Edward John Kroetsch

British War Medal, Victory Medal

184 Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force

WW I

25 June 1893 – 11 October 1970

Edward joined the armed forces in Morden with his brother, Franklin. They both filed attestation papers on 18 March 1916 in Morden, MB. Edward was accepted based on his strength and rifle skills and assigned to the 184th Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force during World War One. Prior to departing for overseas, Edward spent time in Winnipeg and Camp Hughes for military training maneuvers. Franklin was assigned the role of a machine gun operator. Following their training, both brothers boarded a ship and were sent overseas to participate in World War One.

Edward was involved in intensive combat at the Somme. During the battle, he was wounded. His left leg was shot several inches below the knee. The lower part of the leg was attached only by shreds of skin. He crawled into a shell hole, took out his jackknife, cut off the lower part of the leg, then took off his belt and tightened it above the severed leg to stop the intense bleeding. Throughout the night, he needed to loosen the belt several times to let the blood flow.

In the very early hours prior to daylight, stretcher bearers located him in the shell hole and he was taken to a hospital in France. Later he was moved to London, England. His leg continued to develop gangrene and surgery was required several times to remove part of the leg each time. He spent six months in hospitals prior to being sent back to Canada. Following the war, Edward’s brother Franklin returned to Canada. He had suffered some wounds as well.

On 12 March 1925, Edward married Esther Cox from Elm Creek, MB. They resided in Morden prior to buying the valley farm south of Darlingford. The marriage resulted in five children, Rosalind, Barry, Wayne, Darlene, and Suzanne. The only surviving member of the family is Wayne.

Information submitted by Wayne Kroetsch