Background
Everett Merideth Kirk was born March 1, 1885 in St. Stephen, New Brunswick
to George William Kirk and Annie Young. According to records, George and
Annie married one another in New Brunswick and together they would have
four children. In addition to Everett, there were three other siblings
named James Arthur, Mary E., and Sarah. According to the 1901 New Brunswick
Census, Everett was the youngest child in the family.
Documents reveal that while George worked in a variety of jobs as a
labourer, Annie would work at home raising children and keeping the home.
Although few details exist of his early life, records show that Everett was
working in St. Stephen as a stonemason before coming to Fredericton to work
as a plumber. He would meet a young woman named Mina Lawton, who came from
a large Richibucto family, and together they would get married in
Fredericton on October 3, 1909. The 1911 New Brunswick Census reveals that
while Everett found work in the McAdam area, Mina would work in Fredericton
as a domestic hand. In the summer of 1913, the Kirk’s would have their
first child together, a baby girl named Thelma Alberta. A little over a
year later, in the winter of 1914, their second daughter would be born
named Emma Everetta. Additional documents, although not revealed in birth
records, would suggest they would have another daughter together prior to
his service.
Although Everett’s service record suggests that he had no prior military
experience, according to birth records he was already acting in the
capacity of a soldier with the local regiment in 1913-1914. At the time of
his formal enlistment on March 30, 1915 in Amherst, Nova Scotia, Everett,
Mina and their young family would have a residence together at 304 York
Street in Fredericton. According to his attestation, Everett was described
as having blue eyes, black hair, and a dark complexion, while standing
approximately five feet seven inches tall. He also had close ties to the
Presbyterian Church in the Fredericton area. As other Fredericton gentleman
from the area began enlisting, Everett would as well by joining the 6th
Canadian Mounted Rifles and start preparations for going overseas. Although
he would never leave a form of will, a daughter named Estella Kirk would be
named as beneficiary to his pension and medals. At the time Everett left
Canada for England, he was approximately thirty years of age leaving behind
a young family he would never see again.
Wartime Experience
While there are inconsistencies in his service record, it appears Private
Everett Kirk left Canada for England in the early summer of 1915. Upon
arrival, Everett would transfer to the 12th Reserve Battalion before going
with a draft to France on August 28. Over the winter of 1915-1916 Everett
would be with the 1st Battalion from Western Ontario in Northern France and
the Ypres Salient. By the spring of 1916, letters had been received at
home, after nearly six months without hearing a word, indicating that
Everett had seen Archie Smith and others from Fredericton in the trenches.
He had also expressed hope to Mina that he would be home by the following
Easter. Three days after writing home to his family, Private Kirk would be
with his unit in Belgium occupying trenches at Hill 60 near Zillebeke when
he was hit by shrapnel. According to his circumstances of death record,
Everett would die from his wounds shortly after on April 26, 1916.
A week and a half would go by before the Daily Gleaner would report his
death, less than a year after having left Canada to go overseas. According
to reports, Mrs. Kirk was “overcome with shock” over the death of her
husband. Approximately nine months later, Mina would remarry a widower
named Sterling Saunders and together they would have a baby girl unnamed in
official records. Over a year and half later, on October 18, 1918, Mina
Kirk would pass away from an unknown illness leaving behind her children to
the care of her sister Jennie. At the time of Everett’s death in 1916, he
was approximately thirty-two years of age.
Lest We Forget
Private Everett Merideth Kirk is buried with honour at the Sanctuary Wood
Cemetery located in West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. According to the Commonwealth
War Graves Commission, Everett is one of approximately 642 identified
casualties. The cemetery was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.