Image: A picnic party at the Wapiti River, May 24, 1913. Left to right: Cecil Sully, Sadie Crerar, Jack Depencier, Elizabeth Dunlop, Anna Patterson, Mamie Moore, Bill Innes, Luella Patterson, Bernard Sully, Jack Oatway, Delmer Pratt, Ed Crerar, and Jim Crerar. Young Garnet Pratt is sitting in the front and Mrs. William Pratt and Mrs. Ed Crerar are standing in the back. The photograph appears to have been acquired from a member of the McQuarrie family. (SPRA 0032.08.08.0552a)
Regimental Number: 101348
Rank: Private
Branch: 8th Battalion
Thomas was born in Cascade, Quebec on April 17, 1888. In 1912, he and his brother Cecil came west to the South Peace; Thomas filed on NW 5-72-6-W6. He enlisted in the Canadian Army in October of 1915 and went overseas. On December 2, 1916, Thomas was wounded at Vimy Ridge. He suffered from shrapnel wounds to his left arm, thigh, hand, and head (p. 57 of his service file names the doctor who performed the surgery). In March of 1917, Thomas was invalided to Canada. He was discharged in August. In the 1920s, Thomas returned to Wakefield, Quebec, where he established his own sawmill.
Sources: surname file; Pioneers of the Peace p. 207