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 Jurien Cuperus in the Great War
Private Jurien Cuperus 5102 a Belgian Native serving with Canadian Army Service Corps for only four weeks before his death. Initially buried at Saint-Boniface Cemetery in Winnipeg, his remains moved to Antwerp (Kiel) Town Cemetery following the Great War. Finally, following the Second World War, moved again to the family vault at Schoonselhof Cemetery in 1949.

Antwerp

Jurien Cuperus born 7 January 1886 in Antwerp, Belgium. Son of Mary Cuperus, Rue Zurenborg 15, Antwerp, Belgium. Brother of Jean H Cuperus, Rue Zurenborz 23, Antwerp. Zurenborg an area in south-east Antwerp largely developed between 1894 and 1906.

The march past on the occasion of the State Entry into Antwerp of King Albert I and Queen Elizabeth of Belgium, 19 November 1918. © IWM (Q 7174)

Belgian Consul

Following a recommendation by H de Burlet, Acting Belgian Consul, Private Jurien Cuperus 5102 enlisted 8 November 1916, at Winnipeg, with No 14 Coy, CASC. Present address the Belgian Consul, Calgary, Alberta. A Motor Mechanic and Interpreter, standing 5′ 11″ tall with fair complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair.

Jurien a fluent speaker of French, English, Flemish and German. Thirty years, 10 months of age at this time. Previous service, 7 years with Belgian Civil Guards.

Belgian Civil Guard watching the departure by train of the 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards, from Zeebrugge for Bruges, 7 October 1914.

Was Jurien in this photograph? Perhaps. He certainly was not in Canada during 1914.

Canadian Army Service Corps (CASC)

The main duties of the Canadian Army Service Corps (CASC) in France centered on the transport and supply of food, forage, ammunition, equipment, clothing and engineering material and stores. Corps personnel also repaired motor vehicles and each division had an ambulance repair workshop. In England, the CASC also responsible for feeding the troops.

An Army Service Corps private talking to a French farm girl. Rollencourt, 9 May 1918.© IWM Q 3259

Appendicitis

After only four weeks with No 14 Coy, Jurien died at St Boniface Hospital, Winnipeg, Manitoba on 6 December 1916, following a burst appendix.

Death Card of Private Jurien Cuperus

A Medical District No. 10 casualty likely buried in Cimetiere de Saint-Boniface, Winnipeg. Also, likely moved to Antwerp (Kiel) Town Cemetery following the Armistice.

Antwerp (Kiel) Town Cemetery

Grave of Private Jurien Cuperus registered in Antwerp (Kiel) Town Cemetery on 16 July 1927.

GRRF 1927 of Private Jurien Cuperus

Antwerp (Kiel) Town Cemetery on the south-west side of the city, between the roads to Hemixem and Boom, Opened in 1878, and now closed. Pte Cuperus was buried near the south-west corner, Park H, Tomb No 217. Sheet 15.J.36.a.8.8. The site now Kielpark, an athletic facility.

GRRF of Private Jurien Cuperus

Removed from Antwerp (Kiel) Town Cemetery on 7 March 1949 and placed in the family vault at Schoonselhof Cemetery, Park Y, Line 24, Grave 3915, (Family Vault).

Schoonselhof Cemetery

Schoonselhof Cemetery the park of a chateau, bought by the town in 1911, used by the Germans from 1914 onwards, and used for civilian burials since 1921. It lies in the commune of Wilrijck.

Private Jurien Cuperus Schoonselhof Cemetery. Image: Major (ret’d) Rik Verhelle, Durby, Wallonia, Belgium.

Private Jurien Cuperus commemorated on Page 73 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.

Private Jurien Cuperus Book of Remembrance

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December 12, 2022