Lieutenant William Kitchener Kift
Born: Cannington, ON 1898
Died of Wounds received in the Battle of Vimy Ridge – April 29th, 1917
(4 minute read)
Novembers in Cannington can be fickle. Some years you have to stand out in the rain…some years amidst the flakes of snow and some years, on occasion, you are rewarded with a great day with the sun shining brightly and the cool crisp autumn air helping to straighten your back as you stand respectfully in silence. The assembly of those gathering in attendance has always been sporadic. Some years they remember. Some years they don’t. Local school children are always there, lining the roadside, eagerly awaiting the slow arrival of the marching band followed by the kilted bagpipers. They assemble on the convergence of the three streets in honour of the men who are named on the cenotaph that stands alone in the middle. It was here where, on some special years, marching alongside the veterans were two of the brothers who made it through.
They are the reason why we make the effort to remember. Two of the brother’s names are prominently memorialized on the cenotaph. The names of their two brothers, the ones who marched in the street, are not. Yet, the four of them represent a display of service, selflessness and patriotism that should have us all remembering their name. Kift.
Back in 1914, Cannington was a sleepy rural town of 1200 souls. Then was a different time. Neighbours knew their neighbours. A walk through the town would consist of an endless series of smiles, cordials and well wishes. The Kifts were a prominent family and with the onset of war, the news that one of their younger sons, Harry, had enlisted would be celebrated by all. He signed up with the 20th Central Ontario Battalion on Nov 13, 1914. A few months later two other Kift boys would join the ranks. 23 yr old Horace joined the 37th Northern Ontario Battalion and 25 yr old Leonard joined up with the 23rd Battalion (Later designated as 199th Duchess of Connaught’s Own Irish Canadian Rangers). Three Kift brothers heading off to fight for the colours. All of the townsfolks would have been so proud.
Six months later, and two months after reaching the age of 18, the fourth Kift, William Kitchener earned his commission as a Lieutenant in the 116th Canadian Infantry Battalion. As one by one, the Kift boys left town one can imagine the fear and trepidation shared by their parents Joseph and Elizabeth. It was 1915 and they saw the news reports about the murderous conditions along the Western Front. There was Neuve Chapelle, Second Ypres and Artois. Regional newspapers would include the names of local chaps wounded, killed or just going off to war. And now with the third year of the war quickly approaching, four of their sons would be going ‘over there’. Four empty seats at the dinner table. Four empty spots in the local church where the family attended Sunday service. One can imagine the terrible feeling of dread when the telegram delivering boy turned down their street…whether it be to their house or those of their neighbours.
The first telegram to arrive would be the one to inform that Horace was seriously wounded by shellfire at the Somme. He was hit in the thigh and shoulder on the 29th of September 1916. Thankfully he was able to recover from the injuries. Better yet, did was able to serve for the remainder of the war without incurring any additional injuries. However, it wasn’t until he returned to Canada in early 1919 when his health quickly deteriorated. He was sent to the Sanitorium in Hamilton to recover, but the overwhelming stress and burden of war was just too much for his young body. Horace Oswald Kift died on the 28th of February in 1920.
Horace’s eldest brother, Leonard Kift served as a Captain in the 23rd Irish Canadian Rangers. Taking full advantage of his civilian role in banking, he was appointed as Paymaster for the battalion. He was able to return home safe and lived a full life back in Canada. Harry Kift, the third brother, also returned from the war. The pair of them would be able to join the Armistice Day (later Remembrance Day) processions and marched together down McRae to Trootie Street before their thankful friends and townsfolk. Harry would proudly display his Distinguished Conduct Medal earned from the gallantry he displayed at the Battle of Passchendaele.
When Leonard and Harry completed their annual sombre walk to the cenotaph, they would do so with the constant reminder of their missing brothers. Horace, the brother whose body just gave out and William, the youngest of the Kift clan to serve. His story was one that should be remembered. Barely 19 years of age, William was an officer in the 116th Battalion acting as a Lieutenant with approximately 50 men under his care and responsibility. As the battalion readied for the planned attack on Vimy Ridge, William would have trained, prepared and lead the men in executing their orders. On March 13th, when they were serving in the trenches in the lead-up to the attack, he received minor wounds to a hand and leg. With his youthful nonchalance, he merely dusted himself off, bandaged himself up and returned to his men. A month later, William, surrounded by his battalion mates, would watch in reserve as his countrymen achieved a glorious victory on the 9th of April. Then four days later, he was ordered to lead his men into the trenches and form working parties to carry supplies and materials up to the newly won front line trenches. It was here where William was hit. Originally, the wounds from shellfire was not expected to be serious, however as he convalesced back at the Duchess of Westminster Hospital in Le Touquet his situation steadily deteriorated. 47 days after receiving his injury, William became the 12th person to die in the 116th Battalion.
The community of Cannington is situated just a short drive north from Toronto. It is a pleasant town. A small town that still shows a little piece of yesterday for those who care enough to take the side roads on the way north to your cottage or summer rental. As noted, the cenotaph is situated on an island between McRae and Trootie streets…just off Cameron. Next time you head north, make sure you stop by. And as you stand before it to honour the men whose names are listed on the memorial, look for the Kift brothers and as you do so, remember the service and sacrifice of all four of them.
Lest we forget.