Whitehorse Daily Star

New book to salute Yukoners who fell in First World War

The Whitehorse branch of the Royal Canadian Legion has published a new book for the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

By Whitehorse Star on October 9, 2018

The Whitehorse branch of the Royal Canadian Legion has published a new book for the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War.

The Yukon Fallen of World War I will become publicly available at a public book launch scheduled for 5-7 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Legion’s premises at 503 Steele St.

The commemorative book is the first authoritative collection of stories of those from the Yukon who served and died for their country during the global conflict of 1914-18.

The book contains photos and brief biographies of each soldier, along with information of where they are buried or commemorated, as well as background information that outlines the Yukon’s exceptionally large contribution to the war effort, both in the armed services and the home front.

The book is co-authored by D. Blair Neatby, a military historian from Yellowknife, and Michael Gates, a Yukon historian and author.

Gates also wrote From the Klondike to Berlin, the first book of history about the Yukon’s participation in the First World War.

“We are very pleased to see this project come to realization, after two years of dedicated work by the authors,” Legion president Joe Mewett said Monday.

“Thanks to the support of the Yukon Archives and a number of generous supporters in our community, the Legion was able to partner with Harbour Publishing of British Columbia to produce a fitting memorial to the Yukon fallen.

“A key purpose of the Legion is remembrance, and this book will ensure their sacrifice is not forgotten.”

The initiative began in 2016, at a conference in Whitehorse on the North’s role in the war.

At that time, the Archives produced a list of the fallen, gathered from memorials in Dawson City, Whitehorse and other sources.

“There was a consensus that more work needed to be done, and a memorial book would be a fitting way to pay tribute to the fallen,” Mewett said.

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