Carl Henry Lennard - Lest We Forget

Carl Henry Lennard, known as Henry, was born June 1897 in Sweden. He arrived in Canada in 1909 and was living in Albert Canyon by the time of the 1911 census. His father, Gust Lennard, was born December 1870 in Sweden. He arrived in Canada in 1910 and was working as a labourer for the CPR at Albert Canyon. At the time of the 1911 census his wife was not with him, but was there prior to 1914. Henry had a sister, Anna Nathalie, born December 1891 in Sweden. She arrived in Canada in 1909 with Henry. Henry’s brother, John Siegfried, was born December 1895 in Sweden and arrived in Canada in 1910 with his father. He died in Revelstoke in 1968. The rest of the family were also long time Revelstoke residents.

When war broke out in August 1914 Henry was with the 102nd RMR, the local militia for Revelstoke. He was assigned to bridge guard duties and was performing that duty when illness overtook him.

Carl Henry Lennard died December 19, 1914 of typhoid fever. He was 17 years old. He is buried at Mountain View Cemetery, Revelstoke. Although he did not get overseas his name is on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial Site which contains the names and burial sites of all of Canada’s fallen in all her wars. Henry was given a full military burial.  His name also appears on the Courthouse and Cemetery plaques as Leonard, C.H.

The local newspaper carried these items surrounding the death of Carl Henry Lennard:

“Word has been received of the sad death of Henry Lennard which occurred at the Kamloops hospital on Saturday of typhoid fever. Mr. Lennard used to drive one of C.B. Hume’s teams and made many friends while here. He was one of the boys to enlist when recruits were called for, and was sent to Six Mile Creek as one of the guards. He was taken ill while on duty, and taken to the Kamloops hospital where everything was done for him, but to no avail. His mother and sister were with him when he died.”

“Three Volleys and Last Post: Military Funeral for Carl Henry Lennard. Carl Henry Lennard was buried at Revelstoke Cemetery December 22, 1914, following full military funeral. He was with the 102nd regiment Rocky Mountain Rangers on guard duty at Beaver Crossing when he contracted typhoid fever. Rev. Lashley Hall officiated at the Methodist Church. His father, mother, brothers and sisters and his uncle C. Carlson came from Albert Canyon to attend the funeral. The pall bearers were members of the Home Guard: L.W. Wood, J.D. Sibbald Jr., R. Squarebriggs, George Hawker, C. Gordon and Harold Gordon. Mr. Lennard was a native of Sweden, 17 years old and was well known in Revelstoke where he had been employed by C.B. Hume & Co. There were many beautiful floral tributes.”