Major Harold Leonard Gaetz

Major, 5th Battalion, Infantry (Army).

Member of the Active Militia

Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal. Son of the Rev. Joseph Gaetz, of Middleton, Nova Scotia; husband of Elizabeth Grace Gaetz, of Red Deer, Alberta. Next of Kin: Mrs. Elizabeth G. Gaetz.

Red Deer News, 12 September 1917, pg. 1 - Death of Rev. Joseph Gaetz, father of Harold Gaetz

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Major H. L. Gaetz - newspaper reports from the Red Deer News
Compiled by M. I. Pirie

Red Deer News, 17 February 1915, pg 1:

C.M.R. Church Parade

C. Company of the 12th Canadian Mounted Rifles, in charge of Major H. L. Gaetz of Red Deer, paraded to St. Luke's Anglican Church on Sunday morning last, where an eloquent and appropriate sermon was preached by the Rector, the Rev. W. H. Fanning Harris. The men looked very smart in their new khaki uniform and were headed by the Citizens' Band in charge of H. Meeres. The frosty air made playing difficult for the bandsmen, but they made a creditable showing.

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A photograph of Major H. L. Gaetz in uniform appeared in the Red Deer News on October 18th, 1916, on page 1. It was captioned "Reported killed in Action."

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Red Deer News, 11 October 1916, pg. 1:

"Major Gaetz Dies Hero's Death / Red Deer's Prominent Citizen Gives Life for Empire"

This article gives a full report on Major Gaetz's background and military service. To be transcribed and added to this record at a later date. Image available.

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Extract from news updates published in the Red Deer News, 06 December 1916, pg. 8:

Word to friends from Dr. Parsons from England details a conversation he had with an officer of the 5th Battalion, who was well acquainted with the late Major Gaetz, and with the circumstances of his death. In the charge, he says, the Major was wounded in the arm, but he would not retire, as those near him wished him to do, but pressed on until he was hit in the leg. While his batman was binding up his wounds, he came under machine gun fire and was killed by a rain of bullets. All his friends knew that the Major was game to the last, and nothing became him more in life than the manner of his leaving it.

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Transcription from the Red Deer News, 06 December 1916, pg. 1:

MEMORIAL SERVICE

The Memorial service in the Methodist church on Sunday evening in honor of the fallen heroes of the congregation was most impressive. Addresses were given by Rev. Wm. Ryan, Rev. C. H. Huestis, Chaplain Richards of the 191st Battalion and Mayor Carswell. Appropriate solos were given by Mrs. Dawe and Mr. Kenny, a large congregation was in attendance. The following are the members of this congregation who have made the supreme sacrifice.

Major H. L. Gaetz
Engineer Arthur Bower
Sergt. Addinell
Lance-Corp. F. H. England
Pte. W. Wilson.

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Canadian Expeditionary Force Study Group - discussion thread (initiated 26 Sept 2015, updated 28 Nov. 2016) regarding tracking down actual burial location of Major Gaetz.

Link: http://cefresearch.ca/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=76&t=13331&p=104255#p104255

Researched by: M. I. Pirie (as new images cannot be added at present to this entry, please contact for photo of Major Gaetz, and original images of the newspaper items mentioned in this profile.)
imagesofcanada/ at / hotmail.com

Major Gaetz's is remembered by the Red Deer (Alberta) War Memorial. The names were not directly inscribed on the stone memorial located in the centre of the city, but a list was kept.