Private Nicholas Kachina 898197 enlisted 1 March 1916 at Coleman, Alberta, along with his brother Peter, in the 192nd Overseas Battalion, CEF. At the time, both residing in Hosmer, BC.
Nicholas born on 1 August 1896 (9 October 1897 at attestation), son of Marsym Kaczina and Nastasja (Anastasia) Lozka, of Puzie, Pydski, Kosów, Poland.
192nd Overseas Battalion
At enlistment, Nicholas twenty years of age, standing 5′ 10″ tall, 162 pounds, with fair complexion, blue eyes and grey hair. Nicholas a big, strong lumberman by trade.
The 192nd Bn organized in January 1916 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Edward Lyon. Mobilized at Blairmore and recruited in the Blairmore District.
Pte Kachina completed his Will on 25 September 1916, prior to sailing to England.
The 192nd Battalion embarked from Halifax on 1 November 1916 aboard EMPRESS OF BRITAIN. Disembarked later in England on 11 November 1916 with a strength of 23 officers, 424 other ranks. Immediately absorbed by 9th Canadian Reserve Battalion on 12 November 1916.
Private Nicholas Kachina admitted to Moore Barracks, Shorncliffe on 28 November 1916 (Tinia Versicolor on chest and back). Cured with Hg Oleate. Later discharged on 4 December 1916.
9th Canadian Reserve Battalion
9th Reserve Battalion organized at Bramshott initially under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel William Charles Gordon Armstrong. Formed by absorbing 9th, 192nd, 194th and 209th Battalions. Absorbed 202nd Battalion on 27 May 1917. Reinforced 10th, 49th and other battalions. Absorbed by 21st Canadian Reserve Battalion on 15 October 1917.
Only seven weeks spent in England, Private Nicholas Kachina sailed overseas to the 31st Battalion on 29 December 1916.
31st Battalion
31st (Alberta) Battalion ‘Bell’s Bulldogs’ organizes in November 1914 under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur Henry Bell. The 31st Battalion mobilized at Calgary, recruited in Edmonton, Calgary, Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Red Deer, Wetaskiwin, Youngstown, Claresholm and also Pincher Creek.
2nd Entrenching Battalion
Private Kachina initially employed with the 2nd Entrenching Battalion in France. His brother Peter begins a different path in the war with the 1st Entrenching Battalion.
Vimy Ridge
On 10 April 1917 during the final operations of the 31st Battalion prisoners began to pour in.
One of them could speak good English and said he was glad he was a prisoner for he knew he would get good treatment. He thought it was absurd killing each other for no reason whatsoever.
Private Donald Fraser
By the 12th of April some of the men sleeping in a wine cellar at Mont St Eloi near the towers.
Two days later, the battalion headed back to the line, stopping in Neuville St.-Vaast on the night of 14 April 1917.
Moving to relieve the 5th Brigade Machine-Gun Company on Sunday, 15 April 1917, the men notice many dead horses lie around and a number of the dead remain unburied. From their new home in a leaky German dugout full of German jam tin stick grenades, the men notice an aeroplane recently brought down by the enemy. Richthofen’s Circus operating in this area and clearly demonstrating their superiority.
Pte Nicholas Kachina Killed in Action
Over the next few days, German artillery dropping heavy shells in the area with great regularity. Just prior to coming out of the line, Private Kachina killed-in-action on 19 April 1917. Eight Other Ranks wounded before moving into THELUS CAVE.
Initially buried at Sheet 44a.T.26.a.2.2 (sic). This must be 36c.T.26.a.2.1 (there is no 44a sheet). Just east of Vimy Communal Cemetery, near the old mill. Also noted as 44a.T.26.a.0.0 on his burial return.
The day prior to Nicholas’ death, Private Thomas Norman buried at 36c.T.22.b.x.6 near Mont Foret Quarry. Norman now named on the Vimy Memorial.
This confirms Pte Kachina killed just before reaching the safety of Zivy Caves and agrees with his battlefield burial location. The more forward nature of Norman’s grave explains the loss of his body.
Orchard Dump Cemetery
Private Nicholas Kachina’s body exhumed on 18 January 1921, and placed in Plot VII, Row B, Grave 45, Orchard Dump Cemetery.
Mother in Kosów informed of the burial location only on 22 December 1931.
Oddly, Private Nicholas Kachina’s service file contains several post-mortem anomalies.
- Admitted to No 51 General Hospital, Etaples on 15 December 1917 (VDG). Later discharged to duty on 10 January 1918.
- Admitted to No. 4 CCS on 10 February 1918 (VDG). Discharged later on 14 April 1918.
- Admitted (VDG) on 20 September 1918, and later discharged to duty on 2 October 1918.
- Admission to No. 11 Canadian General Hospital, Shorncliffe on 7 March 1919, and later discharged on 13 May 1919.
Sapper Peter Kachina
All erroneous entries in Nicholas’ service file must be attributed to his brother, Sapper Peter Kachina 838198 of the Canadian Forestry Corps.
LAC notes Nicholas’ service file treated for mould contamination on 8 April 2014, likely just prior to digitization.
Private Osip Kachina
Eldest brother Osip Kachina 808403 followed Peter and Nicholas when he enlisted on 3 April 1916 with the 192nd Battalion. Osip entered France at same time as his brothers, but went directly to a battlefield battalion.
Pte Osip Kachina wounded (GSW head, left arm) on 8 June 1917 with the 49th Battalion. He returned to his unit after a few months, and later posted to 74th Coy, Canadian Forestry Corps. He too demobilized in Canada along with Peter in June of 1919.
Osip died on 14 November 1967 and buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, Saskatoon. Woodlawn the official cemetery from the time it opened, with the first recorded burial of an infant, on 5 January 1906. Some unidentified burials known to have occurred while the Catholic Cemetery (transferred to the city in 1918) had exclusive use of the site. Woodlawn Cemetery expected to continue as Saskatoon’s municipal cemetery for at least another 30 years.
Peter Kachina may have returned to the family home in Kosów, Poland. His date of death unknown to VAC.
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