100th Anniversary of the
Battle of Vimy Ridge

This is a list of Peninsula Branch 62 family members who were at the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

Vimy Memorial
Questions or comments about this web page please contact Kelly Newstead

~ George Willard Kirk ~ Charles William Cooke ~ William Elias White ~ Robert Gray Miller ~
~ Edward Leslie Hughes ~ Henry Clifford Merritt ~ Harry Colpitts Cochran ~
~ Wentworth Havelock Tabor ~ Francis Herbert DuVernet ~ Chester O'Dell Johnson ~
~ Frederick George Smith ~ Richard Henry Arnold ~ John Frederick Miller ~ James Alfred Gaulton ~ John Joseph Wilson

George Kirk George Willard Kirk
  Born and raised in Saint John NB
Enlisted:   November 15, 1915 in Sussex, NB with 104th Overseas Battalion CEF
 

Born and raised in Saint John, NB

After leaving school in Saint John he moved back to the Kirk family farm in Bayswater.

This property is located across the road from the Latimore house on the creek side.

Residence at time of enlistment was Bayswater, NB

  Transferred to 140th Batt on Feb 6, 1916
Unit Sailed:   Halifax on Sept 25, 1916 aboard S.D.
Landed in England:   Liverpool on Oct 6, 1916

Transferred to 26th Bn on Oct 27, 1916

Landed in France :   Oct 29, 1916 to the field
Killed in Action:   April 9, 1917 killed in action in the field in France - during the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

Buried at Nine Elms Military Cemetery in Thelus, France.
3 miles north of Arras, France.
Plot III, F. 18

George Willard Kirk ~ Charles William Cooke ~ William Elias White ~ Robert Gray Miller ~
Edward Leslie Hughes ~ Henry Clifford Merritt ~ Harry Colpitts Cochran
Wentworth Havelock Tabor ~ Francis Herbert DuVernet ~ Chester O'Dell Johnson
Frederick George Smith ~ Richard Henry Arnold ~ John Frederick Miller ~ James Alfred Gaulton ~ John Joseph Wilson

Charles William Cooke Charles William Cooke
  Born in Truro NS
Enlisted:   March 27, 1916, Saint John, NB  115th Battalion
Embarked:   Canada from Halifax on July 23 1916  SS Olympic
Disembarked:   England at Liverpool on July 31, 1916
Transferred to 24th Battalion on Oct 5, 1916 to the field.
   
Killed in Action :   April 9, 1917 in the field of France, Age 24
Buried:   Lichfield Crater Thélus, Pas de Calais, France
  Remembered on tombstone of his Wife Maud Haslett, at White Head Cemetery
Left a wife Maud (Haslett) Cooke and son Charles Cooke age 2
George Willard Kirk ~ Charles William Cooke ~ William Elias White ~ Robert Gray Miller ~
Edward Leslie Hughes ~ Henry Clifford Merritt ~ Harry Colpitts Cochran
Wentworth Havelock Tabor ~ Francis Herbert DuVernet ~ Chester O'Dell Johnson
Frederick George Smith ~ Richard Henry Arnold ~ John Frederick Miller ~ James Alfred Gaulton ~ John Joseph Wilson
Elias White William Elias White
  Born and raised in Centreton on the Kingston Peninsula
Enlisted:   June 5, 1915 in Sussex, NB, 55th Battalion
Previous service 74th Regiment
   
Wounded:   Sept 15, 1916 during the advance from Pozières to Courcelette during the Somme Offensive.
Wounded:   April 9, 1917 during the attack on Vimy Ridge.

George Willard Kirk ~ Charles William Cooke ~ William Elias White ~ Robert Gray Miller ~
Edward Leslie Hughes ~ Henry Clifford Merritt ~ Harry Colpitts Cochran
Wentworth Havelock Tabor ~ Francis Herbert DuVernet ~ Chester O'Dell Johnson
Frederick George Smith ~ Richard Henry Arnold ~ John Frederick Miller ~ James Alfred Gaulton ~ John Joseph Wilson

Robert Miller Robert Gray Miller
  Born and raised in Centreton on the Kingston Peninsula
Enlisted:   June 5, 1915,  55th Battalion, Sussex, NB
signing adj. Major S. S. Wetmore

Previous Service :   74th Regiment
Embarked Canada :   Montreal, PQ on October 30, 1915 aboard SS Corsican
Arrived England:   Plymouth on November 9, 1915
  Trans to PPCLI on April 14, 1916
Trans to 40th Bn on July 6, 1916
Landed in France:   July 17, 1916
Taken on Strength with PPCLI to the field on Sept 18, 1916
  April 6, 1917 rank reverts back to Private at own request in the field
  TOS from France Feb 2, 1919
Proceed to England
Attached to CCC Kinmel Park for return to Canada - March 19, 1919
  

Served in Great Britain, France

Discharged:   March 28, 1919

George Willard Kirk ~ Charles William Cooke ~ William Elias White ~ Robert Gray Miller ~
Edward Leslie Hughes ~ Henry Clifford Merritt ~ Harry Colpitts Cochran
Wentworth Havelock Tabor ~ Francis Herbert DuVernet ~ Chester O'Dell Johnson
Frederick George Smith ~ Richard Henry Arnold ~ John Frederick Miller ~ James Alfred Gaulton ~ John Joseph Wilson

Les Hughes Edward Leslie Hughes
Date of Birth:   January 21st, 1900,
Sea Dog Cove, NB
(Summerville)
Enlisted:   November 29, 1915 at Saint John, NB  3rd Regiment CGA-New Brunswick

Trans to 7th Over Seas Siege Battery April 16, 1916

Arrived England:   June 8, 1916 on S.S Olympic

Proceed overseas from Bristol on Sept 26, 1916

Arrived in France:   Sept 29, 1916

167th SB now 6th SB in the field - Jan 11, 1917

Proceeded to England:   March 30, 1919

Attached to CCC Kinmel Park for return to Canada - April 29, 1919


Served in Great Britain, France and Belgium

Discharged:   May 10, 1919

George Willard Kirk ~ Charles William Cooke ~ William Elias White ~ Robert Gray Miller ~
Edward Leslie Hughes ~ Henry Clifford Merritt ~ Harry Colpitts Cochran
Wentworth Havelock Tabor ~ Francis Herbert DuVernet ~ Chester O'Dell Johnson
Frederick George Smith ~ Richard Henry Arnold ~ John Frederick Miller ~ James Alfred Gaulton ~ John Joseph Wilson

Henry Clifford Merritt Henry Clifford Merritt
  Born and raised in Moss Glen on the Kingston Peninsula.
Enlisted:   December 7, 1915, Victoria, BC - 67th Batt


Previous Service :   67th Fusiliers, Seaforth Highlanders of Canada
Embarked Canada :   Halifax on April 1, 1916 per S S Olympic
Disembarked England:   Liverpool on April 11, 1916

Trans to 54th Bn  in Field May 1, 1916

Proceed overseas with 67th Pioneer Batt - Aug 13, 1916

Disembarked France :  Havre on - August 14, 1916
   Nov 15, 1917 -   #9 Canadian Field Ambulance Shell wound to face

Nov 16, 1917 - #3 Can Gen - Boulogne - SW face slt

Jan 2, 1918 - Discharge to base detail - Boulogne

  

June 16 , 1918 - requests to revert back to rank of Private

June 18, 1918 - 67th Batt, will proceed on command to Trench Mortar School

Died of Wounds :   August 10, 1918 - Died of wounds received in action, 5 C. C. Station - Field
Buried:   Crouy British Cemetery in Crouy-sur-Somme in France. Grave VI. B. 16

Left a wife Gertrude E Merritt of Ashten-on-Lyons, England

George Willard Kirk ~ Charles William Cooke ~ William Elias White ~ Robert Gray Miller ~
Edward Leslie Hughes ~ Henry Clifford Merritt ~ Harry Colpitts Cochran
Wentworth Havelock Tabor ~ Francis Herbert DuVernet ~ Chester O'Dell Johnson
Frederick George Smith ~ Richard Henry Arnold ~ John Frederick Miller ~ James Alfred Gaulton ~ John Joseph Wilson

Harry Colpitts Cochran Harry Colpitts Cochran
  Born and raised in Bloomfield NB.
Enlisted:   October 21, 1915, Partridge Island Saint John, NB 4th OS Canadian Siege Battery, CEF
Previous Service :   2 years with 74th Hussars
Arrived England:   Landed in France at Le Havre on July 31, 1916 to the field
Transferred to 131 Canadian Siege Battery to the field.
  Att to CCHA Rest Camp in the field July 5, 1917
Rejoined unit from Rest Camp to the field July 15, 1917
  Proceed on Course - Feb 2, 1918
  Returned from 1st Army Mine School K Unit on March 5, 1918
  Proceeded to England:  April 1, 1919
Attached to CCC Kinmel Park for return to Canada

Served in Great Britain, France and Belgium

Discharged:   May 10, 1919

George Willard Kirk ~ Charles William Cooke ~ William Elias White ~ Robert Gray Miller ~
Edward Leslie Hughes ~ Henry Clifford Merritt ~ Harry Colpitts Cochran
Wentworth Havelock Tabor ~ Francis Herbert DuVernet ~ Chester O'Dell Johnson
Frederick George Smith ~ Richard Henry Arnold ~ John Frederick Miller ~ James Alfred Gaulton ~ John Joseph Wilson

Wentworth Tabor Wentworth Havelock Tabor
  Was born and raised in Kings County, NB
Enlisted:   Sept 17, 1915 in Sussex, NB with 64th Batt Canadian Overseas Expedition Forces
   Served in France at Vimy
 

As a child Rev. Paul Smith recalls sitting in a family gathering in a big room and Wentworth Tabor got up and left the room.
Paul's Uncle Oscar told the group "you know he was at Vimy Ridge and he told me once that the blood ran down hill in little riverlets"

George Willard Kirk ~ Charles William Cooke ~ William Elias White ~ Robert Gray Miller ~
Edward Leslie Hughes ~ Henry Clifford Merritt ~ Harry Colpitts Cochran
Wentworth Havelock Tabor ~ Francis Herbert DuVernet ~ Chester O'Dell Johnson
Frederick George Smith ~ Richard Henry Arnold ~ John Frederick Miller ~ James Alfred Gaulton ~ John Joseph Wilson

Francis Herbert DuVernet Francis Herbert DuVernet
  Born and raised in Gagetown NB
Enlisted:   December 9, 1915 in Saint John - 7th Overseas Siege Battery CEF
Previous Service :   2 years with 71st Regiment
Embarked Canada :   Halifax on 31 May 1916 per SS Olympic
Disembarked England:   Liverpool on June 8, 1916
Theatre of War :   France Sept 26, 1916

proceeded overseas from Bristol on Sept 26, 1916

Landed in France :  Sept 27, 1916 to the field
Fought at Vimy Ridge as a Sergeant

While fighting in the front lines in Vimy one of his men had his leg shot off.
Sgt DuVernet carried him to safety and saved his life.
This was Lt. David Lawrence MacLaren, (D. L. MacLaren)
In later years he became Mayor of Saint John (1936-1940, 1958-60 died in office)) and then Lieutenant Governor D.L. MacLaren of New Brunswick (1945-1958)

Judy remembers that he always was very thankful to Frank DuVernet and would come to visit him usually at least once a year. When he was Lieut. Governor he used to come to our house to visit in a big black limo with the flags flying. Quite something for a small village of Gagetown where Frank was born and brought up and raised his family.

Returned:   Canada Jan 17, 1919
Discharged:   Feb 14, 1919
Served in WW II:   from 1940-45 as Home Guard at Ripples, NB

George Willard Kirk ~ Charles William Cooke ~ William Elias White ~ Robert Gray Miller ~
Edward Leslie Hughes ~ Henry Clifford Merritt ~ Harry Colpitts Cochran
Wentworth Havelock Tabor ~ Francis Herbert DuVernet ~ Chester O'Dell Johnson
Frederick George Smith ~ Richard Henry Arnold ~ John Frederick Miller ~ James Alfred Gaulton ~ John Joseph Wilson

Chester Johnson Chester O'Dell Johnson
  Born and raised in Deer Island NB
Enlisted:   December 22, 1915 in St. Stephen, NB  in 115th Overseas Battalion

transfer to 24th Reserve Battalion CEF

Embarked Canada :   Halifax on July 23, 1916 aboard SS Olympic
Disembarked England:   Liverpool on July 31, 1916

Theatre of War :   France Oct 5, 1916 - 24th BN Can Inf

Proceed for service overseas on Oct 5, 1916
Left to join unit in the field Oct 20, 1916
Joined unit in the field Oct 22, 1916

Wounded:   April 9, 1917

April 13 admitted to 3 Gen hospital in Boulogue with GSW penetrating
released after spending 28 days in hospital

  Awarded good conduct stripe Dec 22, 1917
Killed in Action :   August 8, 1918

Canada, War Graves Registers(Circumstances of Casualty)

He took part with his Company in an attack from West of Villers-Bretonneux upon enemy positions West of Vienourt-l'Equipee and Guillaqcourt.  When nearing Guillaucourt the Company came under heavy enemy shell fire and his section spread out to avoid casualties.  One shell however burst near the small party he was with, and he was instantly killed by the explosion.


Buried :   Vimy Memorial in Pas de Calais, France

George Willard Kirk ~ Charles William Cooke ~ William Elias White ~ Robert Gray Miller ~
Edward Leslie Hughes ~ Henry Clifford Merritt ~ Harry Colpitts Cochran
Wentworth Havelock Tabor ~ Francis Herbert DuVernet ~ Chester O'Dell Johnson
Frederick George Smith ~ Richard Henry Arnold ~ John Frederick Miller ~ James Alfred Gaulton ~ John Joseph Wilson

Frederick George Smith Frederick George Smith
  Born in Regina SK
Raised in Nelson BC
Enlisted:   May 7, 1915 in Vernon, BC - 54th  Kootenay (Nelson Det) Battalion, CEF
Unit Sailed:   Nov 22, 1915, SS Saxonia
Arrived England:   Dec 2, 1915
Proceeded to Draft - 7th Battalion Mar 24, 1916
Embark for France - Mar 24, 1916
   
Wounded:   April 9, 1917 during the attack on Vimy Ridge.
GWS left thigh - two small entry and exit wounds right thigh 3 inches apart.
GWS scar each side of index finger right hand.
Hospitalized for 19 days.
Recovered. Returned back to the field.
Promoted:   Cpl - Dec 29, 1917
Wounded:   Sept 2 1918 - Arras, France
GSW neck and face - bullet entry left side of neck below ear exit right cheek.
removed from serious ill list Oct 5, 1918, sent to military convalescent hospital, invalided to Canada May 5, 1919.
Discharged:   medically unfit Aug 26, 1919, Vancouver, BC to Esquimalt Mil Hospital for further treatment

George Willard Kirk ~ Charles William Cooke ~ William Elias White ~ Robert Gray Miller ~
Edward Leslie Hughes ~ Henry Clifford Merritt ~ Harry Colpitts Cochran
Wentworth Havelock Tabor ~ Francis Herbert DuVernet ~ Chester O'Dell Johnson
Frederick George Smith ~ Richard Henry Arnold ~ John Frederick Miller ~ James Alfred Gaulton ~ John Joseph Wilson

Charles William Cooke Richard Henry Arnold
  Born in Wiarton, ON
Raised in Swift Current, SK

Enlisted:   March 4, 1916, Swift Current, Sask 9th Res Battalion

Embarked Canada :   Nov 1, 1916
Disembarked England:   Nov 11, 1916 per S S Cor???
Trans to 54th Bn  in Field May 1, 1916

  Proceed overseas with 49th Batt - March 5, 1917
Landed in France:   March 6, 1917 to the field
 

Left for 3rd C E Bn on March 31, 1917
Arrived at 3rd C E Bn on April 4, 1917

Accidental Death :   July 29, 1917

Met his death on the road from Lillers to Allouge about 8:30pm.
Injuries sustained accidentally by coming in contact with electric wires and falling from an electric pole.

Buried :   Lapugnoy Military Cemetery in France
Left a wife Luella in Swift Current, Saskatchewan

George Willard Kirk ~ Charles William Cooke ~ William Elias White ~ Robert Gray Miller ~
Edward Leslie Hughes ~ Henry Clifford Merritt ~ Harry Colpitts Cochran
Wentworth Havelock Tabor ~ Francis Herbert DuVernet ~ Chester O'Dell Johnson
Frederick George Smith ~ Richard Henry Arnold ~ John Frederick Miller ~ James Alfred Gaulton ~ John Joseph Wilson

John Miller John Frederick Miller
  Was born and raised in Saint John, NB
Enlisted:   November 2, 1915 in Sussex, NB - 104th Bn

Transferred to 140th Bn Feb 5, 1916

Unit Sailed:   Sept 25, 1916 on S.S. Corsican
Arrived in England:   Oct 6, 1916

  Theatre of War France - 20 April 1917 with
26th Bn
  Since 9th April, the Canadian Corps has been continuously engaged in active operation.  These operations have included the attack and capture of the Vimy Ridge on 9th, April, and the Pimple on 12th April, followed by the occupation of the villages of Givenchy, Vimy and Willerval, the attack of the Arieux loop and Arleux village on 28th April, and the capture of Fresnoy on 3rd May.

George Willard Kirk ~ Charles William Cooke ~ William Elias White ~ Robert Gray Miller ~
Edward Leslie Hughes ~ Henry Clifford Merritt ~ Harry Colpitts Cochran
Wentworth Havelock Tabor ~ Francis Herbert DuVernet ~ Chester O'Dell Johnson
Frederick George Smith ~ Richard Henry Arnold ~ John Frederick Miller ~ James Alfred Gaulton ~ John Joseph Wilson

James Gaulton James Alfred Gaulton
  Was born in Windsor, Nova Scotia
Enlisted:   November 20, 1914 in Saint John, NB  with 26th Battalion

Unit Sailed:   Halifax on June 13, 1915 on the S.S. Caledonia
Arrived in England:   June 20, 1915
  Theatre of War France - 20 April 1917 with
26th Bn
Left England:   at Folkstone
Landed in France :   at Baulogne Sept 15, 1915

Trans to No. 6 Canadian Field Ambulance as stretcher bearer

  Served in England, France, Belgium and Germany
Released:   May 17, 1919

George Willard Kirk ~ Charles William Cooke ~ William Elias White ~ Robert Gray Miller ~
Edward Leslie Hughes ~ Henry Clifford Merritt ~ Harry Colpitts Cochran
Wentworth Havelock Tabor ~ Francis Herbert DuVernet ~ Chester O'Dell Johnson
Frederick George Smith ~ Richard Henry Arnold ~ John Frederick Miller ~ James Alfred Gaulton ~ John Joseph Wilson

John Wilson

John Joseph Wilson

  Born in Hampden Maine USA on
December 19, 1892.
Enlisted:   July 3, 1915 in Edmonton, Alberta with the 66th Battalion, CEF. Took a Harvest Furlough from October 2 to 9, 2015 and returned to unit on October 11, 2015
Unit Sailed:   Left Canada from Halifax on April 28, 1916 on board SS Olympic.
Arrived in England:   May 7, 1916 and was to transferred to the 49th - O Battalion and proceeded for France on June 5, 1916
Landed in France :   Landed in France on June 8, 1916 and taken on strength with the 49th Battalion.
  Attached to the 7th Field Company of CEF and went to the field on February 17, 1917
Wounded:  

In action on April 10, 1917 in the field. Suffered a gun shot wound to right hip, foot and head.   Invalided and posted back to the Alberta Regiment, Canadian Military Hospital.

Returned back to France on Nov 11, 1917 to the 49th Battalion on November 22nd

Married:  Granted permission to marry on February 1, 1919. Married to Margaret Phillips on February 7, 1919 in Stobhill, County Midlothian, Scotland
Discharged:   Departed England for Canada on June 23, 1919 and was on July 7, 1919 in Quebec, Quebec.
Dependant Mrs. Margret Wilson sailed for Canada on August 1, 1919