Editorially speaking…
In place of an Editorial, and in keeping with Remembrance, this week’s Chronicles theme, this tribute to Americans who volunteered to serve King and Country. Our King and Country.
Their sacrifice has been all but overlooked by most historians and is worthy of being recognized and remembered.
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Hardly had the ink dried on last year’s Remembrance Day edition of the Cowichan Valley Citizen than I received a lengthy email from Chris Dickson—all the way from Portsmouth, Virginia. He has extensively researched the burials of American casualties by the Commonwealth War Graves—including those who died while serving in the Canadian armed forces.
After noting my reference to CWGC “non-British burials,” he wrote that there are 3500 American and American-related war graves in Commonwealth countries. He knows the subject well as he has written two books on this subject: The Foreign Burial of American War Dead and Americans At War in Foreign Forces.
What really piqued my interest was his closing line, “You have approximately 35 of them buried near you in B.C.”
In his book, he writes, “Normandy, Flanders Field and other overseas cemeteries of the American Battle Monument Commission (ABMC) are well known. However, lesser-known burial sites of American war dead exist all over the world—in Australia and across the Pacific Rim, in Canada and Mexico, Libya and Spain, most of Europe and as far north as the Russian Arctic.”
Foreign Burial of American War Dead “is the history of American soldiers buried abroad since the American Revolution. It traces the evolution of American attitudes and practices about war dead and provides the names and locations of those still buried abroad in non-ABMC locations.”
These men (and “a boy”) were serving Canada during the two world wars when they died and we should remember them, too. Phthisis, cited repeatedly as the cause of death, is the antiquated medical term for tuberculosis. It’s likely that some of these men were victims of the Spanish ‘Flu Epidemic that began to sweep the globe in 1918.
Here, with minimal editing, is Mr. Dickson’s list. I can’t imagine the amount of work he has put into researching these Americans who served under a foreign flag. Talk about a labour of love...
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There’s at least one veteran of American nationality in Esquimalt’s beautiful Veterans Cemetery. He, too, was serving King and Country.—www.cwgc.org
WORLD WAR 1 – VETERANS’ CEMETERY, ESQUIMALT, B.C.
EVANS, Boy, HENRY I., V/R, HMS Otranto, Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reserve. Died of meningitis, 31 December 1917. Son of Mrs. Ada Evans, of 123 West Boone Ave., Spokane, Wash. Grave Ref. 604.
ROSS BAY CEMETERY, VICTORIA
BOWMAN, Lieut., CARL WELCH, Royal Air Force. Died of phthisis 1 August 1921. Age 33. Son of Mrs. N.B. McGregor (formerly Bowman) of 821 14th St., Cedar Rapids, Iowa and the late Truman Bowman, husband of Gertrude Alice Bowman of Victoria, B.C. Grave Ref. M. 88E.F.
HAMILTON, Pte. JAMES 707066, 103rd Bn., Canadian Infantry. Died of sickness 13 August 1918. Age 37. Husband of Florence J. Hamilton of 4315 Lincoln Way, San Francisco. Grave Ref. L 14W.2.
JOHNSTON, Petty Officer, CLARENCE BURDETT. VR/1313, HMCS Rainbow. Royal Naval Canadian Volunteer Reserve. Died of phthisis 30 December 1920. Age 26. Son of Henry Johnston of Milton, Wash., and the late Ella May Johnston; husband of Dorothy Johnston, Grave Ref. W. 11W.45.
LANGILLE, Pte. EDWIN R., 3187573, 260th Bn., Canadian Infantry/ F+Died of sickness 27 November 1918/ Age 20. Son of Victoria Dickie (formerly Langille) of 56 School St., Burnside Connecticut and the late Solomon Langille. Grave Ref. W. 4E.43.
LEARY, Gunner, ARTHUR JAMES., 706111, 5th Rgt., Canadian Garrison Artillery. Died of sickness 9 November 1917. Age 53. Son of the late Cornelius and Ellen Leary, husband of Alice Ellen Leary, of 440 Homestead Av., Mount Vernon, New York. Grave Ref. 5 IW.44
LISMORE, Sgt., JOSEPH H., 60, 5th Bty., Canadian Garrison Artillery. Died of phthisis, 10 January 1917. Age 25. Son of Elizabeth Lismore, of 509 Esquimalt Road, Victoria, B.C., husband of Sidney White (formerly Lismore), of 5852 South Van Ness Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. Grave Ref. B. 35.
MOUNTAIN VIEW CEMETERY, Vancouver, B.C.
BAILEY, Sgt., JOSEPH W. 2204260, Canadian Forestry Corps, 5 September 1919. Age 47. Son of the late Joseph and Juliette Trott Bailey, of San Francisco, Calif,, husband of Carrie Louise Bailey, of 4518 4th Ave. North-East, Seattle, Wash. Grave Ref: 45. 9, 3
BOOT, Pte., EDWARD, 2907, Canadian Corps Military Police. Died of sickness, 6 May 1921. Age 47. Son of the late Edward and Annie Boot, of Drakefell Rd., New Cross, London, Eng., husband of Sarah Ann Boot of Diamondville, Wyoming. Grave Ref. 45. 23. 12.
BROWN, Sapper, FREDERICK A., 2070, Canadian Engineers. Died of sickness, 12 July 1918. Age 57. Son of Philip Brown of Canning, Kings Co., Nova Scotia, and the late Mary A.H. Brown, husband of the late Elizabeth R. Brown, of Highland Ave., Somerville, Mass. Grave Ref. 38. 34.12
CHAPPEL, Company Sgt.-Maj., ERNEST CLAUSIN, 865958, M.M., 44th Bn., Canadian Infantry (New Brunswick Regt.). Died of sickness, 3 February 19120. Age 26. Son of John and Isabella Chappel, of Bainville, Montana. Grave Ref, 45. 15. 15
DAVIS, Sapper, GEORGE ALLEN, 2204089, Canadian Railway Troops. Died phthisis, 20 October 1919. Age 43. (Served as ALLEN). Son of Mary D, Whitman (formerly Davis), of Campbell, Calif., and of the late John Franklin Davis. Grave Ref. Jones 45. 11. 11
DAVIS, Corporal, THOMAS EDWARD, 1037178, 238th Bn., Canadian Infantry. Died of sickness, 19 January 1918. Age 57. Son of the lte Thomas and Caroline Davis, husband of Jennie H. Davis, of 910 North 74th St.,Seattle. Grave Ref. 45. 5. 13
DUNCAN, Pte., JAMES C., 1015058, Canadian Infantry. Died of sickness, 10 July 1916. Age 44. Son of the late Thomas and Annie Cassie Duncan, of 1044 16th St., Detroit, Mich., husband of Maggie Duncan of 534 Princess Ave., Vancouver, B.C. Grave Ref. 44. 6. 11
EDGECUMBE, Pte., SIDNEY R., 941, Canadian Railway Service Guard. Died of phthisis, 18 December 1918. Age 19. Son of Mrs. Agnes Edgecumbe of 1411 Ogden St., Denver, Col. Grave Ref. 35. 18. 1
GILLISSIE, Capt., HAROLD G. Canadian Infantry, Medical Corps. Died of pneumonia, 21 February 1918. Age 35. Son of J.M. Moody (formerly Gillissie), of Larkins, Florida, and the late Joseph Bennett Gillissie. Grave Ref, 45. 5. 9.
HUGHES, Pte. EDWARD BLAIR, 2015426, Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment). Died of pneumonia, 23 October 1918. Age 22. Son of John A. Hughes, of Matsonville, Calif., and the late Mary Alice Blair Hughes. Grave Ref. 35. 17. 11.
JAMES, Pte. CARL, 2024223, Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment). Died of pneumonia, 1 November 1918. Age 18. Age 35. Son of the late Joseph Davis James and Elizabeth Anna James, of Minnesota. Grave Ref. 35. 18. 2.
JOYAL, Pte. ELI FELIX, 2140278, 11th Canadian Garrison Regiment. Died of pneumonia, 19 October 1918. Age 31. Son of Mrs. Edouard Dina Joyal, 5715 42nd Ave. South, Seattle, Wash., and the late Philip Joyal. Grave Ref. 35. 20. 4.
MARPOLE, Capt., CLARENCE MAWSON, 239th Bn., Canadian Infantry. Died of sickness 16 July 1918. Age 40. Son of Emmeline R. Marpole,of Assembly Hotel, Seattle, Wash., and the late Richard Marpole, husband of Mary Gifford Powell (formerly Marpole), of Vancouver. Grave Ref, R.G.E.H. B. 1. 25. 6.
McARTHUR, Pte., ROBERTA. 646238, 29th Bn., Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment). Died of pneumonia, 1 February 1919. Age 27. Son of Alexander C. and Rose McArthur of 522 11th Ave, North Seattle, Wash. Grave Ref. 45. 7. 11.
McLEAN, Lieut., DANIEL H. D.CM., 72nd Bn., Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment). Died of phthisis, 2 June 1921. Age 25. Son of Daniel and Louisa McLean of 317 Fischer St., Glendale, Calif. Grave Ref, 45. 23. i8.
PITCHFORD, Pte., STEVEN, 76185, 29th Bn., Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment). Died 9 February 1919. Age 42. Son of Edmund Pitchford of Chicago, Ill., husband of Isabel Pitchford of 210 Garden Drive, North Vancouver, B.C. Grave Ref, 45. 6. 13.
QUINTON, Pte., EDWARD, 17948, 7th Bn., Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment). Died of pneumonia, 28 February 1919. Age 33. Son of Jesse Quinton, of 58 Bury St., Stowmarket, Suffolk, Eng. Husband of Florence May Elderson (formerly Quinton), of 2320 Barnard St., Savannah, Georgia. Grave Ref., 43. 6. 14.
ROCHE, Pte., CHARLES W., 2638880, 1st Bn., Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment). Died of phthisis, 27n May 1920. Age 25. Son of Charles F. Roche, of Quay St., Port Huron, Mich., and Alice W. Roche of Adrian Court, Seattle. Grave Ref, Jones 45. 13. 4.
ROLLINS, Pte. WILLIAM A., 2244880, Canadian Forestry Corps. Died of pneumonia, 10 June 1919. Age 34. Son of Dora L. Randall (formerly Rollins), of 4 College St., Lewiston, Maine., and the late James H. Rollins. Grave Ref. 45. 10. 12.
TANNER, Pte., THOMAS, 79789, 31st Bn., Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment). Died of sickness, 26 February 1920. Age 50. Son of the late Thomas Tanner, of Wiltshire, England, husband of the late Selena Tanner, of Elgin, Nebraska. Grave Ref. Jones 45.14.2.
THOMAS,, Sapper, WILLIAM, 506706, 4th Tunnelling Co., Canadian Engineers. Died of sickness 16 April 1919. Age 43. Son of the late George and Margaret Thomas; husband of Emma Frenna (formerly Thomas), of 1826 Webster St., Alameda, Calif. Grave Ref. Jones 45. 8. 2.
THURNHAM, Sapper, WILLIAM HERBERT, 2203580, Canadian Railway Troops. Died of cerebral hemorrhage, 30 October 1920. Age 41. Son of Anna Thurnham, of Midland Villa, Hemel Hempstead, Eng., and the late James Thurnham, husband of Etta May Thurnham, of 624 South Briel St., Los Angeles, Calif. Grave Ref. Jones 45. 21. 1.
WESTERN, GORDON RICHARD, 339358, 68th Bty., Canadian Field Artillery. Died of phthisis, 7 January 1921. Age 25. Son of William and Elizabeth Western, of 6132 Brand South Block, Glendale, Calif. Grave Ref. 21. 45. 7.
WORLD WAR 2 – FOREST LAWN MEMORIAL PARK, BURNABY, B.C.
JESSEE, Flight Lieut., JAMES PYLE, J/26908, D.F.C., Royal Canadian Air Force. [Died] 11 September 1946. Age 26. Son of Connley Trigg Jessee and Margaret Augusta Jessee, of Lebanon, Virginia., husband of Marjorie e. Jessee, of Vancouver, B.C. Grave Ref. Summit Sec. Lot 291. Grave 3.
ROYAL OAK BURIAL PARK, Victoria, B.C.
DAWSON, Sgt. JOSEPH, R/58418, Royal Canadian Air Force. 9 May 1941. Age 22. Son of John G. Dawson and Helen F. Dawson, of Berkeley, Calif. Grave Ref. Sec. D. Plot 11, Grave 6.
MOUNTAIN VIEW CEMETERY, Vancouver, B.C.
CUTTLE, Pte., CHARLES ROY, K/49007, Veterans Guard of Canada. 5 November 1943. Age 50. Brother of Vera Batchelor, of Arlington, Mass., Grave Ref. Block 6, Plot 34, Lot 12.
EVANS, Pte., NORMAN DAVID, K/69994, Veterans Guard of Canada. 2 March 1946. Age 58. Uncle of Oliva La Plant, of Bellingham, Wash. Grave Ref. Block 1, Plot 2, Lot 6.
McDOLE, L/Cpl. ARCHIE JOHN, K/62830, Canadian Scottish Regiment, R.C.I.C. 14 August 1947. Age 50. Son of John and Wealthy McDole, of Indianola, Iowa. Husband of Mary B. McDole, of Vancouver, B.C. Grave Ref. Block 7, Plot 4, Lot 11.
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Like the legions of Canadian war casualties who are interred on foreign soil, these unsung American citizens, most of them young, some of middle-age, volunteered to serve under the Red Ensign. They, too, take their eternal rest far from home.