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WWI Soldiers Commemorated at Roseisle
Roseisle area sent 62 young men to war in 1914–18; eight of them did not return. Local students ages 10 to 15 each selected one of the soldiers to learn about their life and the circumstances of their death on the battlefield. A ninth soldier was later added to the list and a separate memorial ceremony was held the following year.
Harrison Cleveland Ager and the Commemorative Medallion awarded to next-of-kinHarrison Cleveland Ager was born October 10, 1892, to Fletcher and Emily (Grimstead) Ager of Roseisle. “Cleve” was working as a fireman on the CNR at time of enlistment on March 4, 1916, age 23 years. He was assigned to 184th Battalion, Manitoba Regiment. Private Ager was reported wounded and missing, later officially declared to have died on or before August 21, 1917. His body was never recovered. His name is recorded on the Vimy Memorial.
Cleve’s parents, grandparents, four siblings and several other relatives are buried in Roseisle Cemetery.
For more information, you can visit the Find A Grave website.
Campbell, William
William Campbell was born December 1, 1895, in Inverness Shire, Scotland and died September 12, 1918, in France. He was the son of Mr. & Mrs. George Campbell of Hyde Park community, 3 miles north of Roseisle. The family immigrated to Canada in 1907 and lived on 12-7-8w. William was a farmer, 22 years of age when he was drafted January 12, 1918.Private Campbell was serving with the Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment), 27th Battalion when killed in action September 12, 1918, northwest of Buissy, France. He was struck between the eyes and instantly killed when an 8 inch shell burst 300 yards away from the trench in which he was situated. William Campbell is buried in Dominion British Cemetery south-east of Arras, France. His parents are buried in Roseisle Cemetery.
Cook, Arthur Oswald
Arthur Oswald Cook was born was born in July 30, 1891, in Hammersmith, England. The family immigrated in 1899 and lived on NW and SE of 2-6-7. Arthur was 23 and a farmer when he enlisted in the 6th Battalion, 2nd Brigade on September 24, 1914. He was a Lance Sergeant with the 10th Battalion when killed in action.
Arthur was on duty in the front line trench and while making his rounds a heavy minenwerfer shell was thrown into the trench, instantly killing him by concussion. He died in the vicinity of Angres and is buried in Fosse No. 10 Communal Cemetery Extension, Sains-en-Gohelle, Pas de Calais, France.
For more information, you can visit the Find a Grave website
Green, Lawrence Roy
Lawrence Green, with the Green Boarding House (on right) in Roseisle 1924
Lawrence Roy Green was born January 13, 1892, in Carman, Manitoba. He was a farmer, son of Henry William (Wilbert) Green (1876–ca.1962) and Margaret Dickinson, and an older brother of Russell, George, and Albert Green. His parents had a boarding house on Main Avenue in Roseisle until it burned in 1936.
Lawrence was 24 when he joined the 106th Winnipeg Light Infantry Feb. 22, 1916 and a member of the 44th Battalion when he died of wounds June 11, 1917. Lawrence Green was buried in the Noeux-les-Mines Communal Cemetery, Pas de Calais, south of Bethune, France.
Family members are buried in Roseisle Cemetery.
Patton, Royden Percival
Royden Percival Patton was born April 5, 1886, in Winnipeg, son of Harry Patton and Margaret Ingram (formerly Patton), of Roseisle. He was 31 and working as a clerk when he enlisted in the Canadian Infantry (Manitoba Regiment) 16th Battalion.
Private Patton was reported being a prisoner-of-war; according to German records, he escaped and was presumed to have died October 12, 1918. He is buried in Quievrain Communal Cemetery, Belgium near Valenciennes (Plot 1, Row A, Grave No. 39). Royden’s half-brother Hugh James Thomas Ingram also served in WWI.
Ritchie, Thomas
Thomas Ritchie was born November 26, 1895, in Scotland, the only son of Alexander H. and Euphemia Howie Ritchie. Thomas Ritchie enlisted in Winnipeg June 7, 1915.
He was with the Canadian Infantry (Eastern Ontario Regiment) 2nd Battalion in an attack west of Passchendale when he was reported missing. He was later presumed to have died on November 6, 1917, age 22 years. Private Ritchie’s name is recorded on the Menin Gate (Ypres) Memorial, Belgium. His father, Alexander Ritchie also served in WWI.
Saunders, Dorval AugustusDorval Sanders (700546) was born Jan. 5, 1898 in Carman, the son of William Price Cooper Saunders and Annie Elizabeth Brown. He was a brother to George Saunders and an uncle to Lorne Saunders of the Roseisle district. Dorval was a private with the 16th Battalion & 19 years old when he died of wounds on 11-4-17 at Vimy Ridge. Buried in Barlin Communal Cemetery 2 ¼ miles SW of Noeux-les-Mines, Pas-de-Calais, France.
Dorval Saunders Lake, north of Flin Flon, has been named in his honour.
Dorval Augustus Saunders and the Barlin Communal Cemetery
See the History of the R.M. of Dufferin in Manitoba 1880-1980, pp.717-722 for family history.For more information, you can visit the Find a Grave website.
Werseen, Bernhadt IverBernhardt Iver Werseen was born August 31, 1894, in Roseisle to Isaac Werseen and Caroline Sibley Turnbull. He enlisted March 24, 1916 and was with the 78th Bn. when he killed April 9, 1917 at Vimy Ridge, France, age 23. His burial site near Lenz was obliterated by a bomb; a memorial cross with his name was erected in the Canadian Cemetery, Givenchy-en-Gohelle, near the Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France.
Brothers Andrew and Carl Werseen also served in WWI. Several family members are buried in Roseisle Cemetery.
Werseen Lake northeast of Flin Flon has been named in his honour.
For more information, you can go to the Find a Grave website.
Wilson, David
David Wilson was born September 3, 1896, Lachute, Quebec, to David Wilson and Agnes McFarlane. He came to Roseisle in 1904 with his parents and siblings to SW 1/4 2-7-7w. David was a tinsmith by trade and only 18 when he went with the first contingent of the 90th rifles. He was among the first to enlist—September 21, 1914.
Private Wilson passed through severe fighting at Langemarck, Ypres and St. Julien. He died of wounds on July 17, 1915, and is buried in the Maple Leaf Cemetery at Le Romarin, Belgium. His older brother William enlisted after David’s death.
