CEFRG – Canadian Expeditionary Force Research Group 1914-1919
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Private William James McVicar in the Great War
Borden Motor Machine Gun Battery Private William James McVicar served with the Borden Motor Machine Gun Battery in the Great War. Killed along with two of his comrades during the Battle of Passchendaele. Exhumed from his battlefield burial location and reinterred at Passchendaele New British Cemetery in 1921. Enlistment of Pte William James McVicar Born…
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Private Nicholas Kachina in the Great War
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…
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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). 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…
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Sergeant Frank Steel in the Great War
Sergeant Frank Steel 530087 of No 8 Canadian Field Ambulance, CAMC, dressing wounds in the open, instantly killed by a shell during the Battle of Passchendaele. Initially buried at the foot of a large tree about 100 feet SSW of Waterloo Dressing Station. Battle of Passchendaele In Paul Nash’s painting, two soldiers try to follow…
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Private Joseph Lalancette in the Great War
Shot at Dawn Private Joseph Lalancette 672604 enlistment 10 June 1916 in Québec, Quebec with the 167th Battalion, CEF. He stood 5′ 7″ tall, 137 pounds. Son of Henri Lalancette “Henry Lancette” (deceased in 1902) and Sarah Palmby (deceased in 1900), of Woodstock, Ontario, and Chicoutimi, Québec. Joseph Lalancette born 1 September 1895 in London,…
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LCpl Alexander MacGillivray MM in the Great War
LCpl Alexander MacGillivray MM a piper killed at Hill 70 who refused to draw lots. “He would go in anyway.” Any piper who had grounds for suspecting he had been discriminated against in the ballot, taunted his comrades with injustice, and insisted on accompanying the attacking troops. Brave men, who met death when it came…
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Lieutenant Donald Wallace McDonald in the Great War
One of The Missing, Lt Donald Wallace McDonald died in the Battle of Hill 70 and therefore named on the Vimy Memorial. However, in March of 2015, BGen (Ret) Greg Young and the late Richard Laughton of Milton, Ontario, determined the remains of an Officer of the 48th Highlanders buried at St. Mary’s A.D.S. Cemetery…
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Nursing Sister Evelyn Verrall McKay in the Great War
NS Evelyn Verrall McKay served with Lt-Col John McCrae in No. 3 Canadian General Hospital (McGill), and like the author of In Flanders Fields, died under similar circumstances later in 1918. Evelyn born on 24 November 1892 in Galt, Ontario. The fifth of six daughters born to Mark Smith McKay and Sarah Marie Verrall. Enlistment…
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Captain Denzil Newton MVO in the Great War
Captain Denzil Onslow Cochrane Newton MVO the first PPCLI officer killed-in-action, fell victim to friendly fire. Shot by the sentry, Corporal Stanley Fred Aylwyn Martin, during battle. Captain Denzil Newton died within hours, just shortly after the first two PPCLI casualties of the Great War. Cpl Stanley Martin later rose in the ranks and promoted…
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Lieutenant James Norman Catton in the Great War
The Black Watch Lieutenant James Norman Catton born in Alexandria, Ontario on 7 February 1896. Private James Norman Catton 133315 enlisted 22 March 1916 in Montréal, with 73rd Overseas Battalion, Royal Highlanders of Canada (RHC), CEF. A student at the time with 15 months previous service in the Composite Regiment, and 18 months with RHC.…