THIS SECTION REMEMBERS THOSE MEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES SERVING WITH THE CANADIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE AND THE ROYAL AIR FORCE IN AID OF THE KING OF BRITAIN AND THE EMPIRE.
ALL THESE MEN ANSWERED THE CALL WITH THE SAME PASSION AND ENTHUSIASM AS MEN ALL OVER BRITAIN DID.
A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF THIS IS OF CAPTAIN S. T. EDWARDS OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCE WHO IS REPORTED TO HAVE WALKED 200 MILES TO JOIN UP WITH HIS THREE FRIENDS.
IF YOU HAVE ANY PHOTOS OR DETAILS OF THE MEN MENTIONED BELOW OR KNOW OF ANY MEN WITH CANADIAN CONNECTIONS FROM THIS AREA PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME WITH THEIR DETAILS AND I WILL PLACE THEM ON THIS SITE THANK YOU.
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PRIVATE WILLIAM BARNES.
SERVICE NUMBER: 525190. UNIT: 7th Bn British Columbia Regiment Canadian Regiment.
BORN: Bickerton. ENLISTED: Canada. RESIDENCE: Canada.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 02/09/1918. AGED: 41.
LOCAL MEMORIAL: St Helens Church Bilton.
CWGC States:
"Son of George and Mary Barnes, of Bickerton, Wetherby, Yorks, England.
Husband of Maud Louisa Barnes, of Trail, British Columbia."
Son of George Born Bickerton 1838 and Mary Morley Born Copmanthorpe nr York 1839 who married at Copmanthorpe in 1861.
William had a brother George Born Bickerton 1872 and sisters Annie S. Born 1869 Elizabeth Born 1870 Eliza Born 1874 and Maria Born 1876 all born in Bickerton.
William was living and working in York in 1901 as a Railway Porter and emigrated to Canada after this date.
He joined up in Victoria British Columbia on the 24th February 1917, William gave his birthday as 21st November 1876 and was married to Maud Louisa his profession was as a smelterman.
His religion was Church of England.
At his medical on the 07th March 1917 William was described as being 5ft 7 1/2 inches tall with a dark complexion, brown eyes and greyish brown eyes.
GRAVE: A.17.
CEMETERY: Upton Wood Cemetery,Hendecourt-Les-Cagnicourt.
(Notice the mist to the left of the picture above the grave stones.
It was a clear overcast day when the picture was taken and there was nothing to deflect onto the lens !)
In the background is Upton Wood where the Canadians attacked from.
William lost his life attacking the Germans who were situated on the ridge at the front of the wood you can see in the above picture.
To the rear of the cemetery where the picture is taken from is Upton Wood which today still bears the scars of battle including trenches.
There is a danger sign as you approach the wood due to the explosives still in the ground.
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SERJEANT ARTHUR EDWIN CHAPMAN.
SERVICE NUMBER: 746278. UNIT: 116th Bn Manitoba Regiment Canadian Infantry.
BORN: Bilton nr Wetherby England. ENLISTED: Oshawa Ontario.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 13/09/1918. AGED: 28.
MEMORIAL: St Helens Church Bilton. Oshawa Memorial Canada.
CWGC States:
"Son of George and Jane Chapman, of Bilton Cottages, Bilton, York, England."
CEMETERY: Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension. GRAVE: IV. B.16.
Arthur was the son of George Born Tockwith 1857 and Jane Livsey Born Barlow 1858 they married in 1884.
Arthur was part of a large family and had brothers James Edmund Born Bilton 1888 Wilfred Born Moor Monkton 1896 and Harold Herbert Born Tockwith 1899 and sisters Bertha Born Bilton 1886, Elsie Born Tockwith 1900 and Mary Born Bilton 1892.
In 1901 Arthurs father was running the the Bay Horse Public House Tockwith nr York, if Arthurs father was a publican it would explain why the children were born in different areas of Yorkshire.
Arthur at some time in the early part of the century emigrated to Oshawa Canada and worked as a farmer.
On the 26th of October 1915 Arthur joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force he was unmarried and gave his next of kin as his mum Jane of Bilton England.
Arthur gave his date of birth as 20th December 1892 ( records show it was 1890 could that have been his christening) and was a Methodist by religion,.
Arthur was 5ft 3 inches tall with a fair complexion.
Arthurs signature on his attestation papers.
With special thanks to Marika Pirie of Toronto Ontario Canada for the above postcard and taking time to e-mail me.
The Oshawa Memorial Park in Oshawa Canada this picture is from the 1940s.
On the memorial is enscribed a C. Chapman we will presume this is Arthur as mistakes were often made and let us not forget Arthur was not married and names were usually given by close relatives, in Arthurs case they were back home in Yorkshire.
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CAPTAIN STEARNE TIGHE EDWARDS.
SERVICE: Royal Air Force.
BORN: Carleton Place Ontario Canada. ENLISTED: Ontario Canada.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 21/11/1918. AGED: 25.
CEMETERY: Tadcaster England.
MEMORIAL: Presbetarian Church Carleton Place Canada.
AWARDS: Distinguished Service Medal and Distinguished Service Cross.
Stearne was born in Franktown Ontario Canada on the 13 February 1893 to Edwin Dennis and Annie Caroline Tighe and had a brother called Edward.
The family lived in Carleton Place a town on the mississipi river in Ontario Canada.
At the outbreak of war it was reported that Stearne walked 200 miles from Port Nelson where he was working as a Railway Construction worker to join up with three of his pals including his best friend Arthur Roy Brown who was credited with shooting down the Red Barron.
Stearne joined the Royal Naval Air Service and attended the Wright Brothers flying training school in Dayton Ohio US, where he attained his ACA certificate on the 13th October 1915, and on the 31st was given the rank of Sub-Lieutenant in Otttowa.
Stearne was posted in April 1916 to Eastchurch Airfield in Kent this airfield was used by the RNAS for training their pilots in target practice.
Stearne moved around squadrons throughout the war included a posting for a short time with his best friend Arthur Roy Brown, attaining 16 kills to become one of the top Canadian Aces of the war.
He was given the DSC being mentioned in the London Gazzette on 17 November 1917 for recognition of services including:
"driving an aircraft into the sea and on the same day he attacked three more aircraft inflicting damage to another aircraft shooting its wings off."
Eventually the pressure told on Stearne and in May 1918 he suffered a nervous breakdown and he was sent home to Canada on leave to recouparate and rest.
On the 18th June 1918 in the London Gazzette on the same page as his best friend Arthur Roy Brown, Stearne was awarded the DSC Bar for conspicuous bravery and brilliant leadership of fighting patrols against enemy aircraft.
"On the 2nd May 1918 Stearne was leading a patrol of four aircraft when they encountered a hostile formation of eight enemy scouts and drove one enemy plane out of control.
Soon afterwards Stearne encountered another formation of six enemy aircraft driving one down only breaking off when he ran out of ammunition."
Stearne was posted back to No 38 Training Squadron at Tadcaster Bramham Moor Airfield in October 1918 as a trainer.
On the 12th November 1918 one day after the war ended Stearne was injured in a flying accident whilst controlling a Sopwith Camel.
Stearne passed away on the 22nd November 1918 from injuries received. (Can you help with details of this crash)
Arthur Roy Brown survived the war and never forgot his best friend dedicating a plaque to Stearne in the Presbyterian Church in Carleton Place Canada, he is also remembered on the Carleton Place War Memorial.
Stearne lies in Tadcaster Cemetery (SEE BELOW) near to another airman 2nd Lt E.F.Reynolds who crash landed in the local area around Tadcaster in December 1918.
News of Stearnes tragic accident was reported in the Perth Courier Ontario Canada on the 20th December 1918.
The final resting place of Stearne Tighe Edwards in Tadcaster.
"In loving memory of Captain Stearne Tighe Edwards DSC RAF
son of Mr and Mrs Edwards, Carleton Place Ontario Canada who died of injuries received on Armistace Day."
"A Brave and Gallant Gentleman."
The saddest note for me personally was that when i visited Stearnes grave all the other graves with Commonwealth War headstones had been visited and a poppy placed on each one, including a grave right next to Stearnes.
The aim of this site is to ensure that we do "Remember Them" and while Stearne may be remembered in his homeland his grave as been left untouched.
All the men who gave their lives were heros but Stearne was in every sense of the word a true Canadian hero and he deserves better and next rememberance day we will remember him.
You can find more details of Stearnes life by visiting www.theaerodrome.com click on Aces then by nation click on Canada and go to page two click on Stearnes name details will follow. Or to read about Roy Arthur Brown Stearns best friend who shot down the Red Barron try www.constable.ca/brown.htm (be aware this will take you away from this site )
If you have any pictures or information please contact me .
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SECOUND LIEUTENANT ERNEST FULTON REYNOLDS.
UNIT: Royal Air Force.
BORN: Canada. ENLISTED:
GAVE HIS LIFE: 10/12/1918. AGED:
LOCAL MEMORIAL: None.
2nd Lieutenant Reynolds was flying a Sopwith Camel E7149 from no 46 Training Depot South Carlton.
On the 10th of December 1918 Ernest he got lost in fog crashing somewhere near Tadcaster.
CEMETERY: Tadcaster Cemetery. GRAVE: B4. F. 24.
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PRIVATE DANIEL D. HARLAND
SERVICE NUMBER: 790215. REGIMENT: 47th Bn Canadian Infantry.
BORN: York ? ENLISTED: New Westminster British Columbia. RESIDANCE: Mission British Columbia.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 21/08/1917- 25/08/1917. AGED: 30.
CEMETERY: Vimy Memorial.
MEMORIAL: Kirk Fenton Church Yorkshire England.
The son of James and Elizabeth Denton, Dans mum Elizabeth was living in Church Fenton when he gave his life.
Dan joined up into the first world war on 10th of December 1915 on his papers he explained his next of kin was James who was residing in Harrogate North Yorkshire.
And that he was working as a labourer and he was already in the 104th presumably a terratorial brigade.
Dan was described as being 5ft 6 and a half inches with a chest size of 36 and a half inch with brown eyes a medium complexion and a mole on his right shoulder blade.
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PRIVATE JAMES ROBINSON
SERVICE NUMBER: 447824. UNIT: 50th Bn Alberta Regiment Canadian Infantry.
BORN: Knaresborough England. ENLISTED: Calgary Alberta. RESIDANCE: Calgary Alberta.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 11/01/1917. AGED: 34.
MEMORIAL: None.
James was born on March the 13th 1883 to John born 1843 and Elizabeth born 1851 he had brothers William born 1869 Harry born 1880 and sister Esther born 1885 all born in Knaresborough North Yorkshire.
In 1905 at Knaresborough James married Rhoda Birdsall born 1880 in Stutton near Tadcaster to Arthur Birdsall born Stutton 1857 and Mary Ann born Colling Suffolk 1856.
James and Rhoda emigrated to Canada between 1905 and 1915 and James worked as a teamster, when James joined up on November 5th 1915 they were residing at 2102 16A St West Calgary.
James was described at his medical as being 5ft 9 inches tall, having a chest size of 34 inches with brown eyes a dark complexion and dark brown hair.
Above is the signature of James from his attestation papers.
(Thank you to Tony Cheal of Harrogate for the following piece which he had researched for his website and has kindly let me place on this page.)
Harrogate Herald 31st of January 1917
We regret to hear of the death of Private James Robinson, who was killed on action on the 11th January while discharging the duties of sentry at a difficult and trying post, laying down his life as nobly as any soldier could.
He was a native of Knaresborough and was employed by Arthur Taylor, greengrocer, Knaresborough, for twelve years before going out to Canada, where he voluntarily enlisted.
He leaves a widow and three children, who reside at 9 Hampden Terrace, York Road, Tadcaster.
Harrogate Herald 1917
Mrs J Henry, Briggate, Knaresborough, has received intimation that her brother, Private James Robinson, of the Canadian Infantry, has been killed.
The Lieutenant of his regiment states that he was shot whilst coming off sentry.
Private Robinson was the son of John Robinson, of Meadley Square, and before migrating to Canada was ten years in the employ of Arthur Taylor, fruiterer, of High Street. He was in his 33rd year, and leaves a wife and three children.
GRAVE: II. D. 9.
CEMETERY: Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery.
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FLIGHT CADET CHARLES SPURGEON THEOBOLD.
SERVICE NUMBER: 325044. UNIT: R. A. F. 38th Training Depot Squadron Bramham Moor.
BORN: Canada. RESIDENCE: Toronto.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 26/10/1918. AGED:
LOCAL MEMORIAL: None.
CEMETERY: Tadcaster. GRAVE: B. 4. G. 24.
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GUNNER HERBERT S WHITEHEAD
SERVICE NUMBER: 301740. UNIT: 10th Brigade Canadian Field Artillery.
BORN: Boston Spa. ENLISTED: Leeds. RESIDENCE: Boston Spa.
GAVE HIS LIFE: 08/04/1917. AGED: 20.
Harrogate Herald April 1917.
Driver G Milnes, of the Overseas Battery, Wrote :
I am sorry I cannot inform you of the exact place, as you are well aware that we are not allowed to mention the name of the front we are holding.
However, it happened on Sunday, April 8th, 1917, and by this time probably the English papers will be full of another big advance, also a very important hill taken by the Canadians; in fact, I may the strongest that Fritz held on the Western Front.
Our division of artillery were directly opposite this point. The day before the attack being Sunday, Fritz commenced to shell the battery position, and having no dugouts to go into, we built a narrow trench running in rear of the guns to go into in case Fritz discovered our position.
That is, of course, provided we had no orders for firing, at which time gunners cannot leave the guns on any consideration.
As it happened, at this time we had no orders to fire, so thinking they would be safer in the trench, the gunners clambered in and were somewhat crowded, when Fritz landed a 5.9 right into the trench, just between, Bert and a fellow called Longworthy being killed both instantly.
#Longworthy# and Whitehead were, I think, without doubt the two finest and well-respected boys we had in the battery.
The former received a piece of shell about as big as my fist through his back and coming out at his chest; while Bert, although not touched by any of the splinters, got completely buried, and the weight of the falling earth and rock broke his spine.
Seven others were wounded at the same time, but only one was at all serious.
# Gunner Harold Lamont Longworthy Service Number 301660 was 22 years of age and was from Regina Saskachewan.
GRAVE: VI. J. 19.
Harrogate Herald 18th April 1917
A Harrogate lad, of the Canadian Forces, has been killed at the Front. It is Herbert S Whitehead, younger son of Mr Jack Whitehead, formerly architect, of Harrogate, now of Canada.
The lad was in a dug-out, when a shell came and buried him. Death must have been instantaneous, for his spine was broken by the heavy debris.
CEMETERY: Villers Station Cemetery, Villers-Au-Bois.
