degree from McGill University in 1905. Service in the Great War as Surgeon with the Canadian Army Medical Corps. Scrimger’s paternal grandparents emigrated from Scotland to Galt (Cambridge), Upper Canada, where his…
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Private Michael Joseph Dunne in the Great War
Private Michael Joseph Dunne the maternal grandfather of Canadian actor/writer/director Paul Gross. Dunne the basis for the 2008 film Passchendaele, written, directed, produced and starring Paul Gross in a role loosely based on his grandfather’s experiences in the Great War. Enlistment of Private Michael Joseph Dunne Michael Joseph Dunne a Farmer, born 28 February 1887…
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Private Dalton Frederick McEwen in the Great War
Black Sheep Private Dalton McEwen’s service record ‘blemished’ by a single Act of Courage in the Great War. Dalton perhaps the most undisciplined, and most frequently sanctioned soldier of the Canadian Army Medical Corps (CAMC), if not the entire Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF). Dalton may have later attempted to do the same as Private Charles…
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Private George Franklin Strong in the Great war
Private George Franklin Strong a typical example of a reinforcement during Canada’s Last Hundred Days. The quality of reinforcements at this time left much to be desired. It wasn’t that George was too young, or inexperienced – he was just so small. On 28 September 1918, Private George Franklin Strong gave his life to help…
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Lieutenant Owen William Steele in the Great War
Lieutenant Owen William Steele, salesman, soldier and officer of the Newfoundland Regiment that suffered horrendous losses on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. Owen William Steele’s diaries Steele best known for the detailed journal he kept from his enlistment to his death in France in July 1916. Typed excerpts from Owen William…
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Captain William Arthur Durie in the Great War
Repatriated Captain William Arthur Durie previously buried in Corkscrew Cemetery and Loos British Cemetery (Pas-de-Calais, France). Exhumed by his mother Anna from Loos in 1925 following a failed attempt to do so at Corkscrew in 1921. Mrs Anna Durie a strong woman, unwilling to take no or ‘non’ for an answer. Arthur one of many…
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Captain Coulson Norman Mitchell VC MC in the Great War
First Victoria Cross Engineer Captain Coulson Norman Mitchell VC MC earned his medals of valour with No.1 Tunneling Company and 4th Battalion, Canadian Engineers in the Great War. Coulson Norman Mitchell the only Canadian Engineer to have earned the highest medal of valour in the British Empire – the Victoria Cross. “He was known as…
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Maschinist Kuno Eversberg in the Great War
All Which is the Truth The final combat casualty of the Great War a German PoW. Maschinist Kuno Eversberg shot in the back while escorted to the head aboard HMS RESOLUTION at Scapa Flow on 21 June 1919. Able Seaman James Woolley stood trial for the shooting, but a jury returned a verdict of not…
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Private John Bernard Croak VC in the Great War
Three members of the 13th Battalion awarded the Victoria Cross in the Great War. The first, Private Frederick Fisher, awarded for his action on 23 April 1915 at St. Julien, during the Second Battle of Ypres. Two other members, Corporal Herman James Good and Private John Bernard Croak, awarded their crosses for action on 8 August 1918 at Hangard Wood,…
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Sergeant Francis Patrick Walshe in the Great War
Sergeant Francis Patrick Walshe served with Lt-Col John McCrae in the 1st Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery. Sgt Walshe treated by Dr McCrae after being wounded in preliminary action during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, September 1916. Mooncoin Parish Francis ‘Frank’ Patrick Walshe born 21 October 1893 in Currie, Minnesota. His father, Edward Peter Walshe, 36 and…