The First World War has also been known by other names including the Great War, or even the Seminal Catastrophe. Until the American infantry men, otherwise known as the Doughboys, arrived in Europe from the States to join the global conflict, the Americans referred to this campaign as the European War. But long before the Americans came to fill the trenches in 1917, Canadian troops had been fighting in Europe since 1914, soon after England declared war on Germany.
The First World War lasted from July 28, 1914 to November 11, 1918. The date in November is significant, because this explains why Remembrance Day is commemorated on the 11th month at the 11th hour each year in Canada.The so-called War to end all Wars led to the mobilization of more than 70 million military personnel, including 60 million Europeans. The First World War was one of the largest wars in history and one of the deadliest conflicts ever recorded. An estimated nine million combatants and seven million civilians died as a result of this war. After the first modern conflict ended in 1918, an influenza pandemic caused another 50-100 million deaths worldwide, according to a 2014 thesis written by Rachel Williams titled Dual Threat: The Spanish Influenza and World War One.
Soldiers from Saskatchewan played a meaningful function in this conflict of the early 1900s. In article by Natascia Lynpy for the Regina Leader-Post in August 2014, she wrote about the establishment of the Sask War Memorial in Regina. The ceremony remembered the 100th anniversary of the day England declared war on Germany – a declaration immediately bringing Canada into the conflict because of historical and political ties. Saskatchewan residents involved in the First World War were also memorialized in this ceremony held five years ago in 2014. The province lost 6,400 people during the First World War – a staggering number, considering the total population of Saskatchewan amounted to 492,000 in 1911. In total, Canada grieved over nearly 67,000 deaths and greeted 173,000 wounded personnel returning from the frontlines. The conflict in Europe had affected many in Canada, including the settlers of south central Saskatchewan.
Wilson Barrett of the Coronach area joined the South Saskatchewan Regiment in 1914. Before he came to Canada, Barrett had some previous experiences as a soldier, having served with the British military during the Boer War in South Africa. During his time served on the European front, Barrett was wounded twice. However, he returned to Saskatchewan in 1918 with a bride from England. Although Barrett survived his wartime experiences, his son Eric was killed in active duty in England while serving as a Flight Lieutenant in the RCAF in the Second World War.
Theophile Beraud immigrated to Canada from France in 1905. He started a homestead in the Maxstone area in 1918. Aside from farming, Beraud became involved with the local community by becoming the secretary of the school board for the Montcalm School. Beraud left Canada in 1914, having returned to France to join the French army. He was killed in action one year from the day he left Saskatchewan behind forever.
George Hurlburt built a homestead in the Wood River area in 1909. Hurlburt taught school in Griffin east of Weyburn. He also sold insurance. The farm in the Wood River area was more or less a hobby farm where Hurlburt spent his holidays. After the First World War was declared, Hurlburt joined the 128th Battalion. Hurlburt returned to Canada after the war in one piece, but his involvement with the overseas conflict would detrimentally affect the ex-soldier’s health for the rest of his life.
Join the community in Assiniboia on November 11 at St. George’s Catholic Church on 325 Sixth Avenue, where the fallen and the injured in war will be remembered in a Remembrance Day Service.
