Four Canadian First World War soldiers to be buried in France 

Media are invited to attend the burials of four Canadian soldiers of the First World War on August 23, 2018, at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) Loos British Cemetery outside Loos-en-Gohelle, France.

August 16, 2018 – Ottawa – National Defence / Canadian Armed Forces

Media are invited to attend the burials of four Canadian soldiers of the First World War on August 23, 2018, at the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s (CWGC) Loos British Cemetery outside Loos-en-Gohelle, France.

The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) will conduct the burials with the families of the four soliders in attendance, with the support of Veterans Affairs Canada. Representatives of the Government of Canada and the Government of France will also be in attendance.

What: Military burials of four Canadian First World War soldiers.

When: August 23, 2018, at 1:30 p.m.; media to be in location by 1:00 p.m. (Central European Time). 

Where: CWGC Loos British Cemetery outside Loos-en-Gohelle, France.

Additional information:

On May 22, 2018, the Department of National Defence (DND) and the CAF announced the identification of the remains of three Canadian soldiers from the First World War found near the village of Vendin-le-Vieil, France, as Private William Del Donegan, 20, Private Henry Priddle, 33, and Sergeant Archibald Wilson, 25. All three soldiers enlisted in Winnipeg, Manitoba. They died on August 16, 1917, in the Battle of Hill 70, as members of the 16th Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force (CEF), a unit perpetuated by The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary’s) of Victoria, B.C.

On May 28, 2018, DND and the CAF announced the identification of the remains of a fourth Canadian soldier from the First World War, found at the site of a construction project in Lens, France, as Private John (Jack) Henry Thomas, of Chewale, South Wales, UK, and Birch Ridge, N.B. Private Thomas was a member of the 26th Canadian Infantry Battalion (New Brunswick), CEF, a unit perpetuated by The Royal New Brunswick Regiment of Fredericton, N.B. He died on August 19, 1917, at the age of 28, in the Battle of Hill 70.

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Notes to editor / news director: 

Media are asked to confirm attendance no later than 4 p.m. on August 22, 2018, by contacting Captain Olivier Gallant at Olivier.Gallant@forces.gc.ca or 613-220-9310.

Cemetery directions: From Lens, take the N43 towards Bethune. Arriving at Loos, turn right at the CWGC sign post. Loos British Cemetery is about 1 kilometre from Loos Church in the southern part of the village.

Imagery and video will be available in the Canadian Armed Forces Imagery Gallery.

The CAF has the capacity to set up HD TV interviews from the ceremony using Dejero equipment. For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Capt Gallant as indicated above.

Contacts

Media Relations
Department of National Defence
Phone: 613-996-2353
Email: mlo-blm@forces.gc.ca