Canadian war graves, Bodelwyddan

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More than 80 Canadian service men and women are buried outside St Margaret’s Church, Bodelwyddan. They were among 17,400 who were held at the Kinmel Park Camp, a short distance west of the church, when the First World War came to an end and for months afterwards. Most (c.15,000) had served in France and were moved to Britain to await ships home.

bodelwyddan_canadian_war_gravesThe camp was divided into areas for each of the 11 military districts of Canada, e.g. Alberta, Montreal and Manitoba. The European influenza epidemic of 1918-19 killed many at the camp. The Canadians there became increasingly frustrated at being kept in Britain for so long after hostilities had ended. They were bored, their diet was monotonous and they had little or no money to buy things like cigarettes. Their officers, however, enjoyed evenings in Rhyl or visits to London

By some accounts, troops at the camp learned in late February 1919 that large ships earmarked to take Canadians home had been re-assigned to troops from the USA who had seen relatively little service on the Continent. On 4 and 5 March 1919, disturbances broke out at the camp, and local residents feared the rebels would loot Rhyl. Five Canadian solders were killed (according to official accounts) and 28 wounded. Four of the five are buried at St Margaret’s including William Tarasevich, named by British authorities as the ringleader. At least one eyewitness said the number killed was higher. By the end of March, ships had been provided to take c.15,000 Canadians from Kinmel home.

When large numbers of angry young men returned to Britain from the fighting, the British Government feared that a Communist revolution, copying the 1917 Russian revolution, could begin in Liverpool. There’s a theory that Canadians were kept at Kinmel to quell such a rebellion. However, they may have simply been victims of a demobilisation system which was overwhelmed at the war’s end. There were riots at other transit camps in Britain too. The official history of the Canadian army’s overseas deployment says Canada's railways lacked capacity to move large numbers of homecoming troops from ports, and blames some of the rioting on modifications to the policy of "first over, first back", aggravated by cancellation of individual sailings.

Not all of the people buried in this area of the churchyard were Canadian. One was from Newport, South Wales. Some had emigrated to Canada from Britain or the USA. There is also a separate group of British war graves east of the Canadian graves.

Both women buried here were involved in medical care.

The memorial amid the graves is inscribed: “To the memory of Canadian soldiers who died at Kinmel Park Camp during the Great War. This memorial was erected by their comrades. Their name liveth for evermore.”

See below to read details of the people buried here.

Postcode: LL18 5UR    View Location Map

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Below can be found details of Canadian war dead,

  • W Albany, Sapper, 1007062, died 10/02/1919, aged 25. Canadian Railway Troops 10th Battalion.
  • RW Armstrong, Private, 3040679, died 19/10/1918 Canadian Infantry 12th (Reserve) Battalion.
  • Hilliard Patrick Baker, Private, 3111370, died 24/10/1918, aged 22. Canadian Infantry 12th (Reserve) Battalion. Eldest son of John and Mary Baker, of Port Dalhousie, Ontario, Canada.
  • Clyde Raymond Baverstock, Private, 514556, died of influenza 12/02/1919. Canadian Infantry 47th Battalion. Son of Oscar and Lillian Baverstock.
  • J Beer, Corporal, WR/2000559, died 18/02/1919, aged 23. Royal Engineers, Railway Troops Depot. Son of James and Hannah Beer, of 4,Clytha Park   Rd.,Newport, Mon.
  • George Ewart Bennet, Gunner, 2023376, died 26/10/1918, aged 26. Canadian Field Artillery, Reserve Bde. Son of John Samuel and Louisa A. Bennett, of 1257,17th Avenue East, Vancouver ,British Columbia. Born at Kamloops, British Columbia.
  • William Bogle, Private, 871099, died 10/02/1919, aged 49. Canadian Labour Corps 1st Battalion. Husband of E. Bogle, of 257,Awera Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba,Canada. Born in Londonderry, Ireland.
  • E Boyce, Sapper, 636858, died 18/12/1918. Canadian Engineers
  • J Boyd, Lance Corporal, 781331, died 15/02/1919. Canadian Infantry 28th Battalion. Awarded the Military Medal.
  • George Brown, Private, 5931, died 02/11/1918, aged 19. Royal Newfoundland Regiment 2nd Battalion. Son of William Henry and Hannah Maria Brown, of Tacks Beach, Placentia Bay, Newfoundland.
  • Robert Brown, Lieutenant, died 05/09/1919, aged 30. Canadian Engineers 3rd Div. Signal Coy. Eldest son of Robert and Eliza Brown, of 22, Baldovan Terrace, Dundee, Scotland.
  • J Cairncross, Private, 2140485, died 18/10/1918. Canadian Infantry  1st (Reserve) Battalion.
  • CR Card, Private, 2024695, died 20/10/1918. Canadian Infantry 1st (Reserve) Battalion.
  • MH Caudle, Private, 901061, died 22/10/1918, aged 28. Canadian Infantry 17th (Reserve) Battalion. Son of John T. Caudle, of Truro; husband of Ruth A. Dunham (formerly Caudle), of Truro, Colchester Co., Nova Scotia, Canada.
  • Amos Charles Lefebvre Church, Sergeant, 516027, died 14/02/1919, aged 25. Canadian Garrison Artillery 1st Siege Battery. Son of Chas. Edward and Mary Caroline Lefebvre Church, of Waterville,Quebec,Canada. Born at Leeds Village, Quebec.
  • A Clark, Driver, 3038094, died 23/10/1918, aged 29. Canadian Field Artillery Reserve Bde. Son of Mr and Mrs Clark, of 376,Wellington Street,Toronto, Canada.
  • Ernest Norton Cleverdon, Private, 3036629, died 18/02/1919 Canadian Reserve Cavalry Regiment.
  • JA Connell, Private, 787346, died 13/02/1919. Canadian Army Service Corps
  • J Cote, Private, 3311772, died 22/02/1919. Canadian Infantry
  • JAA Cowan, Sapper, 164645, died 27/01/1919. Canadian Railway Troops 11th Battalion.
  • Emory Doel, Private, 3108522, died 23/10/1918, aged 23 Canadian Infantry 12th (Reserve) Battalion. Son of Mrs Minnie Doel, of Port Colborne, Ontario, Canada. Born at Wainfleet,Ontario.
  • VP Drips, Private, 2140716, died 23/10/1918, aged 42.Canadian Infantry 1st (Reserve) Battalion. Son of Joseph and Hannah Drips. Born in Iowa,U.S.A.
  • Harold John Farrar, Gunner (Signaller), 342807, died 30/05/1919, aged 21. Canadian Garrison Artillery 2nd Bde. Son of Joseph and Grace Irene Farrar, of Cornwall, Ontario, Canada.
  • William Edward Faulkner, Private, 3312044, died 23/10/1918, aged 22. Canadian Infantry 12th (Reserve) Battalion. Son of Frank and Mary Faulkner, of Port Dover, Ontario, Canada.
  • Charles Forbes, Sapper, 472733, died 06/02/1919, aged 29. Canadian Railway Troops 11th Battalion.
  • GF Garrett, Gunner 2663566, died 01/11/1918. Canadian Field Artillery.
  • David Gillan, Private, 877467, died 05/03/1919, aged 22. Canadian Infantry  85th Battalion. Son of Mr and Mrs John Gillan, of Florence, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.
  • OF Graham, Private, 103263, died 26/02/1919. Canadian Forestry Corps.
  • NJ Griggs, Gunner, 3059423, died 27/10/1918. Canadian Field Artillery.
  • William Lyle Haney, Gunner, 1251417, died 05/03/1919, aged 22. Canadian Artillery Composite Bde. Son of Edward Eugene and Mary Francis McGowan Haney, ofTalbot, Alberta, Canada.
  • J Henderson, Sapper, 724241, died 27/01/1919. Canadian Railway Troops.
  • F Jauncey, Sergeant, 282, died 14/02/1919. Royal Canadian Dragoons.
  • WH Kennedy, Private, 3232290, died 06/04/1919. Canadian Infantry Regimental Depot, (Central Ontario).
  • GJ Kean, Gunner, 338554, died 24/10/1918. Canadian Field Artillery.
  • J Kent. Private, 3312106, died 26/10/1918. Canadian Infantry 12th (Reserve) Battalion.
  • William Kenneth Atkinson Kerns, Private, 663592, died 09/03/1919, aged 25. Canadian Infantry 102nd Battalion. Son of Edwin Bruce Kerns and Sarah Rebecca Atkinson Kerns, of 10 Windsor Street, Hamilton, Ontario.
  • Joseph Alfred Lapine, Private, 4002030, died 23/10/1918, aged 25. Canadian Infantry 4th (Reserve) Battalion. Son of Martin and Mary Lapine, of 242,Tuscarora Street, Windsor,Ontario. Born at Lowell, Massachusetts, USA.
  • RL Leander, Sapper, 2184414, died 10/02/1919. Canadian Railway Troops.
  • HP Lett, Gunner (Signaller), 2022937, died 03/11/1918, aged 25. Canadian Field Artillery Reserve Bde. Son of the Rev Francis G and Ann J Lett, o fVancouver, British Columbia. Born in Merrickville, Ontario.
  • Edward Lewis, served as G Brown, Private, 2140717, died 20/10/1918. Canadian Infantry 1st (Reserve) Battalion.
  • RJ Loshaw, Private, 3312087, died 24/10/1918. Canadian Infantry 12th (Reserve) Battalion.
  • P Lynn, Private, 3311505, died 23/10/1918. Canadian Infantry 8th (Reserve) Battalion.
  • Rebecca MacIntosh, Nursing Sister, died 07/03/1919, aged 25. Canadian Army Medical Corps 9thCanadian GeneralHospital. Daughter of Mr and Mrs Peter 0. MacIntosh, of Pleasant Bay, Inverness Co.,Cape Breton,Nova   Scotia.
  • AJ Martin, Private, 666250, died 28/02/1919. Canadian Forestry Corps.
  • RG Martin, Private, 868230, died 12/02/1919, aged 32. Canadian Forestry Corps 25th Coy. Son of Catherine Martin, of 711,Bethune Street,Peterborough,Ontario,Canada, and the late Henry E. Martin.
  • A Matheson, Private, 2023739, died 19/02/1919. Canadian Infantry 1st (Reserve) Battalion.
  • Michael Patrick McCaskill, Sapper, 65676, died 23/02/1919, aged 27. Canadian Railway Troops 7th Battalion. Husband of M. B. McCaskill, of 27,Chichester   Rd., Kilburn,London,England.
  • William Fraser McCaskill, Private, 2024860, died 24/10/1918, aged 24. Canadian Infantry 1st (Reserve) Battalion.
  • Claude McLean, Gunner, 336290, died 19/10/1918, aged 20. Canadian Field Artillery Reserve Bde. Son of Mr and Mrs Ernest McLean, of Woodstock, Carleton Co.,New Brunswick.
  • WA McLean, Private, 763075, died 17/03/1919. Canadian Forestry Corps
  • J McLuskie, Sergeant, 114086, died 27/03/1919. Canadian Reserve Cavalry Regiment
  • EG McMahon, Private, 475407, died 29/01/1919. Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment).
  • FL McInnes, Private, 2020514, died 18/10/1918, aged 23. Canadian Infantry 1st (Reserve) Battalion. Son of Mrs George Sherman, of 3639,Albert Street,Vancouver,British Columbia.
  • F Meyers, Private, 3353035, died 18/10/1918. Canadian Infantry 15th (Reserve) Battalion.
  • Laurence John Miller, Gunner (Signaller), 2650847, died 22/12/1918, aged 21. Canadian Field Artillery Reserve Bde. Son of J. C. and Edith Miller, ofWinnipeg,Manitoba. Born atWinnipeg.
  • WB Milliken, Private, 725004, died 28/02/1919. Canadian Forestry Corps
  • S Moody, Gunner, 342637, died 17/10/1918. Canadian Field Artillery.
  • A Neville, Private, 2383381, died 05/02/1919. Canadian Infantry 11th (Reserve) Battalion.
  • TA Park, Gunner, 339200, died 23/10/1918. Canadian Field Artillery Reserve Bde.
  • Ernest Graham Parsons, Private, 2020573, died 26/10/1918, aged 23. Canadian Infantry 1st (Reserve) Battalion. Son of Capt. H. and Caroline Parsons, of R,400   Pembroke Street,Victoria,British Columbia.
  • Sigurdon Paulson, Sapper, 913011, died 24/05/1919, aged 28. Canadian Engineers 2nd Battalion. Son of Mr and Mrs S. Paulson, of 488,Toronto   Street,Winnipeg,Manitoba.
  • JS Phelps, Private, 249385, died 10/02/1919. Canadian Army Medical Corps
  • A Proulx, Private, 3162556, died 30/10/1918. Canadian Infantry 10th (Reserve) Battalion.
  • Doris Quane, Worker, 10515, died 19/04/1918. Queen Mary’s Army Auxiliary Corps, attached to Reserve Battalion Cheshire Regiment.
  • HG Roberts, Private, 436142, died 30/10/1918 Canadian Infantry 21st (Reserve) Battalion.
  • I Sands, Private 2250586, died 29/03/1919. Canadian Forestry Corps.
  • Alfred George Smith, Sapper, 490597, died 02/02/1919, aged 29. Canadian Railway Troops 11th Battalion. Son of Edward and Mary Smith. Born at Pembroke Dock.
  • WH Stow, Private, 3314639, died 20/10/1918. Canadian Infantry 8th (Reserve) Battalion.
  • Frederick Sumsion, Private, 285364, died 08/02/1919, aged 38. Canadian Infantry 12th (Reserve) Battalion.
  • William Tarasevich, Sapper, 1057297, died 05/03/1919, aged 30. Canadian Railway Troops 4th Battalion. He lived at272 Cadieux Street,Montreal, when he enlisted. He was born inRussia, and his next of kin lived in Motolskoy,Poloste,Russia.
  • JH Towsley, Sapper, 639181, died 30/01/1919, aged 23. Canadian Railway Troops 11th Battalion.
  • D Vaughan, Private, 2433407, died 14/03/1919. Canadian Forestry Corps.
  • J Waddell, Private, 2140613, died 23/10/1918, aged 40. Canadian Infantry 1st (Reserve) Battalion. Son of Alexander and Agnes Waddell; husband of Margaret Waddell, of 3,316, 26th Street, San Francisco, California, U.S.A. Born in Scotland.
  • F Walker, Private, 739739, died 26/10/1918. Canadian Infantry 12th (Reserve) Battalion.
  • AE Wells, Private, 3312094, died 26/01/1919, aged 45. Canadian Infantry 12th (Reserve) Battalion.
  • Son of Frederic B. Wells and his wife, Amittia Page Buck; husband of Blanche Terrais Wells, ofPhilipsburg East,P.Q.,Canada.
  • George Stephen White, Sergeant, 436661, died 26/10/1918, aged 26. Canadian Infantry 15th Battalion. Son of George and Annie White, of Galhampton, Somerset, England; husband of Laura C. White, of 12,813, 63rd Street, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
  • Horace George Wilkinson, Gunner, 2023204, died 02/11/1918, aged 23. Canadian Field Artillery Reserve Bde. Son of Elizabeth and John Wilkinson, of 2,043,Whyte Avenue.Vancouver,British Columbia.
  • William Wilkinson, Private, 766311, died 06/02/1919, aged 27. Canadian Infantry 19th Battalion. Son of William and Theresa Wilkinson, of 81,Hounslow   Heath Rd.,Toronto. Born inLondon,England.
  • R Winters, Private, 3355406, died 25/10/1918. Canadian Infantry 15th (Reserve) Battalion.
  • Ernest J Wood, Private, 2188525, died 08/01/1919. Canadian Infantry 15th (Reserve) Battalion. He hailed fromBenson,Saskatchewan. After active service inFrance, he died at theCanadian GeneralHospital, Kinmel Park Camp, aged 19. A headstone was erected in the churchyard by his brother, Sapper GH Wood.
  • William Wood, Private, 3131221, died 23/10/1918, aged 20. Canadian Infantry 4th (Reserve) Battalion. Son of Alexander and Margaret Wood, of St Marys,Ontario,Canada.
  • HC Woods, Corporal, 154059, died 13/02/1919. Canadian Railway Troops.
  • AL Wright, Private, 2355366, died 26/10/1918, aged 30. Canadian Infantry 4th (Reserve) Battalion. Son of A Wright.
  • Joseph Young, Corporal, 438680, died 05/03/1919, aged 36. Canadian Infantry 52nd Battalion. Son of Alexander and Mary Young. Born atGlasgow,Scotland.
  • TG Young, Private, 3214692, died 23/11/1918. Canadian Infantry 21st (Reserve) Battalion.