SOLDIERS OF THE SOUTH SIMILKAMEEN
Researchers:
Jennifer Douglass &
Andy English
Ebenezer William Forsyth Vans
Service No. 443854
Born: April 25, 1885, Dennistoun, Glasgow, Scotland
Died: March 3, 1916, Petersfield, Hampshire, England
Son of Richard Galbraith & Mary (Gilbert) Vans
Of Vernon, BC1
Private - Canadian Infantry
54th Battalion
“Gone But Not Forgotten”
Resting Place:
Bordon Military Cemetery, Hampshire, UK
I saw an old Heldy Gazette yesterday there was a letter in it from EW Vans. It is the last letter he will write poor fellow. He had a nice funeral. We boys got him a wreath of flowers and Sgt. Jack was around yesterday taking up a collection for a tombstone.
Bobby Robertson
Pte. Ebenezer William Vans (1885-1916)
Referred to as “Vans” by his comrades, Willie Vans was born in Scotland. We know he came to Canada (Nova Scotia) prior to 1888 when his sister Roberta was born, but he is known to be in Hedley by 1911. He was employed as an engineer at the Nickel Plate Mine and attended various social occasions in town.3
His participation in the Masquerade Ball is noted in the Hedley Gazette twice in as many years - once as “nondescript” and then as an “Indian”. He donated generously to the Patriotic Fund and offered to raise money for the Red Cross by auctioning off his Morris Chair (which raised $56.50). He split the money 50/50 with the charity.
Willie joined the 54th Battalion in 1915 and sailed to England the same year. He died in 1916 from an undisclosed illness while still in England. The Hedley Boys raised money for his tombstone and he is buried at Bordon Military Cemetery in Hampshire, England.
Read more about “Vans” here…