John Gilinsky Posted 17 May , 2009 Share Posted 17 May , 2009 http://www.walhachin.com/soldiers.htm The above link is to a new Walhachin, British Columbia website that lists all the 97 enlistees from this small (300 residents in 1914) interior British Columbia, Canada "English" settlement or development. Unfortunately many of the names are "common" and the website does not typically give the full Christian names of middle names of the individuals. Nevertheless it is a start for researching in depth this fascinating semi-ghost town (current population estimates range from 100 to 150). The website also gives some additional information on sources, an email contact soliticing anyone who has further information on these men and bibliographical references. Walhachin had as the website proudly asserts the highest per capita enlistment for the whole country. It virtually became a ghost town due to the war. I believe that the British Columbia government placed near the Trans-Canada Highway(?) a large brass historical marker indicating this to people overlooking the bleak arid valley below. Does anyone have any photos of what became of this marker? Is it still there? Thanks John Toronto (ex-British North America) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete1052 Posted 17 May , 2009 Share Posted 17 May , 2009 Possibly the historic marker is the one shown at the end of this article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Gilinsky Posted 17 May , 2009 Author Share Posted 17 May , 2009 Thanks Pete: you are quick! I think that this is indeed the marker BUT there may have been a more gound hugging earlier one or later one. Does anyhone know if this BC historical metal marker is still standing? John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanCurragh Posted 17 May , 2009 Share Posted 17 May , 2009 John - thanks for the link to the website. We are hoping to pass through Walhachin on our holiday in BC later this year - I found this photograph on Google Earth, so hopefully the sign is still there. I recall reading about Walhachin having sent the highest proportion of men to the war - and of being the home town of Gordon Flowerdew VC This is another webpage about the town - http://www.michaelkluckner.com/bciw6walhachin.html Alan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Gilinsky Posted 17 May , 2009 Author Share Posted 17 May , 2009 An additional reference for Walhachin generally is: Zuehlke, Mark (yes the Canadian military historian and writer) "Scoundrels, Dreamers & Second Sons. British Remittance Men In The Canadian West" Vancouver, B.C.: Whitecap Books Ltd., 1994 viii, 211 pages ISBN: 1 - 55110 - 197 - 1 Chapter 8: "Walhachin" The book is a good read and is reasonably documented. John Toronto Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Shand Posted 18 May , 2009 Share Posted 18 May , 2009 Hullo John, yes the marker is still there, as are the ghosts described on the sign, only they are fading with time and the water flumes and few remaining stunted apple trees are more difficult to discern. Attached is a copy I made of the table of Walhachin residents from the 1914 census, as published in Joan Weir's Walhachin- Catastrophe or Camelot. I started researching each name through CWGC and other sources, but did not progress very far. Only Gordon Flowerdew. VC and W. S. Tennant were confirmed as casualties. Regards, Pete S. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Gilinsky Posted 18 May , 2009 Author Share Posted 18 May , 2009 Peter: Thanks so much for posting this. Any way to enlarge or enhance your graphic file so we can make out the actual names? I think that there were about 300 residents including 105 males in the town in August 1914. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Shand Posted 18 May , 2009 Share Posted 18 May , 2009 Hi John; Here is a 100 kb image. If not legible ,please PM me your email address and I'll send you a higher resolution file. Cheers, Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Gilinsky Posted 18 May , 2009 Author Share Posted 18 May , 2009 Thanks Peter. It is certainly better and is just legible. Interesting to see how many had served or were serving in the 31st. B.C. Horse or other local militia units. John Toronto Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest samted25 Posted 7 March , 2011 Share Posted 7 March , 2011 Thanks for the great information on Walhachin. I have been researching Edward Bertram who lived there, though for some reason not on the census in the book quoted. A great source of information on the military endeavours of this town can be found on page 23 of the attached link. http://www.library.ubc.ca/archives/pdfs/bchf/bchn_2000_spring.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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