Frederick Leonard McInnes was born on 11th November 1895 in Langley Prairie, British Columbia, Canada.

The 1901 census for Canada on Ancestry.co.uk shows that the McInnis family was living in Vancouver. Head of the household was John McInnes aged 30 who was born in Scotland on the 10th April 1870.  He was a Drayman by trade and had emigrated to Canada in 1886. His wife Ada (nee Williams) was 25 years of age and had been  born on the 21st January 1876 in England. She had emigrated to Canada with her parents in 1886. They had three sons.  John C  8 was born on the 6th April 1893. Frederick Leonard aged 5 was born 11th November 1895 . George John  3 was born on the 5th May 1898  All the children were born in British Columbia.

I cannot locate the McInnes family on any Census returns for 1911.

Frederick’s army records tell us that he was drafted into the 1st Battalion on 12th November 1917. He gave his date and place of birth as 11th November 1895, Langley Prairie, British Columbia. He stated that he was  single and was  a Florist.   Next of kin was named as Mrs George Sherman, Mother, (his mother had re married in May 1916) address Suite 2, 2034 Quebec St. Vancouver, British Columbia. Frederick’s medical examination form dated January 3rd 1918 stated that he was 5ft 5inches tall with a dark complexion, blue eyes and brown hair.

During basic training in Vancouver Frederick was promoted to Lance Corporal on 9th April 1918. Then he was promoted to Acting Sergeant on 3rd July 1918. He reverted back to Corporal at his own request on 15th August 1918. He embarked for England aboard the S.S.Durham Castle on 10th September 1918, arriving on 25th September 1918. Upon arrival he was posted first to Seaford Army Camp and as hostilities were coming to an end he was posted  to Kinmel Camp Rhyl for discharge and repatriation to Canada. Tragically, Frederick contracted Influenza and was admitted to the Canadian General Hospital on 14th October 1918 where, according to the doctors report he soon developed Broncho Pneumonia and died at 22.30 on 18th October 1918.

His military will bequeathed all he had to his mother Ada Sherman

(From Library and Archives, 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.

Frederick was buried in St. Margaret’s Cemetery, Bodelwyddan.

He is commemorated on the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.