World War I
Other WWI images below. For a larger image, click on the photo.
For veterans who served in World War I, search for last names beginning with: C–R S–W
Please feel free to contact us if you have any more information on any of these individuals.
For more information on our veterans, please refer to our history book, Passing It On, available at our library, or online at the University of Manitoba digital collections library.
Barnes, Cyril
Son of William Tanner Barnes (below) Private, enlisted on July 10, 1915 at age 19. Served in England and France with the 61st Battalion, 11th Reserve Battalion, 8th Battalion, Manitoba Regimental Depot, 18th Reserve Battalion, District Depot #10. Wounded at Somme Front, Oct. 15th 1916, with shrapnel to the knee. On April 7, 1918 was awarded Distinguished Conduct Medal for Gallantry and Devotion to duty in the field. Promoted to Lieutenant.
Attestation Paper and service records: https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/personnel-records/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=25438
Barnes, Sgt. Frederick
8th Canadian Battalion, Machine Gun section
Son of William Tanner Barnes (below), enlisted on Jan. 5, 1916 at age 20. Joined 61st Battalion. Injured November 2016 with a shell concussion. Promoted to Corporal, July 2017 and awarded the Auxillary Medal. Promoted to Sargeant, November 1917.
Killed in action in France on August 31, 1918. Interred in Upton Wood Cemetery, 1916–August 31, 1918
Attestation Paper and service records:
https://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?op=pdf&app=CEF&id=B0446-S021
Barnes, William Tanner
Enlisted on August 22, 1916 at age 43. Service was in Buxton, England working at the Canadian Discharge Depot, specifically in the Medical Depot. Returned to Canada, November 1919.
Attestation Paper and service records: https://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?op=pdf&app=CEF&id=B0451-S001
Bicknell, James
Copeland, Charles Stephen
Private, enlisted on March 30, 1916 at age 18 with the 226th Battalion, served in France with the 43rd Canadian Battalion as a Gunner. Left the Battalion, September 1917, when he was transferred to the Canadian Records Office and served as a “batman” or personal servant assigned to the care of war artists Major Augustus John, Wyndham Lewis, and James Kerr Lawson. He would accompany the artists as they made sketches of the ruins in France and was the subject of some of their sketches.
Link to James Kerr Lawson:
https://www.gallery.ca/collection/artist/james-kerr-lawson
Llink to Wyndham Lewis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyndham_Lewis
Biography and more photos
Attestation papers and service records: https://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?op=pdf&app=CEF&id=B1983-S039
LIfe in the Canadian Expedition Forces – excerpts from journals and letters written by Charles Copeland providing an indepth account of his experiences during WW1
Corr, James W.
Private, enlisted on Oct. 26, 1915 at age 23. Joined 79th Battalion, transferred to 1st C.M.R., Fought in France. Awarded Good Conduct Badge on March 25, 1918. Died of Pneumonia on May 14, 1918
Attestation Paper and service records: https://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?op=pdf&app=CEF&id=B2015-S029
Cottingham,William
Enlisted October 29, 1916 at age of 18 with the 190th Battalion. Served in France and Belgium with the 8th Battalion. In addition to other injuries, he was badly gassed and died in the sanatorium at Ninette, Manitoba from tuberculosis in 1936.
Attestation Paper and service records: https://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?op=pdf&app=CEF&id=B2035-S022
Dimes, Albert
Dunham, C.C.
(Foxwarren) Private, enlisted on July 23, 1918 at age 26. Joined 1st Depot Battalion M.R. but never left Canada due to ending of the war. Discharged on August 19, 1918.
Attestation Paper and service records: https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/military-heritage/first-world-war/personnel-records/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=369474
Also served with the Guards in WW2
McKay, Fred
Royal Canadian Navy
Shaw, (Dadmoen-Stanberg) Borghild
American Army
Torrie, James
Served with the Royal Highlanders, Black Watch Regiment.
Walker, Herbert
Private, enlisted on March 14, 1917 at the age of 41. Killed in action in France on August 9, 1918.
Attestation papers and service records linked below. Note the misspelling of Birtle.
https://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?op=pdf&app=CEF&id=B10010-S009
A biography is listed in Wandering in Wattsview: A Wattsview History, 1879–1967
Article from the Birtle Eye Witness for September 3, 1918
Warren, Major Oliver Quin
Enlisted with the 2nd Canadian Mounted Rifles—B.C. Horse Calvary on August 5, 1914 at age 28. Enlisted with the overseas Canadian Expedition Forces on December 8, 1914. Commissioned into the 1st British Tank Corps, and the 9th British Tank Corps. Served in Canada, United Kingdom, and France.
Discharged from the Canadian Expedition Forces on November 1916 due to promotion to the Imperial Army. Received many medals and prestigious awards for his bravery and outstanding service. See his biography for a complete description.
On March 16,1919 Winston Churchill mentioned Major Warren in a dispatch from Field Marshall Sir Douglas Haig, “For gallant and distinguished services in the Field. I have it in command from the King to record His Majesty’s high appreciation of the services rendered.”
Attestation Paper and service records: https://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?op=pdf&app=CEF&id=B10107-S043
Biography in Passing It On, at the University of Manitoba Digital Archives.
Wallis, Bert (son of W.H. Wallis)
Private, enlisted on March 17, 1916 at age 28 with the 226th Battalion, served in France with the Canadian 43rd Battalion.
Attestation paper and service records; https://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?op=pdf&app=CEF&id=B10031-S048
Watt, Vaughn (Vaughan)
Private, enlisted at age 24 on December 2, 1916. Joined the 28th Canadian Battalion Infantry.
Killed in action in France at age of 26 on August 8, 1918.
For extensive information on Vaughn Watt including his biography, service records and letters sent home. Original letters can be found in the museum.
See the following links:
http://westenddumplings.blogspot.com/2014/08/manitobas-wwi-fallen-vaughn-watt-of.html
Article from the Birtle Eye Witness for September 3, 1918
Wilkinson, Percy
Private, enlisted on April 1, 1916 at age 27. Joined the 226th Battalion and then the 43rd Cameron Highlanders. Fought in France. Reported as “dangerously wounded” on April 25, 1917. Left foot amputated due to gas gangrene and “invalided back to Canada” on Dec. 29, 1917. Second amputation on Feb. 6, 1918 in Toronto. Discharged on August 31, 1918 as “ medically unfit” due to his injuries. Received One Gold Bar.
Attestation Paper and service records: https://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.item/?op=pdf&app=CEF&id=B10371-S008
Link to description of gas gangrene: https://wwitrenchlife.weebly.com/gas-gangrene.html
Link to biography in A View of the Birdtail: A History of the Municipality of Birtle, 1878–1974