FWW Names – P

Regimental Number: 2137934
Conscripted Date / Location / Unit: 7 January 1918 / Victoria, BC / 2nd Depot Battalion, BC Regiment, 46th Battalion
Birth Date / Location: 3 February 1896 Silverdale, Mission, BC (1897 on Attestation)
Parents: Ebenezer Thomas Parker (1855-1925) & Anna Maria Carpenter (1868-1914)
Occupation on Enlistment: Mechanic
Date of Death / Location: 27 September 1918 / Canal du Nord, France
Age at Death: 21 years 8 months
Unit on Date of Death, or on Demobilization: 46th Canadian Battalion
Circumstances of Death: During the attack on Canal du Nord, Stanley was wounded in his back and died later that day
Cemetery or Memorial: Buried in Duisans British Cemetery in Etrun, Pas-De-Calais, France. Grave VII.A.34, 344 miles West North West of Arras, France.
Where commemorated: First World War Book of Remembrance page 482, Memorial Chamber, Parliament Buildings, Ottawa, ON; Maple Ridge Cenotaph, Maple Ridge, BC; Maple Ridge Legion Branch #88 Memorial Plaque; The Gold Stripe Roll of Honour, Maple Ridge, page 89

Stanley Carpenter Parker was born to Ebenezer Thomas Parker and Anna Maria (nee Carpenter) Parker on 3 February 1896 in Silverdale, BC. Anna died in 1914. Stanley worked as a mechanic at the Stave site of Stoltz Manufacturing Co., the largest cedar shake mill in BC at that time. He continued to live on the family farm with his father and three brothers until he was conscripted into service under the Military Service Act in the 6th Draft. He reported for duty at Victoria, BC on 29 October 1917. He was 20 years and 8 months old at the time of his enlistment and of slight stature weighing 58 kilograms (129 pounds) at 1.8 meters (5 feet 10 inches) tall with gray eyes and dark brown hair.

Stanley embarked for overseas duty on 9 April 1918 from Halifax, arriving in Liverpool on 19 April 1918. There he joined the 7th Battalion prior to being shipped overseas to France on 4 September 1918. He was then assigned to the 46th Canadian Infantry Battalion on 20 September 1918. Seven days later while advancing with his company in the attack on the Canal du Nord, France he was wounded by an enemy machine gun bullet. He was given first aid and taken to No. 23 Casualty Clearing station but died of his wounds before the day ended.

Stanley is buried in the Duisans British Cemetery in Etrun, Pas-de-Calais, France in grave VII. A. 34, which is 344 miles West North West of Arras, France.

His brother Victor Livingstone Parker enlisted in the Royal Air Force in 1917 (Service No. 151411) and survived the war. He died in Vancouver in 1921. There is a large headstone placed at the Maple Ridge Cemetery in honour of Anna, Victor, and Stanley. His father and two remaining brothers were living on the family farm in Ruskin at the 1921 census. His father died in 1925. Stanley’s youngest brother Charles along with his wife and daughter were living in Ruskin in 1945.

S. Parker’s name was on the Cenotaph when it was unveiled in 1923.

Regimental Number: 428752
Enlistment Date / Location / Unit: 20 March 1915 / New Westminster, BC / 7th Battalion
Birth Date / Location: 28 July 1896 / New Westminster, BC
Parents: Thomas Paterson and Cecelia Smart
Occupation on Enlistment: Fisherman
Date of Death / Location: 10 November 1917 / Belgium
Age at Death: 21
Unit on Date of Death, or on Demobilization: 7th Battalion
Circumstances of Death: Killed in action near Passchendaele
Cemetery or Memorial: Menin Gate (Ypres) Memorial, Belgium, Panel 18-28-30
Medals / Awards: Military Medal, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Where commemorated: Canadian Virtual War Memorial, Veterans Affairs Canada; First World War Book of Remembrance page 306, Memorial Chamber, Parliament Buildings, Ottawa, ON; Maple Ridge Cenotaph, Maple Ridge, BC; Distinguished Service or Gallantry Awards Plaque, Memorial Peace Park, Maple Ridge, BC; Maple Ridge Legion Branch #88 Memorial Plaque; Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium; Municipality of Maple Ridge Honour Roll, St John the Divine Anglican Church, Maple Ridge, BC; The Gold Stripe Roll of Honour, Maple Ridge, page 89

Peter John Paterson was the son of Thomas Paterson and Cecelia (nee Smart) Paterson. He was born 28 July 1896 in New Westminster, BC. He had two sisters and one brother. His family emigrated from Scotland to Canada in 1893. The Paterson family moved to Port Haney in the late 1890s where Thomas was a fisherman on the Fraser River. Peter attended the Maple Ridge School.

Peter was an 18-year-old, well-known Port Haney athlete. He was the captain of the Port Haney Basketball Club for two seasons, and according to the 17 February 1917 Vancouver Daily World “one of the club’s most popular members.” He was also a member of the 104th Maple Ridge Regiment when he enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, 7th Battalion, 20 March 1915. On enlistment he presented as 180 centimetres (5 feet 11 inches) tall, 77 kilograms (169 pounds), with a healthy complexion, hazel eyes and dark hair, his occupation was noted as fisherman.

He arrived in England in June 1915 and was in France in late August. On 10 January 1916 Peter was promoted to Acting Lance Corporal and on 13 May to Corporal; a few weeks later he was promoted to Sergeant on 7th June.

On 18 October 1916 Peter was awarded the Military Medal “for conspicuous bravery and ability when in charge of a party carrying T.M. ammunition during the attack launched at 12.35 p.m. on the 26th Sept 1916 against the Hessian Trench. He took his party forward behind the third wave of the attack until the gun which the party was feeding was destroyed by shell fire. He then saw to the safe disposal of his party and ammunition in shell holes, etc. and himself went in search of another gun to which to deliver the ammunition. Having found one he returned to his party, delivered the ammunition and brought the party back without any casualties. Later he took up other parties with Bombs and S.A.A. until he was severely wounded. It was owing to his coolness and judgment under fire that the other parties he was in charge of suffered practically no casualties.”

Peter was badly injured and was sent to hospital in England suffering from a bullet wound and shrapnel near his spine. Still suffering occasional impairment from his injury, he returned to the front line in early September 1917 where he received his fatal injury on 10 November 1917, at the age of 21, in an attack northwest of Passchendaele.

P. Paterson’s name was on the Cenotaph when it was unveiled in 1923.

(Updated 18-Feb-2024)

Regimental Number: 628702
Enlistment Date / Location / Unit: 4 November 1915 / New Westminster / 47th Battalion
Birth Date / Location: 4 November 1891 / Port Hammond, BC
Parents: Edmund Pope and Eleanor “Ellen” Laity
Spouse: Effie May Anderson
Occupation on Enlistment: Clerk
Date of Death / Location: 11 November1916 / Havre, France
Age at Death: 25
Unit on Date of Death, or on Demobilization: 47th Battalion
Circumstances of Death: Killed in Action at Courcelette
Cemetery or Memorial: Canadian National Vimy Memorial
Medals / Awards: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Where commemorated: Canadian National Vimy Memorial, Pas-de-Calais, France; Canadian Virtual War Memorial, Veterans Affairs Canada; First World War Book of Remembrance page 149, Memorial Chamber, Parliament Buildings, Ottawa, ON; Maple Ridge Cenotaph, Maple Ridge, BC; Maple Ridge Legion Branch #88 Memorial Plaque; Municipality of Maple Ridge Honour Roll, St John the Divine Anglican Church, Maple Ridge, BC; The Gold Stripe Roll of Honour, Maple Ridge, page 89

John Arnold “Jack” Pope was the son of Edmund Pope, the first chief constable for Maple Ridge, and Eleanor (nee Laity) Pope. He was born 4 November 1891 in Port Hammond, BC. He and his sister Edith were raised in Maple Ridge with their cousins Thomas Henry Laity and John Oxnam who also served during the First World War. John attended the Maple Ridge School. He was active in athletics, especially long-distance running. He was also a captain of the Maple Ridge Basketball Club. On 5 September 1914, John married Effie May Anderson, of Port Hammond, BC.

His brother-in-law Justin Forsyth Anderson (Regimental No. 628700) enlisted in the early part of 1915. Fourteen months after his marriage (4 November 1915) John enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, 47th Battalion, he was 24 years of age. On enlistment he presented as 180 centimetres (5 feet 11 inches) tall, with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and brown hair. Over the years John was noted to have a number of different occupations, farmer, labourer, barber and in 1915, on enlistment, clerk.

In December 1915, shortly after her husband, Effie Pope went to England, where she worked in a munitions factory until his death.

Jack arrived in England on 22 November 1915 and on 11 August 1916 he arrived in France. He was killed in action 11 November 1916, at the age of 25 during the attack on Regina Trench, Courcelette. His cousin John Oxnam from Maple Ridge died in the same action.

In a 24 June 1919 article in the British Colombian Victory Edition, his comrades were noted as praising him as being “cool in action; absolutely fearless; the best [machine] gunner in the battalion.” His superior officers testified to “his staunch bravery, his sterling worth and big heart.”

J.A. Pope’s name was on the Cenotaph when it was unveiled in 1923.

(Updated 18-Feb-2024)

Regimental Number: 629561
Enlistment Date / Location / Unit: 29 September 1915 / Vernon, BC / 47th Battalion
Birth Date / Location: 8 April 1898 / New Westminster, BC (Sapperton) (1897 on Attestation)
Parents: William Andrew Powers and Augusta Sophia Beyer
Occupation on Enlistment: Apprentice
Date of Death / Location: 3 January 1919 / Belgium
Age at Death: 20
Unit on Date of Death, or on Demobilization: 47th Battalion
Circumstances of Death: Was accidentally killed while trying to clear his rifle barrel
Cemetery or Memorial: Avin Communal Cemetery, Belgium
Where commemorated: Canadian Virtual War Memorial, Veterans Affairs Canada; First World War Book of Remembrance page 541, Memorial Chamber, Parliament Buildings, Ottawa, ON; Maple Ridge Cenotaph, Maple Ridge, BC; Maple Ridge Legion Branch #88 Memorial Plaque; Municipality of Maple Ridge Honour Roll, St John the Divine Anglican Church, Maple Ridge, BC; The Gold Stripe Roll of Honour, Maple Ridge, page 89

Clifford “Clifford” Edward Powers was the son of William Andrew Powers and Augusta Sophia (nee Beyer) Powers. His family immigrated to Canada from the United States in 1890. Clifford was born 8 April 1898 in New Westminster, BC. His father’s occupation was that of a marble cutter, he had two sisters and one brother. By 1911, his mother, a widow, resided in New Westminster, BC and in September 1911 was remarried to John Wilson White, who was a mason and bricklayer. By 1921 his mother and stepfather were living in Maple Ridge.

Before enlisting Clifford worked for the News Advertiser in Vancouver and was a member of the 104th Westminster Fusiliers of Canada. He enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force, 47th Battalion, 27 September of 1915 in Vernon, BC. Although his attestation papers show his age as 18, his birth date was 1898, making his age 17 when he enlisted. On enlistment he presented as 169 centimeters (5 feet 6 3/4 inches) tall, he had a fair complexion, light blue eyes and brown hair, his occupation was noted as an apprentice.

Although Clifford had arrived early in England, on 28 November 1915, he suffered from rheumatic fever and was hospitalized in England on several occasions before his transfer to France on 2 February 1917. The 24 January 1919 British Columbian Victory Edition noted that he fought at Vimy Ridge and Passchendaele.

On 3 January 1919, Clifford died accidentally, after trying to clear his rifle barrel using a blank or live cartridge causing a blow-back which broke the bolt head, the broken part entering his body causing his death, he was 20 years old. He was buried at Avin-Par-Avennes Communal Cemetery, Belgium.
In August 2015 a message was left on the mapleridgecentoaph.blogspot.com by a Chris D. Lowry from Belgium saying “I have visited the grave of Clifford E. Powers, who is buried at Avin (that’s a small town in Belgium, not very far from where I live), and who died on 3 January 1919. He may be far from home, but we are not forgetting him.”

C. Powers was one of the names of former students of the Maple Ridge School on an honour roll unveiled at a patriotic fundraiser. The 10 April 1917 edition of The Province reported on the unveiling. C.E. Powers’s name was on the Cenotaph when it was unveiled in 1923.

(Updated 20-Feb-2024)