Canada's Fallen for the week of August 9, 1914

Calendar for the week of August 9, 1914

As of the evening of 4 August 1914 Great Britain and Germany were at war. So too was the British Empire, including Canada and the independent colony of Newfoundland.  Canadians, especially those of British descent enthusiastically volunteered to enlist in the Canadian Expeditionary Force.  Although it would take months for the first Canadian units to land in Europe, seven men lost their lives in August 1914, and are counted among the fallen.

August 14, 1914

Canada's Anglo-Celtic Connection

The first soldier to die was Private Harry Benjamin Little.  Pte Little died from heart failure at Hughenden, Alberta, on an Edmonton troop train carrying the second contingent from the city on it's way east. His body was removed at Hardesty, Alberta to the care of the Royal North West Mounted Police. He was buried at Czar Lutheran Cemetery, Provost, Alberta.

Private Harry B Little is commemorated on Page 1 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission

August 15, 1914 The next Canadian Soldiers to fall were Private Charles F Kells, and Private John Thomas Madden. Private Charles Frederick Kells, 19th Regiment, drowned on August 15, 1914 near the Niagara Street bridge. He was first noticed to be absent when a helmet was seen floating in the canal near Lock 9, but dragging of the canal that evening was unsuccessful and it was not until the next morning that his body was recovered. There was no indication of foul play and an inquest attributed his death to an accident. He is buried in the Fonthill Cemetery, Fonthill, Ontario. John Thomas Madden commemorated on the first page of the First World War book of Remembrance, He is buried in the Halifax (Mount Olivet) Cemetary.