Private Wilson Culbert (1893-1918)

In an earlier post, we saw the War Memorial Cenotaph in Exeter, Ontario, dedicated to the fallen heroes of Exeter and the townships of Usborne and Stephen. 

Exeter War Memorial. Photo by Mary Jane Culbert

One of the men commemorated is Elmer McFalls of Usborne Township, the great-grandson of John Culbert & Mary Ward.

While I was at the the memorial, I noticed a name I didn't recognize: Wilson Culbert.

Exeter War Memorial. Photo by Mary Jane Culbert.

Private Wilson Culbert is not to be confused with Wilson Wesley Culbert (1868-1949) from Biddulph Township who was John Culbert & Mary Ward's grandson. 

Private Wilson Culbert was born 7 October 1893 in Parkhill, Ontario. Throughout his life he also lived in nearby Centralia and Exeter. His parents were John Culbert (not our John Culbert) & Sarah Ann Ward. We'll have more about Wilson's lineage later in this post.)

Wilson Culbert had three younger siblings: Ethel May (Culbert) Laughton (born 1896), Gordon Carl Culbert (born 1900), and Clarence Orville Culbert (born 1902 in Centralia).

In 1916, Wilson Culbert and his brother, Gordon Culbert signed up to serve King and Country. Only one of them would return home.

Wilson Culbert's attestation papers signed 21 March 1916.

Regiment Number: 654626. Canadian Infantry (Western Ontario Regiment), Army, 47^th Battalion. The 47th Battalion originally recruited in British Columbia but later in the war, it was designated the 47th Western Ontario Battalion because there were more men from that area in the unit than any other part of the country (such as Private Wilson Culbert of Huron County, Ontario.)

The Centralia Patriotic League sent a sweater, shirts, and socks to the Culbert brothers while they were overseas.

Sweaters, shirts and socks for soldiers. Source: The Exeter Advocate, 22 February 1917, page 4.

You might recognize a name in that clipping above; that of Private Wilbert Luker (it says Wilbur rather than Wilbert.) Wilbert Luker enlisted in 1914 and went overseas, serving with the Royal Canadian Army Veterinary Corps (RCAVC) and becoming a corporal. In 1921, Wilbert Luker married Gladys Sarah Hodgins, the great-granddaughter of John Culbert & Mary Ward.

Wilbert Luker. Photo courtesy of Judy Luker Massey.

Private Wilson Culbert Killed in Action:

On 3 September 1918, Private Wilson Culbert’s unit was situated between Saudemont and the village of Récourt, near the small French village of Dury in France. He was digging himself in when an enemy shell exploded nearby, inflicting severe wounds in his side. Immediate attention was given but he died a few minutes later. He was one month short of his 25^th birthday.

Private Wilson Culbert. Regiment number: 654626. 47th Battalion. Killed in Action.

How is Wilson Culbert related to us?

Wilson's not a descendant of our John Culbert & Mary Ward. He's the son of a different Culbert & Ward couple: John Culbert & Sarah Ann Ward. Despite my attempts to trace Wilson Culbert's lineage, I still don't know how he's related to us so if anyone knows, please email me.

Who were Wilson's parents, John Culbert & Sarah Ann Ward? (The next few paragraphs will be of interest only to those doing family history research. Everyone else, please skip ahead to the bold text, past the map. Basically, it's me talking to myself, trying to figure out our family connection for future reference so don't copy the details as facts.)

Wilson’s father, John Culbert is somehow related to our John Culbert. Wilson’s father, John Culbert was born sometime between 1850 and 1855. John’s marriage document says he was born in London Township, Ontario to parents John & Rebecca Culbert. John’s mother’s maiden name may have been Rebecca Hodgins. (DNA testing confirms that we’re related to the James Culbert – Rebecca Hodgins family.)

John Culbert & Sarah Ann Ward were married in Exeter on 16 November 1892. Witnesses at the wedding were William Culbert of McGillivray Township and Mary Jane Ward (Sarah’s sister) of Crediton, Ontario. Sarah Ann Ward had been living in Crediton (near Centralia) at the time of her wedding.

Whether or not John's wife, Sarah Ann Ward (born c1871 in Stephen Township, Huron County, Ontario) is related to our Mary Ward (born c1812 in Ireland) is uncertain. On John & Sarah's marriage document, Sarah's father is listed as Benjamin Ward. I found Benjamin Ward's marriage document which lists his wife as Elizabeth Lightfoot whom he married in 1870 in Stephen Township. The document states that Benjamin Ward was born in Ireland about 1835 to Joseph Ward & Mary Mead. It's thought (but not proven) that our Mary Ward's father had the same name as Benjamin Ward's father: Joseph Ward. Could Mary Ward & Benjamin Ward have been siblings? If so, there was a large age difference between sister and brother but that's not unusual in our family. However, the fact that their father may have had the same name may just be coincidence.

John Culbert & Sarah Ann Ward lived in Parkhill (west of Lucan, Ontario) and later in Centralia (north of Lucan) in what was known at the time as Stephen Township, Huron County.

The 1921 Census shows the family at Lot 96, Concession 1 of Stephen Township. John died in 1926 and like our John Culbert, he's buried in St. James Cemetery, Clandeboye, north of Lucan.

Centralia is north of Lucan. It's not far from the Culbert homestead located between these points.

At this point, we don’t know exactly how Private Wilson Culbert and his family are related to us. Nonetheless, he deserves our recognition for serving our country.

Private Wilson Culbert is buried in the Dury Crucifix Cemetery, Pas de Calais France, and his name is inscribed on the War Memorial in Exeter, Ontario.

Dury Crucifix Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France