Heber Percival Lett was born on 15th September 1893 in Merrickville, Ontario, Canada.

The 1901 Census for Canada on Ancestry.co.uk shows that the Lett family was living in Sherbrooke City, Ontario. Head of the household, Francis Graham Lett was a Methodist Clergyman who was  44 years of age. He was born on 7th February 1857 in Ontario. His wife was Ann Jane (nee Sherwood) who was born in Ontario on 7th February 1859. She was 42.  Their listed children were Sarah, 13 who was born  on the 8th August 1887. William Ralph, was 10 and had been  born on the 26th September 1890.  Mary Ismena was 8. She was born on the 9th April 1891,. Heber Percival, was 7 and was born on the  15th September 1893.  Sherwood was 5  and had been born on the  1st August 1895.  Emily Palmer, was 4 and was born on the 26th October 1896.  Jessie Katrina age 2 had been born on the   17th November 1898. There was also a domestic servant called Jennie Copeland living at this address.

The 1911 Census  reveals the Lett family living in Lanark South, Ontario. The only member of the family missing on this census was William Ralph. All the other children were listed. Heber Percival Lett was 17 years of age. Head  of the household, Francis Graham Lett was still a Clergyman.

Army records tell us that Heber Percival Lett was drafted into the 1st Depot Battalion of the British Columbia Regiment on 17th October 1917 in Vancouver. He gave his mother Ann Jane Lett as his next of kin and stated that his trade was, Salesman,. His  address  was 1857 Parker Street, Vancouver. He was single.

After basic training in Vancouver, Heber was transferred to 68th Depot Battalion and embarked aboard the S.S. Themistocles on 10th September 1918 for England. On arrival in London on 25th September 1918, he was transferred to Bordon Army Camp to complete training and then as hostilities were coming to an end, posted to  Kinmel Army Camp on 18th October 1918. Tragically, Heber contracted Bronchial Pneumonia and was admitted in a dangerously ill condition  to No. 9 Canadian Hospital on 26th October where he died on 3rd November 1918.

(From Archives and Library of Canada)

Kinmel Park Camp was a segregation camp used to house Canadian Soldiers awaiting repatriation to Canada after the end of WW1. Unfortunately the conditions at that time were extremely harsh with a lack of every kind of commodity, the camp was overcrowded and the services were poor, there were shortages of clothing, food and blankets. As a result of this situation, a vast number of servicemen and women became ill and many succumbed to the Influenza Epidemic or complications associated with this infection.

Heber Percival Lett was buried in St. Margaret’s Cemetery, Bodelwyddan.

Heber is commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.