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Canadian Virtual War Memorial

Russell Kerr Hincklieff

In memory of:

Private Russell Kerr Hincklieff

September 11, 1916

Military Service


Service Number:

40222

Age:

22

Force:

Army

Unit:

Canadian Infantry (Saskatchewan Regiment)

Division:

5th Bn.

Additional Information


Born:

November 19, 1893
Galashiels, Scotland

Enlistment:

December 21, 1914
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Son of Allan and Maggie Hincklieff of Sowerby Bridge, Yorkshire, England. Brother of Alexander and Pte Allan Hincklieff, Cameron Highlanders, British Expeditionary Force, who died of wounds at home on 4 May 1918. Pte Hincklieff is also commemorated on the Scottish National War Memorial, Crown Square, Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland.

Commemorated on Page 103 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. Request a copy of this page. Download high resolution copy of this page.

Burial Information


Cemetery:

VIMY MEMORIAL
Pas de Calais, France

Grave Reference:

N/A

Location:

Canada's most impressive tribute overseas to those Canadians who fought and gave their lives in the First World War is the majestic and inspiring Vimy Memorial, which overlooks the Douai Plain from the highest point of Vimy Ridge, about eight kilometres northeast of Arras on the N17 towards Lens. The Memorial is signposted from this road to the left, just before you enter the village of Vimy from the south. The memorial itself is someway inside the memorial park, but again it is well signposted. At the base of the memorial, these words appear in French and in English:

TO THE VALOUR OF THEIR COUNTRYMEN IN THE GREAT WAR AND IN MEMORY OF THEIR SIXTY THOUSAND DEAD THIS MONUMENT IS RAISED BY THE PEOPLE OF CANADA


Inscribed on the ramparts of the Vimy Memorial are the names of over 11,000 Canadian soldiers who were posted as 'missing, presumed dead' in France. A plaque at the entrance to the memorial states that the land for the battlefield park, 91.18 hectares in extent, was 'the free gift in perpetuity of the French nation to the people of Canada'. Construction of the massive work began in 1925, and 11 years later, on July 26, 1936, the monument was unveiled by King Edward VIII. The park surrounding the Vimy Memorial was created by horticultural experts. Canadian trees and shrubs were planted in great masses to resemble the woods and forests of Canada. Wooded parklands surround the grassy slopes of the approaches around the Vimy Memorial. Trenches and tunnels have been restored and preserved and the visitor can picture the magnitude of the task that faced the Canadian Corps on that distant dawn when history was made. On April 3, 2003, the Government of Canada designated April 9th of each year as a national day of remembrance of the Battle of Vimy Ridge.

Information courtesy of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Digital Collection

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  • Vimy Memorial– Canada's Vimy Memorial, located approximately 8 kilometres to the north-east of Arras, France. May the sacrifice of so many never be forgotten. (J. Stephens)
  • Memorial– Remembering brothers lost … Brothers In Arms Memorial, Zonnebeke, BE … photo courtesy of Marg Liessens … May 2022
  • Brothers– Photograph (~1909): Russell Hincklieff (centre) -  youngest of six children (three brothers shown served in WW1).  Allan (left) died of wounds 1918; Alexander (right) survived the war.
  • Photo of Russell Kerr Hincklieff– Born Galashiels, Scotland 1894
Childhood partly spent with the Kerr side of the Hincklieff family, which accounts for middle initial 'K' shown in some documents.
Emigrated to Canada around 1912, living in the Saskatoon area, before enlisting in 1915
Killed during the battle of the Somme.
  • Certificate
  • Newspaper clipping– Clipping from local newspaper, Halifax, West Yorkshire, England.
  • Memorial Scroll
  • Memorial Plaque
  • Inscription from the Vimy Memorial, France
  • George V Memorial Cross
  • 1914-1915 Star
  • Letter– Letter from the Commonwealth War Graves Commmission.
  • Letter– Letter from the Scotish War Memorial

Learn more about the Canadian Virtual War Memorial

To learn more please visit our help page. If you have questions or comments regarding the information contained in this registry, email or call us. For inquiries regarding the names and information found in the RCMP Honour Roll, please email the RCMP.

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