Key Takeaways:
- A 108-year-old wartime mystery surrounding the remains of a soldier found in northern France may have connections to Harvey Road in St. John’s.
- Researchers are trying to identify the remains of Pte. George Patrick Kirk, a soldier with Newfoundland and Labrador roots who went missing during the First World War.
- The soldier’s remains were found with personal items such as a comb, nail file, and coins, and uniform collar badges that identified him as a member of the 13th Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada).
- The casualty identification program is seeking descendants of Pte. Kirk or his family members to provide DNA samples to help confirm his identity.
- The program has 42 active cases of unidentified soldiers’ remains, most of which are from the Battle of Hill 70.
Introduction to the Mystery
A 108-year-old wartime mystery that may have connections to Harvey Road in St. John’s is puzzling researchers as they attempt to identify the remains of a soldier found in northern France nine years ago. The researchers are desperately trying to locate the descendants of a missing soldier, Pte. George Patrick Kirk, or a variation of that name, with Newfoundland and Labrador roots in hopes of solving the mystery. The Department of National Defence historian, Alexandra McKinnon, said that the team would love to be able to give the unknown soldier his name back, as he has been unknown for a long time.
The Discovery of the Remains
In April 2016, specialists were conducting a cautionary search for explosives in advance of a construction project near Loos, a suburb of Lille. During the excavation, a full set of human remains were found in what used to be a German position known as Humbug Trench. The remains were found with personal items such as a comb, nail file, and coins, as well as uniform collar badges that identified the soldier as a member of the 13th Battalion (Royal Highlanders of Canada). The remains are those of a man between the ages of 20 and 24, and a height of between 5-foot-5 and 5-foot-8-and-a-half.
The Battle of Hill 70
The soldier died during the Battle of Hill 70, which took place in the summer of 1917. The battle was a fierce fight between the Canadian and German armies, and it resulted in thousands of casualties. The researchers have been carrying out historical and forensic research to identify the remains, and they have narrowed down the list of potential candidates to 46 members of the 13th Battalion who are missing from the Battle of Hill 70. However, they have been able to eliminate most of those candidates, and they are now focused on Pte. George Patrick Kirk.
The Search for Pte. Kirk’s Family
The researchers are now searching for descendants of Pte. Kirk or his family members to provide DNA samples to help confirm his identity. Pte. Kirk was born in St. John’s on March 17, 1894, and he enlisted with the Canadian army at Valcartier, Quebec on September 26, 1914. His records do not contain any photographs, and his next-of-kin is listed as "Mrs. Thomas Quirk." The researchers have found that Pte. Kirk’s mother’s surname is written variously as "Quick," "Quirk," and "Kirk," which has raised questions about his actual identity.
The Mystery Deepens
The mystery deepened when the researchers found a baptismal record of a Patrick Quirk, who was born on March 10, 1895, to parents George Humphries and Anne Quirk, who were living on Harvey Road in St. John’s. The record indicates that Patrick Quirk was "illegitimate" because his parents were not married to each other. The researchers believe that Patrick Quirk and George Patrick Kirk may be the same person, but they need more information to confirm this. They are encouraging descendants of missing soldiers to register with the casualty identification program to help with the identification process.
The Casualty Identification Program
The casualty identification program is building a database of family members of missing soldiers to help with the identification process. Descendants are asked to fill out a registration form, which is protected by rigorous privacy laws. Those who agree to provide a DNA sample will be supplied with a cheek swab kit. The program has 42 active cases of unidentified soldiers’ remains, most of which are from the Battle of Hill 70. The researchers hope to give families the answers they are looking for and to provide a funeral service with full military honors for the unknown soldier.
Conclusion
The identification of the remains of Pte. George Patrick Kirk is an important step in bringing closure to his family and to the community. The researchers are working tirelessly to confirm his identity, and they are encouraging anyone with information about the Quirk family to come forward. The story of Pte. Kirk is a reminder of the sacrifices made by thousands of Newfoundlanders who fought for Canada during the First World War, and it highlights the importance of honoring their memory and providing them with the dignity they deserve. Eventually, a funeral service with full military honors will be held for the 13th Battalion soldier at the Loos British Cemetery, and the researchers hope that before that happens, the identity of the soldier can be confirmed, and members of his family can be present for the funeral.