Please share your thoughts on this website about how World War I affected you, your family or home town. If you do not have an immediate connection to World War I but would still like to share your feelings, you can also contribute on these related topics:
- How have other wars that Canadians have fought in affected you, your family or home town?
- What does Remembrance Day mean to you? How do you spend the day?
- Do you think we do enough to honour our veterans?
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Share your thought
All I've ever known about my grandfather is his name, James Edward Booth, and that he was killed in France when my mother was only five weeks old.
She is now 91. I have recently started to trace some of my family history and at the Central Library in Manchester, UK, have found that he died on 27 April 1918 aged 30. His details are 3866, "C" Coy 11th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers and was the son of Edward and Eliza Booth of Manchester. He is buried and remembered with honour in Esquelbecq Military Cemetery, and I now have a picture of the cemetery. I cannot rely on information from my mother now as she has dementia.
I found I was very moved looking at the picture and find it comforting to know he was given a decent burial in a lovely setting. I have printed a copy of the photo with his details to give to my mother. I would love to find out more about him.
Diane, Manchester, United Kingdom
My great uncle was in the Canadian Infantry Manitoba 16th Battalion. Until recently I didn’t know he had been stationed at Lapugnoy, France. My cousin watched the video in Regina and saw his name come up, Andrew Abel, and sent pictures to me which moved me greatly. He died at 19, February 15, 1917. I can’t imagine how my grandparents felt. He will never be forgotten and will always have a special place in our hearts.
J. Poole, Vancouver, British Columbia
I have always had great respect for those who died in wars and have tried my best to instill this in my children. I attend Remembrance Day ceremonies every year, standing through the rain and cold. Many times, while standing there shivering at the cenotaph, I try to imagine what the men on the battle fields must have been feeling. My uncomfortable coldness is absolutely nothing compared to what they must have endured. I honestly don’t know how they lived it.
My grandfather served in the CEF 18th battalion for four years. He was wounded in battle but luckily returned home alive at the end of the war. Last year I was able to access my grandfather’s war records at the National Archives in Ottawa. Reading through his file was amazing as it brought to light small details that were unknown to our family. I would highly recommend others to access their descendants WWI war records. It’s fascinating the small details that can found while reading the file.
God rest each and every person who died serving our country, and protecting the peace of other countries.
God bless and protect each person who is currently serving in our military. Our prayers are also with the families who await the safe return of their loved ones serving in Afghanistan.
B. Roy
Thank you Vigil.
BLAIR LINDEN 634145 Private Canadian Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment) April 02, 1918 Nov 8 5:55 AM
Nobody is alive who knew him, and few remember who he was and what he sacrificed. All that remains of my Great Uncle is a painting of him in uniform, a post card with a picture of him and his commrades, the bronze medal the Government presented to his mother to honor his sacrifice, his headstone in Amiens France, his name on the War memorial in Avenmore Ontario, his name in the book in Ottawa and the few people living who've heard of him. NOW, thanks to your vigil, his name will at least be seen and remembered once again.I was unable to attend in person, but my 17 year old son and I saw it on the net... Thanks again
David M, Burlington, Ontario
My husband noticed the write-up in the Leader-Post and we decided to check out the Vigil. Luckily we were able to see his uncle's name come up at 12:13am in Regina. At the same time, a nephew who has been collecting info re Uncle Clarence & his death. was watching the video feed at his home in Lethbridge, AB....and another nephew went down to the site in Ottawa, ON. This tied our family together......magically. As one nephew said, "it was great to see Clarence's name in lights for the world to see."
Thank you to all who made this possible, especially R.H.Thomson.
Helen H, Melville, Saskatchewan
Dear Vigil,
I only recently discovered that one of my grandfather’s brothers had emigrated to Canada from England during the gold rush. He joined up in Manitoba in 1915, and died at Vimy on October 2nd 1916.
What little I know about this man I discovered from your government’s records, no-one in my mother’s family ever talked about him, when I was a child. From his attestation papers I know he was blue-eyed, dark-haired, and 5’2”. So was my grandfather. His signature on the papers eerily resembles my own mother’s handwriting.
This poor man came out here to seek his fortune, which, of course, he never found; he gave his occupation as farm labourer in Saskatchewan. I can’t imagine what he must have thought of prairie winters, after growing up a furrier’s son in the east end of London. I doubt he ever saw any of his family again, after first coming here. He never married.
He died less than a year after he joined up. He has no grave. He was 31 when he died, the age of my youngest daughter.
I live in Vancouver now, we emigrated here in the sixties. It was pure chance that I turned on CBC radio while I was doing the ironing on Sunday, and pure chance that I’d just found my copy of my great-uncle’s attestation papers the week before. I looked up George’s number in your list, and wept when I found him. His name will appear at 2:46 am GMT on Saturday.
I can only say thank you for this.
Jennie P, Vancouver, British Columbia
This is a wonderful hearthfelt project...my sincere congratulations to RH Thompson for 1914-1918 Vigil.
My father, WD White was a WWI veteran...he came home. My Uncle Howad Shannon is buried in Lapugnoy and my parents friend Clarence Morash is buried in Sains-Les Marquion/British Cemetery.
I live in Whiteside, a tiny hamlot on Cape Breton Island, and each year we gather to remember at our community War Memorial. We have 31 names etched from the WWI and 40 who served in WWII, 5 from the Korean Conflict and 6 from the Merchant Navy.
On this November 11 as in the past ... WE WILL REMEMBER THEM
I write this with tears of gratitude.
Barbara W M, Whiteside, Nova Scotia
Private Ralph Byrne Stuart A/44248 Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment) 14th Battalion killed in action 3 June, 1916. Lost without trace during the defence of the Ypres Salient. Age 21 years. Son of Robert and Anna Stuart of St. Stephen, New Brunswick. Memorialized at Menin Gate (Ypres) Memorial.
Ralph Stuart was my Uncle and the details of his service to his country were unknown to me until this year. By chance I read in the Globe&Mail that a commemoration project for those Canadian soldiers killed in WWI, whose bodies were never recovered, was to take place. I was then able to access a web site giving me a date and time to see my Uncle's name projected. It turned out to be a very emotional night for my wife and me and one that will remain with me for the rest of my life. The news article about The Vigil mentioned that the project "symbolized their silent return home". When I witnessed his name on the side of the Toronto City Hall building I had a very strong emotional feeling go through my old bones. When I saw the reaction of others when a name appeared that they were looking for, then I knew that my emotion was likewise felt by them. I could not describe what the feeling was, but it was real.
I am sure there are many worthwhile projects like The Vigil that have been undertaken over the years but I do not think that there could be an event more powerful than symbolically bringing those soldiers home. The event planners are to be congratulated on a project well done. I would like to think also that such a commemoration be made an annual event to show our younger people that these soldiers that do not have a grave are especially remembered on our Remembrance Day on 11 November.
I understand that a petition is underway to have a Wall of Remembrance for ALL those killed in ALL the wars created in Ottawa. At present Canada does not have one central site showing all those names of service personnel killed in action. What a worthwhile project that is and I hope all Canadians will enthusiastically endorse it by adding their names to the petition or contacting their Member of Parliament
Sincerely,
Philip I, Peterborough, Ontario
My thoughts go back to my grandmother talking about the heartbreak her mother suffered when both her boys died within months of each other while fighting in France. William died in late 1916 and Duncan died in early 1917. Their mother Louisa died soon after hearing of Duncan's death. Her other son Kenneth returned home and lived in Guelph until the age of 74.
I have some of William's letters, that my grandmother had saved, telling of signing up out west, travelling to Halifax and the last one from England, July 29th,1916.
While my father was stationed in Halifax I was born and my mother and I lived in a garage. At the age of 10 months and my mother pregnant with my brother (who is 1 year and 1 week younger than I am ) we travelled to Hamilton to live with and be spoiled by my grandparents and aunts while my Dad was assigned overseas duty.
He came home in August '43 a war amputee after being injured in Belgium. My father, Morley Smith, joined the War Amputations of Canada and actively served them most of his life until Alzheimer's stopped him. We grew up knowing Amps from the first and second world wars. They were a hearty bunch of men with such camaraderie, helping each other solve problems and fighting for their rights.
They had a large impact on my life. My boyfriend's (now husband's) astonishment when he changed to go swimming at the club's pool and it was scattered with multitudinous "arms and legs." Watching double leg amps dive off of the board with grace, seeing the adaptability of an amp missing a left arm and leg as he barrel rolled laps in the pool. Picnics were fun as someone grabbed a spare leg to run in the three legged race or one amp with both legs ran for the fellow with good strong arms who had hit the baseball from his wheelchair. How amazed we were when my father finally wore a pair of shorts because the new suction legs meant he didn't have all those heavy leather straps across his chest. How my father laughed when my brother put pennies in the hole in his leg and it jingled so much when he strapped it on and tried walking.
Dad was a member of the Dominion Council and travelled across Canada meeting other members who became good friends and visited our home. He was also an initiator of the wonderous Champ Amp programme which has helped so many children and their families.
We had a close relationship with other member's families which have lasted. I am proud of my father for his ability -his was not a disability and that is what we grew up knowing.
Anne C, Caledonia, Ontario
Good Morning,
I just happened to glance this morning at Canada AM and saw this man speaking about a project regarding 1914-1918 something I honestly knew nothing about but for some reason it caught my attention. I pulled the website up as it had me curious. I am writing to tell you that I think whomever came up with this beautiful idea is amazing. I thought it was a very thoughtful and generous thing to do for those men and women and all their families who seriously sacrificed more then we will ever know, we all have sacrifices yes but never at that level.
Great Job, BRAVO!
Cathy P, Lorette, Manitoba
My great uncle Audrey L. Foster died at Vimy Ridge on April 9, 1917, serving with the Royal Nova Scotia regiment. My grandfather, his elder brother, was already serving, when Audrey signed up. Audrey wrote his younger brother, asking him to tell their father, because Audrey knew his father had not wanted him to go. In a letter from my great grandmother, after she had received the telegram announcing Audrey’s death, to that same younger brother, she tries to tell the news about their Annapolis Valley village; little things like an escaped cow, or changes at the Church. Interspersed as if she did not know she was writing the words, she would write that her son could not be dead because “his clothes are still hanging in the closet.”
Attached are three photographs of the little cemetery at Thélus, below Vimy, where Audrey Foster is buried. See an image of him in the Photo Gallery. The epitaph chosen by his parents was “It is sad that one we cherish should be taken from our home.”
I will be in Trafalgar Square on Nov. 10 at 5:24 p.m. when Audrey Foster’s name will appear.
Anne F, Kingsburg, NS
This morning's newspaper (
The Province Nov 5th) offered me some very exciting information regarding the long due and amazing, "1914 -1918 Vigil" that had begun the previous day. My heart swelled with anticipation of two of my ancestors to be publicly acknowledged by Canadians for their great sacrifice in WW1. I have their military records, I know their names are engraved on the Menin Gate and Vimy Memorials and now with pride I thank R.H. Thompson for seeing this project through to bring them home.
My greatest disappointment was when I discovered that both of my ancestors, great uncles Mathews, David J. W. and Maitland, Frederick R. names had been already projected! My heart is saddened that I wasn't able to witness this tribute to either of these fine young men.
David James William Mathews was born July 5 1889 at Machynlleth, Montgomeryshire, Wales and immigrated to Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada in 1911 along with his widowed mother, brother and sister. At the age of 26 years old he was single, a Drug Clerk and was involved with the 79th C.H. of C Active Militia. On 22 Jan 1916 he enlisted with the 179th Batt. C.E.F. and was sent overseas aboard the S.S. Saxonia arriving in England on 13 Oct 1916. He was taken on strength to the 17th Batt., then TOS to the 43rd Cameron Highlanders of Canada on 16 Nov 1916. At ZERO hour 5:40 a.m. 26 Oct 1917, in horrendous conditions, David and his company assembled forward of the RAVENBEEK stream to begin the assault for Passchendaele, which resulted in enormous and tactically meaningless casualty levels... a battle which took David's life. He remains one of the many men who's body was not recovered... or perhaps he lays in a grave of an unidentified soldier. His name is engraved on the Menin Gate Memorial. Acknowledged at Vigil - Nov. 4th at 6:10 p.m. R.I.P. Private 859618 David J.W. Mathews, thank you for your sacrifice.
Frederick Robert Maitland was born 11 Oct 1898 at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada great grandson of James Maitland a Scottish soldier in of the War of 1812. In Winnipeg, Manitoba on the 16th of June 1915 at the age 16, Fred enlisted in the army, stating that he was born in 1896, three years prior to his birth. He had been active with the 79th C.H. of C Active Militia before enlisting with the C.E.F. He was sent overseas in 1916. Fred was injured and hospitalized for Shell Shock before being reassigned to active duty. In 1917 while on R&R he married Florence Pitts of Sussex, England before returning to the battle field once again. On 08 Aug 1918 at the age of 19, Fred received a wound to the leg and died in a field ambulance... his grave site is unknown and his name is engraved on the Vimy Ridge Memorial.
Acknowledged at Vigil - Nov 5th at 3:48 a.m. R.I.P. Private 153227 Frederick R. Maitland, thank you for your sacrifice.
Fred's brother Ernest Ross Maitland was born 07 May 1895 at Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada and enlisted with the C.E.F. 08 Oct 1914. He returned from the war and married Fred's widowed war bride, Florence Pitts Maitland.
R.I.P. Private 71616 Ernie Maitland
My paternal grandfather John Whitelaw was born 26 Jan 1888 at Gregg District, Manitoba, he enlisted 15 March 1916 at Carberry, Manitoba and was assigned to the 226th Men of the North before being sent overseas aboard the S.S. Olympic arriving in Liverpool, England on 26 Dec 1916. He was 28 years old when he left behind a wife and four children aged 6 - 1 year, to fulfill his duty and serve his Country. While in England he was T.O.S to the 11th Reserve Battalion, to the 14th Reserve Battalion then transferred to the 43rd Highlanders of Canada before being sent to France. Like many of the men he was stricken with the Spanish Influenza in November 1918 and was hospitalized at Boulogne. He fought at Vimy Ridge and at Passchendaele before embarking from Liverpool, England aboard the S.S. Baltic on 12 March 1919. Once back in Canada he resumed his life with his family, which expanded by another seven children and he worked for the railway.
Apparently, he wasn't ever the same after the war... he became moody and cranky, but back in the day there wasn't a term for post traumatic stress syndrome, one just sucked it up and got on with life the best they could.
I remember my grandfather occasionally talking to my Dad about his experiences during the war... seeing a man killed while shaving when an explosion hit while on R&R, the painful skin on his legs from the mud rubbing the flesh raw (their uniforms were kilts before the pants and putties were issued), taking cover in a dugout only to find himself face to face with a number of German soldiers... all dead. I was only 10 years old when my grandfather died on 21 Sept 1967.
R.I.P. Private 1000986 John Whitelaw.
Foster Walwin Ranson was born 06 May 1894 at Gregg District, Manitoba (brother-in-law to John Whitelaw). Upon enlisting on 25 March 1916 at Carberry, Manitoba it was documented that he was 21 years old and single. He was assigned to the 226th Men of the North before being sent overseas aboard the S.S. Olympic arriving in Liverpool, England on 26 Dec 1916. Like John Whitelaw, Foster was T.O.S. to various Reserve Battalions before being transferred to the 43rd Cameron Highlanders of Canada. Foster was a machine gunner and was involved in various battles including Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele. He embarked from Liverpool, England aboard the S.S. Baltic on 12 March 1919.
Foster enlisted with the C.E.F. as a backup reserve for WW11 and he married in 1943.
In 1976 the Brandon Sun News wrote an article on the 3 remaining "Grizzly Bears" aka "Men of the North", Foster Ranson was one of them.
There were 46 men recruited from Carberry, four, all family men, paid the supreme sacrifice in France. R.I.P.
Private 1000911 David Armstrong died 06 Nov 1917 aged 39 years Acknowledged at Vigil Nov 6th 8:08 p.m.
Private 2129982 Robert Elliott died 18 June 1918 aged 27 years Acknowledged at Vigil Nov 6th 8:31 p.m.
Private 1000931 Herbert Moore died 21 Aug 1917 aged 35 years Acknowledged at Vigil Nov 7th 10:14 p.m.
Private 1000935 John Storyack died 04 Aug 1918 aged 25 years Acknowledged at Vigil Nov 8th 8:15 p.m.
Lorraine S
The letters were old and very faded. Cora had re-read them often in the quietness of her little apartment in the Beaches of Toronto. She had loved him so much and they had been so happy together before the War.
Her three children were grown now and she had 6 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren. When her oldest daughter couldn't type the letters because she would get so overcome remembering her father who went of to War in October of 1915. That daughter, Flora, was my Mother, and gave the job to me. I am the youngest granddaughter of Angus Livingstone Martin.
In 1995, the Year of the Veteran, I published a book called, Letters from Angus, 1915-1916 with letters she received and ones she wrote that he never received.
Angus was born in Dundas, in 1880 and was a printer/compositor for the Saturday Night Press in Toronto. He joined up in November of 1915 after his best friend was killed overseas and left behind a wife and three little children, the oldest of which was my Mother. She was nine when he was killed.
They trained at Camp Niagara, and marched to Exhibition Park, (now the CNE) where training continued until they were shipped by rail to Halifax, N.S. where they went overseas in April of 1916. His letters are full of the hope to be home again with his beloved family. His poetry is heart-breaking, written from the trenches, and this is an example.
If I could bridge the distance,
Or annihilate the space,
That lies beween God's country,
And this God-forsaken place,
Then this dismal Sunday morning,
I't be with you Cora Dear,
Back again on Kippendavie,
With the Babies playing near.
There is much more. He was killed by a trench mortar on July 9th 1916. Cora continued to write to him, even though his letters stopped, until she saw his name in the newspaper on the casualty list. She then got a packet of her letters back, stamped, Killed in Action.
We MUST remember. We HAVE to remember. War is such a waste of good lives. He talked of that red flower growing everywhere long before John McCrea wrote "In Flanders Fields" (1922) Even then, the soldiers felt it sprang up from the blood soaked ground where their comrades had fallen. We don't do enough to honour them all. The organizers of this over-powering VIGIL are to be congratulated. I will watch, hopefully online as his name comes up on November 6th.at 11:13 p.m.
I have been fortunate enough to be at his resting place in the Menin Road South, Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium. But now I feel as if the VIGIL will be bringing him home.
My late Grandmother and my late Mother would be SO pleased.
Thank you very much for all your hard work and dedication,
Jean P.
My father Henry Oliver Clarke, Canadian Expeditionary Forces, # 907140, enlisted Feb. 25, 1916, 195th Regiment out of South Saskatchewan. He never spoke of the war. It was too painful.
I learned after he passed away at the age of 72, that he had been injured by a grenade and the only thing that saved his life was his shovel on his back. He also learned that he had been suffering from T. B. for some time. He was 6'1" and down to 150 lbs. but he fought on until the injury.After much time spent in Field hospitals he was transported home on the Araguaya. He then spent time in a T.B. hospital in Regina.
He never, as I said, talked about his war experience but November 11th was a sacred day to him though. Although I don't ever remember him going to the cenotaph, I do remember him listening to the service on the radio and hearing such voices a Vera Lynn echoing though the house. He was very visibly moved every year. I can only imagine the thoughts that ran through his mind.
He was a very honorable and gentle man and didn't think his daughters and wife should hear of the horrors he saw. I wish now, these many years later, that he would have shared the memories with us as maybe it would have helped him.
I would also like to have this man remembered.
John Cooper, Royal Air force #3107045
He came to Canada from Leeds Yorkshire as a home child in 1910. He was a foundling with no family and they gave him the birth date of Dec. 25, 1896 and possibly the name. He enlisted Feb. 1918 and the last I have found out about him he was in a German P.O.W. camp. I don't know if he had a family or not but he should also be remembered.
Thank you for your Vigil.
Betty M, Calgary, Alberta
I want to congratulate the team that thought up and produced this wonderful tribute to the lives lost.
I don't have a relative to look up but when I heard about the project I wanted to visit the sites where the names would be projected, but that is not possible. The website gave me a special experience, I found myself saying their names out loud, perhaps to bring them to life for a moment. On their behalf and mine thank you very much,
Alyson M
Thank you for this opportunity to honour our First Nations ancestors who demonstrated their allegiance to the Crown by volunteering to fight for democracy. In the words of F.W. Jacobs of Sarnia Reserve, in his Presidential Address, October, 1917, “They were the flower of our Indian youth. Some of them have been killed, others wounded, maimed and disfigured for life…And what are they fighting for? Not for liberty as it is fully understood.” Previously considered ‘aliens’ in Canada , Treaty Indians won the right to vote only in 1960.
I was born in 1965 and I remember being a preschooler sitting on the ground and holding onto my moshom’s (Great-Grandfather’s) oak leg. He smiled down at me and I liked the way his eyes twinkled. He was Edwin Nokusis, identified by Service No. 104449, 68th Battalion, of the WWI Canadian Expeditionary Force. He was a member of Peepeekisis First Nation in File Hills , Saskatchewan , and was reported to be a Farmer / Musician. I know that he was a renowned champion fiddle player. Edwin Nokusis lost his leg in combat, but he survived to return to File Hills and for a time provide a childhood home to my mother. She recalls it was a sod house with a dirt floor and that the goat would graze on the roof. She remembers the time she spent there as her happiest and most secure.
The Vigil Project comes at a pivotal moment for North Americans. Last evening Barack Obama, an African American, was elected the 44th US President and enriched our understanding of what is democracy. I shed tears mixed with grief and joy for Obama's historic victory.
I think F.W. Jacobs said, “Yes we can!” And I think Edwin Nokusis and his contemporaries said, “Yes we can!” Today my heart is open and I am proud of my Moshom’s legacy. His spirit is carried forward...
Lest we forget.
Dianna S, Cowessess First Nation, SK
My 92 year old mother's father was killed at Passchendaele when she was 17 months old. She has a few mementos of him... one or two photos, his medals, and her mother's diary, (which includes touching and concerned comments when his letters stopped coming.)
This imaginative, meaningful, and heartwarming Vigil Project is something profoundly special to be added to the small collection of memories my mother has about my grandfather.
I hope this continues next year... and if it does I'm sure my Mom would love to travel to whatever city is closest, to be able to see her dad's name for 8 seconds. What a unique tribute!
Sincerely,
Dale S, Victoria, British Columbia
The local Truro newspaper called the five Dawson boys 'a band of patriots.' Indeed. All five children of Charles and Ellen Dawson of Truro volunteered and all served at the Front under fire. All five got wounded, Howard fatally, and the wounds of some of the others shortened their subsequent lives. Two of the brothers got Military Crosses. The youngest, Martin Henry, a brand new junior officer in Nova Scotia's famous 85th Highlander battalion, 'the Never Fails,' won a citation with his MC for his outstanding bravery. Despite his wounds, he won his own objective and then went battled on to close a gap in his regiment's frontline, when more senior officers got lost in the dark.
Martin's age combined with too many old war wounds prevented him from going to the front in World War II, so instead he pioneered the development of penicillin. His drive and energy ensured that the NS Highlander troops who landed on D-Day beaches didn't die from infections in their wounds because Pfizer penicillin had arrived in time.
Michael M, Halifax, Nova Scotia
In Regina we had about 300 people in attendance for the opening. The Legislature was sitting but all made their way out front onto the ceremonial landing. The Lieutenant Governor spoke and Premier Wall's speech was incredibly moving. The weather is great (for the time being) and there was a lot of traffic to the site later in the evening.
The Vigil is an extremely powerful event and it is definitely having an impact on our city\province. A local WWII Veteran (Regina Rifles), ex-Deputy Police Chief Dennis Chisholm was interviewed on site at the opening and it was quite emotional to watch. His father was gassed at Ypres and his uncle Jack was killed in the Great War. He will be in attendance at 5:15 p.m. Sunday to see his uncles name appear. I am sure the week will bring a number of stories like this.
Curtis K, Regina, Saskatchewan
Fredericton was beautiful, moving, and evocative. The Minister of Veterans Affairs made a wonderful speech -- nary a dry eye.
We were a few seconds behind and as Warrant Brophy played last post, someone in the crowd looked up and saw his father's name. True story.
Thanks,
Lee Ellen and the Capital Commission team
I was happy to attend the wonderful ceremony in Halifax. In the presence of the full legislative assembly and including the premier and the mayor, the ceremony included a spiritual musical collection from two Celtic singers and harp players, a solo rendition of O' Danny Boy, a bagpiper opening and another closing the ceremony, and a salutation from former premier Dr Hamm. The ceremony concluded with two Seventy Eighth Highlanders in full regalia, standing guard at the entrance to St Paul's church as the names began to scroll. The visual effect of the moving names was awesome!
Tony P, Halifax, Nova Scotia
First of all, this vigil is a powerful act of remembrance and I commend all those who are a part of making it happen. Thank you.
My great-grandfather fought at Passchendaele and Vimy. He was one of the fortunate ones and came home to live a full life. My younger sister traveled to Vimy as a tour guide last year. There she met the man that is now her fiancé! He had come from Ottawa to work at the Vimy monument because his grandfather had fought at Vimy. His grandfather was another of the fortunate men who lived and returned to live a full life in Canada. Now, the two descendants of these survivors are planning a wedding!
I share this story because though it is critical to remember the stories of tragedy and loss, it can also be helpful to remember the stories of triumph. Lest We Forget.
Heather B, Ontario
My great uncle Albert Chew signed up in 1916 in Valleyfield, Quebec with the 150th Carabiniers Mont-Royal. He trained in Val Cartier, Quebec, and then in Whitley, England, finally shipping out to France in January 1918. He was wounded in action on the first day of the 100 day offensive at Amiens, on August 8, 1918, and died in the Australian hospital on August 14, 1918. He is buried at Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension. When he last fought he was with the 14th Battalion, Infantry (Quebec regiment).
I have a photo of my great uncle Albert, my great grandmother Eliza, and my grandfather Wilfred Chew.
The Chew family settled in Canada. They were textile workers in Burnley (near Manchester, England), and they immigrated to Valleyfield, Quebec (south of Montreal) to work in “The Cottons”, a big mill. There were 2 more brothers who also enlisted in 1916: William Henry Chew, and Walter Chew. I don’t know why these boys weren’t included in the photo session with their mother.
Albert Chew was the only son in the Chew family who never came home. I am going to see his name illuminated in Halifax tonight at 8:05 p.m. In a way, he will be coming home.
I am going to attend the Vigil on the Grand Parade in Halifax on Thursday evening, November 6th, 2008, to watch Albert Chew’s name illuminated on St. Paul’s church. I am the maternal grand-niece of Albert Chew and granddaughter of Wilfred Chew.
Debra P, Halifax, Nova Scotia
Did you know? The largest per capita turn-out of volunteers in all of Canada for WWI was Verdun, Quebec.
"Fighting from Home is the product of meticulous research into the municipal workings and community spirit of wartime Verdun, Quebec's third-largest city during the war of 1939-45. Although Verdun has since been incorporated into the city of Montreal, during the war this mixed French- and English-speaking community boasted the country's highest voluntary enlistment rate for a municipality of its size, with approximately one-in-ten residents serving in the armed forces."
Durflinger, Serge,
Fighting from Home: The Second World War in Verdun, Quebec Vancouver: UBC Press, 2006.
Susan R, Montreal, Quebec
I grew up in Ontario and have lived in Alberta for 28 years. My grandfather, whom I never met, lived in Montreal and was in one of the regiments that fought in Ypres that were subjected to the gas that was used by the Germans. He was 20 years of age when the war ended. My grandfather survived the war but died in 1925, at the age of 27 due to complications with his lungs apparently as a result of the gas. My mother was one year old. My grandmother received compensation and worked to support her daughter on her own until my mother was twelve.
I did some research at the Edmonton library on troops from Canada and actually found a book that described the politics around the war, the poor equipment that the soldiers used, the conditions that the soldiers fought in, the battles in Ypres, etc., This book was a real eye-opener and I felt closer to this man and my mother as a result of reading about history that my family members experienced.
When my Mother went into a nursing home I discovered this picture of her father in uniform that I never knew existed. When my mother passed on I took the frame apart and found a newspaper article about the troops fighting in Ypres behind the photo. Unfortunately this was in extremely bad shape and the paper disintegrated. Today I have this picture of my mother's father in my possession and am grateful to have it..
Jane C, Edson, Alberta
My Great Uncle George Milne was a simple Scottish lad from Banchory, Scotland who somehow ended up in Edmonton, Alberta in January, 1915 and joined the 49th Alberta regiment (now the Loyal Edmonton Regiment). He was likely involved in designing the Loyal Edmonton hat badge, which has a Flanders windmill on it and a coyote head as they brought a young coyote with them to France as a regimental mascot.
We don’t know how or why he got to Edmonton or what he was doing there but he was sent to France and was killed at Courcelette, France during the latter days of the Battle of the Somme, September15/16, 1916.
His brother fought with the British army and died after the war from his injuries and the effects of gas attacks. In 1957, George’s cousin coincidentally moved to Edmonton from Scotland and we found his history from 1915. He is remembered on the Vimy memorial. We will be proud to see his name displayed in memoriam. Thanks for doing this memorial project; it is a wonderful thing to see.
Michael R
All my Dad could tell me was my grandfather (who died when my Dad was 7) was born in Canada. I knew we came from Scotland originally so after Dad died in 1973, I began searching each province for our rare surname, trying to find my great grand parents. While looking into Canada, I collected every Scottish record, and Canadian record I found. I was especially touched by the soldiers and sailors who had given their lives for my freedom.
I called them "my lads" and I got very attached during the time (one took three years) to determine his family, regiment, and medals. The Boer War and WWI records in the British archives were burned during the blitz of WWII.
I finally found the graves of Ontario online 15 years after I began, and discovered my great grandparents buried in Fergus, Ontario. A book written on the town contained all my entire family history. A trip to Ottawa uncovered my veterans and the fallen. I couldn't find my great grandfather's gore district militia records but a transcribed pay sheet from 1837 is contained in another book "Fergus, the Story of a Small Town". My great grandfather came from Scotland in 1835.
My grandfather and great uncles naturally would fight for their new country in WWI. Henry Jack Powrie, a cousin who came to live with them from Scotland joined too, and died in France.
After collecting all this data, I'm now planning on writing a book on my surname, and my lads will have a special chapter! They will never grow old, and never be forgotten.
I've posted my research on CGCW, Scots at War, and various Rolls of Honour... http://www.army.dnd.ca/chief_land_staff/remembrance/English/video.asp
Another lovely way to remember our vets on Nov 11, on the 11th hour! Thank you for the remembrace books and for the vigil!
Mary S, Portland, Oregon
I would like to thank R.H. Thomson, Martin Conboy and everyone else involved in the Vigil Project. It’s a great idea to remind us to acknowledge those who sacrificed their lives for the freedoms we enjoy today. I think a lot of us were reminded of how we take democracy for granted when only 59% of the electorate made the effort to vote. It’s shameful.
While going through my late mother’s effects recently, I discovered we have an ancestor who died in France on September 2, 1918. His name is Alexandre Auger. He was closely related to my maternal great grand-mother. (I’m still trying to determine the exact relationship). His projection time is 5:32 p.m. on November 7. Life is strange sometimes. November 7 is also the birthdate of both my late paternal grand-father and late brother.
I have an interest in our history particularly since my father, an uncle, great-uncle, cousins, etc. served in WWII. I have visited battlefields, cemeteries, etc. in Western Europe and Italy and never cease to be both awed by and thankful for what these men and women did for us.
Michelle G, Toronto, Ontario
Granddad
Imagine Granddad with hat in hand
Imagine Granddad in a bunker of sand
Imagine Granddad’s fresh cigarette rolled
Shaking and cold
Imagine Granddad foxed in a hole
Imagine Granddad young… not old
Imagine Granddad so fearless and bold
See it unfold
Flash
Explode
Now imagine Granddad spitting up blood
Imagine Granddad his mind in a flood
Imagine Granddad so far away
Let’s visit today
What are wars reasons
Fickle as seasons
Scott M, Vancouver, BC
My Uncle Jim was born in England: came to Canada with his family in 1912, settling in Theodore, Sask. On Sept 15, 1916, his 18th birthday he joined in the 45 Battalion in Brandon, Man. and took his training at Camp Sewll (Shilo) and also in England. From England he was transfered to the 1st C.M.P. in France for active duty. He was a gunner. He was missing in action Sept 15, 1916.
My mother was born 6 months later and was named Laura after his girl friend. I guess Jaimy wasn’t a name for a girl, yet. We always also knew his name was on the war memorial at Theodor and also on the one at Sheho when the family moved there. Grandpa always laid a wreath on Remembrance Day. Then my Mom, and now a younger sister does the honour.
My mother, Laura, celebrated her 90th birthday same time as the celebration at Vimy Memorial. Jim’s oldest sister, now deceased, had a box of "stuff" at one of her sons. Here he uncovered a real treasure. Uncle Jim’s letters home!!! Through these letters we got to know a bit more of him and the world at that time.
"Saw 3 airships yesterday. They made a devil of a noise, going like a good fast train."
"We had a march right past the parliament building which were burnt down."
( From England) "the mud sticks to our boots better than glue, when they have gathered up as much mud as possible they weigh about 20 pounds."
"…getting nothing to see an airplane now. Not quite the sensation it was at first."
(From France) "I guess I'll be able to homestead when I get back."
"No parcels or very few are sent up to the trenches. We figure it up we are lucky to get letters."
"No, I am not afraid of Fritz's big guns, although I have a healthy respect for them. I do not mind the trenches at all but oh the march out. By the time we go a couple of miles I just feel like a machine moving automatically. It's a pity the Yorkton Fair was not up to much, but what can be expected during the wartime."
"Well, the farmers are starting to cut their crops. They are very backward in the use of implements. a sickle and hand tied sheaves comprise the most. The odd farmer has a mower" [This was the last letter received.]
This was my Uncle Jim we grew up knowing about, and now we know just a little more about his short , courageous life.
Missing in action Sept.15, 1916.
We all feel a little sad at this time of year and rightly so. Thank you Uncle Jim.
Maureen J., Saskatchewan
My first year in Winnipeg as president of the History Society, I felt it important to spend Remembrance Day with my then 4-year old daughter visiting some of the ceremonial events around Winnipeg. I was worried she would be bored an unable to sit still through the solemn ceremonies, but I was very pleasantly surprised. We started outside at a small outdoor ceremony on the corner of Portage Avenue and Valour Road (originally named Pine Street, Valour Road was renamed to honour the three Victoria Cross recipients who hailed from there) and then to the Winnipeg Convention Centre where Veterans from every world war, including one solitary Vet from World War I marched proudly around the parade square.
Much to my surprise my daughter was very attentive to the ceremonies, and had many questions about why the uniforms were different, why they were different ages, what the young cadets’ roles were, and why there were so few women! Since then we’ve made it an annual tradition to do something together on Remembrance Day and it just affirmed for me that children are never too young to think historically!
Deborah M., Winnipeg, Manitoba
A crowd flowed over London Bridge, so many, I had not thought death had undone so many.
When these words were published in 1922, they would have been chilling and all too real for my grandmother, who was of school age during the ‘Great War,’ and who many years later would relate to me her memories of emaciated soldiers returning home, gaunt and vacant-eyed, holes in their coats and boots. ‘So many’ were rendered helpless in the northern mining town that was their home, after having survived the mustard gas and bayonets and all the other grisly miseries of trench warfare.
War is truly the last resort of an enlightened nation, but I believe we have forgotten this somewhere between the lessons of Vimy and the Somme, and the present day. So much sacrificed, and so many undone. We need to remember the poignancy of WWI and place it close to our hearts, at least sometimes: to honour these soldiers not only by imagining the acts of bravery, desperation or madness they may have committed, but also by imagining what we will do when the call to war returns.
David T., Toronto, Ontario
My wife's Uncle Frank died at Vimy Ridge 32 years before her birth.
Having recently acquired copies of his service record and letters to his mother, we have followed his induction into the army in Victoria, his train trip across Canada to Halifax, his voyage to Britain and eventual posting to France. We have inspected his medical history and the payroll records of this man we never knew.
We have wondered how this pious Plymouth Brethren adherent came to be fined for damage to his military overcoat.
And we have read with sadness the emotionless bureaucratic note recording that Frank's final pay had been forwarded to his mother. When last in Victoria we drove by the address in the records. The house still stands.
So many facts about his life that we have learned. But who was he really? What was he like? No one alive today knows more than we do about him--and we know so little that really matters.
It was Frank's first time under enemy fire. He had just turned 19.
Paul J., Toronto, Ontario
I guess to me it just seems so obvious that we should continue to remember the people who fought for Canadian freedoms that I forget that there are other Interests which don't care.
I'll never forget how irate I was in 1999 or 2000 when a local Vancouver TV station decided not to televise the local Vancouver Remembrance ceremony as they usually did because they thought airing a rerun of Vicki Gaboreau would garner them higher ratings.
"Lest we forget" took on new meaning for me that year and every year since.
Tanja H., Winnipeg, Manitoba
In my life I have seen wars that seem to be fought over someone else’s interpretation of how everyone should live.
It saddens me greatly to see the poor, the innocent and the physically weak are manipulated by the weak minded to control and contort lives so viciously and maliciously that death in some cases is preferable to life.
We have powerful countries that try to aid but the aid is mismanaged and never goes where it’s needed. The innocent and weak still suffer.
Yet in our history, we have been visited by 2 great wars that at the time they were being fought also seemed overwhelmingly hopeless…and hope lived, by the daunting efforts of the many to protect and rescue the helpless. We see pictures from the time, where soldiers went to war on bicycles, carrying bayonets and weapons. By today’s standards, they would be laughed at, yet the soldiers of the time, prevailed, successfully. Much can be learned from the men and women of our history. The biggest weapon does not always mean victory.
Amazing, awe inspiring, tear jerking, humbling and grateful are the heartfelt responses I have.
Pat H., Winnipeg, Manitoba
Growing up in a Dutch immigrant family, I grew up hearing stories about the hardships my parents suffered during the World War II occupation of Holland. The war had a direct effect on their decision to immigrate to Canada. And my late mother often said that the happiest day of her life was the day The Netherlands was liberated — a liberation in which Canadian forces played a leading role.
Nelle O., Winnipeg, Manitoba
We plan to re-visit VACs 7-year old online VIRTUAL WAR MEMORIAL and browse the "scrapbook pages" re the CEF War Dead. And re-view the file of our Great War fallen Bert, whom we have managed to put back on the family tree by submitting his and his Cousin Billy's CEF Attestation images, as well as newspaper "clippings" re both from Toronto Star and Globe and Mail online archives. And some kind stranger has photographed Bert's name on the Menin Gate Memorial, and donated it to Bert's file - something we are unable to do. And we are looking for war memorials donated to church which can be photographed and images submitted to VWM files, even if the subjects and families were strangers.
Flora