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Category: Soldiers

Between 1914 and 1919, over 650,000 Canadians served at home and overseas during the Great War. On the Western Front in Belgium and France, Canadian soldiers of the Great War distinguished themselves in numerous battles, including Second Battle of Ypres, Battle of Vimy Ridge, and Second Battle of Passchendaele. In Canada’s Last Hundred Days of the Great War, Canadian soldiers at the sharp end of the spear breaking through the enemy’s formidable trench defences, the Hindenburg Line. Their efforts have inspired these soldier stories.

Collections

Many collections used to bring the soldier stories to life. First, and foremost, the Personnel Records of the soldiers serving in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF). This collection, like the others to follow, digitized and made available by Library and Archives Canada (LAC). Secondly, the War Diaries of the CEF often provide vital information about a soldier’s life not contained in their service file. Finally, Circumstances of Death (CoD), War Graves Registers (GRRF), and Veterans Death Cards provide further information on The Fallen. These three collections in conjunction with records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) vital to cases of identification and recovery of The Missing.

Courts Martial Records (FGCM)

Additional collections used to present the soldier stories include Courts Martial Records. Courts martial had the authority to try a wide range of military offences that resembled civilian crimes like fraud, theft or perjury. Others, like desertion and cowardice – purely military crimes. Records of individual courts martial consist of an average of 20 to 25 documents, mainly standardized forms. These document the trial and the charges under the Army Act.

MIKAN photo collection

Finally, the most powerful way of bringing soldier stories of the Great War to life, the images of the MIKAN collection digitized by LAC.  Often complementing these photos – images held by the Imperial War Museum (IWM), some of which also contain images captured by the Official Canadian War Photographers (CWRO) during the Great War. Both LAC and IWM have film collections which further bring the reality of the soldier stories of the Great War to life.

  • Private Abel Watetch in the Great War

    Private Abel Watetch in the Great War

    Indigenous Soldiers

    Private Abel Watetch of Piapot Reserve, Edgeley, Saskatchewan married to Mary Francis Watetch with two children, Mary Madeline age 3, and a baby.

    MIKAN No. 3247934 Chief Piayot Piapot ca. 1816 1908 Chief Cree leader and followers
    MIKAN No. 3247934 Chief Piayot [Piapot] (ca. 1816-1908), Chief Cree and leader, and followers; Edgar Dewdney, Indian Commissioner for the North-West Territories; and members of the Montreal Garrison Artillery, Regina, Sask., May 1885

    Enlistment of Private Abel Watetch

    Abel Watetch 907650 enlisted on 4 April 1916 with the 195th Overseas Battalion in Regina, Saskatchewan. Standing 5′ 8″ tall with dark complexion, brown eyes, and black hair – 31 years 10 months of age.

    RMS EMPRESS OF BRITAIN 1916
    RMS EMPRESS OF BRITAIN 1916

    Pte Watetch embarked Halifax on 1 November 1916, per SS EMPRESS OF BRITAIN, later disembarking in Liverpool on 11 November, and taken on strength of the 32nd Reserve Battalion.

    195th Battalion

    Organized in February 1916 initially under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel A C Garner. Mobilized at Regina, and recruited in Regina. Embarked from Halifax 1 November 1916 aboard EMPRESS OF BRITAIN, and later disembarked England 11 November 1916 with a strength of 31 officers, 998 other ranks. Drafts of 174 to 5th Battalion and 188 to 102nd Battalion in November 1916.

    Private Abel Watetch one of the 188 Other Ranks to proceed on draft to the 102nd Battalion, 27 November 1916.

    102nd Battalion

    Organized in November 1915 initially under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel J W Warden. Mobilized at Comox, and recruited in northern British Columbia. Embarked from Halifax 20 June 1916 aboard EMPRESS OF BRITAIN, and later disembarked in England 28 June 1916, with a strength of 37 officers, 968 other ranks and later disembarked in France 11 August 1916 as part of the 4th Canadian Division, 11th Canadian Infantry Brigade, and later reinforced by 16th Canadian Reserve Battalion.

    MIKAN No. 3522714 Private Abel Watetch
    102nd Infantry Battalion Group. April & May 1919. MIKAN No. 3522714

    Battle of the Somme

    Private Abel Watetch joined the 102nd Battalion in France on 28 November 1916. The ranks of the 102nd Bn woefully thin. Death, wounds and sickness had claimed many on the Somme.

    When the battalion entered the Vimy Sector, the latter had a reputation for quietness and peace unequalled in any other sector – casualties few.

    The operations of the 102nd Bn now clearly divided into three distinct sections. The first, a series of five tours in the trenches with six days’ interval between each, lasting from December 21st, to the end of March, 1917. The second, the three day tour which included the Battle of Vimy Ridge. The third, a series of three tours in the area lying between the crest of the Ridge and the suburbs of Lens, comprising the actions known in the battalion as the First and Second Triangle operations.

    Lieutenant Adair Carrs 102nd Battalion Operation Picture Me. Private Abel Watetch
    Lieutenant Adair Carrs 102nd Battalion Operation Picture Me

    Battle of Hill 70

    On 17 August 1917 an operation on a more extended scale carried out, with the 4th Brigade co-operating on the left. The object of this offensive to reorganize the line, which had been handed over in a badly dented condition, gaps existing between the companies and between our left flank and the adjoining battalion, the 18th. These gaps occupied by the enemy, and decided by a combined offensive to straighten out the line and establish a safe connection between all the units holding. The barrage opened at 4.32 am.

    During the operation, Abel suffered gas poisoning near COTTON TRENCH. One of 86 Other Ranks wounded during the operation.

    Gassed

    On 27 August 1917, Private Abel Watetch admitted to 18th General Hospital, Camiers. Finally discharged to Base Depot, Etaples on 10 November 1917.

    SoS of the 102nd Battalion on transfer to Canadian Labour Pool on 18 November 1917.

    Abel granted 14 Days Leave on 16 February 1918. Transferred to the 6th Canadian Area Employment Company on 28 February 1918.

    Sir Douglas Haig inspects 102nd Battalion at Houdain, 28 February 1918. Private Abel Watetch
    Sir Douglas Haig inspects 102nd Battalion at Houdain, 28 February 1918. MIKAN No. 3522096

    Return to the 102nd Battalion

    SoS to 102nd Battalion on 17 July 1918 from the 6th Canadian Area Employment Company. Private Abel Watetch catches up with his unit near Roclincourt.

    Demobilization

    Private Abel Watetch discharged 1 April 1919.

    Abel’s brother Harry Ball wounded and lost his leg on April 7 1917 at Vimy Ridge. They both had received a medal from the French government for their sacrifice. The Canadian Prime Minister Mackenzie King came to the Piapot Reserve, Saskatchewan in 1935 and sat down to smoke a peace pipe with them for their heroic service.

    Private Abel Watetch
    Grave of Private Abel Watetch

    Abel Watetch died 20 November 1964 at Veterans Pavilion Hospital, Regina, Saskatchewan. Buried at Riverside Memorial Park Cemetery. Great-grandson Elvin Brown inspired this story.

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