Calgary Cemetery and Reginald Guy Wright Coulter

On May 17, 2016, my Wife and I started a five week road trek across Canada to meet some new friends and research family roots. Plans were to stop in Calgary, Winnipeg, Sault Ste Marie, and several other places in southern Ontario.

Our first stop was Calgary.

We had known the basics about my Wife's grandfather, Reginald Guy Wright Coulter (1889-1932). Born in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario,  he settled near Calgary, Alberta with his parents and siblings about 1905, and married Mary Ethel Lunn (1886-1954) in 1911. He enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force February 1917, served in WWI, was injured and died in 1932 partially from his injuries. It wasn't until we located his grave in Burnsland Cemetery, Calgary that we realized his service record would reveal crucial details. His grave marker was engraved "Sapper, Canadian Engineers C.E.F.", thus highlighting a dangerous role in combat.

Archives Canada has recently been digitizing all WWI service records in alphabetical order, including medical details for all those enlisted. We found  Reginald's record easily and downloaded 78 PDF pages. After basic training in 1917, he was assigned to Divisional Engineers and shipped to England in February 1918 and subsequently France on June 1st. Presumably his listed occupation as mechanic from his Attestation Papers may have resulted in this assignment. On September 7, 1918 he was critically wounded near Cambrai from an explosive shell shattering his tibia and opening his buttock. (For more information on the role of Cambrai offensive in 1918) see: Arras and Cambrai Offensive 1918

Reginald was transferred to an England hospital 6 days later where he received initial treatment, but in December was transferred to Colchester Military Hospital for additional surgeries. Even though his major woulds were largely healed the medical chart hinted at his permanent disability. For the next 4 years Reginald was in and out of Calgary Hospitals. During his time in service and treatment Ethel and Reginald lost two of their sons: Philip to influenza in 1918 and Russell to a road accident a year later. Reginald received periodic care until he died in 1932 while working as a mechanic in several Alberta towns when he was able. Ethel was able to bring money into the home from some teaching while raising their two remaining children: Helen (1914-1995) and David (1924-1991).

Phillip was also buried in Burnsland  but no marker was found. Russell's grave location is still unknown.