The last Canadian to die from the war is buried in Hamilton
Nassau Briggs is buried in Hamilton Cemetery, after dying on Aug. 31, 1921, technically the last day of the Great War
DID YOU KNOW the last Canadian casualty to die in the First World War was from Hamilton?
According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Canadian Agency, his name was Sgt. Nassau Briggs, and his grave can be found in section Y of Hamilton Cemetery on York Boulevard, in a far north section of a few dozen military graves.
The remains of Canadian military personnel who died overseas were not brought home. They were buried near where they fell.
But others who came home wounded or sick after the Great War and later died could be buried with a war graves commission gravestone and honours if they died on or before Aug. 31, 1921, the very day that Briggs passed away.
Briggs was gassed while serving overseas and died from “sickness,” his military records say.
His death — more than two years and nine months after the armistice of Nov. 11, 1918, ended fighting in the war — was classified as a war death because the war was technically continuing until peace treaties and the armistice was ratified by all countries involved.
Nov. 11, 1918, is understood by most to be the final day of the war. But it took a long time for all the legislative approvals and paper work to be done.
Not much is known about Briggs. There is no known photo.
He was a “labourer” in civilian life and served overseas with the 18th Battalion Canadian Infantry (Western Ontario regiment).
Military records say the 40-year-old soldier was listed as the husband of Florence Briggs of 3151 Mary St., Hamilton, Ont., and was the son of John Thomas Briggs, who lived in England.