A Ukrainian soldier of the Canadian Expeditionary Force
Private Nicholas (Nik) Kolbasuk son of Natalia Anishinouka Kolbasuk of Kiev, Russia (now Ukraine) served with the 52nd Battalion during the Great War. Pte Nik Kolbasuk injured on the first day of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, and later returned to his unit, but transferred to the Canadian Forestry Corps following the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in March of 1918. Nik developed a furunculosis of the left ear awaiting demobilization at Kinmel Park (just following the Kinmel Park Riots), returned to Canada, but died on 10 July 1919 of Tuberculous Meningitis.
Nicholas Kolbasuk born 5 December 1894, son of Natalia Anishinouka Kolbasuk of 8B/4, Gorovitza St, Kiev, Russia
Enlistment of Private Nicholas Kolbasuk
Private Nik (Nicholas) Kolbasuk (Nic Kolbachuk) 830561 initially enlisted 7 December 1915 in Winnipeg with 144th Overseas Battalion (Winnipeg Rifles). Sister Feodora Kolbasuk in Kiev. A laborer.
Pte Nik Kolbasuk stood 5′ 8″ tall, ‘155 pounds with clothes on’, dark complexion, grey eyes and dark hair. A Roman Catholic, aged 21.
144th Battalion
Organized in November 1915 initially under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel A W Morley. Mobilized at Winnipeg, and also recruited in Winnipeg. Pte Kolbasuk AWOL one day in August 1916 and later forfeits one days pay. The 144th Battalion embarked from Halifax 19 September 1916 aboard SS OLYMPIC, and later disembarked England 25 September 1916 with a strength of 29 officers, 962 other ranks. Finally, absorbed by 18th Canadian Reserve Battalion on 12 January 1917.
Upon arrival in England, Private Nicholas Kolbasuk transferred to the 18th Reserve Battalion, Seaford.
18th Canadian Reserve Battalion (Manitoba)
Organized at Seaford on 12 January 1917 initially under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel K C Bedson. Formed by absorbing 144th and also the 203rd Battalions. Absorbing 181st Battalion on 29 April 1917, 190th on 14 May 1917, 141st on 21 May 1917, 151st Battalion on 17 October 1917 as well as the 2nd Independent Company and British American Draft from Winnipeg. Reinforced 8th, 44th and 52nd Battalions, and later it reinforced the 78th, 107th and 3rd Labour Battalions. After August 1918, the 13th Canadian Reserve Battalion reinforced the 44th Battalion, and later moved to East Sandling on 5 March 1917, Dibgate on 8 March 1917, and finally Seaford in April 1918.
On 17 December 1916, Nicholas Kolbasuk bequethed his estate to his mother Natalia, of Kiev. Private Nik Kolbasuk drafted to 52nd Battalion 16 February 1917.
52nd Battalion
Organized in March 1915 initially under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel A W Hay. Mobilized at Port Arthur, and also recruited in Port Arthur, Kenora, Fort Francis, Fort William and Dryden. Draft of 5 officers and 250 other ranks sent to England on 17 June and also 4 September 1915. Embarked from Saint John 23 November 1915 aboard CALIFORNIA, and later disembarked England 2 December 1915 with a strength of 40 officers, 1032 other ranks. Arrived in France 21 February 1916 with the 3rd Canadian Division, 9th Canadian Infantry Brigade, and later reinforced by 18th Canadian Reserve Battalion.
Lt. (A./Capt.) Christopher Patrick John O’Kelly, M.C., Can. Inf.
For actions during the Second Battle of Passchendaele, Lieutenant Christopher Patrick John O’Kelly MC awarded the Victoria Cross.
For most conspicuous bravery in an action in which he led his company with extraordinary skill and determination. After the original attack had failed and two companies of his unit had launched a new attack, Capt. O’Kelly advanced his command over 1,000 yards under heavy fire without any artillery barrage, took the enemy positions on the crest of the hill by storm, and then personally organised and led a series of attacks against ” Pill-boxes,” his company alone capturing six of them with 100 prisoners and 10 machine guns.
Later on in the afternoon, under the leadership of this gallant officer, his company repelled a strong counter-attack, taking more prisoners, and subsequently during the night captured a hostile raiding party consisting of one officer, 10 men and a machine gun.
The whole of these achievements were chiefly due to the magnificent courage, daring and ability of Capt. O’Kelly.
No. 30471. The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 January 1918. p. 722.
Private Nik Kolbasuk entered the Western Front on 16 February 1917.
Private Nicholas Kolbasuk Wounded
On the first day of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, Pte Nik Kolbasuk admitted to No 23 CCS, GSW eye and back, 9 April 1917. No 11 General Hospital, Camiers later on 9 May 1917, and transferred to No 6 Convalescent Hospital, Etaples, 12 September 1917. Finally, Pte Kolbasuk discharged to Base Depot, 16 September 1917.
Nik rejoined the 52nd Battalion on 10 November 1917, and later granted 14 days leave, 29 December 1917, rejoining his unit on 20 January 1918.
Suddenly, on 9 March 1918, Nik identified as ‘Russian’, and later transferred to No 46 Coy of the Canadian Forestry Corps. The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk just signed on 3 March 1918, ending hostilities on the Eastern Front, no doubt the reason Nik removed from a front line unit.
No 46 Coy, Canadian Forestry Corps
Organized as No. 5 Company, Canadian Forestry Corps at Larkhill in June 1916 with personnel from 224th Battalion. Proceeded to Kirkeonnel, Dumfriesshire in June 1916, and later employed on Buccleugh estate, August 1916 to April 1917. Transferred to Sunningdale in May 1917 and also redesignated as No 46 Company, Canadian Forestry Corps. Most personnel from 224th Battalion, but the remainder were from the 122nd, 165th, 230th and 238th Battalions. Arrived in France 17 June 1917.
Pte Kolbasuk granted 14 days leave to UK, 2 October 1918.
Demobilization of Private Nicholas Kolbasuk
Private Nik Kolbasuk at Kinmel Park for return to Canada, from 13 to 22 March 1919. Fortunately, Nik just missed the Kinmel Park Riot (4-5 March 1919).
Private Nik Kolbasuk sailed No 42 SS REGINA from Liverpool on 22 March 1919.
Camp Hill Hospital, Halifax, furunculosis of left ear, admitted 30 March 1919. Very painful and patient unable to hear. Discharged 22 April 1919.
Private Nicholas Kolbasuk Discharged from His Majesty’s Service
Discharged from His Majesty’s Service, 28 April 1919 at Medical District No 10.
Private Nik Kolbasuk sent to Ear Department for Special treatment, 2 April 1919. Exam shows a boil in lower floor of left external auditory canal, also with swelling surrounding parts. Incorrectly noted condition had developed at sea on return to Canada. To No 6 District Depot, 20 April 1919.
Nik died 10 July 1919, Tuberculous Meningitis of the brain, and later buried in Winnipeg (Brookside) Cemetery.
Winnipeg (Brookside) Cemetery
During the Great War, Winnipeg the headquarters of No 10 Military District. It contained six military hospitals with over 970 beds. Air force and army training camps also established in the area during the Second World War. With No 103 Canadian Army Basic Training Centre at Fort Garry. Winnipeg (Brookside) Cemetery contains 300 Commonwealth burials of the Great War. And 149 from the Second World War, most of them in the special military plot.
The treatment of the wounded in Winnipeg during the Great War
When Britain declared war against Germany in August 1914, the Canadian government offered its immediate and unequivocal support for the Allied war effort. Over 620,000 Canadians saw military service during the conflict. The Canadian Expeditionary Force played a major role in military operations on the Western Front. Canadian units served with distinction and suffered heavy casualties throughout the war. Notably at the battle of Neuve Chapelle in 1915, the battle of the Somme in 1916, and the battles of Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele in 1917.
By the time of the Armistice in November 1918, almost 70,000 Canadian soldiers killed in action or died of wounds. Most of these men buried in France and Belgium, but hundreds of badly wounded servicemen who died shortly after being transported back to Canada during the war buried on Canadian soil.
Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire (IODE)
In 1914 Winnipeg Canada’s third largest city and one of the fastest growing urban centres in North America. During the war the capital of Military District 10 and local men volunteered in large numbers for military service. Posted overseas in regiments such as the Royal Winnipeg Rifles and the Winnipeg Grenadiers. Many civilians, both male and female, also keen to support the war effort. In 1915 the women of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire (IODE) opened a hospital on Broadway and Donald.
To begin with the hospital treated men who fell sick or injured during training in local camps. But, as the conflict wore on, increasingly used to care for and rehabilitate men wounded on the battlefields. As the demand for beds grew with the increased number of patients, the hospital moved to larger premises on Smith Street. In January 1916 it occupied the third floor of the Immigration Hall at Point Douglas.
Deer Lodge Hospital
In June 1916 the Deer Lodge Hospital established at Silver Heights by the national Military Hospitals Commission. Formally opened by the Duchess of Connaught. By the end of the year decided all Canadian servicemen suffering from severe wounds or long-term illness in British hospitals transported home The Commission asked the city to provide a further 1000 beds. In January 1917, the director of the Commission, Senator James Lougheed, visited Winnipeg. He outlined the government’s plans to make the city a major centre for the convalescence, recuperation, and also rehabilitation of soldiers returning from the European battlefields.
In order to deal with the numbers of wounded who flooded into the city in 1917, a new military hospital established at the former Agricultural College in Tuxedo. The Tuxedo Military Hospital enlarged later in the summer of 1918. And, by the end of the war no less than six military hospitals, with a total of over 900 beds, located in Winnipeg. Almost all of the men died of wounds or illness while undergoing treatment in these hospitals, and later buried in the military plot at Brookside Cemetery.
