Soldier Spotlight highlights veterans from the Archives’ online Soldiers’ Memorial. Each week, our volunteers select a remarkable individual to showcase in this new blog series. The Soldiers’ Memorial commemorates more than 1,100 WWI veterans and 2,300 WWII veterans from our region. Three dedicated volunteers have contributed over 1,200 hours to this project by researching and writing biographies. Our goal is to have all South Peace soldiers acknowledged for their service. If you know of someone who lived in the South Peace and should be listed on the Memorial, or would like to get involved by researching a local veteran, please contact the Archives.
Sidney Henry Crane
Regimental Number: 101116
Rank: Private
Branch: 49th Battalion
Date of Birth: December 12, 1889
Stanley Wright Crane
Regimental Number: 427826
Rank: Private
Branch: 46th Battalion
Date of Birth: March 25, 1894
Sidney and Stanley Crane were born in England and came to Canada as young men. After spending some time in Saskatchewan, Sidney came up to the South Peace and on April 9, 1914 he filed on NE 3-73-6-W6 for himself and on SE 10-73-6-W6 on Stanley’s behalf. Both men enlisted in the Canadian Army in the summer of 1915.
A grim letter from Jim McDonald printed in the Grande Prairie Herald on February 13, 1917 lists seven local men who were killed in action at Courcelette. Among them were both of the Cranes. Sidney was killed in action on October 8, 1916, and Stanley on October 13, 1916.
- Sidney’s Attestation Paper
- Stanley’s Attestation Paper
- Sidney’s Lives of the First World War profile
- Stanley’s Lives of the First World War profile
- Sidney’s Canadian Great War Project profile
- Stanley’s Canadian Great War Project profile
- Sidney enlists (July 27, 1915)
- Mention of the brothers’ death in Jim McDonald’s letter (Feb. 13, 1917)
- Grande Prairie Honour Roll
- Circumstances of Death Register – Sidney
- Circumstances of Death Register – Stanley
- Reported Location of Sidney’s Grave
- Reported Location of Stanley’s Grave
- Canadian Virtual War Memorial – Sidney
- Canadian Virtual War Memorial – Stanley
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission – Sidney
- Commonwealth War Graves Commission – Stanley