On the Vimy Memorial, France is the name of 9552 Private Quentin Durward, serving with the 3rd Battalion Canadian Infantry who died 17/06/1915.
The son of William Durward, and Martha Wilson Durward.
Jean Longstaff with information from Jim Busby in Canada, has submitted the following:-
The only son of William and Martha (nee Wilson) Durward, Quentin David was born on 24th October 1895 after Jean in 1892 and Florence a year later. Both Martha and William died towards the end of the century and the 1901 census shows Florence and Jean residents of Connaught House, a church home in Lowestoft, while Quentin was at St. Aidan’s Boys’ Home in Tynemouth run by Newcastle Diocese of the Church of England Waifs’ and Strays’ Society. In July 1903 Florence and Jean arrived in Canada on board the SS Bavarian bound for Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, followed six years later by Quentin who travelled on the SS Virginian and was sent to Gibbs’ Home in Sherbrooke.
It would seem that Quentin and his sister Jean met again as she was given as his next of kin when he enlisted with the Expeditionary Force in 1914. He had been working as a machinist in Toronto and was a member of the local militia group the 2nd Queen’s Own Rifles when he enlisted at Valcartier with the 3rd Battalion on 9th September, becoming Private 9552 in “D” Company.
The 3rd Battalion went to England as part of the First Canadian Contingent in early October 1914, spending an awful winter in tents on Salisbury Plain, before moving to France in February 1915 as part of the 1st Infantry Brigade, 1st Canadian Division.
Joining the Battalion at Winnezeele in April, after being in hospital for a month, Private Durward survived the battle at St. Julian and the first gas attacks of the war. In mid-June, the Canadians were tasked with attacking a series of German strongpoints near Givenchy-les-La Bassee and the 3rd Battalion was sent in to relieve other 1st Brigade units as they withdrew. Quentin Durward was killed in the vicinity of Strongpoint K2 on 17th June 1916.
Confirmation of a known and registered grave in Halfield Street Communication Trench was made three days later, but later actions utterly destroyed that location. Today he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial.
Quentin Durward is remembered at North Shields on N34.77 and at Tynemouth on T36.01 and T36.23
In Canada he is remembered on their Virtual War Memorial.
