For those of you in the US or other parts of the world, November 11 is called “Remembrance Day” in Canada, a day set aside to remember those who have fought for our freedom–alive and dead.

Though I have spent many years researching World War II for novels I have written, and am writing, and have known and visited with family and friends that served in that war, I never found much of a connection to World War I. I’ve still learned about it and watched movies about it, but there wasn’t that same personal connection.

Until this year.

Sunday I received a letter from my mother-in-law with a list of my husband’s (and my children’s) great grandfathers, great granduncles, etc., who fought in the First World War.

Here are a few:

• James Couch joined Canada’s overseas expeditionary force in Victoria BC in 1917, went over to Europe and died at Passchendaele, Belgium 0n 11 N0vember, 1917. He left a wife and 2 small sons in Victoria Canada.

• Thomas Henry Couch – James’ cousin – was killed in action, 22 march, 1918, in Flanders.

• Herbert William Couch – Thomas Henry’s brother – died 1 November, 1914, when the HMS Good Hope sunk off Chile.

• William John Couch, served in the Royal Marine Light Infantry.

• Ellis Garnett died 6 October 1918 of the 1918 Flu, while still in Canada on his way to the war.
• Albert Egerton Grigg was in the 27th Light Horse from 17 April 1916.

• His brother, Herbert George Grigg was drafted 30 Oct 1917. His fate is unknown.
• Percy Israel Down joined 22 may 1918, one month after his 18th birthday. He survived.
• George Aithie Sawers enlisted in the Canadian expeditionary Force on 20 May 1915. He had been in the Royal Scots before that. He survived.

• William Aithie Nelson was drafted in Canada 7 Nov 1917. He survived and went on to serve again in WWII.
• William Wallace Aithie enlisted in the Royal Scots as a private. He was killed in action 16 May 1915. He is buried or remembered at La Touret Memorial, Pas-de-Calais, in France.

• Robert Aithie, in the Royal Scots, Lothian Regiment, died of wounds 27 Jan 1915 in France and Flanders. He is buried at Calais, France.
• James J Aithie, a private in the Royal Scots, Lothian Regiment, 8th Battalion and was killed in Action 16 May 1917, in France, or Flanders. He is buried at Arras, Calas, France.
• James A S Aithie, a private in the 1st Battalion, Cameronian Scottish Rifles (18th Royal Scots), died 8 May 1918, Lonnebeke, West Flanders.

• William Aithie, a private in the Royal Scots, Lothian Regiment, was moved around to three different groups in it with three different service numbers, and lived through it all.

• Charles Aithie was in the Gordon Highlanders, enlisting 13 August 1914 as a private. He served in France and was a prisoner of war.
• Henry Aithie, George Aithie, George K Aithie, John Aithie, Thomas Aithie, all served and got medals. They seem to have lived (no death records).

Some of them enlisted together, up to three or four at one time: some lived, some did not. Twenty-three have been found so far.

I am grateful to each of them for the sacrifices they made and the legacy they have left to my family.