World War I Project – September

Hants County Soldiers – Where Were They From?

The Soldiers were farmers, clerks, labourers, teachers, lumbermen, and ship builders. They came from many places in Hants County – from Hantsport to Shubenacadie and Vaughan to Noel – and every village and town in between. Many never returned.

Notes:

1. These numbers include people born in Hants County and others who stated their next of kin resided in Hants County.
2. *Killed in Action refers to those who died on the battlefield and also those who became ill and died in Canada and England.

The West Hants Historical Society is saluting our local soldiers who died in World War 1. One hundred years ago in September 1916, there were 15 soldiers from Hants County killed in action:

Anthony, William Austin

Regimental No.  470146

Pte. William Austin Anthony was born in Mosherville on July 20, 1897. He was working as a Laborer. He volunteered for service in Sussex, NB on September 15, 1915. He was assigned to the 64th and then transferred to the 25th Battalion. He was killed in action in France on September 16, 1916. His next of kin were his Parents, Benjamin & Ella Anthony residing in Mosherville. His Name is remembered at Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais (France).

Avery, Thomas

Regimental No.  80125

Sgt. Thomas Avery was born in Cheshire, England on October 3, 1885. He was working as a Farmer. He volunteered for service in Calgary on January 29, 1915 and was assigned to the 31st Battalion. He was killed in action in Vimy on September 24, 1916. His next of kin was his Wife, Mrs. Beatrice Avery residing in Falmouth. His Name is remembered at Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.

Blois, Claude

Regimental No.  469236

Pte Claude Blois was born in Selma on July 4, 1895. He was working as a Farmer. He volunteered for service in Sussex NB on August 24, 1915. He was assigned to the 64th Battalion and later transferred to the 25th Battalion. He was killed in action in France on September 15, 1916. His next of kin were his Parents, Joseph & Abbie Blois residing in Halifax. His Name is remembered at Vimy Memorial in France.

Brooks, Ernest John (Rev)

Regimental No. Officer

Major Ernest John Brooks (Rev) was born in West Buckland, Somerset, England on April 9, 1878. He was working as a Clergyman in Falmouth. He volunteered for service in Halifax on January 7, 1915 and was assigned to the 25th Battalion. He was killed in action in France on September 15th 1916. His next of kin was his Wife, Kathleen Brooks residing in England. His Name is remembered at Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.

Creighton, William Matheson

Regimental No.  471171

Pte William Matheson Creighton was born in Green Hill Hants on April 19, 1897. He was working as a Farmer. He volunteered for service in Halifax on March 14, 1916 and was assigned to the 64th Battalion. He was killed in action in France on September 3, 1916. His next of kin was his Father, Alfred Creighton residing in Scotsburn Station. He is buried at Sunken Road 2nd Canadian Cemetery, Contalmaison, France.

DeWolfe, Clyde Abner

Regimental No.  469846

Pte Clyde Abner DeWolfe was born in Rawdon on September 6, 1894. He was working as a Miner. He volunteered for service in Sussex NB on September 8, 1915. He was assigned to the 64th Battalion and later transferred to the 25th Battalion. He was killed in action in France on September 16, 1916. His next of kin were his Parents, George and Elizabeth DeWolfe residing in West Gore. His Name is remembered at Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.

Dickson (Dixon), Charles Albert

Regimental No.  101292

Pte Charles Albert Dickson (In some military reports his name was spelled Dixon) was born in Hantsport on November 25, 1889. He volunteered for service in Peace River on September 25, 1915 and was assigned to the 49th Battalion. He was killed in action in France on September 15, 1916. His next of kin was his Mother, Mrs. Olivia Garrison residing in Hantsport. His Name is remembered at Vimy Memorial in France.

Larabee, Wilbert Simmons

Regimental No. 469031

Pte Wilbert Simmons Larabee was born in Stewiacke / Shubenacadie on March 31, 1897. He was still a Student when he volunteered for service in Sussex NB on August 24, 1915 and was assigned to the 64th Battalion and transferred to the 2nd Battalion. He was killed in action in France on September 22, 1916. His next of kin were his Parents, Richard & Jessie Larabee residing in Stewiacke. His Name is remembered at Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.

Parker, Cecil

Regimental No. 68452

Pte Cecil Parker was born in Newport on March 24, 1896. He was working as a Farmer. He volunteered for service in Windsor on April 1, 1915. He was assigned to the 40th and later transferred to the 25th Battalion. He was killed in action in Belgium on September 16, 1916. His next of kin was his Cousin, Thomas Parker residing in Newport. His Name is remembered at Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.

Putnam, Laurie Chalmers

Regimental No. 129310

Pte Laurie Chalmers Putnam was born in Maitland on September 19, 1892. He was working as a Surveyor. He volunteered for service in Vancouver on September 13, 1915 and was assigned to the 72nd Battalion. He was killed in action in France on September 21, 1916. His next of kin was his Father, Charles Putnam residing in Vancouver. He is buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Boulogne-sur-Mer, France.

Smith, Eric Gunning

Regimental No. 418843

Pte. Eric Gunning Smith was born in Windsor on December 6, 1890. He was working as a Painter. He volunteered for service in Montreal on May 14, 1915 and was assigned to the 7th Machine Gun Company. He was killed in action in France on September 16, 1916. His next of kin was his Father, Arthur W Smith residing in Windsor. He is buried in Puchevillers British Cemetery, France.

Stairs, Gavin Lang

Regimental No. Officer

Capt. Gavin Lang Stairs was born in Maitland on June 22, 1896. He was working as a Student. He volunteered for service in Valcartier on September 22, 1914 and was assigned to the 14th Battalion. He was killed in action in France on September 7, 1916. His next of kin were his Parents, Gavin & Mary Stairs residing in Halifax. His Name is remembered at Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. His brother Graham also died in the war in 1915.

Wallace, Haliburton

Regimental No.  414217

Pte. Haliburton Wallace was born in Shubenacadie on November 27, 1895. He was working as a Bank Clerk. He volunteered for service in Halifax on June 5, 1915. He was assigned to the 40th and later transferred to the 43rd Battalion. He was killed in action in France on September 21, 1916. His next of kin was his Mother, Mrs. Hattie Wallace residing in Shubenacadie. His Name is remembered at Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.

Withrow, Warren Russel

Regimental No. 469549

Pte Warren Russel Withrow was born in Elmsdale on June 22, 1896. He was working as a Farmer. He volunteered for service in Halifax on August 30, 1915. He was assigned to the 64th Battalion and later transferred to the 26th Battalion. He was killed in action in France on September 28, 1916. His next of kin was his Mother, Bertha Withrow residing in Elmsdale. He is buried in Adanac Cemetery in France.

The West Hants Historical Society is saluting our local soldiers who died in World War 1. This post is part of a series presented here on our website.

Note: If you have any old photos, post cards, letters, or diaries from these soldiers (or others); please share them with us at the West Hants Museum in Windsor.