Many locals paid ultimate sacrifice
WELLINGTON COUNTY – Locals were among the over 108,000 Canadians who died while serving in the First and Second World Wars.
This article highlights just a few of them, using information compiled from Veteran Affairs Canada’s Canadian Virtual War Memorial, unless otherwise stated.
Charles Wilson
Private Charles Wilson was born on June 13, 1922, in Eden Mills. He was the only child of Wilkins Roy Wilson and Susan Irene Wilson (nee Spinks).
He grew up in Eden Mills and went to high school in Guelph, where he played hockey for the Guelph Juveniles.
Before enlisting on Sept. 28, 1943, Wilson worked at the Cooke and Denison Tool and Die Works of Guelph.
He was deaf in one ear from a childhood ear infection, and was initially classified as “medically unfit for overseas duty.” But he was re-categorized on Feb. 9, 1944, and went to Camp Petawawa to train as a driver and gun fitter for the Royal Canadian Artillery.
Wilson left for England on Nov. 21, 1944, and on Dec. 2 he voluntarily transferred into the Lincoln and Welland Regiment as a private.
He trained for two more months in England and then travelled to the Netherlands.
After five weeks there, Wilson was killed in action in Veen while taking part in door-to-door and room-to-room fighting on March 8, 1945. He was 22 years old.
Wilson was initially buried in Sonsbeck, but his body was exhumed shortly after the war and is now at the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery in the Netherlands (IV. H. 1.). His name is on page 576 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance in the Peace Tower of the Canadian Parliament Buildings in Ottawa.
Donald Small
Flight sergeant Donald Small was the son of Wesley and Flora Small of Conn.
Before enlisting, Small was a farmer, and he was married to Viola Small.
He served in the Royal Canadian Air Force, Squadron 624. On June 16, 1944, when Small was 20 years old, an aircraft in which he was flying crashed during takeoff, and Small died.
In a letter to Viola, the flight sergeant’s commanding officer wrote: “Although your husband was with us only a short time, he quickly made himself popular, and I cannot express my sympathies to you in a sufficiently adequate manner on paper.
“Your husband was a fearless and efficient gunner. He exhibited a spirit that was admirable, and he was tremendously keen,” the letter continues. “His loss is a blow to us all.”
The commanding officer said Small was “buried by his comrades at Dely Ibrahim Military Cemetery with full military honours.”
Small’s grave reference is 4. A. 6, and his name is on page 445 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
Alice Cook
Nursing Sister Alice Cook was born in Mount Forest on Dec. 29, 1893, to J.J. and Annie Cook (nee Stovel).
She had three sisters and one brother: Joy McKechnie of Coburg; Effie Emmett of Fonthill; Agnes Cockburn of Mount Forest; and Roy Cook of Toronto.
Cook graduated from the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto and worked as a nurse.
She died from influenza and pneumonia on Dec. 31, 1918, while volunteering at the Hospital for Invalid Soldiers on Isabella Street in Toronto. She was 25 years old.
According to the Wellington County Museum and Archives (WCMA), Cook was “the only female from Wellington County to die as a result of war service” in the First World War.
All information about Cook is from the WCMA’s online records.
William Burleigh
Private William H. Burleigh was born on June 23, 1897, to William O. Burleigh and Florence (nee McDonald) of Rothsay.
According to a Dec. 18, 1916 article in the Toronto Star, “he enlisted over a year ago, at the age of 18, with the 83rd Battalion, and went overseas from Toronto in April. Two months later he reached the trenches with a draft.”
He was wounded in October 1916, and reported missing that same month. In July 1917, it was reported that he was presumed to have been killed in action. He was 19.
Burleigh is buried in the Adanac Military Cemetery in Somme, France (V. C. 29..) and is commemorated on page 61 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.
William Finnie
Private William Finnie was born in Elora to parents John and Mary Finnie of Salem.
He served with the “A” Coy division of the Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment) 19th Battalion.
Before enlisting, Finnie worked in Toronto as a clerk with the Massey-Harris Company.
Finnie’s younger brother also served in the Canadian military during the First World War.
On Nov. 16, 1915, Finnie wrote to friends in Toronto and said he was in good health.
Finnie was killed in action on Nov. 28, 1915. He died from wounds.
He is buried in the La Cyltte Military Cemetery in Belgium (I. B. 17) and
commemorated on page 14 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.
Schmidt brothers
Pilot Officer Frederick Schmidt and Gunner Leo Schmidt were the sons of Joseph and Clara of Arthur.
Both sons died while serving in the Second World War.
Frederick served in the Royal Canadian Air Force’s 500th Squadron and was 27 when he died on April 1, 1944.
He is buried in the Malta Memorial in Florina (panel 16, column 1).
Leo served in the Royal Canadian Artillery’s fourth light anti-aircraft regiment and was 23 when he died on July 22, 1944.
He is buried in the Beny-Sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery in Calvados, France (XV. G. 3.).
Both Schmidt brothers are commemorated on page 437 of the Second World War Book of Remembrance.
David Black
Corporal David Black was the youngest son of Ann Black from Belwood. David’s older brothers, William and Samuel, also served overseas with a local battalion.
Before enlisting in February 1916, Black was a cabinet maker in Stratford.
He then trained at the Military Hospital in London.
In August 1917, Black was awarded the Military Medal for conspicuous gallantry at Vimy Ridge, a year after going overseas with the Canadian Field Ambulance.
Black was killed in action on Aug. 15, 1917, in France. He was 23 years old.
He is buried in the Barlin Communal Cemetery (II. C. 42.) in Pas-de-Calais, France and is commemorated on page 202 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.
Earle Lavery
Private Earle Lavery served in the First Battalion of the Canadian Infantry (Western Ontario Regiment).
He was the son of Meredith Lavery of Wallenstein.
Lavery died on Sept. 2, 1918, at 23 years old.
He is buried in the Sun Quarry Cemetery in Pas-de-Calais, France, near the village of Cherisy (F. 6.). Cherisy village was captured by the Allied 18th Division on May 3, 1917, but lost the same night; and it remained in German hands until it was retaken by the Canadian Corps on Aug. 27, 1918.
He is commemorated on page 446 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.
Archibald Ellis
Sapper Archibald Ellis was the son of Thomas W. and Isabella Ellis of Clifford.
During the First World War, he served with the fourth battalion of the Canadian Engineers and died on Oct. 1, 1918, at 21 years old.
Ellis is buried in Pas-de-Calais, France, in the Quarry Cemetery (E. 7.).
He is commemorated on page 403 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.
Robert Brooks
Chief Radio Officer Robert Brooks was born Oct. 25, 1921, in Chatham to parents Harold Cyril Brooks and Mary Teresa Haley of Harriston.
During the Second World War, he served and fought in France and Belgium with the 164th Canadian Corps of Signals Company.
He was with the S.S. Point Clear (of Greece) division of the Canadian Merchant Navy.
Brooks died on April 5, 1942, in Vezagapatam Harbour, Bay of Bengal, India.
He is buried in the Madras War Cemetery in India (4. A. 7.) and is commemorated on page 101 of the Merchant Navy Book of Remembrance.
John Cowen
Corporal John Cowen was born on Feb. 11, 1890 in Maryborough Township.
His parents were Nathan and Elizabeth Cowen of Alma.
Cowen enlisted in Guelph on Jan. 18, 1915. He served in the 14th Battalion of the Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment Cowen died on June 2, 1917.
He is buried in the Vimy Communal Cemetery in Pas- de-Calais, France (E. ¼.) and is commemorated on page 221 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.
