How N.L. Commemorated Its First World War Casualties Who Had No Known Graves

Thursday, Jan. 29, 7:30-9 p.m.

A-1043; online

With Major Michael Pretty and Dr. Ean Parsons

In WW1 large numbers of casualties, soldiers, sailors and airmen, for a variety of reasons, by the end of the war had no known graves. These casualties are commemorated on the Beaumont Hamel Memorial if serving with the Newfoundland Forces. But what about those serving in the army, navy or air forces of other countries, commemorated for example on the Vimy or Thiepval Memorials? This talk will review the rough numbers, the circumstances and examples of official war time commemoration but also highlight commemorations of these combatants on the home front, both those serving in Newfoundland forces and those serving elsewhere who had no official gravestone. We will use individual stories of some who have “ No Known Grave” but yet their communities and families did remember them in various permanent ways in Newfoundland and Labrador. This is an ongoing project of discovery for the Trail of the Caribou Research Group. As well, we will discuss the ‘lost’ graves of the Seranviller’s Cemetery in France that Thomas Nangle could not find.

Free parking is available for this lecture in Lots 1A and 15B.

To access the link for online attendance, please visit the Newfoundland & Labrador Historical Society website: https://www.nlhistory.ca/

Presented by N.L. Historical Society

Event Listing 2026-01-29 19:30:00 2026-01-29 21:00:00 America/St_Johns How N.L. Commemorated Its First World War Casualties Who Had No Known Graves With Major Michael Pretty and Dr. Ean Parsons In WW1 large numbers of casualties, soldiers, sailors and airmen, for a variety of reasons, by the end of the war had no known graves. These casualties are commemorated on the Beaumont Hamel Memorial if serving with the Newfoundland Forces. But what about those serving in the army, navy or air forces of other countries, commemorated for example on the Vimy or Thiepval Memorials? This talk will review the rough numbers, the circumstances and examples of official war time commemoration but also highlight commemorations of these combatants on the home front, both those serving in Newfoundland forces and those serving elsewhere who had no official gravestone. We will use individual stories of some who have “ No Known Grave” but yet their communities and families did remember them in various permanent ways in Newfoundland and Labrador. This is an ongoing project of discovery for the Trail of the Caribou Research Group. As well, we will discuss the ‘lost’ graves of the Seranviller’s Cemetery in France that Thomas Nangle could not find. Free parking is available for this lecture in Lots 1A and 15B. To access the link for online attendance, please visit the Newfoundland & Labrador Historical Society website: https://www.nlhistory.ca/ A-1043; online N.L. Historical Society