VANKOUGHNETT, LEVI (Lance Corporal Levi Wesley Vankougnett) Regimental #657282
Levi was born August 28, 1893. At the time of enlistment Dec. 30, 1915 he gave his address as Dunchurch and his next of kin as Mary Jane Vankoughnett (later Mary Jane Hannah)
Levi Wesley Vankoughnett
Levi arrived in England Nov. 11, 1916 on the SS Caronia as part of the 162nd. In December transferred to the 35th Battalion. He served in France beginning March 4, 1917.
On March 7, 1917 Levi was assigned to 4th Reserve Battalion. At some point he was transferred to the BDCFC (Base Depot Canadian Forestry Depot)
The Forestry Corps was created during the First World War when it was discovered that huge quantities of wood were needed for use on the Western Front. Duckboards, shoring timbers, crates—anything that needed wood had to be provided. The British government concluded that there was nobody more experienced or qualified in the British Empire to harvest timber than the Canadians. At first the idea was to harvest the trees from Canada's abundant forests and bring them overseas. But space aboard merchant ships was at a premium, so rather than stuff ships' holds with timber, it was decided to use the Canadians over in Europe, cutting down forests in the UK and France.
Levi Vankoughnett
(In his medical reports it was noted that Levi had flat feet and was therefore unable to march long distances. It is not clear if this was a consideration in his posting the Forestry Corps.)
Members of the Forestry Corps
On March 23, 1919 Levi returned to Canada and on April 2, 1919 he was discharges.
After the death of John Vankoughnett, Mary Jane and family moved to Dunchurch.
Levi, enlisted in WWI and is
discussed earlier in this report.
In WWII, Levi again enlisted and became part of the 35th Company, Veterans Guard
