Edmonton Bulletin
11Oct1915
n0np0332
GRANDE PRAIRIE SHOWS LOYALTY TO THE EMPIRE
Has Sent Many Drafts of Troops-- 45 Arrived Yesterday
LEAVE BUSINESS AND FAMILIES BEHIND
Some of Finest Men Physically That Have Enlisted Here
The Grande Prairie district, although hitherto far removed from the centres of
population, can fairly claim to be as loyal, if not more loyal, than any other
district in Canada. As soon as war was declared a number of the residents, many
of them homesteaders, at once answered the call of duty, and proceeded to the
cold country, their former home in many cases, and either secured commissions
or joined the ranks. Since then several drafts have been secured in the Grande
Prairie district for the 63rd and 66th battalions, and yesterday morning
another contingent of forty-five arrived in the city for the 66th, making in
all about two hundred men from Grande Prairie who have responded to the empire
call. Better still, it is stated that many more men will join as soon as they
have completed their threshing operations, so that their families will not be
unduly inconvenienced in the immediate future.
Leave Families Behind
Several of the men who arrived in the city yesterday are married, and have left
wives and small children behind them, but still are eager for the fray. Nothing
more inspiring for instance, can be found than the statement of one of them,
Joseph Alfred Alphonse Boulanger, brother of Dr. Boulanger, of Edmonton, who
said last night, " I have a gent's furnishing and millinery business in
Grande Prairie City, and a wife and three small children, but I think it is my
duty to go to the front." If only some of the single men in Toronto, for
instance, could have heard his words.
Another recruit is Henry Robertson, the well-known auctioneer of Grande Prairie
City, popularly known as " The colonel," who is married and has a
grown-up family. His hair is graying rapidly, but his heart is young and his
feet are nimble, and he would not be satisfied until his attestation papers
were signed. Who would refuse to join with such an example to follow?
George Henry Peebles, a home steader near Grande Prairie City, who is married
and has a family, decided to go to the front, "If you are going,"
said Harold, his son, " then I am going too, or else I will run away and
join at Edmonton." And so there they are, father and son, ready to fight
side by side for the good old flag.
Leaves 800-Acre Farm
Albert E. W. Roberts, a homesteader near Lake Saskatoon, has a farm of eight
hundred acres, and is married, with one child, but that did not deter him from
joining the colors. Hudson P. Pitman, of Bear Lake, has some brothers at the
front, and leaves a widowed mother behind him. The Call, "Your King and
country need you," did not fall on deaf ears in his case. Merlin Rae,
another of the recruits, is the son of Wm. Rae, the Grande Prairie City lawyer,
who was candidate for provincial honors at the last election.
One of the recruits is Rev. J. W. McDonald, the Anglican clergyman at Grande
Prairie City, with supervision over the surrounding territory. He has been
stationed there about sixteen months, and is very popular.
Lieut. Mead came part of the way with the party, but returned in order to bring
out another contingent shortly. Some of yesterday's recruits were laborers on
the Grande Prairie branch railway, now under construction.
Some of Finest Men
Dr. Hislop, who medically examined the men yesterday, said they were some of
the finest men from a physical point of view who had enlisted locally.
The full list of the men is as follows:
Jospeh Alfred Boulanger, merchant, Grande Prairie City.
Gerald Henry Patterson, homesteader, Bear Lake.
John Cecil Hall, homesteader, Lake Saskatoon.
William Bousfield, homesteader, Grande Prairie City.
Harry Hutchinson, homesteader, Bear Lake.
George Henry Peebles, homesteader, Grande Prairie City.
Geo. Courtney Davis, homesteader, Lake Saskatoon.
Hy. Robertson, auctioneer, Grande Prairie City.
H. Reeves, homesteader, Grande Prairie City.
Ray Clifford Steves, carpenter, Prairie City.
Thos. Arthur Bernard Sully, homesteader, Lake Saskatoon.
John Rillie, Lake Saskatoon.
Jack Fynn, homesteader, Beaver-lodge.
Harry G. W. Hasler, Red Willow.
Edgar Hudson, Lake Saskatoon.
John Bosdel Thompson, homesteader, Bear Lake.
James Robert McDonald, homesteader, Grande Prairie City.
Alfred Garand, working railway grade.
Percy Douglas Mersoneau, working railway grade.
James Kellets, homesteader, Kleskun Lake.
James Hill, homesteader, Lake Saskatoon.
Alfred Richard Schofield, Lake Saskatoon.
Frank Lukey, an ex-mounted policeman, recently stationed at Wabiscaw.
Arthur Carrien, working railway grade.
Oliver Martin, Grande Prairie City.
Fred'k. Robert Smith, homesteader, Lake Saskatoon (married recently.)
Arthur E. W. Roberts, homesteader, Lake Saskatoon.
Floyd John South, homesteader, Lake Saskatoon.
Daniel Wm. Sutherland, homesteader, Lake Saskatoon.
Hudson Porter Pitman, homesteader, Lake Saskatoon.
Chas. Henry Nicholson, homesteader, Bear Lake.
Chas. Henry Nicholson, homesteader, Lake Saskatoon.
Frank Trudeau, working railway grade.
John Kneafsey, Lake Saskatoon.
James Thompson Scott, homesteader, Kleskun Lake.
Edgar Allen Ellis, homesteader, Grande Prairie City.
Harold Peebles, Grande Prairie City.
Geo. Leslie Norley, homesteader, Sprink Creek.
Isaac Nelson, homesteader, Grande Prairie City.
Merlin Hamilton Rae, Grande Prairie City.
Robt. McGregor, homesteader, Lake Saskatoon.
Peter McLaren, homesteader, of Grande Prairie City.
John Jos. Bermond, homesteader, Richmond Hill.
Alonzo Malouin, working railway grade.
Wm. Carl Hanelgan, homesteader, Grande Prairie City.
Extracted
by J. Kynman – 2006-12-10