Private Francis DesRoche

Son of Emanuel and Gertrude DesRoche, Francis DesRoche was born on November 3^rd, 1915 in Tignish, Prince Edward Island. He grew up there with his 6 siblings: Margaret, Lorette, Minnie, Gilbert, Arthur, and Edward DesRoche. World war two went on for three years before my great great uncle enlisted to join the war as a part of the Canadian army. He wanted much more than the average farm life. On November 6^th, 1942 he enlisted and was given his service number, G/24064. He was then assigned to the Royal 22e Regiment, R.C.I.C. Being in the Royal 22e Regiment, nicknamed The Van Doos, my great great uncle, Private Francis DesRoche, was a part of the 1^st Canadian Infantry Division and was involved in intense combat over in Italy. He received the 1939-45 Medal and Star for his short time in battle, as he was killed in action only a short time later. On March 29^th, 1944, at the age of 29, Private Francis DesRoche died and is now buried in the Moro River Canadian War Cemetery in Italy, grave reference II. E. 1.

Private Dominic Bennett is my Thelus veteran. On May 17th, 1894, Dominic Bennett, son of Lewis and Mitlallary Bennett, was born in Port au Port Bay, St. George, Newfoundland. Before going to war, Dominic lived a peaceful life in Newfoundland as a fisherman, and then served 14 months in the army. His service number was 488745. On November 11th, 1915, he enlisted into World War 1, at the age of 21 years and 6 months. Dominic Bennett left Halifax in 1915, part of the 25th Battalion (Nova Scotia Rifles). He served in France as a part of the 5th Infantry Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division until April 9th 1917. At the age of 23 years old, he was killed in action among 30 other soldiers of his Battalion on that day. He is commemorated on page 200 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. He is now buried in the Thelus Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France; grave reference: II. D. 3.

Private Robert Cable is my Vimy memorial veteran. His date of birth is unknown. He was born however, is Napan, New Brunswick and grew up there as well, with his family. On December 18th, 1915 in Chatham New Brunswick, he enlisted into World War 1. His service number was 793130 and was assigned to the 87th Battalion. Private Robert Cable sailed to England, the 25th of April 1916. He was stationed the on the 5th of May, as part of the 12th Infantry Brigade until June, then part of the 11th Infantry Brigade. On August 11th, he crossed over to France and served in the war until the 9th of April 1917, when he was killed in action in Vimy ridge. He is now commemorated on page 211 of the First World War Book of Remembrance and on the Vimy Ridge memorial. 

 -Kayla Creelman 

Veteran Cpl. Henry Boates

    My local veteran is Cpl. Henry Boates, he was born in the year 1794 in Alcester, Warwickshire England. He served in the 1st Battalion 52nd Regiment, Foot in the battle of Waterloo which was fought June 18th, 1815, near the village of Waterloo, a few miles from Brussells. The battle started at sunrise and lasted till nightfall. After the battle 60,000 man lay dead on the field within an area of three square miles - 40,000 French, 15,000 British and 5,000 Prussians. 
   The commander of the Regiment was the Duke of Wellington. He received the waterloo medal for bravery at 18 years. Sometime after the battle the remaining members of the regiment were sent to Charlottetown for garrison duty. Cpl. Boates served his time in the army there. 
   Later he settled on St. Peters Island where he farmed and fished. He married Ann Clarke on February 24th, 1842 and they had six children; Joseph, William Henry, Thomas, Elizabeth Jane, Mary Jane and Margaret. In 1849 he developed pneumonia and died at the age of 52. His death resulted from a search for William Henry, whom he feared was lost in a storm while traveling the ice from Charlottetown. Cpl. Boates grave is marked with a fieldstone on St. Peters Island. His Waterloo medal was lost on the island for 40 years. It was plowed up by a farmer who was living there at the time and returned it to the Boates family. The medal was handed down to Henry Burton, youngest son of Joseph, named after his grandfather. Cpl. Boates Waterloo musket and sword went to his sons William Henry and Tom.


       My Vimy veteran James Caldwell Noble was born October 29th,1897,  He was the son of TJ and Elizabeth Noble. His occupation before the war was a clerk.  Caldwell Noble died August 21st, 1917. He served in the Canadian Infantry (Manitoba regiment) 27th Battalion. James didn't survive the war, he died August 21st, 1917 at the age of 20  Since he was very young when he died he wasn't married and had no children.


       My Thelus veteran is Private A. Bowerman. His service number is 201553. He was part of the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry 1st/4th Battalion. He died on April 4th, 1917.


Megan Gunning

Veteran Pte. Sydney Hale

   Private Sydney Hale was born on May 3^rd, 1886 in Westville, Nova Scotia, to Mr. and Mrs. Tom Hale. As the son of a former mayor, he was also the sibling of three brothers and five sisters: George T. Hale, William Hale, John Hale, Mrs. Francis White, Mrs. Millidge Haslam, Mrs. James Broadbent, Miss Lucy Hale, and Miss Emily Hale.
   He married another Westville native, Jean Darroch, and together they had four children: Harry, Tom, Andrew, and Robert.
    Sydney enlisted with the Nova Scotia Highland Brigade, 193^rd Battalion, on March 11^th, 1916. He arrived overseas, via the S.S. Olympic, on October 18^th, 1916. On the 29^th of December, 1916, he was transferred to the Cape Breton Highlanders, 185^th Battalion. He transferred again in 1918 on March 1^st to the 85^th Battalion.
    Sydney Hale was killed in action on September 2^nd, 1918. His passing was described by his leader, Major J. M. Millar, as follows:
“Although protected by good cover, [Pte. Hale] left it and crossed an open space under very heavy Machine Gun fire, to dress a wounded soldier. His action doubtlessly saved the life of his comrade. Throughout the whole operation he carried on with the greatest coolness and courage till he himself was wounded.”
   Private Sydney Hale was buried in the Dury Mill British Cemetery in Pas de Calais, France. For a time, a wooden cross stood in his honor at home in Westville’s St. Bee’s Church cemetery. For his courage, Sydney was awarded the Military Medal on September 11^th, 1918. I am genuinely proud to call his hometown my own and be recognized as his great great niece.


Amanda Rundle