Poppy Project
1. Private Arend Van der Knaap
August 21, 1917
29th Battalion C.E.F. (Tobin's Tigers)
Service Number 75504. Original member of the 29th Battalion C.E.F.
Vimy Memorial, France. Age 28
Son of Jacob van der Knaap, Woonplaats, Loolaan, L/2, Apeldoorn, Holland.
Arend Van der Knaap, alias Arend Knaap, prior to service with the C.E.F. served in the Dutch Army.
His father Jacob Van der Knaap, was living in Rotterdam, Holland in 1915 and later moved to
Apeldoon. Arend Van der Knaap is recorded on the Chilliwack War Memorial as A. VAN DER
KNAPP.
Guiding Questions:
1. What are some reasons a Dutch army veteran like A. Van der Knaap might join the
Canadian Army?
2. What role did Holland play in World War I?
3. Research the Battle of Passchendaele and explain its significance in World War I.
2. Lieutenant Geoffrey Hornby
7th Battalion C.E.F. (1st B.C. Regiment)
May 24, 1915
Vimy Memorial, France. Age 35
Son of the late Robert M. and Lucy Hornby, 1631 Robson Street, Vancouver, B.C.
Born in Shropshire, England May 29, 1880 Hornby served as a member of the South African
Constabulary and became a veteran of the second Boer War, in South Africa. Geoffrey and his
brother William owned property in East Chilliwack and their parcel of 80 acres was located at the
corner of Gibson and Prairie Central Roads. Hornby, one of the first officers of the 104th to go to the
front wrote to the Chilliwack Progress in April 1915, "It was awful - casualties were very, very heavy
and there are only about half of my men left…The boys were simply splendid. When you have been
fighting side by side for a week, sharing a biscuit or tin of bully [beef], or digging a trench to get into,
you begin to know all about them.". In a letter to Samuel Cawley published at the same time as
Hornby's death announcement he wrote in reference to his earlier battles, "I shall never know how I
got through that week at times it simply hailed lead, the shells were something awful." A memorial
service was conducted for him in St. Thomas Anglican Church that was attended by several of his
Masonic brethren. An alms dish in his memory was consecrated at St. Thomas' November 12, 1916
and the Geoffrey Hornby War Relief Circle was created in his honour. The Circle conducted fund
raising activities that raised cash contributions and accepted material donations of socks,
handkerchiefs and towels.
Guiding Questions
1. What set officers like Hornby apart from the rest of the British army? How might his
experiences have been similar to other ranks? How might they have been different?
2. How do Hornby’s remarks about his fellow soldiers foreshadow future developments in
Canada?
3. Research the Battle of Festubert and explain its significance in World War I.
3. Private Russell Kerby Arnold
April 24, 1915
7th Battalion C.E.F. (The 1st B.C. Regiment)
Service Number 17195. Original member of the 7th Battalion C.E.F.
Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. Age 18
Son of Lewis F. and Mary Arnold, Bole Avenue, Chilliwack, British Columbia.
Russell Arnold was one of two Chilliwack brothers killed during the First World War. He was born at
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan December 16, 1895 and at the time of his enlistment was a Fireman.
Previously he served with the local company of the 104th Regiment. Actions of April 23-25 claimed
the lives of many Canadian soldiers who endured the first gas attack of the war.
1. Research the 2nd Battle of Ypres and explain its significance in World War I.
2. How did the use of poison gas change warfare?
3. (Optional) All modern warfare involves chemicals, but some are seen as unethical and others are
not. Where should we draw the line? Are there any biblical principles that can be applied?
Private Warren Addison Ash
November 21, 1914, 7th Battalion C.E.F. (1st B.C. Regiment)
Service Number 17094. Original member of the 7th Battalion C.E.F.
Oswestry General Cemetery, Shropshire, England. Age 29
Son of Son of Addison and Annie Elizabeth Ash, Manchester, England
Born in England February 8, 1885, Ash was an electrical engineer prior to joining the forces and
served for two years with the British Territorial Army and with the 7th Battalion C.E.F. he served in
"H" Company. His mother lived in Vancouver and she sent notice of her son's death to Canon
Hinchcliffe of Chilliwack. Ash had worked at the sub-station and was the secretary for the Chilliwack
Tennis Club. Apart from tennis, he was active in football and associated with the work of St. Thomas
Anglican Church. He died of meningitis on Salisbury Plains. Another Chilliwack casualty, Malcolm
MacLeod wrote, prior to his own death in April 1915, of Warren Ash that was published in
the Chilliwack Progress, "That young fellow Ash, I was telling you about being sick, from our
Company, is not expected to live now. He has spinal meningitis. I feel it pretty hard as I liked him
fine. He joined at Chilliwack and slept beside me in camp here until he took sick. I met his mother in
Vancouver before we left. He is in a hospital fourteen miles away."
Guiding Questions
1. What is meningitis? What does Ash’s experience with the disease tell us about World War I?
2. Why were the Salisbury Plains significant in Canadians’ experience of World War 1?
3. Historically, soldiers who died during training have been commemorated as veterans without
distinction from those who died during combat. Should this continue to be the case? Why or
Why not?
Gladys Muriel Carvolth
June 7, 1884-1977
For every nurse who lost her life, many others were wounded. One such nurse was Gladys Muriel
Carvolth, whose uniform we have. Gladys was 31 when she signed up in Esquimalt to join the No. 5
Overseas General Hospital in July 1915. She made arrangements to send her pay to her mother in
Chilliwack and left for the war. She became an official casualty two years later with bronchial pneumonia
in both lungs. After convalescing in England she returned to serve in the No. 5 Canadian Field Hospital in
Salonika, Greece. Her health problems returned and she spent part of 1919 in a veterans’ ward in British
Columbia. Gladys married George Stewart in June of 1919, was demobilized that November and died in
Saanich at the age of 93.
Guiding Questions:
1. What role did the nursing sisters play in World War I?
2. What dangers and challenges did they face?
3. Research the Salonika (Macedonian) front and explain its significance in World War I.
Private (Piper) James Cleland Richardson V.C.
October 9, 1916
16th Battalion C.E.F. (Later the Canadian Scottish)
Service Number 28930. Original member of the 16th Battalion C.E.F.
Adanac Military Cemetery, France. Age 20
Son of David and Mary Prosser Richardson, Princess Avenue, Chilliwack, B.C.
Piper James Richardson was the eldest son of David and Mary Prosser Richardson and was born
November 25, 1895 at Bellshill, Lanarkshire. The Richardson family arrived in Chilliwack in 1913 and
their father became Chilliwack's Chief of Police. James lived in Chilliwack for a few months before he
joined the pipe band of Vancouver's 72nd Battalion Cadet Corps, the Seaforth Highlanders of
Canada. With the outbreak of war James joined the "Seaforths" as part of their first detachment and
left with them for Valcartier, Quebec. Absorbed by the 16th Battalion C.E.F., James became one of
the 110 "originals" of the newly formed battalion. James served with the 16th in France from
February 9, 1915 throughout the battles of Ypres, Givenchy and the heavy fighting on the Ypres
Salient in early 1916.
On October 8, 1916 Richardson was detailed for duty in the Quartermaster's stores and upon
learning that his company was to attack Regina Trench earnestly pleaded with his commanding
officer to take part in the attack. During the attack, Richardson waited for an order to play the pipes
from Major George David Lynch but Lynch was killed in the advance. Richardson asked Company
Sergeant Major William D. Mackie if he should play his pipes. "Wull I gie them wund [Will I give then
wind]?" Mackie agreed and Richardson began to patrol and pipe along the front line, for ten minutes
inspiring his company to the attack. Mackie gathered some men together, fought through the wire,
and entered Regina Trench. Richardson joined in the trench fighting running along the parapet
bombing the trenches and attending the wounded. He then escorted two prisoners to the rear and
brought with him Sergeant Major MacKay who was severely wounded. Upon reaching safety, he
realized that he had left his pipes in Regina Trench but failed to return from regaining them. For his
actions, Piper James Richardson was posthumously awarded the British Empire’s and
Commonwealth's highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy, the Victoria Cross.
In April 1918, both of James' parents were
summoned from Chilliwack to Victoria to receive the
Victoria Cross and an autographed letter from King
George V from the Lieutenant Governor.On April 3,
1919, Lieutenant Governor Barnard pinned the
Victoria Cross on the breast of Chief Richardson in
the Ritz Hotel building that was being used as a
Knight's of Columbus "hut". General John Edwards
Leckie, who was Richardson's commanding officer,
the Mayor of Victoria and other military and civilian
officials were in attendance. Upon the Richardson's
return to Chilliwack, their son's Victoria Cross was
displayed in a local store window. The Victoria
Cross is now housed in the permanent collection of
the Canadian War Museum, Ottawa.
4. Private Luke Charles Mahone
October 31, 1916
47th Battalion C.E.F. (New Westminster)
Service Number 628591. Original member of the 47th Battalion C.E.F.
Contay British Cemetery, France. Age 21
Son of Alfred and Emma Mahone, Nitinat, Vancouver Island, B.C.
Husband of Ethel Mahone, Coqualeetza Industrial Institute, Sardis, B.C.
Born in the United States, Luke Mahone was a member of the local militia, the 104th Regiment. A
memorial service for several former Sardis residents, including Mahone, who were lost in action
overseas, was held at Carman Church, October 21, 1917. Mahone was First Nations being Nuccchah-nulth from Nitinat (Pitadaht), B.C. located on the west coast of Vancouver Island. He was a
former student of Coqualeetza Industrial Institute. His name is recorded on their Roll of Honour
published in October 1924.
5. Private Harold Milton White 54th Battalion C.E.F, Battle of Lens
6. Lieutenant Thomas Arthur Smith M.C. 29th battalion CEF, 100 days
7. Lance Corporal Leo Harold Grossman
January 7, 1916
5th Battalion East Kent Regiment (The Buffs)
Service Number T/1335
Amara War Cemetery, Iraq. Age 29
Son of the late Julius and Julia E. Grossman, Chilliwack, B.C.
In August 1914, while on a motorcycle tour of the United Kingdom, Leo Grossman, a member of
Chilliwack's 104th Regiment, joined "C" Company of the Buffs. On October 29, 1914, Grossman's
regiment sailed for India and was stationed at Kamptee in Madras. In February, Grossman as one of
his company's best shots was stationed with 19 other "Buffs" at the Pachmachi School of Musketry.
Promoted to Lance Corporal, Grossman then sailed with his unit to Basra where they arrived on
December 8, 1915 and took part in the actions to relieve the forces at Kut-el-Amara. On January 7,
1916, Leo Grossman was killed in action at Shaikh Saad, Iraq, formerly, Mesopotamia.
Mesopotamian Campaign Ottoman Empire
8.
Guillermo Fernando Harris served as William F. Harris
April 9, 1916
8th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment
Service Number 10699
Basra Memorial, Iraq
Son of William Henry and Frances Mary Harris, Chilliwack, B.C.
"William" Harris’ father was born in Liverpool, England and later lived in Peru and Chile, South
America. Mr. Harris Sr. returned to England briefly until 1899 when he moved to the United States
living for a short time in Missouri and Colorado. In 1901 he settled in San Francisco but following an
earthquake, the Harris family, in 1906, moved to Chilliwack where they stayed until 1911. They then
returned to England for two years at which time they journeyed to Australia. In 1914 they returned to
Chilliwack, but moved to Vancouver in 1919. While in Vancouver Mr. Harris went to China and after
his return the family moved to Snoqualimie Falls, where Mr. Harris took up permanent employment
as a stickerman in a local mill. It is noted in his obituary that his son, William F. Harris born in
Santiago, was killed during the First World War and it further records, "whose name appears on the
Chilliwack memorial as G.F. Harris. The later was born in Chile. He was christened in Spanish which
accounts for the different initials." The Cheshire Regiment lost 39 soldiers on this day.
Also Mesopotamian Campaign
9. Private Cecil Redverse Cameron
January 14, 1919
51st Company, Canadian Forestry Corps, C.E.F.
Service Number 790822. Originally enlisted with the 131st Battalion C.E.F.
Charmes Military Cemetery, Essegney, France
Son of John Cameron, St. Elms, formerly New Westminster, B.C.
Born in East Chilliwack in 1899, Cameron was a young teenager when he joined the C.E.F. at the
age of 16. He enlisted with Chilliwack's militia, the 104th Regiment in April 1916, transferred to the
131st Battalion C.E.F. and went overseas with the Canadian Forestry Corps. He died of bronchial
pneumonia. His brother was James Cameron, Rosedale, B.C. and they had one sister, Mrs. William
Peers of Chilliwack, and five brothers.
Canadian Forestry Corps
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadian_Forestry_Corps
10. Private Orville Hubert Boucher
August 15, 1917
7th Battalion C.E.F. (1st B.C. Regiment)
Service Number 790724. Originally enlisted with the 131st Battalion C.E.F.
Vimy Memorial, France. Age 20
Son of Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Boucher, Chilliwack, B.C.
Orville Boucher, born in Ottawa, Ontario July 10, 1897 described himself as a scholar when he
joined the C.E.F. February 25, 1916. He was the first student from Chilliwack High School to join the
Canadian Expeditionary Force. Private Boucher was a member of the 104th Regiment and joined
the 131st Battalion C.E.F. His father who died in 1914 was employed as Chilliwack’s City Clerk.
Orville Boucher was killed during the Battle of Loos.
Battle of Loos
13. Sub-Lieutenant Frank Wendell Stacey
June 4, 1917
Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Division
Service Number: 28843. Originally enlisted with the 16th Battalion C.E.F.
Helles Memorial, Turkey. Age 21
Son of the Rev. and Mrs. F. B. Stacey, Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada.
F.W. Stacey was one of three brothers to serve during the First World War. Wendell Stacey was
born in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan in 1894. His father was a Methodist minister and eventually a
church appointment brought the Stacey family to Vancouver. Wendell was educated at Vancouver
High School and became a member of his school's cadet corps. With them, he traveled to Australia
and New Zealand from July to December of 1912. Upon his return to Vancouver he studied law with
the firm of Killam and Beck and was active with the Wesley Methodist Church. To finance his studies
he worked in a store of David Spencer Ltd.
Upon the declaration of war, Wendell Stacey joined the 72nd Battalion Seaforth Highlanders of
Canada of the Canadian militia. Several members of the later unit were transferred to the newly
formed 16th Battalion C.E.F., another Scottish battalion, upon its creation in 1914. Stacey joined "C"
Company of the 16th Battalion C.E.F. but was commissioned in February 1915, into the Royal Naval
Division and served with the Hood Battalion in Malta and took part in an action near the Suez Canal
against the Turkish Army. The battalions of the Royal Naval Division were land-serving sailors,
although many had never served at sea.
On May 11, 1915, W.F. Stacey was wounded by a rifle bullet in the leg during action in the
Dardanelles. He convalesced at Alexandria in Egypt, but less than a month later, June 4, 1915 was
killed upon his return to the Dardanelles front. For the few short days after his return, Wendell
Stacey was in the trenches day and night. The front was active with a series of attacks and counterattacks that included hand-to-hand bayonet charges. He was killed when his company had taken a
Turkish Trench and during a counter attack was shot twice. Of 57 men in the company only 19
returned to the British lines.
Wendell Stacey is commemorated not only on the Chilliwack War Memorial but, at Vancouver's King
Edward High School and on an honour roll at Chilliwack United (formerly Methodist) Church. A
Chilliwack chapter of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire was named in his memory.
Battle of Gallipoli