Soldiers... known and unknown (WWI)

After a day of visiting memorials and cemeteries, it became difficult to comprehend the overwhelming number of soldiers who gave their lives in the tragedy of the First World War.  After Beaumont-Hamel, we visited Thiepval monument and cemetery.  Then we stopped at a little known cemetery called 'Sunken Road Cemetery.' 

Thiepval Monument in Thiepval, France.  This huge monument was built by the French and British to honour over 70,000 'Lost Soldiers' from the First World War.  Their bodies were never found.  Their names are found on virtually every surface of the monument.



Cemetery at Thiepval.  Unknown (Inconnu) soldiers of the French Army are buried on the left, and British (as well as Canadian) unknown soldiers on the right.

The inscriptions read 'two unknown soldiers of the Great War'.  When the graves are placed so close together, it indicates that it was virtually impossible to discern one soldier from the other.

 I was asked by my father-in-law, Dale Alexander, to search for a relative of his to help with his family tree.  Thanks to our guides, we were able to find Sunken Road Cemetery near the town of Arras, France.  Harold Addington Foster was born in Fredericton, NB and joined the 5th Canadian Mounted Rifles.  Tragically, at the age of 42, he died on September 29th, 1918.  This was just over one month before the end of the war.  Although I did not know him, I know that he selflessly gave his life for those he cared for.  Like thousands of Canadians who made the ultimate sacrifice, he is 'Gone but not forgotten.'