6th Regiment, Canadian Mounted Rifles
George Wilbert Westaver was born on 8 February 1879, the son of Simon Lawson Westaver and Matilda (née Coolen), of Hubbard’s Cove, Nova Scotia. It would appear that his mother died either during childbirth or shortly after and that he was an only child. In 1880 his father re-married, to Sarah Louisa Shatford and in time he acquired four half brothers and four half sisters.
George became a farmer and married Mary, who herself re-married and became Mrs Langille, following his death and went to live at Centreville, Kings County, Nova Scotia.
He enlisted at Amberhurst, Nova Scotia on 30 March 1915. His attestation form notes that he had seen three years service in the 14th King’s County Hussars (or Militia?) but was not serving with them at that time. He was posted to the 6th Canadian Mounted Rifles (CMR) and served with the 2nd Mounted Rifle Brigade. The CMR was a dismounted cavalry unit, serving as infantry.
George left Canada for the UK on 17 July 1915 but did not go to France until 20 October 1915. He appears to have fallen ill in the following December with enteritis and was sent to England, being admitted to Wanstead Red Cross Hospital, Sweyne Road, Margate, Kent (a former school) on the 28th of that month. His condition must have steadily deteriorated as on 26 February 1916 he was reported as being ‘very dangerously ill’. Three days later, on 29 February 1916 he died, aged 38.
Having died at Margate, Kent, how did he come to be buried in Cirencester Cemetery, as there is no obvious Gloucestershire connection? The recently digitised Canadian Army personnel records from the Great War offer a clue. It would appear that his wife followed him to England, during the time of his army service and first went to live at 23 Canal Wharf, Cirencester and later at 84 Station Road, Lower Stratton, near Swindon — why this area was chosen has not been established. As there appeared to be a connection with Cirencester and she was living nearby at the time of his death the (Chesterton) cemetery at Cirencester was chosen as his place of burial. Burial occurred on 4 March 1916 and a standard CWGC headstone now marks his grave.
Researched by Graham Adams 1 November 2018 (revised)