02 November 2008

68,000 Canadians

They will be remembered...
The last name, early on Nov. 11 will be George Lawrence Price, of Saskatchewan, shot two minutes before the 1918 Armistice. Pvt. Price was the last soldier killed in the Great War. You can stand on Queen St. and read the roll. Or watch online. The site (1914-1918.ca) even tells you exactly when each name is up.

What a wonderful idea, as the last World War I vets pass into the beyond.

"This is a book of living history closing forever in front of our eyes."
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RELATED: Who was George Lawrence Price?

The 1901 Census shows George living with his parents James Price and Annie Stephens.

While he enlisted in Regina in 1917, George was born in Nova Scotia, where his family was still living. He is listed as a farm labourer on his attestment papers.

Son of James E. and Annie R. Price of Port Williams, Kings Co., Nova Scotia. Believed to be the last Canadian battle casualty of the war.
He is buried in the St. Symphorien Military Cemetery, Belgium.

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LAST WORD: Bear in mind...

...the initial source for this post was a blurb in a newspaper... which should always be regarded with a bit of suspicion...
"It should be noted that these stats are approximations only. For example I have found estimates of Canadian dead ranging from 56,500 to 63,200 with 59,544 being the most common."
So, apart from the total number of Canadian casualties, where George Price was actually from, and the fact that he may have been the last Canadian casualty, rather than the last man killed... there you have it.

Anyone care to weigh in on the discrepancy in total number killed?

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