Nationally, over 3 5000 Indigenous soldiers (non-treaty ‘Indians’ were not included in their calculations) joined forces with the Canadian settler population to fight the fearsome enemy of the Great War. Rates of enlistment in British Columbia, where land disputes raged, greatly differed from the rest of Canada. Because of this, the researchers had a difficult time finding many Indigenous soldiers from the GVRD. As a result, our search was widened to include all of Vancouver Island. The most notable portion of these findings, is the lack of information available. It prompts questions such as: Why was the West significantly different than the East in terms on enlistment, what kind of conditions existed here to hamper participation, and do the stark differences between East and West still exist today?
What these soldiers are not, contrary to the common belief about Indigenous soldiers at the time, is snipers. They do not fit into the common narrative that exists in Canadian literature.
The profiles listed below are a snapshot of what seems to be a few of the only men who enlisted from Vancouver Island. Do you know of an Indigenous soldier who should be on this list? Please contact us.
John Andrew Beynon
Regimental #: 706439
Private John Andrew Beynon was born to Englishman William Beynon and Tsimishian woman Rebecca Wittington in Victoria, on Vancouver Island. He enlisted on January 1st, 1916 while working as a page. He went on to serve in the 103rd Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces overseas. While no wounds were recorded, Private Beynon battled measles, rubella, and influenza while serving. Private Beynon was discharge on demobilization on January 31st, 1919. Interestingly, his discharge papers state that he was 17 years old in 1919; which would have made him 14 years old when he enlisted.
Richard Arthur Beynon
Regimental #: 706601
Son of an Englishman William Beynon and Tsimishian woman Rebecca Wittington and the brother of Private Arthur Beynon, Private Richard Arthur Beynon was born in Victoria, on Vancouver Island. He was working as a telegraph operator when he enlisted on January 10th of 1916 to serve with the 103rd Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces. However, shortly after enlisting, Private Beynon developed pneumonia, from which he never recovered. It quickly developed into tuberculosis and after a short stint in the tuberculosis ward of the Royal Jubilee Hospital he moved to the Tranquille Sanitorium. He was officially discharged in August of 1918 for being “physically unfit for further service”. Private Beynon passed away on December 22nd 1918 having never seen battle.
William Robert Quockester
Regimental #: 490695
Private William Robert Quockester was working as a logger when he enlisted on June 9th, 1916 and served in the 1st O/S Canadian Pioneer Details. Private Quockester is on many Indigenous veteran registries but due to possible name changes and sparse records, it was not possible to discern which First Nation he belonged to. Once he reached England for training, he was found to be underage and was assigned permanent base duty. Finally, he was discharged on November 6th, 1917 having never seen battle.
Edwin Victor Cook
Regimental #: 703323
Born to Stephen and Jane Cook, Edwin lived on the Nim Kish reserve in Alert Bay, Vancouver Island. The reserve would also play host to an infamous residential school that was torn down in 2015. Private Cook was a student when he enlisted on January 15th, 1916 and served in the 102nd Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces. He got married while in England and became a father. Private Cook died in hospital in July of 1918 as a result of battle wounds. Private Cook received the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
Luke Charles Mahone
Regimental #:628591
Born to Alfred and Emma Mahone of Nitinat, Vancouver Island, Private Mahone was a member of the Nucc-chah-nulth First Nation. Private Mahone was working as carpenter when he enlisted in June of 1915 and served in the 47th Battalion of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces. By November 23rd, 1915 he had arrived in England for training. He embarked for France in August of 1916 and less than three months later he was killed in action. He died on the battle field of gunshot wounds on October 31st, 1916.
Gaffen, Fred. Forgotten Soldiers. Penticton, B.C.: Theytus Books, 1985
Full digitized service records of these soldiers and many more can be found at the Library and Archives Canada website.