Lt
Alexis Hannum Helmer
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 29/06/1892 |
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Place of birth: Hull, Quebec, Canada |
General information
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Profession: Civil engineer |
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Religion: Methodist |
Army information
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Country: Canada |
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Force: Canadian Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Lieutenant |
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Enlistment date: 22/09/1914 |
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Enlistment place: Valcartier Camp, Quebec, Canada |
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Units: — Canadian Field Artillery, 1st Bde. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 02/05/1915 |
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Place of death: Arcola Villa, Boezinge, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 22 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: Panel 10. |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Alexis Helmer, son of a professional soldier, is born in Hull, Quebec, Canada.
Alexis completed his education at the Royal Military College, after which he studied to become a railway engineer. When war broke out, Alexis was assigned to the 1st Artillery Brigade.
In the spring of 1915, the Second Battle of Ypres rages in full force. The Canadian division is put to the test for the first time. At the end of April 1915 the Canadian infantry is relieved from the firing lines. The artillery remains on station. Every piece of artillery is put to use in order to stop the German attacks.
On 2 May 1915, Lieutenants Helmer and Hague leave their positions at the IJzer canal. The 22 and 26-year-old officers go out to observe German positions. Suddenly a heavy grenade strikes nearby.
Alexis dies on the spot. Hague is evacuated to a medical post, but succumbs to his wounds that same day.
Alexis is buried along the canal. John McCrae, a medical officer in the brigade and a good friend of Alexis, attends his funeral. The death of his friend inspires him to write the world famous poem In Fanders Fields:
In Flanders Fields, the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead, short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Alexis completed his education at the Royal Military College, after which he studied to become a railway engineer. When war broke out, Alexis was assigned to the 1st Artillery Brigade.
In the spring of 1915, the Second Battle of Ypres rages in full force. The Canadian division is put to the test for the first time. At the end of April 1915 the Canadian infantry is relieved from the firing lines. The artillery remains on station. Every piece of artillery is put to use in order to stop the German attacks.
On 2 May 1915, Lieutenants Helmer and Hague leave their positions at the IJzer canal. The 22 and 26-year-old officers go out to observe German positions. Suddenly a heavy grenade strikes nearby.
Alexis dies on the spot. Hague is evacuated to a medical post, but succumbs to his wounds that same day.
Alexis is buried along the canal. John McCrae, a medical officer in the brigade and a good friend of Alexis, attends his funeral. The death of his friend inspires him to write the world famous poem In Fanders Fields:
In Flanders Fields, the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the dead, short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
Sources 3
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Lt Alexis Hannum Helmer, Obituary, Ottawa Collegiate Institute Sources used |
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N.N., War diaries - 1st Brigade, Canadian Field Artillery, RG9-III-D-3, Volume number: 4964, Microfilm reel number: T-10784, T-10784, File number: 527, File part: 1=1914/10/17-1916/07/31;2=1916/08/01-1917/12/31, Ottawa, Library and Archives Canada. https://recherche-collection-search.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/home/record?app=fonandcol&IdNumber=2005946&new=-8585553782836692233 Sources used |
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The Canadian Virtual War Memorial https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/1592956 Sources used |
More information 2
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1592956 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=71cd6b47-a8ad-40b4-be1f-157dfbbdf5e5 |