Canadian Casualties of Passchendaele

The Canadian Corps victory at Passchendaele came at a high price with more than 12,400 recorded wounded, missing or killed during the Second Battle of Passchendaele from 26 October to 11 November. Ahead of Canadian commemorations marking the centenary of the Third Battle of Ypres, here are the stories of some of those who lost their lives.

Corporal James George McKinstry, a tinsmith from Toronto, Canada, was one soldier of the Canadian Corps who worked behind the lines before the battle. He was killed, at the age of 31, along with 19 other men of the 123rd Canadian Pioneers, when a German shell landed in the middle of their platoon near Ypres railway station on 21 October. All 20 are buried side-by-side in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery.

More than 560 Canadian servicemen were killed on the opening day of the Second Battle of Passchendaele. Attacking up Bellevue Spur, the scene of some of the heaviest fighting, were men of the 43rd (Cameron Highlanders of Canada) Battalion, Canadian Infantry.

Some 100 of the battalion were killed during the attack, including 29-year-old Private William John Stone. Private Stone came from McGregor, Manitoba, where he lived with his wife Sarah and their six children. He had enlisted in November 1915, and had seen service with the militia before war. Like so many servicemen who died fighting for the Bellevue Spur, Private Stone has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

The men who served in the Canadian Corps, came from across Canada and beyond. Many were Canadian born, while others were recent emigres from Britain, Ireland or other parts of Europe or the British Empire. They served for many reasons; for king, country or empire, for the chance of adventure or compelled to by social or financial pressure, or in the later years of the war, by conscription. Others still enlisted to fight for the Allied course, including many thousands of American citizens.

One such American was Private Edwin Patrick Fitzgerald, from upstate New York, who crossed the border legally in early 1916 to enlist in the Canadian Army. Private Fitzgerald had 17 years’ pervious service with the American Army, but aged 43 was forced to lie about his age to enlist.

Private Fitzgerald was killed near the old Ypres-Roulers railway line and was buried, shortly after the battle, in the small burial ground next to an old German pillbox which would later become Tyne Cot Cemetery.

On 6 November, the ruins of Passchendaele, were cleared by troops of the 27^th (City of Winnipeg) Battalion. During their attack the 27^th Battalion suffered heavy casualties, one of whom was 21-year-old Private Oliver William Ridley.

Private Ridley from Winnipeg, Manitoba, worked as a moulder in the local foundry before enlisting in May 1915. He was wounded at Ypres in June 1916, and after the battle on 6 November 1917, was reported as missing in action. In 1920, his remains were found to the east of Passchendaele along with several others. They were reburied in Passchendaele New British Cemetery.

Nine Victoria Crosses were awarded to Canadians for their actions during the fighting. One of the recipients was James Peter Robertson, who enlisted with the Canadian Expeditionary Force in June 1915. He was killed on 6 November 1917, at the age of 35, during the final assault on Passchendaele. He is buried at the CWGC’s Tyne Cot Cemetery. Reporting the actions which led to the award, the London Gazette said:

"For most conspicuous bravery and outstanding devotion to duty in attack. When his platoon was held up by uncut wire and a machine gun causing many casualties, Pte. Robertson dashed to an opening on the flank, rushed the machine gun and, after a desperate struggle with the crew, killed four and then turned the gun on the remainder, who, overcome by the fierceness of his onslaught, were running towards their own lines. His gallant work enabled the platoon to advance. He inflicted many more casualties among the enemy, and then carrying the captured machine gun, he led his platoon to the final objective. He there selected an excellent position and got the gun into action, firing on the retreating enemy who by this time were quite demoralised by the fire brought to bear on them. During the consolidation Pte. Robertson's most determined use of the machine gun kept down the fire of the enemy snipers; his courage and his coolness cheered his comrades and inspired them to the finest efforts. Later, when two of our snipers were badly wounded in front of our trench, he went out and carried one of them in under very severe fire. He was killed just as he returned with the second man."

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