SOLDIERS OF THE SOUTH SIMILKAMEEN
Researchers:
Jennifer Douglass &
Andy English
Military Medal
Awarded to Warrant Officers, non-commissioned officers and men for individual or associated acts of bravery on the recommendation of a Commander-in-Chief in the field.
Thomas Calvert
Service No. 13
Born: November 30, 1881, Lancaster, England
Died: November 23, 1918, France
Son of Annie Parkinson of Lancaster, England
Corporal - Canadian Engineers
1st Battalion
Resting Place:
Etaples Military Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France
Awarded Military Medal
Cpl. Thomas Calvert, Military Medal (1881 - 1918)
Thomas Calvert was like many of the early volunteers, but his subsequent military career was unlike any others. He was, as were many of the first to volunteer, British born and with previous military experience. His birthplace was Lancaster in the north of England and in his twenties he spent three years serving with the South African Constabulary 1902 - 1905.
In 1906, Thomas emigrated to Canada and the 1911 census finds him residing just outside of Nanaimo, BC, on Vancouver Island. He is 30 years old, single and a “coal engineer”.
We next find Thomas employed at the Nickel Plate mine in Hedley in 1915. After his leaving party at the Nickel Plate Mine that April, Thomas Calvert goes to Winnipeg where he met with Sam Steele who arranges for his training and he is posted to Headquarters Staff. Gen. Steele retires in 1918 and Thomas Calvert is re-assigned to the 1st Battalion Canadian Engineers “D” Company where he is awarded the Military Medal. He is wounded in battle November 1918 and dies of the wounds on November 23, 1918. He was the last of the Hedley Boys to give their all in World War 1.
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