Private Hugh Goodwin Stroyan | Soldiers | Great War

Home | Soldiers | Private Hugh Goodwin Stroyan in the Great War

Private Hugh Goodwin Stroyan the only member of the Canadian Scottish (16th Battalion) known to be buried at Seaforth Cemetery (Cheddar Villa).

Troops of 'B' Company, 1st Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) preparing for a gas attack in Bois-Grenier sector, 20th May 1915. The first gas attack took place on 22nd April. — Troops of ‘B’ Company, 1st Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) preparing for a gas attack in Bois-Grenier sector, 20th May 1915. The first mass gas attack took place on 22nd April 1915.

Stroyan helped turned the tide on 22 April 1915, the day of the first mass Gas Attacks in the war. Hugh was only 18 years old, the son of Ernest Joseph and Jessie Stroyan, 4312 Dundas Street, Vancouver. Native of Derby, England.

Second Battle of Ypres

Dawn, 23 April 1915

Directly behind the latter [uncaptured German gun position] was the battleﬁeld of the night before, with rows of dead lying on it, amongst which some familiar forms could be discerned. On certain parts of it the bodies were heaped; on others they were lying in a straight line as killed by the enfilade machine—gun ﬁre. The men of the different companies of the 16th could be picked out by the colour of the kilt—the yellow stripe of the Gordons, the white of the Seaforths, the red of the Camerons, the dark green of the Argylls—with the 10th Battalion men in their khaki uniforms mingled in everywhere amongst the Highlanders. light movements of some of the bodies showed that life still lingered.
The History of the 16th Battalion (The Canadian Scottish) – Lt-Col H M Urquhart, DSO, MC, ADC

Kipling Memorial

Shortly after the Great War, the IWGC planned to erect a Kipling Memorial to the soldiers of the Scottish Regiment buried at Cheddar Villa. However, only the grave of Pte Stroyan could be positively Known To Be Buried in the cemetery.

Cheddar Villa a true battlefield cemetery, subject to much shellfire during the war, and many graves disturbed and destroyed. Note Colonel Urquhart also interested in raising a Kipling Memorial at Mouquet Farm.

Lieutenant Arthur Lodge Lindsay, “Exact location not known as ground passed into enemy control“, according to his Grave Registration Report Form. Named on the Menin Gate Memorial, though his body likely once/still in Seaforth Cemetery (Cheddar Villa). Lt Lindsay “known to be buried“, according to his Circumstances of Death report.

Pte Stroyan one of a few soldier’s graves visited multiple times by CEFRG.

OP-0269 Ruins at Ypres, Cloth Hall. MIKAN No 2873707 — Ruins of Cloth Hall, Ypres – Mary Riter Hamilton

Seaforth Cemetery (Cheddar Villa)

Seaforth Cemetery, Cheddar Villa, lies 5 Kms north-east of Ieper town centre on the Brugseweg (N313), connecting Ieper to Brugge. Two streets connect Ieper town centre onto the Brugseweg; Torhoutstraat leads from the market square onto the Kalfvaartstraat.

At the end of Kalfvaartstraat is a large junction on which Brugseweg the first right hand turning. The cemetery itself lies 4 Kms along the Brugseweg on the left hand side of the road.