Background

Lieutenant Jasper Andrew Winslow was born February 28, 1875 in Fredericton, New Brunswick to Emma Barbara Winslow and Edward Byron Winslow. Jasper belonged to a large and well-respected New Brunswick family of eight children. He had five brothers including Wentworth B, Rainsford Hannay, John James Fraser, Francis Edward, and Robert Napier, and two sisters, Elizabeth Caroline (Mrs. G. D. Ireland) and Marguerite (Mrs. E. L. du Domaine). Jasper's younger brother, Rainsford, would also enlist for service succumbing to injuries received in the autumn of 1918. Robert Napier would serve with an American Expeditionary Force. While little is known of his early life, records illustrate that Jasper was a tall man for the time standing six feet tall, having a dark complexion with eyes the color brown and hair that was dark brown. He belonged to the Church of England and had previous experience with the Duke of York Royal Canadian 17th Hussars and 11th Argenteuil Rangers. At the time of his enlistment on September 25th, 1914, he was working as an accountant, unmarried and immediately attached to the 12th Battalion under Lt. Col. Harry McLeod before going overseas. In many ways Jasper was the ideal soldier of the time with tremendous experience in both civilian and military life. He was 39 years of age when his unit set sail.

Wartime Experience

Lieutenant Winslow's unit sailed aboard the SS Scotian from Quebec on October 3, 1914. After arriving in England in the fall of 1914, Jasper spent time training in Shorncliffe and Bramshott over the winter before being qualified for the rank of Captain in January of 1915 and then later offered a commission of Lieutenant two years later in February of 1917. Prior to this he remained attached in reserve to the 12th Battalion until being sent to France in the summer of 1916 with the newly created 4th Canadian Division under the command of Major General David Watson. His service record indicates that he was with his unit in northern France until March 17, 1917 when he contracted a grave case of pneumonia and was admitted to number 22 Casualty Clearing Station as a result of his condition. Newspapers reveal that he was not alone during this time as his brother, Rainsford, was with him. It was an incredibly busy time for the Allies as they began preparations for the attacks on Vimy Ridge which would come a few weeks later. Just five days after being admitted, March 22, 1917, medical records reveal that Jasper's condition quickly worsened and he subsequently died. Lieutenant Jasper A. Winslow was 42 years old at the time of his death leaving everything to his brothers.

Lest We Forget

Jasper Andrew Winslow is buried and remembered with honor at the Bruay Communal Cemetery Extension in France. According to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the cemetery is located approximately 26 kilometers north-west of Arras. The French Army handed this part of the line to Commonwealth forces in March 1916, creating the 22nd Casualty Clearing Station. Nearly half of the burials here are from the Canadian Corps who occupied this sector from early 1917. There are 412 Commonwealth burials from the First World War.