Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Every November Canadians will repeat the phrase ‘lest we forget’, vowing to honour the sacrifice of the brave men and women who served in major conflicts around the world.
For far too long however many late Mohawk of the Bay of Quinte WWI veterans have been forgotten, laid to rest in unmarked graves on the territory with no recognition of their service. Recently researchers with the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte partnered with the Last Post Fund to right that wrong, installing monuments in three local cemeteries to honour eight veterans. The Last Post Fund is dedicated to providing a permanent military marker for all veterans who lie in unmarked graves.
Researchers were able to determine the final resting grounds of five veterans in Christ Church Cemetery, two at Mohawk Pentecostal Cemetery and one at All Saints Cemetery. Though their exact location isn’t known, the monuments will indicate they are buried within the cemetery while also sharing some information about each soldier.
“The military agreed that they would pay for these Last Post monuments but they wanted to know where their graves were but unfortunately all we have is burial records that said which cemetery they were buried in,” said MBQ Chief Donald Maracle. “On the reserve a lot of the cemeteries didn’t have plot plans, so the grave sights were basically within the memory of the living relatives and as a results its taken so long to get this done because a lot of times people don’t really know exactly where these veterans buried, all we know is that they’re buried in that cemetery.”
The eight veterans for which headstones were installed include: Francis Randall Brant (Jan. 21, 1897-June 10, 1967) Private with Fourth Canadian Mounted Rifles, Burtan Brant (Nov. 26, 1892-June 8, 1960) LCP with Sixth Battalion, William Brant (Sero) (Nov. 26, 1892-June 8, 1960) Private with Fourth C.M.R., Alfred A. Brant (July 14, 1879-Nov. 21, 1959) Private with 102nd Canadian Infantry Battalion, Charles Clinton Brant (April 11, 1901-May 23, 1942) Private with Seventh Canadian Forestry Corps, Burget Brant (Feb. 16, 1880-June 28, 1925) Stocker with Royal Navy, Joseph Corby (Oct. 9, 1874-Oct. 1922) Private with 155th Canadian Infantry Battalion and Anthony Maracle (Oct. 1883-April 28, 1919) Private with the 153rd Canadian Infantry Battalion.
“We felt it was important to recognize all of our people who served,” said Chief Maracle. “In WWI we had 103 veterans serve from the Mohawk community here. Then in WWII 213 (veterans served). Our veterans have served in every war over the last 300 years, beginning with the Conquest of Canada.”
Maracle noted that members of the First Nations have served in Canada’s conflicts in greater numbers disproportionate to their total population as compared to the rest of Canada’s population. They’ve also done so willingly as until 1960 they did not appear on any voter’s list and therefor could not be called to serve.
“We wanted the public to recognize that there were hundreds of First Nations people who served in the war to defend peace and liberty and justice,” added Maracle.
While acknowledging the eight now marked graves is a good start, Maracle also adds there are still more veterans buried on the territory who do not have a headstone befitting of their service. Researchers will continue their work in an effort to get them the recognition they deserve.