Lakes named for WWI soldiers

On January 14, 2016 the provincial government issued a news release entitled "Manitoba Government Enlists Community Help to Identify Local First World War Casualties for Commemoration." Subtitled "Geographical Features to be Named After Fallen Soldiers," the news release announced a new multi-year project to formally honour Manitobans who lost their lives during the First World War.

The Province admitted records were incomplete and unreliable. They had an initial list of 1,092 confirmed Manitoba casualties, but believed there were as many as 7,000.

The news release noted that "Manitoba currently has more than 4,200 lakes, islands, bays and other geographical features named after fallen soldiers who served from the Second World War to the present day" and they wanted to extend the honour to include those from the First World War.

It was obvious and simple enough for me to nominate Dorval Augustus Saunders and Iver Werseen. I submitted their names, service details, current family contacts, and wrote letters to their families to let them know. 

Dorval Augustus Saunders

Iver Werseen
   

In 2017 a brief notice in the Winnipeg Free Press announced that Saunders and Werseen were among 13 Vimy Ridge casualties to have lakes named after them: 

A cluster of 13 lakes in northern Manitoba will be named after soldiers who died in the First World War. 

The lakes near Flin Flon, Man., are being named after soldiers who ranged in age from 19 to 27, the province announced on Monday, as part of the government's recognition of the centennial of the Battle of Vimy Ridge, which began on April 9, 1917.

"That bloody battle on a French escarpment a century ago made the world sit up and take notice of Canada," Premier Brian Pallister said in a news release.

"No longer were we a fledgling member of the Commonwealth; we were a nation, ready to step up and play our role in defending the free world."

Family members of the soldiers were invited to the announcement at the Manitoba Legislature.

The Werseen family with the Werseen Lake certificate received at the Manitoba Legislature reception, April 10, 2017.
Photo: Carman/Dufferin Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee

   

The 13 soldiers and lakes are:
::  Sgt. Frederick William Barnes, M.M. (Military Medal); Frederick Barnes Lake
::  Pte. Axel Renyus Carlson; Axel Carlson Lake
::  Pte. Allen Fisher; Allen Fisher Lake
::  Pte. William Harvey McDonald; William H. McDonald Lake
::  Pte. Emill Montroy; Montroy Lake
::  Pte. Andrew (André) Moreau; Moreau Lake
::  Pte. Ernest Albert Proven; Ernest Proven Lake
::  Sgt. Harry James Proven; Harry Proven Lake
::  Pte. Dorval Augustus Saunders; Dorval Saunders Lake
::  Pte. Thor Sigurdson; Thor Sigurdson Lake
::  Pte. Iver Bernhardt Werseen; Werseen Lake
::  Pte. Thomas Wightman; Thomas Wightman Lake
::  Pte. Evared Inkerman Wright; Evared Wright Lake

::  

Dorval Saunders Lake coordinates: 55°34'21.0"N 101°16'09.1"W
Werseen Lake coordinates: 55°38'06.0"N 101°26'40.0"W

Sources:

Province of Manitoba News Release:
          http://news.gov.mb.ca/news/?item=37281&posted=2016-01-14
CBC Manitoba News:  
          http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/manitoba-world-war-one-lakes-vimy-1.4064494

Carman/Dufferin Municipal Heritage Advisory Committee:
          http://carmandufferinheritage.ca/old-news.html



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