First World War veterans laid to rest in Ocean Falls won’t be forgotten, thanks to BC Ferries workers and the Last Post Fund.
Last year Paul Dexter, Chief Steward on the Northern Sea Wolf, started the process to see if there were veterans buried in the coastal village, which was once home to BC’s biggest pulp and paper mill and 3,900 people. Along with his co-worker Jamie Neil, a Third Engineer on the Northern Sea Wolf, he investigated the town and found the graves of four men from the Canadian Expeditionary Force, whose headstones had been made illegible by time and salt water.
Dexter and Neil worked with Ted Usher from the Last Post Fund, which makes sure no Canadian veteran is denied a dignified funeral and burial. Together, they organized a raffle, offering prizes that showcased BC’s natural beauty and community spirit, including a trip with BC Ferries through the Inside Passage with a two-night stay in Port Hardy, a fishing charter in Ladysmith, a framed print, and a two-night stay at the Old Bank Inn in Ocean Falls with a $100 BC Ferries gift card.
The raffle was a huge success — tickets sold out quickly, with support from Ocean Falls residents, BC Ferries staff, and people throughout the province. The Cumberland and Comox Royal Canadian Legion Branches also pitched in, allowing Paul and Jamie to sell tickets at their weekly meat draws. By late May 2024, all 2,500 tickets had been sold.
The new headstones were provided at wholesale cost by a Victoria company, and were installed in a ceremony at the Ocean Falls cemetery on September 16.
Ron Richards from the Bella Coola Legion delivered a dedication, as crew from the Northern Sea Wolf and members of the community gathered to pay their respects and honour the fallen.
The entire effort was for four Canadian Veterans who served with the Canadian Expeditionary Force during WWI:
- Pte. Oscar Breault (1895-1922), 1st Depot Bn, BCR
- Pte. William Robert Bruce (1884-1934), 102nd Bn
- Pte. Donald Alexander Robinson (1896-1943), 2nd Bn CMGC
- Pte. William Hawthorne (1888-1944), 152nd Bn
Visit BC Ferries’ website for more details.
