Trinidad Canadians

[david murdoch]

Here´s something that may be of interest to the Canadian Pals.

I am researching the Trinidad war memorial in Port of Spain, and have found 12 Canadians listed. They were either Canadian or served in Canadian units, and had links to Trinidad. Just going by this number there must have been more who survived.

I have checked them all on CWGC and cross checked on CVWM site - see thier details below. Two I am still looking for more information.....

One of them, Tpr. Hector Wilson is listed as being Strathcona's Horse, but I have not found any information for him. The other is Pte. Hilton Burnley Eccles - he is listed on the memorial as being CMGC, though his details are 24th inf.

Anyone intersted in photos of the memorial / plaques, I will be happy to email.

David.

Private WALTER KENNETH EXLEY

(On memorial - 75thBatt CEF)

541343, 75th Bn., Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment)

who died age 19

on 18 November 1916

Son of Frederick T. and Lillie G. Exley, of Caroni, Trinidad, British West Indies. Born at Victoria, British Columbia.

Remembered with honour

SERRE ROAD CEMETERY No.1. FRANCE

Private CECIL HACKSHAW

(On memorial - Princess Pat’s Reg)

487470, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment)

who died

on 15 September 1916

Son of James Alex. Hackshaw, of Trinidad, British West Indies; husband of Agnes Hackshaw, of Ste. Anne's de Bellevue, P.Q.

Remembered with honour

VIMY MEMORIAL. FRANCE

Private EDWIN L. HAY

(On memorial – Canadians) ( On CVWM as Edwina!)

931020, C.E.F., Canadian Railway Troops

who died

on 12 February 1917

Remembered with honour

SYDNEY (HARDWOOD HILL) CEMETERY. NOVA SCOTIA. CANADA

Acting Bombardier RUTHVEN IGNATIUS PEGUS

(On memorial – Canadian Art)

43570, 9th Bty. 3rd Bde., Canadian Field Artillery

who died age 27

on 19 October 1917

Son of Abraham Pegus, of La Lune, Moruga, Trinidad.

Remembered with honour

POTIJZE CHATEAU LAWN CEMETERY.BELGIUM

Private LEONARD EDGAR POWER

(On memorial – 60th Can)

458306, 60th Bn., Canadian Infantry

who died age 39

on 19 March 1916

Son of Louis Michael and Florence Mary Power, of Morton St., Tunapuna, Trinidad, British West Indies. Native of Addiscombe, Croydon, England.

Remembered with honour

LONGUENESSE (ST. OMER) SOUVENIR CEMETERY. FRANCE

Signaller Raymond A. VIGNALE

(On memorial – Gnr. Canadians)

246, 5th Bde., Canadian Field Artillery

who died

on 08 November 1918

Remembered with honour

ELOUGES COMMUNAL CEMETERY. BELGIUM

Private JAMES SYDER

(On memorial – Canadians)

65955, 24th Bn., Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment)

who died age 23

on 05 December 1915

Son of Joseph and Octavia Syder, of 7, Fraser St., Port of Spain, Trinidad, British West Indies. Native of Trinidad.

Remembered with honour

WESTOUTER CHURCHYARD AND EXTENSION. BELGIUM

Sergeant GEORGE SHINE WILSON

(On memorial – Canadians)

27653, 15th Bn., Canadian Infantry (Central Ontario Regiment)

who died age 35

on 01 May 1917

Son of John Shine Wilson and Mary Wilson, of Trinidad, British West Indies.

Remembered with honour

VIMY MEMORIAL. FRANCE

Private HILTON BURNLEY ECCLES

(On memorial – CMGC)

65304, 24th Bn., Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment)

who died age 29

on 01 October 1916

Husband of Theresa Eccles, of Ibramieh, Ramleh, Alexandria, Egypt.

Remembered with honour

REGINA TRENCH CEMETERY, GRANDCOURT . FRANCE

Captain VERNON JOHN LAMONT ECCLES

(On memorial – KOLR)

31st Bn., Canadian Infantry (Alberta Regiment)

who died age 33

on 27 September 1916

Son of John and Jessie Eccles; husband of Florence J. Atkins (formerly Eccles), of 19, Ingram St., Forest Hills, Long Island, New York, U.S.A. Born at Trinidad, British West Indies.

Remembered with honour

COURCELETTE BRITISH CEMETERY. FRANCE

Private Arthur John DUFF

(On memorial – CEF)

144504, 87th Bn., Canadian Infantry (Quebec Regiment)

who died on 16 November 1917

Remembered with honour

YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL. BELGIUM

Trooper Hector Wilson

(On memorial – Strathcona’s Horse)

No info found on CWGC ON CVWM

[Borden Battery]

One has to remember the geographic extent of the British colonies/future Commonwealth. You should be able to obtain some more background information on these fellows via the following list of Great War websites:

Library and Archives Canada - Soldiers of the First World War (1914-1918)

Over 600,000 Canadians enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF) during the First World War (1914-1918). The CEF database is an index to those personnel files, which are held by the National Archives. To date, over 800,000 images of Attestation papers have been scanned and are being made available on-line.

http://www.collectionscanada.ca/archivianet/02010602_e.html

*Canadian Great War Project

This site is intended to be used to research Canadians who participated in the Great War 1914-1919. The content is primarily database driven to facilitate searches for information. The extensive site is, and will continue to be, a work in progress, and is becoming a collaborative effort among those interested in researching Canada and the Great War. The site is also developing a database of recommended books and websites. The site is hosted by Marc Leroux.

http://www.canadiangreatwarproject.com

Canadian Book of Remembrance

The Books of Remembrance contain the names of Canadians who fought in wars and died either during or after them. All the books are kept in the Memorial Chamber located in the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill. The purpose of creating a site that displays these books on the Internet is to make them more accessible to the public. Quite aptly named are these testaments to Canada's past, for by their very title they remind us to never forget the foundations of courage on which Canada is built.

http://collection.nlc-bnc.ca/100/200/301/i...ks/remember.htm

The Canadian Virtual War Memorial

This site contains a registry of information about the graves memorials of more than 116,000 Canadians and Newfoundlanders who served valiantly and gave their lives for their country.

http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm...ions/virtualmem

The Maple Leaf Legacy Project

A Project in Remembrance of Canada's War Dead. The aim of the Maple Leaf Legacy Project is to photograph or obtain a photograph of every Canadian War Grave of the 20th Century. These photos will be made freely available on the project's web site. The project relies solely on the kind assistance of the hundreds of volunteers and sponsors around the world to get the photographs or to donate funds to help pay for the good work of the project. The Maple Leaf Legacy Project is a registered charity and can issue charitable tax receipts.

http://www.mapleleaflegacy.ca/

[SteveE]

David

Tpr. Hector Wilson's full name is John Henry Hector Wilson,

A link to his attestation papers for Lord Strathcona's Horse are Here and Here

Hope this helps

Steve

[SteveE]

CWGC has this info........

WILSON, JOHN HENRY HECTOR

Initials: J H H

Nationality: Canadian

Rank: Private

Regiment: Lord Strathcona's Horse

Age: 20

Date of Death: 09/12/1917

Service No: 2704

Additional information: Son of George Hector and Rosa C. M. Wilson, of 8, Marli St., Port of Spain, Trinidad, British West Indies.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: P. V. O. 12A.

Cemetery: ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN

Steve

[SteveE]

Hilton B. Eccles' attestation papers are Here and Here

Steve

[david murdoch]

Thanks for the speedy replies - the attestation papers are very interesting to see.

The Canadian websites are something to be proud of!

The Trinidad memorial is not large, but it is a very interesting and diverse one, showing how much of a crossroads for trade and culture Trinidad was/is. Of the 176 names listed on the memorial 81 are British West Indies Regiment (though a couple of them are Venezuelans!). Of the remaining 95 there are the 12 Canadians, 8 French and 1 American. For some reason there are no Indian names either BWIR or other, as they make up a large percentage of the population. The BWIR is an interesting topic in itself.

David.